CHAPTER VIII.
關燈
小
中
大
avebeentakenoutofhishands.Buthehadtogothroughsomefurtherdifficulty.
OnefinemorningRexaskedforhisbath,andmadehistoiletasusual.Anna,fullofexcitementatthischange,coulddonothingbutlistenforhiscomingdown,andatlasthearinghisstep,rantothefootofthestairstomeethim.Forthefirsttimehegaveherafaintsmile,butitlookedsomelancholyonhispalefacethatshecouldhardlyhelpcrying.
“Nannie!”hesaidgently,takingherhandandleadingherslowlyalongwithhimtothedrawing-room.Hismotherwasthere,andwhenshecametokisshim,hesaid:“WhataplagueIam!”
Thenhesatstillandlookedoutofthebow-windowonthelawnandshrubscoveredwithhoar-frost,acrosswhichthesunwassendingfaintoccasionalgleams:—somethinglikethatsadsmileonRex’sface,Annathought.Hefeltasifhehadhadaresurrectionintoanewworld,anddidnotknowwhattodowithhimselfthere,theoldinterestsbeingleftbehind.Annasatnearhim,pretendingtowork,butreallywatchinghimwithyearninglooks.Beyondthegardenhedgetherewasaroadwherewagonsandcartssometimeswentonfield-work:arailedopeningwasmadeinthehedge,becausetheuplandwithitsborderingwoodandclumpofash-treesagainsttheskywasaprettysight.Presentlytherecamealongawagonladenwithtimberthehorseswerestrainingtheirgrandmuscles,andthedriverhavingcrackedhiswhip,ranalonganxiouslytoguidetheleader’shead,fearingaswerve.Rexseemedtobeshakenintoattention,roseandlookedtillthelastquiveringtrunkofthetimberhaddisappeared,andthenwalkedonceortwicealongtheroom.Mrs.Gascoignewasnolongerthere,andwhenhecametositdownagain,Anna,seeingareturnofspeechinherbrother’seyes,couldnotresisttheimpulsetobringalittlestoolandseatherselfagainsthisknee,lookingupathimwithanexpressionwhichseemedtosay,“Dospeaktome.”Andhespoke.
“I’lltellyouwhatI’mthinkingof,Nannie.IwillgotoCanada,orsomewhereofthatsort.”(Rexhadnotstudiedthecharacterofourcolonialpossessions.)
“Oh,Rex,notforalways!”
“Yes,togetmybreadthere.Ishouldliketobuildahut,andworkhardatclearing,andhaveeverythingwildaboutme,andagreatwidequiet.”
“Andnottakemewithyou?”saidAnna,thebigtearscomingfast.
“HowcouldI?”
“Ishouldlikeitbetterthananythingandsettlersgowiththeirfamilies.IwouldsoonergotherethanstayhereinEngland.Icouldmakethefires,andmendtheclothes,andcookthefoodandIcouldlearnhowtomakethebreadbe
