±´¿Çµç×ÓÊé > Ó¢ÎÄÔ­Öøµç×ÓÊé > stories by english authors in london(Ó¢¹ú×÷¼ÒÔÚÂ׶صĹÊÊÂ) >

µÚ28ÕÂ

stories by english authors in london(Ó¢¹ú×÷¼ÒÔÚÂ׶صĹÊÊÂ)-µÚ28ÕÂ


°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




satin¡­and¡­lace¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡skirts¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡sort¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡fastidious¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡disdain£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡though¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡

scorned¡¡to¡¡set¡¡foot¡¡on¡¡earth¡¡that¡¡was¡¡not¡¡carpeted¡¡with¡¡the¡¡best¡¡velvet¡¡pile¡£¡¡

As¡¡they¡¡approached¡¡their¡¡carriage¡¡the¡¡inert¡¡dark¡¡bundle£»¡¡crouched¡¡in¡¡the¡¡

corner£»¡¡started¡¡into¡¡lifea¡¡woman£»¡¡with¡¡wild¡¡hair¡¡and¡¡wilder¡¡eyes£»¡¡whose¡¡

pale¡¡lips¡¡quivered¡¡with¡¡suppressed¡¡weeping¡¡as¡¡her¡¡piteous¡¡voice¡¡broke¡¡into¡¡

sudden¡¡clamour£º¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡lady£¡¡¨¡¡she¡¡cried£»¡¡¡¨for¡¡the¡¡love¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡a¡¡trifle£¡¡¡Oh£»¡¡lady£»¡¡lady£¡¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡¡¨lady£»¡¨¡¡with¡¡a¡¡contemptuous¡¡sniff¡¡and¡¡a¡¡shake¡¡of¡¡her¡¡scented¡¡

garments£»¡¡passed¡¡her¡¡before¡¡she¡¡could¡¡continue¡¡her¡¡appeal£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡turned¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡90¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡91¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡



with¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡faint¡¡hope¡¡to¡¡the¡¡softer¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡girl¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡my¡¡dear£»¡¡do¡¡have¡¡pity£¡¡¡Just¡¡the¡¡smallest¡¡little¡¡thing£»¡¡and¡¡God¡¡will¡¡

bless¡¡you£¡¡¡You¡¡are¡¡rich¡¡and¡¡happyand¡¡I¡¡am¡¡starving£¡¡¡Only¡¡a¡¡penny£¡¡¡For¡¡

the¡¡babythe¡¡poor¡¡little¡¡baby£¡¡¨¡¡And¡¡she¡¡made¡¡as¡¡though¡¡she¡¡would¡¡open¡¡

her¡¡¡¡¡¡tattered¡¡¡¡¡¡shawl¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡reveal¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡treasure¡¡¡¡¡¡hidden¡¡¡¡¡¡therein£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡shrunk¡¡

back£»¡¡¡¡¡¡repelled¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡cold£»¡¡¡¡¡¡merciless¡¡¡¡¡¡gaze¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡fell¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡those¡¡

eyes£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡youth¡¡dwelt¡¡without¡¡tenderness¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡have¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡business¡¡on¡¡our¡¡¡¡door¡¡step£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡girl£»¡¡¡¡harshly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Go¡¡

away¡¡directly£»¡¡or¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡tell¡¡my¡¡servant¡¡to¡¡call¡¡a¡¡policeman¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡brougham¡¡after¡¡her¡¡mother£»¡¡she¡¡addressed¡¡the¡¡

respectable¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡footman¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡angrily£»¡¡¡¡¡¡giving¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡benefit¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡strong¡¡¡¡¡¡nasal¡¡

intonation¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Howard£»¡¡why¡¡do¡¡you¡¡let¡¡such¡¡dirty¡¡beggars¡¡come¡¡near¡¡the¡¡carriage£¿¡¡

