CHAPTER XXXIII 476
" Well," I reflected, " if you won ' t talk, you may be still; I ' ll let you alone now, and return to my book."
So I snuffed the candle and resumed the perusal of " Marmion." He soon stirred; my eye was instantly drawn to his movements; he only took out a morocco pocket-book, thence produced a letter, which he read in silence, folded it, put it back, relapsed into meditation. It was vain to try to read with such an inscrutable fixture before me; nor could I, in impatience, consent to be dumb; he might rebuff me if he liked, but talk I would.
" Have you heard from Diana and Mary lately?" " Not since the letter I showed you a week ago."
" There has not been any change made about your own arrangements? You will not be summoned to leave England sooner than you expected?"
" I fear not, indeed: such chance is too good to befall me." Baffled so far, I changed my ground. I bethought myself to talk about the school and my scholars.
" Mary Garrett ' s mother is better, and Mary came back to the school this morning, and I shall have four new girls next week from the Foundry Close-- they would have come to-day but for the snow."
" Indeed!" " Mr. Oliver pays for two." " Does he?" " He means to give the whole school a treat at Christmas." " I know." " Was it your suggestion?"