第6部分(第3/7 页)

store　in　a　drawer　in　the　attic。　I　was　making　my　bed；　having　received　strict　orders　from　Bessie　to　get　it　arranged　before　she　returned　（for　Bessie　noe　as　a　sort　of　under…nurserymaid；　to　tidy　the　room；　dust　the　chairs；　&c。）。　Having　spread　the　quilt　and　folded　my　night…dress；　I　went　to　the　window…seat　to　put　in　order　some　picture…books　and　doll’s　house　furniture　scattered　there；　an　abrupt　mand　from　Georgiana　to　let　her　playthings　alone　（for　the　tiny　chairs　and　mirrors；　the　fairy　plates　and　cups；　were　her　property）　stopped　my　proceedings；　and　then；　for　lack　of　other　occupation；　I　fell　to　breathing　on　the　frost…flowers　with　which　the　window　was　fretted；　and　thus　clearing　a　space　in　the　glass　through　which　I　might　look　out　on　the　grounds；　where　all　was　still　and　petrified　under　the　influence　of　a　hard　frost。

From　this　window　were　visible　the　porter’s　lodge　and　the　carriage…　road；　and　just　as　I　had　dissolved　so　much　of　the　silver…white　foliage　veiling　the　panes　as　left　room　to　look　out；　I　saw　the　gates　thrown　open　and　a　carriage　roll　through。　I　watched　it　ascending　the　drive　with　indifference；　carriages　often　came　to　Gateshead；　but　none　ever　brought　visitors　in　whom　I　was　interested；　it　stopped　in　front　of　the　house；　the　door…bell　rang　loudly；　the　new…er　was　admitted。　All　this　being　nothing　to　me；　my　vacant　attention　soon　found　livelier　attraction　in　the　spectacle　of　a　little　hungry　robin；　which　came　and　chirruped　on　the　twigs　of　the　leafless　cherry…tree　nailed　against　the　wall　near　the　casement。　The　remains　of　my　breakfast　of　bread　and　milk　stood　on　the　table；　and　having　crumbled　a　morsel　of　roll；　I　was　tugging　at　the　sash　to　put　out　the　crumbs　on　the　window…　sill；　when　Bessie　came　running　upstairs　into　the　nursery。

“Miss　Jane；　take　off　your　pinafore；　what　are　y