按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
curled； like Mr。 Hatfield's； but simply brushed aside over a broad white
forehead； the eyebrows； I suppose； were too projecting； but from under
those dark brows there gleamed an eye of singular power； brown in colour；
not large； and somewhat deep…set； but strikingly brilliant； and full of
expression； there was character； too； in the mouth； something that bespoke
a man of firm purpose and an habitual thinker； and when he smiled … but I
will not speak of that yet； for； at the time I mention； I had never seen him
smile： and； indeed； his general appearance did not impress me with the
idea of a man given to such a relaxation； nor of such an individual as the
cottagers described him。 I had early formed my opinion of him； and； in
spite of Miss Murray's objurgations： was fully convinced that he was a
man of strong sense； firm faith； and ardent piety； but thoughtful and stern：
and when I found that； to his other good qualities； was added that of true
benevolence and gentle； considerate kindness； the discovery； perhaps；
delighted me the more； as I had not been prepared to expect it。
91
… Page 92…
AGNES GREY
CHAPTER XII … THE SHOWER
THE next visit I paid to Nancy Brown was in the second week in
March： for； though I had many spare minutes during the day； I seldom
could look upon an hour as entirely my own； since； where everything was
left to the caprices of Miss Matilda and her sister； there could be no order
or regularity。 Whatever occupation I chose； when not actually busied
about them or their concerns； I had； as it were； to keep my loins girded；
my shoes on my feet； and my staff in my hand； for not to be immediately
forthcoming when called for； was regarded as a grave and inexcusable
offence： not only by my pupils and their mother； but by the very servant；
who came in breathless haste to call me； exclaiming； 'You're to go to the
schoolroom DIRECTLY； mum； the young ladies is WAITING！！' Climax of
horror！ actually waiting for their governess！！！
But this time I was pretty sure of an hour or two to myself； for Matilda
was preparing for a long ride； and Rosalie was dressing for a dinner…party
at Lady Ashby's： so I took the opportunity of repairing to the widow's
cottage； where I found her in some anxiety about her cat； which had been
absent all day。 I comforted her with as many anecdotes of that animal's
roving propensities as I could recollect。 'I'm feared o' th' gamekeepers；'
said she： 'that's all 'at I think on。 If th' young gentlemen had been at
home； I should a' thought they'd been setting their dogs at her； an' worried
her； poor thing； as they did MANY a poor thing's cat； but I haven't that to
be feared on now。' Nancy's eyes were better； but still far from well： she
had been trying to make a Sunday shirt for her son； but told me she could
only bear to do a little bit at it now and then； so that it progressed but
slowly； though the poor lad wanted it sadly。 So I proposed to help her a
little； after I had read to her； for I had plenty of time that evening； and need
not return till dusk。 She thankfully accepted the offer。 'An' you'll be a
bit o' company for me too； Miss；' said she； 'I like as I feel lonesome
without my cat。' But when I had finished reading； and done the half of a
seam； with Nancy's capacious brass thimble fitted on to my finger by
92
… Page 93…
AGNES GREY
means of a roll of paper； I was disturbed by the entrance of Mr。 Weston；
with the identical cat in his arms。 I now saw that he could smile； and very
pleasantly too。
'I've done you a piece of good service； Nancy；' he began： then seeing
me； he acknowledged my presence by a slight bow。 I should have been
invisible to Hatfield； or any other gentleman of those parts。 'I've
delivered your cat；' he continued； 'from the hands； or rather the gun； of Mr。
Murray's gamekeeper。'
'God bless you； sir！' cried the grateful old woman； ready to weep for
joy as she received her favourite from his arms。
'Take care of it；' said he； 'and don't let it go near the rabbit… warren； for
the gamekeeper swears he'll shoot it if he sees it there again： he would
have done so to…day； if I had not been in time to stop him。 I believe it is
raining； Miss Grey；' added he； more quietly； observing that I had put aside
my work； and was preparing to depart。 'Don't let me disturb you … I
shan't stay two minutes。'
'You'll BOTH stay while this shower gets owered；' said Nancy； as she
stirred the fire； and placed another chair beside it； 'what！ there's room for
all。'
'I can see better here； thank you； Nancy；' replied I； taking my work to
the window； where she had the goodness to suffer me to remain
unmolested； while she got a brush to remove the cat's hairs from Mr。
Weston's coat； carefully wiped the rain from his hat； and gave the cat its
supper； busily talking all the time： now thanking her clerical friend for
what he had done； now wondering how the cat had found out the warren；
and now lamenting the probable consequences of such a discovery。 He
listened with a quiet； good… natured smile； and at length took a seat in
compliance with her pressing invitations； but repeated that he did not
mean to stay。
'I have another place to go to；' said he； 'and I see' （glancing at the book
on the table） 'someone else has been reading to you。'
'Yes； sir； Miss Grey has been as kind as read me a chapter； an' now
she's helping me with a shirt for our Bill … but I'm feared she'll be cold
there。 Won't you come to th' fire； Miss？'
93
… Page 94…
AGNES GREY
'No； thank you； Nancy； I'm quite warm。 I must go as soon as this
shower is over。'
'Oh； Miss！ You said you could stop while dusk！' cried the provoking
old woman； and Mr。 Weston seized his hat。
'Nay； sir；' exclaimed she； 'pray don't go now； while it rains so fast。'
'But it strikes me I'm keeping your visitor away from the fire。'
'No； you're not； Mr。 Weston；' replied I； hoping there was no harm in a
falsehood of that description。
'No； sure！' cried Nancy。 'What； there's lots o' room！'
'Miss Grey；' said he； half…jestingly； as if he felt it necessary to change
the present subject； whether he had anything particular to say or not； 'I
wish you would make my peace with the squire； when you see him。 He
was by when I rescued Nancy's cat； and did not quite approve of the deed。
I told him I thought he might better spare all his rabbits than she her cat；
for which audacious assertion he treated me to some rather ungentlemanly
language； and I fear I retorted a trifle too warmly。'
'Oh； lawful sir！ I hope you didn't fall out wi' th' maister for sake o'
my cat！ he cannot bide answering again … can th' maister。'
'Oh！ it's no matter； Nancy： I don't care about it； really； I said nothing
VERY uncivil； and I suppose Mr。 Murray is accustomed to use rather
strong language when he's heated。'
'Ay； sir： it's a pity。'
'And now； I really must go。 I have to visit a place a mile beyond this；
and you would not have me to return in the dark： besides； it has nearly
done raining now … so good…evening； Nancy。 Good… evening； Miss Grey。'
'Good…evening； Mr。 Weston； but don't depend upon me for making
your peace with Mr。 Murray； for I never see him … to speak to。'
'Don't you； it can't be helped then；' replied he； in dolorous resignation：
then； with a peculiar half…smile； he added； 'But never mind； I imagine the
squire has more to apologise for than I；' and left the cottage。
I went on with my sewing as long as I could see； and then bade Nancy
good…evening； checking her too lively gratitude by the undeniable
assurance that I had only done for her what she would have done