小说园

第18部分（第2页）

“It’s　her；　I　am　sure！—I　could　have　told　her　anywhere！”　cried　the　individual　who　stopped　my　progress　and　took　my　hand。

I　looked：　I　saw　a　woman　attired　like　a　well…dressed　servant；　matronly；　yet　still　young；　very　good…looking；　with　black　hair　and　eyes；　and　lively　plexion。

“Well；　who　is　it？”　she　asked；　in　a　voice　and　with　a　smile　I　half　recognised；　“you’ve　not　quite　forgotten　me；　I　think；　Miss　Jane？”

In　another　second　I　was　embracing　and　kissing　her　rapturously：　“Bessie！　Bessie！　Bessie！”　that　was　all　I　said；　whereat　she　half　laughed；　half　cried；　and　we　both　went　into　the　parlour。　By　the　fire　stood　a　little　fellow　of　three　years　old；　in　plaid　frock　and　trousers。

“That　is　my　little　boy；”　said　Bessie　directly。

“Then　you　are　married；　Bessie？”

“Yes；　nearly　five　years　since　to　Robert　Leaven；　the　coachman；　and　I’ve　a　little　girl　besides　Bobby　there；　that　I’ve　christened　Jane。”

“And　you　don’t　live　at　Gateshead？”

“I　live　at　the　lodge：　the　old　porter　has　left。”

“Well；　and　how　do　they　all　get　on？　Tell　me　everything　about　them；　Bessie：　but　sit　down　first；　and；　Bobby；　e　and　sit　on　my　knee；　will　you？”　but　Bobby　preferred　sidling　over　to　his　mother。

“You’re　not　grown　so　very　tall；　Miss　Jane；　nor　so　very　stout；”　continued　Mrs。　Leaven。　“I　dare　say　they’ve　not　kept　you　too　well　at　school：　Miss　Reed　is　the　head　and　shoulders　taller　than　you　are；　and　Miss　Georgiana　would　make　two　of　you　in　breadth。”

“Georgiana　is　handsome；　I　suppose；　Bessie？”

“Very。　She　went　up　to　London　last　winter　with　her　mama；　and　there　everybody　admired　her；　and　a　young　lord　fell　in　love　with　her：　but　his　relations　were　against　the　match；　and—what　do　you　think？—he　and　Miss　Georgiana　made　it　up　to　run　away；　but　they　were　found　out　and　stopped。　It　was　Miss　Reed　that　found　them　out：　I　believe　she　was　envious；　and　now　she　and　her　sister　lead　a　cat　and　dog　life　together；　they　are　always　quarrelling—”

“Well；　and　what　of　John　Reed？”

“Oh；　he　is　not　doing　so　well　as　his　mama　could　wish。　He　went　to　college；　and　he　got—plucked；　I　think　they　call　it：　and　then　his　uncles　wanted　him　to　be　a　barrister；　and　study　the　law：　but　he　is　such　a　dissipated　young　man；　they　will　never　make　much　of　him；　I　think。”

“What　does　he　look　like？”

“He　is　very　tall：　some　people　call　him　a　fine…looking　young　man；　but　he　has　such　thick　lips。”

“And　Mrs。　Reed？”

“Missis　looks　stout　and　well　enough　in　the　face；　but　I　think　she’s　not　quite　easy　in　her　mind：　Mr。　John’s　conduct　does　not　please　her—he　spends　a　deal　of　money。”

“Did　she　send　you　here；　Bessie？”

“No；　indeed：　but　I　have　long　wanted　to　see　you；　and　when　I　heard　that　there　had　been　a　letter　from　you；　and　that　you　were　going　to　another　part　of　the　country；　I　thought　I’d　just　set　of；　and　get　a　look　at　you　before　you　y　reach。”

“I　am　afraid　you　are　disappointed　in　me；　Bessie。”　I　said　this　laughing：　I　perceived　that　Bessie’s　glance；　though　it　expressed　regard；　did　in　no　shape　denote　admira