第15部分(第1/7 页)

ng；　“Fortunately；　I　have　it　in　my　power　to　supply　deficiencies　for　this　once。”

Having　invited　Helen　and　me　to　approach　the　table；　and　placed　before　each　of　us　a　cup　of　tea　with　one　delicious　but　thin　morsel　of　toast；　she　got　up；　unlocked　a　drawer；　and　taking　from　it　a　parcel　wrapped　in　paper；　disclosed　presently　to　our　eyes　a　good…sized　seed…cake。

“I　meant　to　give　each　of　you　some　of　this　to　take　with　you；”　said　she；　“but　as　there　is　so　little　toast；　you　must　have　it　now；”　and　she　proceeded　to　cut　slices　with　a　generous　hand。

We　feasted　that　evening　as　on　nectar　and　ambrosia；　and　not　the　least　delight　of　the　entertainment　was　the　smile　of　gratification　with　which　our　hostess　regarded　us；　as　we　satisfied　our　famished　appetites　on　the　delicate　fare　she　liberally　supplied。

Tea　over　and　the　tray　removed；　she　again　summoned　us　to　the　fire；　we　sat　one　on　each　side　of　her；　and　now　a　conversation　followed　between　her　and　Helen；　which　it　was　indeed　a　privilege　to　be　admitted　to　hear。

Miss　Temple　had　always　something　of　serenity　in　her　air；　of　state　in　her　mien；　of　refined　propriety　in　her　language；　which　precluded　deviation　into　the　ardent；　the　excited；　the　eager：　something　which　chastened　the　pleasure　of　those　who　looked　on　her　and　listened　to　her；　by　a　controlling　sense　of　awe；　and　such　was　my　feeling　now：　but　as　to　Helen　Burns；　I　was　struck　with　wonder。

The　refreshing　meal；　the　brilliant　fire；　the　presence　and　kindness　of　her　beloved　instructress；　or；　perhaps；　more　than　all　these；　something　in　her　oind；　had　roused　her　powers　within　her。　They　woke；　they　kindled：　first；　they　glowed　in　the　bright　tint　of　her　cheek；　which　till　this　hour　I　had　never　seen　but　pale　and　bloodless；　then　they　shone　in　the　liquid　lustre　of　her　eyes；　ore　sing