HASANINTRODUCTORYACCOUNTOFTHEINMATESOFTHEHOUSE，TOWHICHOLIVERRESORTED
Inahandsomeroom：thoughitsfurniturehadrathertheairofold-fashionedcomfort，thanofmodernelegance：theresattwoladiesatawell-spreadbreakfast-table。Mr。Giles，dressedwithscrupulouscareinafullsuitofblack，wasinattendanceuponthem。Hehadtakenhisstationsomehalf-waybetweentheside-boardandthebreakfast-table；and，withhisbodydrawnuptoitsfullheight，hisheadthrownback，andinclinedthemeresttrifleononeside，hisleftlegadvanced，andhisrighthandthrustintohiswaist-coat，whilehislefthungdownbyhisside，graspingawaiter，lookedlikeonewholabouredunderaveryagreeablesenseofhisownmeritsandimportance。
Ofthetwoladies，onewaswelladvancedinyears；butthehigh-backedoakenchairinwhichshesat，wasnotmoreuprightthanshe。Dressedwiththeutmostnicetyandprecision，inaquaintmixtureofby-gonecostume，withsomeslightconcessionstotheprevailingtaste，whichratherservedtopointtheoldstylepleasantlythantoimpairitseffect，shesat，inastatelymanner，withherhandsfoldedonthetablebeforeher。Hereyes（andagehaddimmedbutlittleoftheirbrightness）wereattentivelyuponheryoungcompanion。
Theyoungerladywasinthelovelybloomandspring-timeofwomanhood；atthatage，when，ifeverangelsbeforGod'sgoodpurposesenthronedinmortalforms，theymaybe，withoutimpiety，supposedtoabideinsuchashers。
Shewasnotpastseventeen。Castinsoslightandexquisiteamould；somildandgentle；sopureandbeautiful；thatearthseemednotherelement，noritsroughcreaturesherfitcompanions。Theveryintelligencethatshoneinherdeepblueeye，andwasstampeduponhernoblehead，seemedscarcelyofherage，oroftheworld；andyetthechangingexpressionofsweetnessandgoodhumour，thethousandlightsthatplayedabouttheface，andleftnoshadowthere；aboveall，thesmile，thecheerful，happysmile，weremadeforHome，andfiresidepeaceandhappiness。
Shewasbusilyengagedinthelittleofficesofthetable。Chancingtoraisehereyesastheelderladywasregardingher，sheplayfullyputbackherhair，whichwassimplybraidedonherforehead；andthrewintoherbeaminglook，suchanexpressionofaffectionandartlessloveliness，thatblessedspiritsmighthavesmiledtolookuponher。
‘AndBrittleshasbeengoneupwardsofanhour，hashe？’askedtheoldlady，afterapause。
‘Anhourandtwelveminutes，ma'am，’repliedMr。Giles，referringtoasilverwatch，whichhedrewforthbyablackribbon。
‘Heisalwaysslow，’remarkedtheoldlady。
‘Brittlesalwayswasaslowboy，ma'am，’repliedtheattendant。Andseeing，bythebye，thatBrittleshadbeenaslowboyforupwardsofthirtyyears，thereappearednogreatprobabilityofhiseverbeingafastone。
‘Hegetsworseinsteadofbetter，Ithink，’saidtheelderlady。
‘Itisveryinexcusableinhimifhestopstoplaywithanyotherboys，’saidtheyounglady，smiling。
Mr。Gileswasapparentlyconsideringtheproprietyofindulginginarespectfulsmilehimself，whenagigdroveuptothegarden-gate：outofwhichtherejumpedafatgentleman，whoranstraightuptothedoor：andwho，gettingquicklyintothehousebysomemysteriousprocess，burstintotheroom，andnearlyoverturnedMr。Gilesandthebreakfast-tabletogether。
‘Ineverheardofsuchathing！’exclaimedthefatgentleman。‘MydearMrs。Maylie--blessmysoul--inthesilenceofthenight，too--I_never_heardofsuchathing！’
Withtheseexpressionsofcondolence，thefatgentlemanshookhandswithbothladies，anddrawingupachair，inquiredhowtheyfoundthemselves。
‘Yououghttobedead；positivelydeadwiththefright，’saidthefatgentleman。‘Whydidn'tyousend？Blessme，mymanshouldhavecomeinaminute；andsowouldI；andmyassistantwouldhavebeendelighted；oranybody，I'msure，undersuchcircumstances。Dear，dear！Sounexpected！Inthesilenceofthenight，too！’
Thedoctorseemedexpeciallytroubledbythefactoftherobberyhavingbeenunexpected，andattemptedinthenight-time；asifitweretheestablishedcustomofgentlemeninthehousebreakingwaytotransactbusinessatnoon，andtomakeanappointment，bypost，adayortwoprevious。
‘Andyou，MissRose，’saidthedoctor，turningtotheyounglady，‘I--’
‘Oh！verymuchso，indeed，’saidRose，interruptinghim；‘butthereisapoorcreatureupstairs，whomauntwishesyoutosee。’
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