第40部分(第2/7 页)

on　these　two　last…named　points；　but　they　got　only　blushes；　ejaculations；　tremors；　and　titters；　in　return　for　their　importunity。　The　matrons；　meantime；　offered　vinaigrettes　and　wielded　fans；　and　again　and　again　reiterated　the　expression　of　their　concern　that　their　warning　had　not　been　taken　in　time；　and　the　elder　gentlemen　laughed；　and　the　younger　urged　their　services　on　the　agitated　fair　ones。

In　the　midst　of　the　tumult；　and　while　my　eyes　and　ears　were　fully　engaged　in　the　scene　before　me；　I　heard　a　hem　close　at　my　elbow：　I　turned；　and　saw　Sam。

“If　you　please；　miss；　the　gipsy　declares　that　there　is　another　young　single　lady　in　the　room　who　has　not　been　to　her　yet；　and　she　swears　she　will　not　go　till　she　has　seen　all。　I　thought　it　must　be　you：　there　is　no　one　else　for　it。　What　shall　I　tell　her？”

“Oh；　I　will　go　by　all　means；”　I　answered：　and　I　was　glad　of　the　unexpected　opportunity　to　gratify　my　much…excited　curiosity。　I　slipped　out　of　the　room；　unobserved　by　any　eye—for　the　pany　were　gathered　in　one　mass　about　the　trembling　trio　just　returned—and　I　closed　the　door　quietly　behind　me。

“If　you　like；　miss；”　said　Sam；　“I’ll　wait　in　the　hall　for　you；　and　if　she　frightens　you；　just　call　and　I’ll　e　in。”

“No；　Sam；　return　to　the　kitchen：　I　am　not　in　the　least　afraid。”　Nor　was　I；　but　I　was　a　good　deal　interested　and　excited。

Chapter　19

The　library　looked　tranquil　enough　as　I　entered　it；　and　the　Sibyl—　if　Sibyl　she　were—was　seated　snugly　enough　in　an　easy…chair　at　the　chimney…corner。　She　had　on　a　red　cloak　and　a　black　bon：　or　rather；　a　broad…brimmed　gipsy　hat；　tied　down　with　a　striped　handkerchief　under　her　chin。　An　extinguished　candle　stood　on　the　table；　she　was　bending　over　the　fire；　and　seemed　reading　in　a　little　black　book；　like　a