第46部分(第6/7 页)

irred　in　me　so　much　more　potent　than　any　they　could　raise—pains　and　pleasures　so　much　more　acute　and　exquisite　had　been　excited　than　any　it　was　in　their　power　to　inflict　or　bestow—that　their　airs　gave　me　no　concern　either　for　good　or　bad。

“How　is　Mrs。　Reed？”　I　asked　soon；　looking　calmly　at　Georgiana；　who　thought　fit　to　bridle　at　the　direct　address；　as　if　it　were　an　unexpected　liberty。

“Mrs。　Reed？　Ah！　mama；　you　mean；　she　is　extremely　poorly：　I　doubt　if　you　can　see　her　to…night。”

“If；”　said　I；　“you　would　just　step　upstairs　and　tell　her　I　am　e；　I　should　be　much　obliged　to　you。”

Georgiana　almost　started；　and　she　opened　her　blue　eyes　wild　and　wide。　“I　know　she　had　a　particular　wish　to　see　me；”　I　added；　“and　I　would　not　defer　attending　to　her　desire　longer　than　is　absolutely　necessary。”

“Mama　dislikes　being　disturbed　in　an　evening；”　remarked　Eliza。　I　soon　rose；　quietly　took　off　my　bon　and　gloves；　uninvited；　and　said　I　would　just　step　out　to　Bessie—who　was；　I　dared　say；　in　the　kitchen—and　ask　her　to　ascertain　whether　Mrs。　Reed　was　disposed　to　receive　me　or　not　to…night。　I　went；　and　having　found　Bessie　and　despatched　her　on　my　errand；　I　proceeded　to　take　further　measures。　It　had　heretofore　been　my　habit　always　to　shrink　from　arrogance：　received　as　I　had　been　to…day；　I　should；　a　year　ago；　have　resolved　to　quit　Gateshead　the　very　next　morning；　now；　it　was　disclosed　to　me　all　at　once　that　that　would　be　a　foolish　plan。　I　had　taken　a　journey　of　a　hundred　miles　to　see　my　aunt；　and　I　must　stay　with　her　till　she　was　better—or　dead：　as　to　her　daughters’　pride　or　folly；　I　must　put　it　on　one　side；　make　myself　independent　of　it。　So　I　addressed　the　housekeeper；　asked　her　to　show　me　a　room；　told　her　I　should　probably　be　a　visitor　here　for　a　week　or　two；　had