第69部分(第2/7 页)

　a　day。　They　would　whisper　sentences　of　this　sort　at　my　bedside—

“It　is　very　well　we　took　her　in。”

“Yes；　she　would　certainly　have　been　found　dead　at　the　door　in　the　morning　had　she　been　left　out　all　night。　I　wonder　what　she　has　gone　through？”

“Strange　hardships；　I　imagine—poor；　emaciated；　pallid　wanderer？”

“She　is　not　an　uneducated　person；　I　should　think；　by　her　manner　of　speaking；　her　accent　was　quite　pure；　and　the　clothes　she　took　off；　though　splashed　and　wet；　were　little　worn　and　fine。”

“She　has　a　peculiar　face；　fleshless　and　haggard　as　it　is；　I　rather　like　it；　and　when　in　good　health　and　animated；　I　can　fancy　her　physiognomy　would　be　agreeable。”

Never　once　in　their　dialogues　did　I　hear　a　syllable　of　regret　at　the　hospitality　they　had　extended　to　me；　or　of　suspicion　of；　or　aversion　to；　myself。　I　was　forted。

Mr。　St。　John　came　but　once：　he　looked　at　me；　and　said　my　state　of　lethargy　was　the　result　of　reaction　from　excessive　and　protracted　fatigue。　He　pronounced　it　needless　to　send　for　a　doctor：　nature；　he　was　sure；　would　manage　best；　left　to　herself。　He　said　every　nerve　had　been　overstrained　in　some　way；　and　the　whole　system　must　sleep　torpid　a　while。　There　was　no　disease。　He　imagined　my　recovery　would　be　rapid　enough　when　once　menced。　These　opinions　he　delivered　in　a　few　words；　in　a　quiet；　low　voice；　and　added；　after　a　pause；　in　the　tone　of　a　man　little　accustomed　to　expansive　ment；　“Rather　an　unusual　physiognomy；　certainly；　not　indicative　of　vulgarity　or　degradation。”

“Far　otherwise；”　responded　Diana。　“To　speak　truth；　St。　John；　my　heart　rather　warms　to　the　poor　little　soul。　I　wish　we　may　be　able　to　benefit　her　permanently。”

“That　is　hardly　likely；”　was　the　reply。　“You　will　find　she　is　some　young　lady　who