迪文小说

第39部分（第2页）

“My　darling　Blanche！　recollect—”

“I　do—I　recollect　all　you　can　suggest；　and　I　must　have　my　！”

“Yes—yes—yes！”　cried　all　the　juveniles；　both　ladies　and　gentlemen。　“Let　her　e—it　will　be　excellent　sport！”

The　footman　still　lingered。　“She　looks　such　a　rough　one；”　said　he。

“Go！”　ejaculated　Miss　Ingram；　and　the　man　went。

Excitement　instantly　seized　the　whole　party：　a　running　fire　of　raillery　and　jests　was　proceeding　when　Sam　returned。

“She　won’t　e　now；”　said　he。　“She　says　it’s　not　her　mission　to　appear　before　the　‘vulgar　herd’　（them’s　her　words）。　I　must　show　her　into　a　room　by　herself；　and　then　those　who　wish　to　consult　her　must　go　to　her　one　by　one。”

“You　see　now；　my　queenly　Blanche；”　began　Lady　Ingram；　“she　encroaches。　Be　advised；　my　angel　girl—and—”

“Show　her　into　the　library；　of　course；”　cut　in　the　“angel　girl。”　“It　is　not　my　mission　to　listen　to　her　before　the　vulgar　herd　either：　I　mean　to　have　her　all　to　myself。　Is　there　a　fire　in　the　library？”

“Yes；　ma’am—but　she　looks　such　a　tinkler。”

“Cease　that　chatter；　blockhead！　and　do　my　bidding。”

Again　Sam　vanished；　and　mystery；　animation；　expectation　rose　to　full　flow　once　more。

“She’s　ready　now；”　said　the　footman；　as　he　reappeared。　“She　wishes　to　know　who　will　be　her　first　visitor。”

“I　think　I　had　better　just　look　in　upon　her　before　any　of　the　ladies　go；”　said　Colonel　Dent。

“Tell　her；　Sam；　a　gentleman　is　ing。”

Sam　went　and　returned。

“She　says；　sir；　that　she’ll　have　no　gentlemen；　they　need　not　trouble　themselves　to　e　near　her；　nor；”　he　added；　with　difficulty　suppressing　a　titter；　“any　ladies　either；　except　the　young；　and　single。”

“By　Jove；　she　has　taste！”　exclaimed　Henry　Lynn。

Miss　Ingram　rose　solemnly：　“I　go　first；”　she　said；　in　a　tone　which　might　have　befitted　the　leader　of　a　forlorn　hope；　mounting　a　breach　in　the　van　of　his　men。

“Oh；　my　best！　oh；　my　dearest！　pause—reflect！”　was　her　mama’s　cry；　but　she　swept　past　her　in　stately　silence；　passed　through　the　door　which　Colonel　Dent　held　open；　and　we　heard　her　enter　the　library。

A　parative　silence　ensued。　Lady　Ingram　thought　it　“le　cas”　to　wring　her　hands：　which　she　did　accordingly。　Miss　Mary　declared　she　felt；　for　her　part；　she　never　dared　venture。　Amy　and　Louisa　Eshton　tittered　under　their　breath；　and　looked　a　little　frightened。

The　minutes　passed　very　slowly：　fifteen　were　counted　before　the　library…door　again　opened。　Miss　Ingram　returned　to　us　through　the　arch。

Would　she　laugh？　Would　she　take　it　as　a　joke？　All　eyes　met　her　with　a　glance　of　eager　curiosity；　and　she　met　all　eyes　with　one　of　rebuff　and　coldness；　she　looked　neither　flurried　nor　merry：　she　walked　stiffly　to　her　seat；　and　took　it　in　silence。

“Well；　Blanche？”　said　Lord　Ingram。

“What　did　she　say；　sister？”　asked　Mary。

“What　did　you　think？　How　do　you　feel？—Is　she　a　real　fortune…　teller？”　demanded　the　Misses　Eshton。

“Now；　now；　good　people；”　returned　Miss　Ingram；　“don’t　press　upon　me。　Really　your　organs　of　wonder　and　credulity　are　easily　excited：　you　seem；　by　the　importance　of　you　all—my　good　mama　included—ascribe　to　this　matter；　absolutely　to　believe　we　have　a　genuine　witch　in　the　house；　who　is　in　close　alliance　with　the　old　gentleman。　I　have　seen　a　gipsy　vagabond；　she　has　practised　in　hackneyed　fashion　the　science　of　palmistry　and　told　me　what　such　people　usually　tell。　My　whim　is　gratified；　and　now　I　think　Mr。　Eshton　will　do　well　to　put　the　hag　in　the　stocks　to…morrow　morning；　as　he　threatened。”

Miss　Ingram　took　a　book；　leant　back　in　her　chair；　and　so　declined　further　conversation。　I　watched　her　for　nearly　half…an…hour：　during　all　that　time　she　never　turned　a　page；　and　her　face　grew　momently　darker；　more　dissatisfied；　and　more　sourly　expressive　of　disappointment。　She　had