第49部分(第3/7 页)

ty；　I　should　assign　you　your　share　of　labour；　and　pel　you　to　acplish　it；　or　else　it　should　be　left　undone：　I　should　insist；　also；　on　your　keeping　some　of　those　drawling；　half…insincere　plaints　hushed　in　your　own　breast。　It　is　only　because　our　connection　happens　to　be　very　transitory；　and　es　at　a　peculiarly　mournful　season；　that　I　consent　thus　to　render　it　so　patient　and　pliant　on　my　part。”

At　last　I　saw　Georgiana　off；　but　now　it　was　Eliza’s　turn　to　request　me　to　stay　another　e　and　attention；　she　said；　she　was　about　to　depart　for　some　unknown　bourne；　and　all　day　long　she　stayed　in　her　own　room；　her　door　bolted　within；　filling　trunks；　emptying　drawers；　burning　papers；　and　holding　no　munication　with　any　one。　She　wished　me　to　look　after　the　house；　to　see　callers；　and　answer　notes　of　condolence。

One　morning　she　told　me　I　was　at　liberty。　“And；”　she　added；　“I　am　obliged　to　you　for　your　valuable　services　and　discreet　conduct！　There　is　some　difference　between　living　with　such　an　one　as　you　and　with　Georgiana：　you　perform　your　own　part　in　life　and　burden　no　one。　To…morrow；”　she　continued；　“I　set　out　for　the　Continent。　I　shall　take　up　my　abode　in　a　religious　house　near　Lisle—a　nunnery　you　would　call　it；　there　I　shall　be　quiet　and　unmolested。　I　shall　devote　myself　for　a　time　to　the　examination　of　the　Roman　Catholic　dogmas；　and　to　a　careful　study　of　the　workings　of　their　system：　if　I　find　it　to　be；　as　I　half　suspect　it　is；　the　one　best　calculated　to　ensure　the　doing　of　all　things　decently　and　in　order；　I　shall　embrace　the　tes　of　Rome　and　probably　take　the　veil。”

I　neither　expressed　surprise　at　this　resolution　nor　attempted　to　dissuade　her　from　it。　“The　vocation　will　fit　you　to　a　hair；”　I　thought：　“much　good　may　it　do　you！”

When　we　parted；　she　said：　“Good…