第89部分(第1/7 页)

ill　be　satisfied；　or　it　will　take　deadly　vengeance　on　its　frame。”

“Well；　sir；　I　will　stay　with　you：　I　have　said　so。”

“Yes—but　you　understand　one　thing　by　staying　with　me；　and　I　understand　another。　You；　perhaps；　could　make　up　your　mind　to　be　about　my　hand　and　chair—to　wait　on　me　as　a　kind　little　nurse　（for　you　have　an　affectionate　heart　and　a　generous　spirit；　which　prompt　you　to　make　sacrifices　for　those　you　pity）；　and　that　ought　to　suffice　for　me　no　doubt。　I　suppose　I　should　now　entertain　none　but　fatherly　feelings　for　you：　do　you　think　so？　e—tell　me。”

“I　will　think　what　you　like；　sir：　I　am　content　to　be　only　your　nurse；　if　you　think　it　better。”

“But　you　cannot　always　be　my　nurse；　Ja：　you　are　young—you　must　marry　one　day。”

“I　don’t　care　about　being　married。”

“You　should　care；　Ja：　if　I　were　what　I　once　was；　I　would　try　to　make　you　care—but—a　sightless　block！”

He　relapsed　again　into　gloom。　I；　on　the　contrary；　became　more　cheerful；　and　took　fresh　courage：　these　last　words　gave　me　an　insight　as　to　where　the　difficulty　lay；　and　as　it　was　no　difficulty　y　previous　embarrassment。　I　resumed　a　livelier　vein　of　conversation。

“It　is　time　some　one　undertook　to　rehumanise　you；”　said　I；　parting　his　thick　and　long　uncut　locks；　“for　I　see　you　are　being　metamorphosed　into　a　lion；　or　something　of　that　sort。　You　have　a　‘faux　air’　of　Nebuchadnezzar　in　the　fields　about　you；　that　is　certain：　your　hair　reminds　me　of　eagles’　feathers；　whether　your　nails　are　grown　like　birds’　claws　or　not；　I　have　not　yet　noticed。”

“On　this　arm；　I　have　neither　hand　nor　nails；”　he　said；　drawing　the　mutilated　limb　from　his　breast；　and　showing　it　to　me。　“It　is　a　mere　stump—a　ghastly　sight！　Don’t　you　think　so；　Jane？”

“It　is　a　pity　to　see　it；　an