第70部分(第3/7 页)

ed　walls；　a　cupboard　with　glass　doors　contained　some　books　and　an　ancient　set　of　china。　There　was　no　superfluous　ornament　in　the　room—not　one　modern　piece　of　furniture；　save　a　brace　of　workboxes　and　a　lady’s　desk　in　rosewood；　which　stood　on　a　side…table：　everything—including　the　carpet　and　curtains—looked　at　once　well　worn　and　well　saved。

Mr。　St。　John—sitting　as　still　as　one　of　the　dusty　pictures　on　the　walls；　keeping　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　page　he　perused；　and　his　lips　mutely　sealed—was　easy　enough　to　examine。　Had　he　been　a　statue　instead　of　a　man；　he　could　not　have　been　easier。　He　was　young—　perhaps　from　twenty…eight　to　thirty—tall；　slender；　his　face　riveted　the　eye；　it　was　like　a　Greek　face；　very　pure　in　outline：　quite　a　straight；　classic　nose；　quite　an　Athenian　mouth　and　chin。　It　is　seldom；　indeed；　an　English　face　es　so　near　the　antique　models　as　did　his。　He　might　well　be　a　little　shocked　at　the　irregularity　of　my　lineaments；　his　own　being　so　harmonious。　His　eyes　were　large　and　blue；　with　brown　lashes；　his　high　forehead；　colourless　as　ivory；　was　partially　streaked　over　by　careless　locks　of　fair　hair。

This　is　a　gentle　delineation；　is　it　not；　reader？　Yet　he　whom　it　describes　scarcely　impressed　one　with　the　idea　of　a　gentle；　a　yielding；　an　impressible；　or　even　of　a　placid　nature。　Quiescent　as　he　now　sat；　there　was　something　about　his　nostril；　his　mouth；　his　brow；　which；　to　my　perceptions；　indicated　elements　within　either　restless；　or　hard；　or　eager。　He　did　not　speak　to　me　one　word；　nor　even　direct　to　me　one　glance；　till　his　sisters　returned。　Diana；　as　she　passed　in　and　out；　in　the　course　of　preparing　tea；　brought　me　a　little　cake；　baked　on　the　top　of　the　oven。

“Eat　that　now；”　she　said：　“you　must　be　hungry。　Hannah　says　you　have　had　nothing　but　some　g