rksareclosedandhehasnobusiooccupyhim.Now,Mr.Rivers,doe.Whyareyousoveryshy,andsoverysombre?”Shefilledupthehiatushissilebyareplyofherown.

    “Ifot!”sheexclaimed,shakingherbeautifulcurledhead,asifshockedatherself.“Iamsogiddyandthoughtless!Doexcuseme.Ithadslippedmymemorythatyouhavegoodreasonstobeindisposedforjoininginmychatter.DianaandMaryhaveleftyou,andMoorHouseisshutup,andyouaresolonely.IamsureIpityyou.Doeandseepapa.”

    “Notto-night,MissRosamond,notto-night.”

    Mr.St.Johnspokealmostlikeanautomaton:himselfonlykheeffortitcosthimthustorefuse.

    “Well,ifyouaresoobstinate,Iwillleaveyou;forIdarenotstayanylohedewbeginstofall.Goodevening!”

    Sheheldoutherhatouchedit.“Goodevening!”herepeated,inavoicelowandhollowasanecho.Sheturned,butinamomeurned.

    “Areyouwell?”sheasked.Wellmightsheputthequestion:hisfacewasblanchedashergown.

    “Quitewell,”heenunciated;and,withabow,heleftthegate.Shewentoneway;heanother.Sheturwicetogazeafterhimasshetrippedfairy-likedownthefield;he,ashestrodefirmlyacross,urall.

    Thisspectacleofanother’ssufferingandsacrificeraptmythoughtsfromexclusivemeditationonmyown.DianaRivershaddesignatedherbrother“inexorableasdeath.”Shehadnotexaggerated.松语文学Www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读