第7部分(第3/8 頁)

ossibly　positively　beautiful　if　you　tried。〃

Miss　Grey　laughed　unaffectedly。

〃Oh；　I　don't　think　you　could　ever　make　a　beauty　out　of　me；〃　she　said　sincerely。　〃But　I　shall　enjoy　having　some　really　good　clothes。　I'm　afraid　I'm　talking　about　myself　an　awful　lot。〃

Mrs　Harrison　looked　at　her　shrewdly。

〃It　must　be　quite　a　novel　experience　for　you；〃　she　said　drily。

Katherine　went　to　say　good…bye　to　old　Miss　Viner　before　leaving　the　village。　Miss　Viner　was　two　years　older　than　Mrs　Harfield；　and　her　mind　was　mainly　taken　up　with　her　own　success　in　outliving　her　dead　friend。

〃You　wouldn't　have　thought　I'd　have　outlasted　Jane　Harfield；　would　you？〃　she　demanded　triumphantly　of　Katherine。　〃We　were　at　school　together；　she　and　I。　And　here　we　are；　she　taken；　and　I　left。　Who　would　have　thought　it？〃

〃You've　always　eaten　brown　bread　for　supper；　haven't　you？〃　murmured　Katherine　mechanically。

〃Fancy　your　remembering　that；　my　dear。　Yes；　if　Jane　Harfield　had　had　a　slice　of　brown　bread　every　evening　and　taken　a　little　stimulant　with　her　meals　she　might　be　here　today。〃

The　old　lady　paused；　nodding　her　head　triumphantly；　then　added　in　sudden　remembrance：

〃And　so　you've　e　into　a　lot　of　money；　I　hear？　Well；　well。　Take　care　of　it。　And　you're　going　up　to　London　to　have　a　good　time？　Don't　think　you'll　get　married；　though；　my　dear；　because　you　won't。　You're　not　the　kind　to　attract　the　men。　And；　besides；　you're　getting　on。　How　old　are　you　no