第68部分(第5/7 页)

mb　and　still。

“All　men　must　die；”　said　a　voice　quite　close　at　hand；　“but　all　are　not　condemned　to　meet　a　lingering　and　premature　doom；　such　as　yours　would　be　if　you　perished　here　of　want。”

“Who　or　what　speaks？”　I　asked；　terrified　at　the　unexpected　sound；　and　incapable　now　of　deriving　from　any　occurrence　a　hope　of　aid。　A　form　was　near—what　form；　the　pitch…dark　night　and　my　enfeebled　vision　prevented　me　from　distinguishing。　With　a　loud　long　knock；　the　new…er　appealed　to　the　door。

“Is　it　you；　Mr。　St。　John？”　cried　Hannah。

“Yes—yes；　open　quickly。”

“Well；　how　wet　and　cold　you　must　be；　such　a　wild　night　as　it　is！　e　in—your　sisters　are　quite　uneasy　about　you；　and　I　believe　there　are　bad　folks　about。　There　has　been　a　beggar…woman—I　declare　she　is　not　gone　yet！—laid　down　there。　Get　up！　for　shame！　Move　off；　I　say！”

“Hush；　Hannah！　I　have　a　word　to　say　to　the　woman。　You　have　done　your　duty　in　excluding；　now　let　me　do　mine　in　admitting　her。　I　was　near；　and　listened　to　both　you　and　her。　I　think　this　is　a　peculiar　case—I　must　at　least　examine　into　it。　Young　woman；　rise；　and　pass　before　me　into　the　house。”

With　difficulty　I　obeyed　him。　Presently　I　stood　within　that　clean；　bright　kitchen—on　the　very　hearth—trembling；　sickening；　conscious　of　an　aspect　in　the　last　degree　ghastly；　wild；　and　weather…beaten。　The　two　ladies；　their　brother；　Mr。　St。　John；　the　old　servant；　were　all　gazing　at　me。

“St。　John；　who　is　it？”　I　heard　one　ask。

“I　cannot　tell：　I　found　her　at　the　door；”　was　the　reply。

“She　does　look　white；”　said　Hannah。

“As　white　as　clay　or　death；”　was　responded。　“She　will　fall：　let　her　sit。”

And　indeed　my　head　swam：　I　dropped；　but　a　chair　received　me。　I　still　possessed　my　senses；　though　just　now　I　could　not