第21部分(第5/8 頁)

es。

I　found　my　pupil　sufficiently　docile；　though　disinclined　to　apply：　she　had　not　been　used　to　regular　occupation　of　any　kind。　I　felt　it　would　be　injudicious　to　confine　her　too　much　at　first；　so；　when　I　had　talked　to　her　a　great　deal；　and　got　her　to　learn　a　little；　and　when　the　morning　had　advanced　to　noon；　I　allowed　her　to　return　to　her　nurse。　I　then　proposed　to　occupy　myself　till　dinner…time　in　drawing　some　little　sketches　for　her　use。

As　I　was　going　upstairs　to　fetch　my　portfolio　and　pencils；　Mrs。　Fairfax　called　to　me：　“Your　morning　school…hours　are　over　now；　I　suppose；”　said　she。　She　was　in　a　room　the　folding…doors　of　which　stood　open：　I　went　in　when　she　addressed　me。　It　was　a　large；　stately　apartment；　with　purple　chairs　and　curtains；　a　Turkey　carpet；　walnut…panelled　walls；　one　vast　window　rich　in　slanted　glass；　and　a　lofty　ceiling；　nobly　moulded。　Mrs。　Fairfax　was　dusting　some　vases　of　fine　purple　spar；　which　stood　on　a　sideboard。

“What　a　beautiful　room！”　I　exclaimed；　as　I　looked　round；　for　I　had　never　before　seen　any　half　so　imposing。

“Yes；　this　is　the　dining…room。　I　have　just　opened　the　window；　to　let　in　a　little　air　and　sunshine；　for　everything　gets　so　damp　in　apartments　that　are　seldom　inhabited；　the　drawing…room　yonder　feels　like　a　vault。”

She　pointed　to　a　wide　arch　corresponding　to　the　window；　and　hung　like　it　with　a　Tyrian…dyed　curtain；　now　looped　up。　Mounting　to　it　by　two　broad　steps；　and　looking　through；　I　thought　I　caught　a　gl