Chapter 29（1 / 2）

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HASANINTRODUCTORYACCOUNTOFTHEINMATESOFTHEHOUSE，TOWHICHOLIVERRESORTED

Inahandsomeroom：thoughitsfurniturehadrathertheairofold-fashionedcomfort，thanofmodernelegance：theresattwoladiesatawell-spreadbreakfast-table。Mr。Giles，dressedwithscrupulouscareinafullsuitofblack，wasinattendanceuponthem。Hehadtakenhisstationsomehalf-waybetweentheside-boardandthebreakfast-table；and，withhisbodydrawnuptoitsfullheight，hisheadthrownback，andinclinedthemeresttrifleononeside，hisleftlegadvanced，andhisrighthandthrustintohiswaist-coat，whilehislefthungdownbyhisside，graspingawaiter，lookedlikeonewholabouredunderaveryagreeablesenseofhisownmeritsandimportance。

Ofthetwoladies，onewaswelladvancedinyears；butthehigh-backedoakenchairinwhichshesat，wasnotmoreuprightthanshe。Dressedwiththeutmostnicetyandprecision，inaquaintmixtureofby-gonecostume，withsomeslightconcessionstotheprevailingtaste，whichratherservedtopointtheoldstylepleasantlythantoimpairitseffect，shesat，inastatelymanner，withherhandsfoldedonthetablebeforeher。Hereyes（andagehaddimmedbutlittleoftheirbrightness）wereattentivelyuponheryoungcompanion。

Theyoungerladywasinthelovelybloomandspring-timeofwomanhood；atthatage，when，ifeverangelsbeforGod'sgoodpurposesenthronedinmortalforms，theymaybe，withoutimpiety，supposedtoabideinsuchashers。

Shewasnotpastseventeen。Castinsoslightandexquisiteamould；somildandgentle；sopureandbeautiful；thatearthseemednotherelement，noritsroughcreaturesherfitcompanions。Theveryintelligencethatshoneinherdeepblueeye，andwasstampeduponhernoblehead，seemedscarcelyofherage，oroftheworld；andyetthechangingexpressionofsweetnessandgoodhumour，thethousandlightsthatplayedabouttheface，andleftnoshadowthere；aboveall，thesmile，thecheerful，happysmile，weremadeforHome，andfiresidepeaceandhappiness。

Shewasbusilyengagedinthelittleofficesofthetable。Chancingtoraisehereyesastheelderladywasregardingher，sheplayfullyputbackherhair，whichwassimplybraidedonherforehead；andthrewintoherbeaminglook，suchanexpressionofaffectionandartlessloveliness，thatblessedspiritsmighthavesmiledtolookuponher。

‘AndBrittleshasbeengoneupwardsofanhour，hashe？’askedtheoldlady，afterapause。

‘Anhourandtwelveminutes，ma'am，’repliedMr。Giles，referringtoasilverwatch，whichhedrewforthbyablackribbon。

‘Heisalwaysslow，’remarkedtheoldlady。

‘Brittlesalwayswasaslowboy，ma'am，’repliedtheattendant。Andseeing，bythebye，thatBrittleshadbeenaslowboyforupwardsofthirtyyears，thereappearednogreatprobabilityofhiseverbeingafastone。

‘Hegetsworseinsteadofbetter，Ithink，’saidtheelderlady。

‘Itisveryinexcusableinhimifhestopstoplaywithanyotherboys，’saidtheyounglady，smiling。

Mr。Gileswasapparentlyconsideringtheproprietyofindulginginarespectfulsmilehimself，whenagigdroveuptothegarden-gate：outofwhichtherejumpedafatgentleman，whoranstraightuptothedoor：andwho，gettingquicklyintothehousebysomemysteriousprocess，burstintotheroom，andnearlyoverturnedMr。Gilesandthebreakfast-tabletogether。

‘Ineverheardofsuchathing！’exclaimedthefatgentleman。‘MydearMrs。Maylie--blessmysoul--inthesilenceofthenight，too--I_never_heardofsuchathing！’

Withtheseexpressionsofcondolence，thefatgentlemanshookhandswithbothladies，anddrawingupachair，inquiredhowtheyfoundthemselves。

‘Yououghttobedead；positivelydeadwiththefright，’saidthefatgentleman。‘Whydidn'tyousend？Blessme，mymanshouldhavecomeinaminute；andsowouldI；andmyassistantwouldhavebeendelighted；oranybody，I'msure，undersuchcircumstances。Dear，dear！Sounexpected！Inthesilenceofthenight，too！’

Thedoctorseemedexpeciallytroubledbythefactoftherobberyhavingbeenunexpected，andattemptedinthenight-time；asifitweretheestablishedcustomofgentlemeninthehousebreakingwaytotransactbusinessatnoon，andtomakeanappointment，bypost，adayortwoprevious。

‘Andyou，MissRose，’saidthedoctor，turningtotheyounglady，‘I--’

‘Oh！verymuchso，indeed，’saidRose，interruptinghim；‘butthereisapoorcreatureupstairs，whomauntwishesyoutosee。’

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