第148章

第148章ifeltaburningglowmounttomyface;forbitterandagitatingrecollectionswereawakenedbytheallusiontomarriage.theyallsawtheembarrassmentandtheemotion.dianaandmaryrelievedmebyturningtheireyeselsewherethantomycrimsonedvisage;butthecolderandsternerbrothercontinuedtogaze,tillthetroublehehadexcitedforcedouttearsaswellascolour.

“wheredidyoulastreside?”henowasked.

“youaretooinquisitive,st.john,”murmuredmaryinalowvoice;butheleanedoverthetableandrequiredananswerbyasecondfirmandpiercinglook.

“thenameoftheplacewhere,andofthepersonwithwhomilived,ismysecret,”irepliedconcisely.

“which,ifyoulike,youhave,inmyopinion,arighttokeep,bothfromst.johnandeveryotherquestioner,”remarkeddiana.

“yetifiknownothingaboutyouoryourhistory,icannothelpyou,”hesaid.“andyouneedhelp,doyounot?”

“ineedit,andiseekitsofar,sir,thatsometruephilanthropistwillputmeinthewayofgettingworkwhichicando,andtheremunerationforwhichwillkeepme,ifbutinthebarestnecessariesoflife.”

“iknownotwhetheriamatruephilanthropist;yetiamwillingtoaidyoutotheutmostofmypowerinapurposesohonest.first,then,tellmewhatyouhavebeenaccustomedtodo,andwhatyoucando.”

ihadnowswallowedmytea.iwasmightilyrefreshedbythebeverage;asmuchsoasagiantwithwine:itgavenewtonetomyunstrungnerves,andenabledmetoaddressthispenetratingyoungjudgesteadily.

“mr.rivers,”isaid,turningtohim,andlookingathim,ashelookedatme,openlyandwithoutdiffidence,“youandyoursistershavedonemeagreatservice—thegreatestmancandohisfellow-being;youhaverescuedme,byyournoblehospitality,fromdeath.thisbenefitconferredgivesyouanunlimitedclaimonmygratitude,andaclaim,toacertainextent,onmyconfidence.iwilltellyouasmuchofthehistoryofthewandereryouhaveharboured,asicantellwithoutcompromisingmyownpeaceofmind—myownsecurity,moralandphysical,andthatofothers.

“iamanorphan,thedaughterofaclergyman.myparentsdiedbeforeicouldknowthem.iwasbroughtupadependant;educatedinacharitableinstitution.iwilleventellyouthenameoftheestablishment,whereipassedsixyearsasapupil,andtwoasateacher—lowoodorphanasylum,—shire:youwillhaveheardofit,mr.rivers?—therev.robertbrocklehurstisthetreasurer.”

“ihaveheardofmr.brocklehurst,andihaveseentheschool.”