第44部分(第2/7 页)

e　we　had　entered）　“all　is　real；　sweet；　and　pure。”

He　strayed　down　a　walk　edged　with　box；　with　apple　trees；　pear　trees；　and　cherry　trees　on　one　side；　and　a　border　on　the　other　full　of　all　sorts　of　old…fashioned　flowers；　stocks；　sweet…williams；　primroses；　pansies；　mingled　with　southernwood；　sweet…briar；　and　various　fragrant　herbs。　They　were　fresh　now　as　a　succession　of　April　showers　and　gleams；　followed　by　a　lovely　spring　morning；　could　make　them：　the　sun　was　just　entering　the　dappled　east；　and　his　light　illumined　the　wreathed　and　dewy　orchard　trees　and　shone　do。

“Jane；　will　you　have　a　flower？”

He　gathered　a　half…blown　rose；　the　first　on　the　bush；　and　offered　it　to　me。

“Thank　you；　sir。”

“Do　you　like　this　sunrise；　Jane？　That　sky　with　its　high　and　light　clouds　which　are　sure　to　melt　away　as　the　day　waxes　warm—this　placid　and　balmly　atmosphere？”

“I　do；　very　much。”

“You　have　passed　a　strange　night；　Jane。”

“Yes；　sir。”

“And　it　has　made　you　look　pale—were　you　afraid　when　I　left　you　alone　with　Mason？”

“I　was　afraid　of　some　one　ing　out　of　the　inner　room。”

“But　I　had　fastened　the　door—I　had　the　key　in　my　pocket：　I　should　have　been　a　careless　shepherd　if　I　had　left　a　lamb—my　pet　lamb—so　near　a　wolf’s　den；　unguarded：　you　were　safe。”

“Will　Grace　Poole　live　here　still；　sir？”

“Oh　yes！　don’t　trouble　your　head　about　her—put　the　thing　out　of　your　thoughts。”

“Yet　it　seems　to　me　your　life　is　hardly　secure　while　she　stays。”

“Never　fear—I　will　take　care　of　myself。”

“Is　the　danger　you　apprehended　last　night　gone　by　now；　sir？”

“I　cannot　vouch　for　that　till　Mason　is　out　of　England：　nor　even　then。　To　live；　for　me；　Jane；　is　to　stand　on　a　crater…crust　which　may　crack　and　spue　fire　a