第7部分 (第2/9页)

ar　to　her？　What　was　happening

to　her？　Something　in　his　young；　warm…twinkling　eyes　seemed　to

assume　a　right　to　her；　to　speak　to　her；　to　extend　her　his

protection。　But　how？　Why　did　he　speak　to　her？　Why　were　his　eyes

so　certain；　so　full　of　light　and　confident；　waiting　for　no

permission　nor　signal？

Tilly　returned　with　a　large　leaf　and　found　the　two　silent。　At

once　he　felt　it　incumbent　on　him　to　speak；　now　the　serving…woman

had　e　back。

〃How　old　is　your　little　girl？〃　he　asked。

〃Four　years；〃　she　replied。

〃Her　father　hasn't　been　dead　long；　then？〃　he　asked。

〃She　was　one　year　when　he　died。〃

〃Three　years？〃

〃Yes；　three　years　that　he　is　dead……yes。〃

Curiously　quiet　she　was；　almost　abstracted；　answering　these

questions。　She　looked　at　him　again；　with　some　maidenhood　opening

in　her　eyes。　He　felt　he　could　not　move；　neither　towards　her　nor

away　from　her。　Something　about　her　presence　hurt　him；　till　he

was　almost　rigid　before　her。　He　saw　the　girl's　wondering　look

rise　in　her　eyes。

Tilly　handed　her　the　butter　and　she　rose。

〃Thank　you　very　much；〃　she　said。　〃How　much　is　it？〃

〃We'll　make　th'　vicar　a　present　of　it；〃　he　said。　〃It'll　do

for　me　goin'　to　church。〃

〃It　'ud　look　better　of　you　if　you　went　to　church　and　took　th'

money　for　your　butter；〃　said　Tilly；　persistent　in　her　claim　to

him。

〃You'd　have　to　put　in；