第89部分(第2/7 页)

d　a　pity　to　see　your　eyes—and　the　scar　of　fire　on　your　forehead：　and　the　worst　of　it　is；　one　is　in　danger　of　loving　you　too　well　for　all　this；　and　making　too　much　of　you。”

“I　thought　you　would　be　revolted；　Jane；　when　you　saw　my　arm；　and　my　cicatrised　visage。”

“Did　you？　Don’t　tell　me　so—lest　I　should　say　something　disparaging　to　your　judgment。　Now；　let　me　leave　you　an　instant；　to　make　a　better　fire；　and　have　the　hearth　swept　up。　Can　you　tell　when　there　is　a　good　fire？”

“Yes；　with　the　right　eye　I　see　a　glow—a　ruddy　haze。”

“And　you　see　the　candles？”

“Very　dimly—each　is　a　luminous　cloud。”

“Can　you　see　me？”

“No；　my　fairy：　but　I　am　only　too　thankful　to　hear　and　feel　you。”

“When　do　you　take　supper？”

“I　never　take　supper。”

“But　you　shall　have　some　to…night。　I　am　hungry：　so　are　you；　I　daresay；　only　you　forget。”

Summoning　Mary；　I　soon　had　the　room　in　more　cheerful　order：　I　prepared　him；　likewise；　a　fortable　repast。　My　spirits　were　excited；　and　with　pleasure　and　ease　I　talked　to　him　during　supper；　and　for　a　long　time　after。　There　was　no　harassing　restraint；　no　repressing　of　glee　and　vivacity　with　him；　for　with　him　I　was　at　perfect　ease；　because　I　knew　I　suited　him；　all　I　said　or　did　seemed　either　to　console　or　revive　him。　Delightful　consciousness！　It　brought　to　life　and　light　my　whole　nature：　in　his　presence　I　thoroughly　lived；　and　he　lived　in　mine。　Blind　as　he　was；　smiles　played　over　his　face；　joy　dawned　on　his　forehead：　his　lineaments　softened　and　warmed。

After　supper；　he　began　to　ask　me　many　questions；　of　where　I　had　been；　what　I　had　been　doing；　how　I　had　found　him　out；　but　I　gave　him　only　very　partial　replies：　it　was　too　late　to　enter　into　particulars　that　night。　Besides；　I　wished　to　touch　no　d