第34部分(第3/7 页)

“Don’t　you　feel　hungry；　Adèle？”

“Mais　oui；　mademoiselle：　voilà　cinq　ou　six　heures　que　nous　n’avons　pas　mangé。”

“Well　now；　while　the　ladies　are　in　their　rooms；　I　will　venture　down　and　get　you　something　to　eat。”

And　issuing　from　my　asylum　with　precaution；　I　sought　a　back…stairs　which　conducted　directly　to　the　kitchen。　All　in　that　region　was　fire　and　motion；　the　soup　and　fish　were　in　the　last　stage　of　projection；　and　the　cook　hung　over　her　crucibles　in　a　frame　of　mind　and　body　threatening　spontaneous　bustion。　In　the　servants’　hall　two　coachmen　and　three　gentlemen’s　gentlemen　stood　or　sat　round　the　fire；　the　abigails；　I　suppose；　were　upstairs　with　their　mistresses；　the　new　servants；　that　had　been　hired　from　Millcote；　were　bustling　about　everywhere。　Threading　this　chaos；　I　at　last　reached　the　larder；　there　I　took　possession　of　a　cold　chicken；　a　roll　of　bread；　some　tarts；　a　plate　or　two　and　a　knife　and　fork：　with　this　booty　I　made　a　hasty　retreat。　I　had　regained　the　gallery；　and　was　just　shutting　the　back…door　behind　me；　when　an　accelerated　hum　warned　me　that　the　ladies　were　about　to　issue　from　their　chambers。　I　could　not　proceed　to　the　schoolroom　without　passing　some　of　their　doors；　and　running　the　risk　of　being　surprised　with　my　cargo　of　victualage；　so　I　stood　still　at　this　end；　which；　being　windowless；　was　dark：　quite　dark　now；　for　the　sun　was　set　and　twilight　gathering。

Presently　the　chambers　gave　up　their　fair　tenants　one　after　another：　each　came　out　gaily　and　airily；　with　dress　that　gleamed　lustrous　through　the　dusk。　For　a　moment　they　stood　grouped　together　at　the　other　extremity　of　the　gallery；　conversing　in　a　key　of　sweet　subdued　vivacity：　they　then　descended　the　staircase　almost　as　noiselessly　as　a　bright　mist　rolls　down　a　hill。　Their