第70部分(第5/7 页)

living　thing：　not　a　claim　do　I　possess　to　admittance　under　any　roof　in　England。”

“A　most　singular　position　at　your　age！”

Here　I　saw　his　glance　directed　to　my　hands；　which　were　folded　on　the　table　before　me。　I　wondered　what　he　sought　there：　his　words　soon　explained　the　quest。

“You　have　never　been　married？　You　are　a　spinster？”

Diana　laughed。　“Why；　she　can’t　he　above　seventeen　or　eighteen　years　old；　St。　John；”　said　she。

“I　am　near　nieen：　but　I　am　not　married。　No。”

I　felt　a　burning　glow　mount　to　my　face；　for　bitter　and　agitating　recollections　were　awakened　by　the　allusion　to　marriage。　They　all　saw　the　embarrassment　and　the　emotion。　Diana　and　Mary　relieved　me　by　turning　their　eyes　elsewhere　than　to　my　crimsoned　visage；　but　the　colder　and　sterner　brother　continued　to　gaze；　till　the　trouble　he　had　excited　forced　out　tears　as　well　as　colour。

“Where　did　you　last　reside？”　he　now　asked。

“You　are　too　inquisitive；　St。　John；”　murmured　Mary　in　a　low　voice；　but　he　leaned　over　the　table　and　required　an　answer　by　a　second　firm　and　piercing　look。

“The　name　of　the　place　where；　and　of　the　person　with　whom　I　lived；　is　my　secret；”　I　replied　concisely。

“Which；　if　you　like；　you　have；　in　my　opinion；　a　right　to　keep；　both　from　St。　John　and　every　other　questioner；”　remarked　Diana。

“Yet　if　I　know　nothing　about　you　or　your　history；　I　cannot　help　you；”　he　said。　“And　you　need　help；　do　you　not？”

“I　need　it；　and　I　seek　it　so　far；　sir；　that　some　true　philanthropist　will　put　me　in　the　way　of　getting　work　which　I　can　do；　and　the　remuneration　for　which　will　keep　me；　if　but　in　the　barest　necessaries　of　life。”

“I　know　not　whether　I　am　a　true　philanthropist；　yet　I　am　willing　to　aid　you　to　the　utmost　of　my　power　in　a　purp