What¡¡are¡¡you¡¡paid¡¡for£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡like¡¡to¡¡know£¿¡¡It¡¡is¡¡perfectly¡¡disgraceful¡¡to¡¡

the¡¡house£¡¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Very¡¡¡¡¡¡sorry£»¡¡¡¡¡¡miss£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡footman£»¡¡¡¡¡¡gravely¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡¡¡¡¡didn't¡¡¡¡¡¡see¡¡¡¡¡¡thethe¡¡

person¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡before¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡shutting¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡brougham¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡door£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡turned¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡

dignified¡¡air¡¡to¡¡the¡¡unfortunate¡¡creature£»¡¡who¡¡still¡¡lingered¡¡near£»¡¡and£»¡¡with¡¡

a¡¡sweeping¡¡gesture¡¡of¡¡his¡¡gold¡­embroidered¡¡coat¡­sleeve£»¡¡said¡¡majestically£º¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡'ear£¿¡¡Be¡¡hoff£¡¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡having¡¡thus¡¡performed¡¡his¡¡duty£»¡¡he¡¡mounted¡¡the¡¡box¡¡beside¡¡his¡¡

friend¡¡the¡¡coachman£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡equipage¡¡rattled¡¡quickly¡¡away£»¡¡its¡¡gleaming¡¡

lights¡¡soon¡¡lost¡¡in¡¡the¡¡smoke¡­laden¡¡vapours¡¡that¡¡drooped¡¡downward¡¡like¡¡

funeral¡¡hangings¡¡from¡¡the¡¡invisible¡¡sky¡¡to¡¡the¡¡scarcely¡¡visible¡¡ground¡£¡¡Left¡¡

to¡¡herself£»¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡who¡¡had¡¡vainly¡¡sought¡¡charity¡¡from¡¡those¡¡in¡¡whom¡¡

no¡¡charity¡¡existed£»¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡despairingly£»¡¡as¡¡one¡¡distraught£»¡¡and¡¡seemed¡¡

as¡¡though¡¡she¡¡would¡¡have¡¡given¡¡vent¡¡to¡¡some¡¡fierce¡¡exclamation£»¡¡when¡¡a¡¡

feeble¡¡wail¡¡came¡¡pitifully¡¡forth¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sheltering¡¡folds¡¡of¡¡her¡¡shawl¡£¡¡She¡¡

restrained¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡herself¡¡¡¡¡¡instantly£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡walked¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡rapid¡¡¡¡¡¡pace£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡scarcely¡¡

heeding¡¡whither¡¡she¡¡went£»¡¡till¡¡she¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡Catholic¡¡church¡¡known¡¡as¡¡

the¡¡¡¡¡¨Oratory¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡Its¡¡¡¡¡¡unfinished¡¡¡¡¡¡facade¡¡¡¡¡¡loomed¡¡¡¡¡¡darkly¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡fog£»¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡

was¡¡nothing¡¡picturesque¡¡or¡¡inviting¡¡about¡¡it£»¡¡yet¡¡there¡¡were¡¡people¡¡passing¡¡

softly¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡out£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡swinging¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡fro¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡red¡¡¡¡¡¡baize¡­¡¡

covered¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡doors¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡comforting¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡warm¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡glimmer¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡light¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡91¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡92¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡



woman¡¡paused£»¡¡hesitated£»¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡having¡¡apparently¡¡made¡¡up¡¡her¡¡mind£»¡¡

ascended¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡broad¡¡¡¡¡¡steps£»¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡¡¡¡¡in£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡finally¡¡¡¡¡¡entered¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡place¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡

strange¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡her£»¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡knew¡¡¡¡¡¡nothing¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡¡¡¡¡religious¡¡¡¡¡¡meaning£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡¡¡¡¡cold£»¡¡

uncompleted¡¡appearance¡¡oppressed¡¡her¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡only¡¡some¡¡half¡­dozen¡¡

persons¡¡¡¡¡¡scattered¡¡¡¡¡¡about£»¡¡like¡¡black¡¡specks£»¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡its¡¡¡¡¡¡vast¡¡¡¡¡¡white¡¡¡¡¡¡interior£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡

the¡¡¡¡¡¡fog¡¡¡¡¡¡hung¡¡¡¡¡¡heavily¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡vaulted¡¡¡¡¡¡dome¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡dark¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡chapels¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡One¡¡

corner¡¡¡¡¡¡alone¡¡¡¡¡¡blazed¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡brilliancy¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡colour£»¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡altar¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

