第75部分(第3/7 页)

firmed；　as　a　village　schoolmistress：　she　was　sure　my　previous　history；　if　known；　would　make　a　delightful　romance。

One　evening；　while；　with　her　usual　child…like　activity；　and　thoughtless　yet　not　offensive　inquisitiveness；　she　was　rummaging　the　cupboard　and　the　table…drawer　of　my　little　kitchen；　she　discovered　first　two　French　books；　a　volume　of　Schiller；　a　German　grammar　and　dictionary；　and　then　my　drawing…materials　and　some　sketches；　including　a　pencil…head　of　a　pretty　little　cherub…like　girl；　one　of　my　scholars；　and　sundry　views　from　nature；　taken　in　the　Vale　of　Morton　and　on　the　surrounding　moors。　She　was　first　transfixed　with　surprise；　and　then　electrified　with　delight。

“Had　I　done　these　pictures？　Did　I　know　French　and　German？　What　a　love—what　a　miracle　I　was！　I　drew　better　than　her　master　in　the　first　school　in　S…。　Would　I　sketch　a　portrait　of　her；　to　show　to　papa？”

“With　pleasure；”　I　replied；　and　I　felt　a　thrill　of　artist—delight　at　the　idea　of　copying　from　so　perfect　and　radiant　a　model。　She　had　then　on　a　dark…blue　silk　dress；　her　arms　and　her　neck　were　bare；　her　only　ornament　was　her　chestnut　tresses；　which　waved　over　her　shoulders　with　all　the　wild　grace　of　natural　curls。　I　took　a　sheet　of　fine　card…board；　and　drew　a　careful　outline。　I　promised　myself　the　pleasure　of　colouring　it；　and；　as　it　was　getting　late　then；　I　told　her　she　must　e　and　sit　another　day。

She　made　such　a　report　of　me　to　her　father；　that　Mr。　Oliver　himself　acpanied　her　next　evening—a　tall；　massive…featured；　middle…aged；　and　grey…headed　man；　at　whose　side　his　lovely　daughter　looked　like　a　bright　flower　near　a　hoary　turret。　He　appeared　a　taciturn；　and　perhaps　a　proud　personage；　but　he　was　very　kind　to　me。　The　sketch　of　Rosamond’s　portrait　pleased　him　highly：　he　said　I　m