第11部分(第6/7 页)

he　very　sound　of　her　voice；　I　fall　into　a　sort　of　dream。　Sometimes　I　think　I　am　in　Northumberland；　and　that　the　noises　I　hear　round　me　are　the　bubbling　of　a　little　brook　which　runs　through　Deepden；　near　our　house；—then；　when　it　es　to　my　turn　to　reply；　I　have　to　be　awakened；　and　having　heard　nothing　of　what　was　read　for　listening　to　the　visionary　brook；　I　have　no　answer　ready。”

“Yet　how　well　you　replied　this　afternoon。”

“It　was　mere　chance；　the　subject　on　which　we　had　been　reading　had　interested　me。　This　afternoon；　instead　of　dreaming　of　Deepden；　I　was　wondering　how　a　man　who　wished　to　do　right　could　act　so　unjustly　and　unwisely　as　Charles　the　First　sometimes　did；　and　I　thought　what　a　pity　it　was　that；　with　his　integrity　and　conscientiousness；　he　could　see　no　farther　than　the　prerogatives　of　the　crown。　If　he　had　but　been　able　to　look　to　a　distance；　and　see　how　what　they　call　the　spirit　of　the　age　was　tending！　Still；　I　like　Charles—I　respect　him—I　pity　him；　poor　murdered　king！　Yes；　his　enemies　were　the　worst：　they　shed　blood　they　had　no　right　to　shed。　How　dared　they　kill　him！”

Helen　was　talking　to　herself　now：　she　had　forgotten　I　could　not　very　well　understand　her—that　I　was　ignorant；　or　nearly　so；　of　the　subject　she　discussed。　I　recalled　her　to　my　level。

“And　when　Miss　Temple　teaches　you；　do　your　thoughts　wander　then？”

“No；　certainly；　not　often；　because　Miss　Temple　has　generally　something　to　say　which　is　newer　than　my　own　reflections；　her　language　is　singularly　agreeable　to　me；　and　the　information　she　municates　is　often　just　what　I　wished　to　gain。”

“Well；　then；　with　Miss　Temple　you　are　good？”

“Yes；　in　a　passive　way：　I　make　no　effort；　I　follow　as　inclination　guides　me。　There　is　no　merit　in　such　goodness。”

“A　great　de