第46部分(第2/7 页)

likely；　but　it　is　blank　and　cool—‘Farewell。’”

“How　long　is　he　going　to　stand　with　his　back　against　that　door？”　I　asked　myself；　“I　want　to　mence　my　packing。”　The　dinner…bell　rang；　and　suddenly　away　he　bolted；　without　another　syllable：　I　saw　him　no　more　during　the　day；　and　was　off　before　he　had　risen　in　the　morning。

I　reached　the　lodge　at　Gateshead　about　five　o’clock　in　the　afternoon　of　the　first　of　May：　I　stepped　in　there　before　going　up　to　the　hall。　It　was　very　clean　and　neat：　the　ornamental　windows　were　hung　with　little　white　curtains；　the　floor　was　spotless；　the　grate　and　fire…irons　were　burnished　bright；　and　the　fire　burnt　clear。　Bessie　sat　on　the　hearth；　nursing　her　last…born；　and　Robert　and　his　sister　played　quietly　in　a　corner。

“Bless　you！—I　knew　you　would　e！”　exclaimed　Mrs。　Leaven；　as　I　entered。

“Yes；　Bessie；”　said　I；　after　I　had　kissed　her；　“and　I　trust　I　am　not　too　late。　How　is　Mrs。　Reed？—Alive　still；　I　hope。”

“Yes；　she　is　alive；　and　more　sensible　and　collected　than　she　was。　The　doctor　says　she　may　linger　a　week　or　two　yet；　but　he　hardly　thinks　she　will　finally　recover。”

“Has　she　mentioned　me　lately？”

“She　was　talking　of　you　only　this　morning；　and　wishing　you　would　e；　but　she　is　sleeping　now；　or　was　ten　minutes　ago；　when　I　was　up　at　the　house。　She　generally　lies　in　a　kind　of　lethargy　all　the　afternoon；　and　wakes　up　about　six　or　seven。　Will　you　rest　yourself　here　an　hour；　Miss；　and　then　I　will　go　up　with　you？”

Robert　here　entered；　and　Bessie　laid　her　sleeping　child　in　the　cradle　and　went　to　wele　him：　afterwards　she　insisted　on　my　taking　off　my　bon　and　having　some　tea；　for　she　said　I　looked　pale　and　tired。　I　was　glad　to　accept　her　hospitality；　and　I　submitted　to　be　relieved　of　my　travelling　garb　just　as　pass