第45部分(第5/7 页)

ple　to　see　her　that　distance？”

“Her　name　is　Reed；　sir—Mrs。　Reed。”

“Reed　of　Gateshead？　There　was　a　Reed　of　Gateshead；　a　magistrate。”

“It　is　his　widow；　sir。”

“And　what　have　you　to　do　with　her？　How　do　you　know　her？”

“Mr。　Reed　was　my　uncle—my　mother’s　brother。”

“The　deuce　he　was！　You　never　told　me　that　before：　you　always　said　you　had　no　relations。”

“None　that　would　own　me；　sir。　Mr。　Reed　is　dead；　and　his　wife　cast　me　off。”

“Why？”

“Because　I　was　poor；　and　burdensome；　and　she　disliked　me。”

“But　Reed　left　children？—you　must　have　cousins？　Sir　George　Lynn　was　talking　of　a　Reed　of　Gateshead　yesterday；　who；　he　said；　was　one　of　the　veriest　rascals　on　town；　and　Ingram　was　mentioning　a　Georgiana　Reed　of　the　same　place；　who　was　much　admired　for　her　beauty　a　season　or　two　ago　in　London。”

“John　Reed　is　dead；　too；　sir：　he　ruined　himself　and　half…ruined　his　family；　and　is　supposed　to　have　mitted　suicide。　The　news　so　shocked　his　mother　that　it　brought　on　an　apoplectic　attack。”

“And　what　good　can　you　do　her？　Nonsense；　Jane！　I　would　never　think　of　running　a　hundred　miles　to　see　an　old　lady　who　will；　perhaps；　be　dead　before　you　reach　her：　besides；　you　say　she　cast　you　off。”

“Yes；　sir；　but　that　is　long　ago；　and　when　her　circumstances　were　very　different：　I　could　not　be　easy　to　neglect　her　wishes　now。”

“How　long　will　you　stay？”

“As　short　a　time　as　possible；　sir。”

“Promise　me　only　to　stay　a　week—”

“I　had　better　not　pass　my　word：　I　might　be　obliged　to　break　it。”

“At　all　events　you　will　e　back：　you　will　not　be　induced　under　any　pretext　to　take　up　a　permanent　residence　with　her？”

“Oh；　no！　I　shall　certainly　return　if　all　be　well。”

“And　who　goes　with　you？　You　don’