第35部分(第2/8 頁)

f　dress。

A　soft　sound　of　rising　now　became　audible；　the　curtain　was　swept　back　from　the　arch；　through　it　appeared　the　dining…room；　with　its　lit　lustre　pouring　down　light　on　the　silver　and　glass　of　a　magnificent　dessert…service　covering　a　long　table；　a　band　of　ladies　stood　in　the　opening；　they　entered；　and　the　curtain　fell　behind　them。

There　were　but　eight；　yet；　somehow；　as　they　flocked　in；　they　gave　the　impression　of　a　much　larger　number。　Some　of　them　were　very　tall；　many　were　dressed　in　white；　and　all　had　a　sweeping　amplitude　of　array　that　seemed　to　magnify　their　persons　as　a　mist　magnifies　the　moon。　I　rose　and　curtseyed　to　them：　one　or　two　bent　their　heads　in　return；　the　others　only　stared　at　me。

They　dispersed　about　the　room；　reminding　me；　by　the　lightness　and　buoyancy　of　their　movements；　of　a　flock　of　white　plumy　birds。　Some　of　them　threw　themselves　in　half…reclining　positions　on　the　sofas　and　ottomans：　some　bent　over　the　tables　and　examined　the　flowers　and　books：　the　rest　gathered　in　a　group　round　the　fire：　all　talked　in　a　low　but　clear　tone　which　seemed　habitual　to　them。　I　knew　their　names　afterwards；　and　may　as　well　mention　them　now。

First；　there　was　Mrs。　Eshton　and　two　of　her　daughters。　She　had　evidently　been　a　handsome　woman；　and　was　well　preserved　still。　Of　her　daughters；　the　eldest；　Amy；　was　rather　little：　naive；　and　child…like　in　face　and　manner；　and　piquant　in　form；　her　white　muslin　dress　and　blue　sash　became　her　well。　The　second；　Loui