第5部分(第6/7 页)

　or　utter　one　syllable　during　the　remainder　of　the　day。

“What　would　Uncle　Reed　say　to　you；　if　he　were　alive？”　was　my　scarcely　voluntary　demand。　I　say　scarcely　voluntary；　for　it　seemed　as　if　my　tongue　pronounced　words　without　my　will　consenting　to　their　utterance：　something　spoke　out　of　me　over　which　I　had　no　control。

“What？”　said　Mrs。　Reed　under　her　breath：　her　usually　cold　posed　grey　eye　became　troubled　with　a　look　like　fear；　she　took　her　hand　from　my　arm；　and　gazed　at　me　as　if　she　really　did　not　know　whether　I　were　child　or　fiend。　I　was　now　in　for　it。

“My　Uncle　Reed　is　in　heaven；　and　can　see　all　you　do　and　think；　and　so　can　papa　and　mama：　they　know　how　you　shut　me　up　all　day　long；　and　how　you　wish　me　dead。”

Mrs。　Reed　soon　rallied　her　spirits：　she　shook　me　most　soundly；　she　boxed　both　my　ears；　and　then　left　me　without　a　word。　Bessie　supplied　the　hiatus　by　a　homily　of　an　hour’s　length；　in　which　she　proved　beyond　a　doubt　that　I　was　the　most　wicked　and　abandoned　child　ever　reared　under　a　roof。　I　half　believed　her；　for　I　felt　indeed　only　bad　feelings　surging　in　my　breast。

November；　December；　and　half　of　January　passed　away。　Christmas　and　the　New　Year　had　been　celebrated　at　Gateshead　with　the　usual　festive　cheer；　presents　had　been　interchanged；　dinners　and　evening　parties　given。　From　every　enjoyment　I　was；　of　course；　excluded：　my　share　of　the　gaiety　consisted　in　witnessing　the　daily　apparelling　of　Eliza　and　Georgiana；　and　seeing　them　descend　to　the　drawing…room；　dressed　out　in　thin　muslin　frocks　and　scarlet　sashes；　with　hair　elaborately　ringletted；　and　afterwards；　in　listening　to　the　sound　of　the　piano　or　the　harp　played　below；　to　the　passing　to　and　fro　of　the　butler　and　footman；　to　the　jingling　of　glass　and　china　as　refreshments　were　hand