第70部分(第4/7 页)

ruel　since　breakfast。”

I　did　not　refuse　it；　for　my　appetite　was　awakened　and　keen。　Mr。　Rivers　now　closed　his　book；　approached　the　table；　and；　as　he　took　a　seat；　fixed　his　blue　pictorial…looking　eyes　full　on　me。　There　was　an　unceremonious　directness；　a　searching；　decided　steadfastness　in　his　gaze　now；　which　told　that　intention；　and　not　diffidence；　had　hitherto　kept　it　averted　from　the　stranger。

“You　are　very　hungry；”　he　said。

“I　am；　sir。”　It　is　my　way—it　always　was　my　way；　by　instinct—ever　to　meet　the　brief　with　brevity；　the　direct　with　plainness。

“It　is　well　for　you　that　a　low　fever　has　forced　you　to　abstain　for　the　last　three　days：　there　would　have　been　danger　in　yielding　to　the　cravings　of　your　appetite　at　first。　Now　you　may　eat；　though　still　not　immoderately。”

“I　trust　I　shall　not　eat　long　at　your　expense；　sir；”　was　my　very　clumsily…contrived；　unpolished　answer。

“No；”　he　said　coolly：　“when　you　have　indicated　to　us　the　residence　of　your　friends；　we　can　write　to　them；　and　you　may　be　restored　to　home。”

“That；　I　must　plainly　tell　you；　is　out　of　my　power　to　do；　being　absolutely　without　home　and　friends。”

The　three　looked　at　me；　but　not　distrustfully；　I　felt　there　was　no　suspicion　in　their　glances：　there　was　more　of　curiosity。　I　speak　particularly　of　the　young　ladies。　St。　John’s　eyes；　though　clear　enough　in　a　literal　sense；　in　a　figurative　one　were　difficult　to　fathom。　He　seemed　to　use　them　rather　as　instruments　to　search　other　people’s　thoughts；　than　as　agents　to　reveal　his　own：　the　which　bination　of　keenness　and　reserve　was　considerably　more　calculated　to　embarrass　than　to　encourage。

“Do　you　mean　to　say；”　he　asked；　“that　you　are　pletely　isolated　from　every　connection？”

“I　do。　Not　a　tie　links　me　to　any