第21部分(第2/7 页)

　into　a　coach；　which　took　us　to　a　beautiful　large　house；　larger　than　this　and　finer；　called　an　hotel。　We　stayed　there　nearly　a　week：　I　and　Sophie　used　to　walk　every　day　in　a　great　green　place　full　of　trees；　called　the　Park；　and　there　were　many　children　there　besides　me；　and　a　pond　with　beautiful　birds　in　it；　that　I　fed　with　crumbs。”

“Can　you　understand　her　when　she　runs　on　so　fast？”　asked　Mrs。　Fairfax。

I　understood　her　very　well；　for　I　had　been　accustomed　to　the　fluent　tongue　of　Madame　Pierrot。

“I　wish；”　continued　the　good　lady；　“you　would　ask　her　a　question　or　two　about　her　parents：　I　wonder　if　she　remembers　them？”

“Adèle；”　I　inquired；　“with　whom　did　you　live　when　you　were　in　that　pretty　clean　town　you　spoke　of？”

“I　lived　long　ago　with　mama；　but　she　is　gone　to　the　Holy　Virgin。　Mama　used　to　teach　me　to　dance　and　sing；　and　to　say　verses。　A　great　many　gentlemen　and　ladies　came　to　see　mama；　and　I　used　to　dance　before　them；　or　to　sit　on　their　knees　and　sing　to　them：　I　liked　it。　Shall　I　let　you　hear　me　sing　now？”

She　had　finished　her　breakfast；　so　I　permitted　her　to　give　a　specimen　of　her　acplishments。　Descending　from　her　chair；　she　came　and　placed　herself　on　my　knee；　then；　folding　her　little　hands　demurely　before　her；　shaking　back　her　curls　and　lifting　her　eyes　to　the　ceiling；　she　menced　singing　a　song　from　some　opera。　It　was　the　strain　of　a　forsaken　lady；　who；　after　bewailing　the　perfidy　of　her　lover；　calls　pride　to　her　aid；　desires　her　attendant　to　deck　her　in　her　brightest　jewels　and　richest　robes；　and　resolves　to　meet　the　false　one　that　night　at　a　ball；　and　prove　to　him；　by　the　gaiety　of　her　demeanour；　how　little　his　desertion　has　affected　her。

The　subject　seemed　strangely　chosen　for　an　infant　singer；　but　I　suppose　the　po