第11部分(第3/7 页)

five　o’clock　had　revived　vitality；　if　it　had　not　satisfied　hunger：　the　long　restraint　of　the　day　was　slackened；　the　schoolroom　felt　warmer　than　in　the　morning—its　fires　being　allowed　to　burn　a　little　more　brightly；　to　supply；　in　some　measure；　the　place　of　candles；　not　yet　introduced：　the　ruddy　gloaming；　the　licensed　uproar；　the　confusion　of　many　voices　gave　one　a　wele　sense　of　liberty。

On　the　evening　of　the　day　on　which　I　had　seen　Miss　Scatcherd　flog　her　pupil；　Burns；　I　wandered　as　usual　among　the　forms　and　tables　and　laughing　groups　without　a　panion；　yet　not　feeling　lonely：　when　I　passed　the　windows；　I　now　and　then　lifted　a　blind；　and　looked　out；　it　snowed　fast；　a　drift　was　already　forming　against　the　lower　panes；　putting　my　ear　close　to　the　window；　I　could　distinguish　from　the　gleeful　tumult　within；　the　disconsolate　moan　of　the　wind　outside。

Probably；　if　I　had　lately　left　a　good　home　and　kind　parents；　this　would　have　been　the　hour　when　I　should　most　keenly　have　regretted　the　separation；　that　wind　would　then　have　saddened　my　heart；　this　obscure　chaos　would　have　disturbed　my　peace！　as　it　was；　I　derived　from　both　a　strange　excitement；　and　reckless　and　feverish；　I　wished　the　wind　to　howl　more　wildly；　the　gloom　to　deepen　to　darkness；　and　the　confusion　to　rise　to　clamour。

Jumping　over　forms；　and　creeping　under　tables；　I　made　my　way　to　one　of　the　fire…places；　there；　kneeling　by　the　high　wire　fender；　I　found　Burns；　absorbed；　silent；　abstracted　from　all　round　her　by　the　panionship　of　a　book；　which　she　read　by　the　dim　glare　of　the　embers。

“Is　it　still　Rasselas？”　I　asked；　ing　behind　her。

“Yes；”　she　said；　“and　I　have　just　finished　it。”

And　in　five　minutes　more　she　shut　it　up。　I　was　glad　of　this。　“Now；”　thought　I；　“I　can　perhaps　get　her　to