第74部分(第2/7 页)

　ray；　the　cheek　oval；　fresh；　and　smooth；　the　lips；　fresh　too；　ruddy；　healthy；　sweetly　formed；　the　even　and　gleaming　teeth　without　flaw；　the　small　dimpled　chin；　the　ornament　of　rich；　plenteous　tresses—all　advantages；　in　short；　which；　bined；　realise　the　ideal　of　beauty；　were　fully　hers。　I　wondered；　as　I　looked　at　this　fair　creature：　I　admired　her　with　my　whole　heart。　Nature　had　surely　formed　her　in　a　partial　mood；　and；　forgetting　her　usual　stinted　step…mother　dole　of　gifts；　had　endowed　this；　her　darling；　with　a　grand…dame’s　bounty。

What　did　St。　John　Rivers　think　of　this　earthly　angel？　I　naturally　asked　myself　that　question　as　I　saw　him　turn　to　her　and　look　at　her；　and；　as　naturally；　I　sought　the　answer　to　the　inquiry　in　his　countenance。　He　had　already　withdrawn　his　eye　from　the　Peri；　and　was　looking　at　a　humble　tuft　of　daisies　which　grew　by　the　wicket。

“A　lovely　evening；　but　late　for　you　to　be　out　alone；”　he　said；　as　he　crushed　the　snowy　heads　of　the　closed　flowers　with　his　foot。

“Oh；　I　only　came　home　from　S…”　（she　mentioned　the　name　of　a　large　town　some　twenty　miles　distant）　“this　afternoon。　Papa　told　me　you　had　opened　your　school；　and　that　the　new　mistress　was　e；　and　so　I　put　on　my　bon　after　tea；　and　ran　up　the　valley　to　see　her：　this　is　she？”　pointing　to　me。

“It　is；”　said　St。　John。

“Do　you　think　you　shall　like　Morton？”　she　asked　of　me；　with　a　direct　and　naive　simplicity　of　tone　and　manner；　pleasing；　if　child…like。

“I　hope　I　shall。　I　have　many　inducements　to　do　so。”

“Did　you　find　your　scholars　as　attentive　as　you　expected？”

“Quite。”

“Do　you　like　your　house？”

“Very　much。”

“Have　I　furnished　it　nicely？”

“Very　nicely；　indeed。”

“And　made　a　good　choice　of　an　attendant　for　you　in　Alice　W