第46部分(第5/7 页)

air。　The　hue　of　her　dress　was　black　too；　but　its　fashion　was　so　different　from　her　sister’s—so　much　more　flowing　and　being—it　looked　as　stylish　as　the　other’s　looked　puritanical。

In　each　of　the　sisters　there　was　one　trait　of　the　mother—and　only　one；　the　thin　and　pallid　elder　daughter　had　her　parent’s　Cairngorm　eye：　the　blooming　and　luxuriant　younger　girl　had　her　contour　of　jaw　and　chin—perhaps　a　little　softened；　but　still　imparting　an　indescribable　hardness　to　the　countenance　otherwise　so　voluptuous　and　buxom。

Both　ladies；　as　I　advanced；　rose　to　wele　me；　and　both　addressed　me　by　the　name　of　“Miss　Eyre。”　Eliza’s　greeting　was　delivered　in　a　short；　abrupt　voice；　without　a　smile；　and　then　she　sat　down　again；　fixed　her　eyes　on　the　fire；　and　seemed　to　forget　me。　Georgiana　added　to　her　“How　d’ye　do？”　several　monplaces　about　my　journey；　the　weather；　and　so　on；　uttered　in　rather　a　drawling　tone：　and　acpanied　by　sundry　side…glances　that　measured　me　from　head　to　foot—now　traversing　the　folds　of　my　drab　merino　pelisse；　and　now　lingering　on　the　plain　trimming　of　my　cottage　bon。　Young　ladies　have　a　remarkable　way　of　letting　you　know　that　they　think　you　a　“quiz”　without　actually　saying　the　words。　A　certain　superciliousness　of　look；　coolness　of　manner；　nonchalance　of　tone；　express　fully　their　sentiments　on　the　point；　without　mitting　them　by　any　positive　rudeness　in　word　or　deed。

A　sneer；　however；　whether　covert　or　open；　had　now　no　longer　that　power　over　me　it　once　possessed：　as　I　sat　between　my　cousins；　I　was　surprised　to　find　how　easy　I　felt　under　the　total　neglect　of　the　one　and　the　semi…sarcastic　attentions　of　the　other—Eliza　did　not　mortify；　nor　Georgiana　ruffle　me。　The　fact　was；　I　had　other　things　to　think　about；　within　the　last　few　months　feelings　had　been　st