Virgin¡£¡¡Toward¡¡it¡¡the¡¡tired¡¡vagrant¡¡made¡¡her¡¡way£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡reaching¡¡it¡¡sank¡¡

on¡¡the¡¡nearest¡¡chair¡¡as¡¡though¡¡exhausted¡£¡¡She¡¡did¡¡not¡¡raise¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡to¡¡the¡¡

marble¡¡splendours¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shrineone¡¡of¡¡the¡¡masterpieces¡¡of¡¡old¡¡Italian¡¡art£»¡¡

she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡merely¡¡attracted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡spot¡¡by¡¡the¡¡glitter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lamps¡¡and¡¡

candles£»¡¡and¡¡took¡¡no¡¡thought¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡reason¡¡of¡¡their¡¡being¡¡lighted£»¡¡though¡¡

she¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡sensible¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡certain¡¡¡¡¡¡comfort¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡soft¡¡¡¡¡¡lustre¡¡shed¡¡¡¡¡¡around¡¡her¡£¡¡

She¡¡¡¡¡¡seemed¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡¡¡young£»¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡face£»¡¡¡¡¡¡rendered¡¡¡¡¡¡haggard¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡long¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡bitter¡¡

privation£»¡¡¡¡¡¡showed¡¡¡¡¡¡traces¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡past¡¡¡¡¡¡beauty£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡eyes£»¡¡¡¡¡¡full¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡feverish¡¡

trouble£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡large£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡dark£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡lustrous¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Her¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡mouth¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡alonethat¡¡

sensitive¡¡betrayer¡¡of¡¡the¡¡life's¡¡good¡¡and¡¡bad¡¡actionsrevealed¡¡that¡¡all¡¡had¡¡

not¡¡been¡¡well¡¡with¡¡her£»¡¡its¡¡lines¡¡were¡¡hard¡¡and¡¡vicious£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡resentful¡¡

curve¡¡of¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡lip¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡foolish¡¡pride£»¡¡not¡¡unmixed¡¡with¡¡reckless¡¡

sensuality¡£¡¡She¡¡sat¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡or¡¡two¡¡motionless£»¡¡then£»¡¡with¡¡exceeding¡¡

care¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡tenderness£»¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡began¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡unfold¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡thin£»¡¡¡¡¡¡torn¡¡¡¡¡¡shawl¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡gentle¡¡

degrees£»¡¡¡¡¡¡looking¡¡¡¡¡¡down¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡anxious¡¡¡¡¡¡solicitude¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡object¡¡¡¡¡¡concealed¡¡

within¡£¡¡Only¡¡a¡¡babyand¡¡withal¡¡a¡¡baby¡¡so¡¡tiny¡¡and¡¡white¡¡and¡¡frail¡¡that¡¡it¡¡

seemed¡¡as¡¡though¡¡it¡¡must¡¡melt¡¡like¡¡a¡¡snowflake¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡lightest¡¡touch¡£¡¡

As¡¡its¡¡wrappings¡¡were¡¡loosened¡¡it¡¡opened¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡large£»¡¡solemn¡¡blue¡¡eyes£»¡¡

and¡¡¡¡¡¡gazed¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡woman's¡¡¡¡¡¡face¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡strange£»¡¡¡¡¡¡pitiful¡¡¡¡¡¡wistfulness¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡lay¡¡

quiet£»¡¡without¡¡moan£»¡¡a¡¡pinched£»¡¡pale¡¡miniature¡¡of¡¡suffering¡¡humanityan¡¡

infant¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sorrow's¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡mark¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡painfully¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡impressed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡¡¡drawn£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡small¡¡

features¡£¡¡Presently¡¡it¡¡stretched¡¡forth¡¡a¡¡puny¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡feebly¡¡caressed¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡

protectress£»¡¡and¡¡this£»¡¡too£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡faintest¡¡glimmer¡¡of¡¡a¡¡smile¡£¡¡The¡¡woman¡¡

responded¡¡to¡¡its¡¡affection¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡rapture£»¡¡she¡¡caught¡¡it¡¡fondly¡¡to¡¡her¡¡

breast¡¡and¡¡covered¡¡it¡¡with¡¡kisses£»¡¡rocking¡¡it¡¡to¡¡and¡¡fro¡¡with¡¡broken¡¡words¡¡

of¡¡endearment¡£¡¡¡¨My¡¡little¡¡darling£¡¡¨¡¡she¡¡whispered£»¡¡softly¡£¡¡¡¨My¡¡little¡¡pet£¡¡¡

