第38章
第38章theboxwascorded,thecardnailedon.inhalf-an-hourthecarrierwastocallforittotakeittolowton,whetherimyselfwastorepairatanearlyhourthenextmorningtomeetthecoach.ihadbrushedmyblackstufftravelling-dress,preparedmybonnet,gloves,andmuff;soughtinallmydrawerstoseethatnoarticlewasleftbehind;andnowhavingnothingmoretodo,isatdownandtriedtorest.icouldnot;thoughihadbeenonfootallday,icouldnotnowreposeaninstant;iwastoomuchexcited.aphaseofmylifewasclosingto-night,anewoneopeningto-morrow:impossibletoslumberintheinterval;imustwatchfeverishlywhilethechangewasbeingaccomplished.
“miss,”saidaservantwhometmeinthelobby,whereiwaswanderinglikeatroubledspirit,“apersonbelowwishestoseeyou.”
“thecarrier,nodoubt,”ithought,andrandownstairswithoutinquiry.iwaspassingtheback-parlourorteachers’sitting-room,thedoorofwhichwashalfopen,togotothekitchen,whensomeoneranout—
“it’sher,iamsure!—icouldhavetoldheranywhere!”criedtheindividualwhostoppedmyprogressandtookmyhand.
ilooked:isawawomanattiredlikeawell-dressedservant,matronly,yetstillyoung;verygood-looking,withblackhairandeyes,andlivelycomplexion.
“well,whoisit?”sheasked,inavoiceandwithasmileihalfrecognised;“you’venotquiteforgottenme,ithink,missjane?”
inanothersecondiwasembracingandkissingherrapturously:“bessie!bessie!bessie!”thatwasallisaid;whereatshehalflaughed,halfcried,andwebothwentintotheparlour.bythefirestoodalittlefellowofthreeyearsold,inplaidfrockandtrousers.
“thatismylittleboy,”saidbessiedirectly.
“thenyouaremarried,bessie?”
“yes;nearlyfiveyearssincetorobertleaven,thecoachman;andi’vealittlegirlbesidesbobbythere,thati’vechristenedjane.”
“andyoudon’tliveatgateshead?”
“iliveatthelodge:theoldporterhasleft.”
“well,andhowdotheyallgeton?tellmeeverythingaboutthem,bessie:butsitdownfirst;and,bobby,comeandsitonmyknee,willyou?”butbobbypreferredsidlingovertohismother.
“you’renotgrownsoverytall,missjane,norsoverystout,”continuedmrs.leaven.“idaresaythey’venotkeptyoutoowellatschool:missreedistheheadandshoulderstallerthanyouare;andmissgeorgianawouldmaketwoofyouinbreadth.”
“georgianaishandsome,isuppose,bessie?”
“very.shewentuptolondonlastwinterwithhermama,andthereeverybodyadmiredher,andayounglordfellinlovewithher:buthisrelationswereagainstthematch;and—whatdoyouthink?—heandmissgeorgianamadeituptorunaway;buttheywerefoundoutandstopped.itwasmissreedthatfoundthemout:ibelieveshewasenvious;andnowsheandhersisterleadacatanddoglifetogether;theyarealwaysquarrelling—”
“well,andwhatofjohnreed?”
“oh,heisnotdoingsowellashismamacouldwish.hewenttocollege,andhegot—plucked,ithinktheycallit:andthenhisuncleswantedhimtobeabarrister,andstudythelaw:butheissuchadissipatedyoungman,theywillnevermakemuchofhim,ithink.”
“whatdoeshelooklike?”
“heisverytall:somepeoplecallhimafine-lookingyoungman;buthehassuchthicklips.”
“andmrs.reed?”
“missislooksstoutandwellenoughintheface,butithinkshe’snotquiteeasyinhermind:mr.john’sconductdoesnotpleaseher—hespendsadealofmoney.”