XLIII. Fanny's Revenge

           

           "Doyouwantmeanylongerma’am?"inquiredLiddy,atalaterhourthesameevening,standingbythedoorwithachambercandlestickinherhandandaddressingBathsheba,whosatcheerlessandaloneinthelargeparlourbesidethefirstfireoftheseason.

           "Nomoreto-night,Liddy."

           "I’llsitupformasterifyoulike,ma’am.IamnotatallafraidofFanny,ifImaysitinmyownroomandhaveacandle.Shewassuchachildlike,neshyoungthingthatherspiritcouldn’tappeartoanybodyifittried,I’mquitesure."

           "Ohno,no!Yougotobed.I’llsitupforhimmyselftilltwelveo’clock,andifhehasnotarrivedbythattime,Ishallgivehimupandgotobedtoo."

           "Itishalf-pasttennow."

           "Oh!isit?"

           "Whydon’tyousitupstairs,ma’am?"

           "Whydon’tI?"saidBathsheba,desultorily."Itisn’tworthwhilethere’safirehere,Liddy."Shesuddenlyexclaimedinanimpulsiveandexcitedwhisper,"HaveyouheardanythingstrangesaidofFanny?"Thewordshadnosoonerescapedherthananexpressionofunutterableregretcrossedherface,andsheburstintotears.

           "Nonotaword!"saidLiddy,lookingattheweepingwomanwithastonishment."Whatisitmakesyoucryso,ma’am;hasanythinghurtyou?"ShecametoBathsheba’ssidewithafacefullofsympathy.

           "No,LiddyIdon’twantyouanymore.IcanhardlysaywhyIhavetakentocryinglately:Ineverusedtocry.Good-night."

           Liddythenlefttheparlourandclosedthedoor.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 377 из 522