下载辰思小说免费APP
Theyenteredthehouse，andatonceevenMary，preoccupiedasshewaswithherstoryaboutthesailor，noticedthatsomethingwaswrong。
“Rose！Rose！“shecalledoutloudly。
“Hush！“saidMissJones。“Youmustbequiet，dear。“
“Why？“saidMary。“IwantRoseto——“
“Yourmotherisn’tatallwell，dear。I——“
AndshewasinterruptedbyRose，who，comingsuddenlydownstairs，withafaceverydifferentfromherusualcheerfulone，saidsomethingtoMissJonesinalowvoice。
MissJonesgavealittlecry：“Sosoon？……Agirl……“Andthenadded：“Howisshe？“
ThenRosesaidsomethingmore，whichthechildrencouldnotcatch，andvanished。
“Veryquietly，children，“saidMissJones，inavoicethattrembled；
“andyoumustn’tleavetheschoolroomtillItellyou。Yourmother——
“Shebrokeoffasthoughshewereafraidofshowingemotion。
“Whatisit？“saidJeremyinavoicethatseemednewtothemall——
older，moreresolute，strangelychallengingforsosmallaboy。
“Yourmother’sveryill，Jeremy，dear。Youmustbeaverygoodboy，andhelpyoursisters。“
“Mightn’tIgoforjustaminute？“
“No，certainlynot。“
Theyallwentupstairs。Then，intheschoolroom，MissJonessaidanamazingthing。Shesaid：
“Imusttellyouall，children，thatyou’vegotanewlittlesister。“
“Anewsister！“screamedMary。
Helensaid：“Oh，MissJones！“
Jeremysaid：“Whatdidshecomeforjustnow，whenMotherisill？“
“Godwantedhertocome，dear，“saidMissJones。“Youmustallbeverykindtoher，anddoallyoucan——“
Shewasinterruptedbyatorrentofquestionsfromthetwogirls。
Whatwasshelike？Whatwashername？Couldshewalk？Wheredidshecomefrom？DidFatherandMotherfindherinDrymouth？Andsoon。
Jeremywassilent。Atlasthesaid：“Wedon’twantanymoregirlshere。“
“Betterthanhavinganotherboy，“saidHelen。
Buthewouldnottakeupthechallenge。Hesatonhisfavouriteseatonthewindow-ledge，draggedupareluctantHamlettositwithhim，andgazedoutdownintothegardenthatwasmistynowintheeveninggoldenlight，thetreesandthesoilblackbeneaththegold，therooksslowlyswingingacrossthestyabovethefarthersideoftheroad。Hamletwriggled。Healwaysdetestedthatheshouldbecuddled，andhewouldpressfirstwithoneleg，thenwithanother，againstJeremy’scoat；thenhewouldliedeadforamoment，suddenlyspringing，withhisheadup，inthehopethatthesurprisewouldfreehim；thenhewouldturnintoasnake，twistinghisbodyunderJeremy’sarm，anddroppingwithaflopontothefloor。Allthesemanoeuvresto-dayavailedhimnothing；Jeremyheldhisneckinavice，anddughisfingerswellintotheskin。Hamletwhined，thenlaystill，and，inthemidstofindignantreflectionsagainsttheimbeciletyranniesofman，fell，tohisownsurprise，asleep。
Jeremysattherewhilsttheduskfellandallthebeautifullightsweredrawnfromtheskyandtherookswenttobed。Rosecametodrawthecurtains，andthenhelefthiswindow-seat，draggedouthistoyvillageandpretendedtoplaywithit。Helookedathissisters。
Theyseemedquitetranquil。Helenwassewing，andMarydeepin“ThePillarsoftheHouse。“Theclockticked。Hamlet，lostinsleep，snoredandsputtered；thewholeworldpursueditsordinaryway。Onlyinhimselfsomethingwaschanged；hewasunhappy，andhecouldnotaccountforhisunhappiness。Itshouldhavebeenbecausehismotherwasill，andyetshehadbeenillbefore，andhehadbeenonlydisturbedforamoment。Afterall，grown-uppeoplealwaysgotwell。
TherehadbeenAuntAmy，whohadhadmeasles，andthewifeoftheDean，whohadhadsomething，andeventheBishoponce……Butnowhewasfrightened。Therewassomeperception，comingtohimnowforthefirsttimeinhislife，thatthisworldwasnotabsolutelystable——thatpeopleleftit，peoplecameintoit，thattherewaschangeanddangerandsomethingstronger……G
