第46部分(第4/7 页)

　roof　now　again　rose　before　me：　my　prospects　were　doubtful　yet；　and　I　had　yet　an　aching　heart。　I　still　felt　as　a　wanderer　on　the　face　of　the　earth；　but　I　experienced　firmer　trust　in　myself　and　my　own　powers；　and　less　withering　dread　of　oppression。　The　gaping　wound　of　my　wrongs；　too；　was　now　quite　healed；　and　the　flame　of　resentment　extinguished。

“You　shall　go　into　the　breakfast…room　first；”　said　Bessie；　as　she　preceded　me　through　the　hall；　“the　young　ladies　will　be　there。”

In　another　moment　I　was　within　that　apartment。　There　was　every　article　of　furniture　looking　just　as　it　did　on　the　morning　I　was　first　introduced　to　Mr。　Brocklehurst：　the　very　rug　he　had　stood　upon　still　covered　the　hearth。　Glancing　at　the　bookcases；　I　thought　I　could　distinguish　the　two　volumes　of　Bewick’s　British　Birds　occupying　their　old　place　on　the　third　shelf；　and　Gulliver’s　Travels　and　the　Arabian　Nights　ranged　just　above。　The　inanimate　objects　were　not　changed；　but　the　living　things　had　altered　past　recognition。

Two　young　ladies　appeared　before　me；　one　very　tall；　almost　as　tall　as　Miss　Ingram—very　thin　too；　with　a　sallow　face　and　severe　mien。　There　was　something　ascetic　in　her　look；　which　was　augmented　by　the　extreme　plainness　of　a　straight…skirted；　black；　stuff　dress；　a　starched　linen　collar；　hair　bed　away　from　the　temples；　and　the　nun…like　ornament　of　a　string　of　ebony　beads　and　a　crucifix。　This　I　felt　sure　was　Eliza；　though　I　could　trace　little　resemblance　to　her　former　self　in　that　elongated　and　colourless　visage。

The　other　was　as　certainly　Georgiana：　but　not　the　Georgiana　I　remembered—the　slim　and　fairy…like　girl　of　eleven。　This　was　a　full…blown；　very　plump　damsel；　fair　as　waxwork；　with　handsome　and　regular　features；　languishing　blue　eyes；　and　ringleted　yellow　h