Yes£»¡¡yes£»¡¡I¡¡know£¡¡¡So¡¡tired£»¡¡so¡¡cold¡¡and¡¡hungry£¡¡¡Never¡¡mind£»¡¡baby£»¡¡never¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡92¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡93¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡



mind£¡¡¡We¡¡will¡¡rest¡¡here¡¡a¡¡little£»¡¡then¡¡we¡¡will¡¡sing¡¡a¡¡song¡¡presently£»¡¡and¡¡get¡¡

some¡¡money¡¡to¡¡take¡¡us¡¡home¡£¡¡Sleep¡¡awhile¡¡longer£»¡¡deary£¡¡¡There£¡¡¡now¡¡we¡¡

are¡¡warm¡¡and¡¡cosey¡¡again¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡saying£»¡¡she¡¡rearranged¡¡her¡¡shawl¡¡in¡¡closer¡¡and¡¡tighter¡¡folds£»¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡

protect¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡child¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡thoroughly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡While¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡engaged¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡this¡¡

operation¡¡a¡¡lady¡¡in¡¡deep¡¡mourning¡¡passed¡¡close¡¡by¡¡her£»¡¡and£»¡¡advancing¡¡to¡¡

the¡¡very¡¡¡¡steps¡¡of¡¡the¡¡¡¡altar£»¡¡¡¡knelt¡¡¡¡¡¡down£»¡¡¡¡hiding¡¡her¡¡¡¡face¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡clasped¡¡

hands¡£¡¡The¡¡tired¡¡wayfarer's¡¡attention¡¡was¡¡attracted¡¡by¡¡this£»¡¡she¡¡gazed¡¡with¡¡

a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡dull¡¡wonder¡¡at¡¡the¡¡kneeling¡¡figure¡¡robed¡¡in¡¡rich¡¡rustling¡¡silk¡¡and¡¡

crape£»¡¡and¡¡gradually¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡wandered¡¡upward£»¡¡upward£»¡¡till¡¡they¡¡rested¡¡

on¡¡the¡¡gravely¡¡sweet¡¡and¡¡serenely¡¡smiling¡¡marble¡¡image¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Virgin¡¡and¡¡

Child¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡again¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡surprisedincredulous£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡

suddenly¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡her¡¡feet¡¡and¡¡made¡¡her¡¡way¡¡to¡¡the¡¡altar¡¡railing¡£¡¡There¡¡she¡¡

paused£»¡¡staring¡¡vaguely¡¡at¡¡a¡¡basket¡¡of¡¡flowers£»¡¡white¡¡and¡¡odorous£»¡¡that¡¡had¡¡

been¡¡left¡¡there¡¡by¡¡some¡¡reverent¡¡worshipper¡£¡¡She¡¡glanced¡¡doubtfully¡¡at¡¡the¡¡

swinging¡¡silver¡¡lamps£»¡¡the¡¡twinkling¡¡candles£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡conscious£»¡¡too£»¡¡of¡¡a¡¡

subtle£»¡¡strange¡¡fragrance¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡a¡¡basket¡¡full¡¡of¡¡spring¡¡violets¡¡

and¡¡daffodils¡¡had¡¡just¡¡been¡¡carried¡¡by£»¡¡then£»¡¡as¡¡her¡¡wandering¡¡gaze¡¡came¡¡

back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡solitary¡¡woman¡¡in¡¡black£»¡¡who¡¡still¡¡knelt¡¡motionless¡¡near¡¡her£»¡¡a¡¡

sort¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡choking¡¡¡¡¡¡sensation¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡throat¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡stinging¡¡¡¡¡¡moisture¡¡

struggled¡¡in¡¡her¡¡eyes¡£¡¡She¡¡strove¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡this¡¡hysterical¡¡sensation¡¡to¡¡a¡¡low¡¡

laug

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