第71部分(第1/7 页)

ou；　Mr。　Rivers；　forbade　me　to　perish　of　want　at　your　door；　and　took　me　under　the　shelter　of　your　roof。　I　know　all　your　sisters　have　done　for　me　since—for　I　have　not　been　insensible　during　my　seeming　torpor—and　I　owe　to　their　spontaneous；　genuine；　genial　passion　as　large　a　debt　as　to　your　evangelical　charity。”

“Don’t　make　her　talk　any　more　now；　St。　John；”　said　Diana；　as　I　paused；　“she　is　evidently　not　yet　fit　for　excitement。　e　to　the　sofa　and　sit　down　now；　Miss　Elliott。”

I　gave　an　involuntary　half　start　at　hearing　the　alias：　I　had　forgotten　my　new　name。　Mr。　Rivers；　whom　nothing　seemed　to　escape；　noticed　it　at　once。

“You　said　your　name　was　Jane　Elliott？”　he　observed。

“I　did　say　so；　and　it　is　the　name　by　which　I　think　it　expedient　to　be　called　at　present；　but　it　is　not　my　real　name；　and　when　I　hear　it；　it　sounds　strange　to　me。”

“Your　real　name　you　will　not　give？”

“No：　I　fear　discovery　above　all　things；　and　whatever　disclosure　would　lead　to　it；　I　avoid。”

“You　are　quite　right；　I　am　sure；”　said　Diana。　“Now　do；　brother；　let　her　be　at　peace　a　while。”

But　when　St。　John　had　mused　a　few　moments　he　remenced　as　imperturbably　and　with　as　much　acumen　as　ever。

“You　would　not　like　to　be　long　dependent　on　our　hospitality—you　would　wish；　I　see；　to　dispense　as　soon　as　may　be　with　my　sisters’　passion；　and；　above　all；　with　my　charity　（I　am　quite　sensible　of　the　distinction　drawn；　nor　do　I　resent　it—it　is　just）：　you　desire　to　be　independent　of　us？”

“I　do：　I　have　already　said　so。　Show　me　how　to　work；　or　how　to　seek　work：　that　is　all　I　now　ask；　then　let　me　go；　if　it　be　but　to　the　meanest　cottage；　but　till　then；　allow　me　to　stay　here：　I　dread　another　essay　of　the　horrors　of　homeless　destitution。”

“Indeed　you　shall　s