the mansion- 第6部分

here。〃



The　sense　of　coldness　and　hardness　under　John　Weightman's　hands　

grew　sharper　and　more　distinct。　　The　feeling　of　bodily　weariness

and

lassitude　weighed　upon　him；　but　there　was　a　calm；　almost　a

lightness；　

in　his　heart　as　he　listened　to　the　fading　vibrations　of　the　

silvery　bell…tones。　　The　chimney　clock　on　the　mantel　had　just

ended　

the　last　stroke　of　seven　as　he　lifted　his　head　from　the　table。　　

Thin；　pale　strips　of　the　city　morning　were　falling　into　the　room

through

the　narrow　partings　of　the　heavy　curtains。



What　was　it　that　had　happened　to　him？　　Had　he　been　ill？　　Had　he

died　and

come　to　life　again？　　Or　had　he　only　slept；　and　had　his　soul　gone

visiting

in　dreams？　　He　sat　for　some　time；　motionless；　not　lost；　but

finding　himself

in　thought。　　Then　he　took　a　narrow　book　from　the　table　drawer；　

wrote　a　check；　and　tore　it　out。



He　went　slowly　up　the　stairs；　knocked　very　softly　at　his　son's

door；　

and；　hearing　no　answer；　entered　without　noise。　　Harold　was

asleep；　

his　bare　arm　thrown　above　his　head；　and　his　eager　face　relaxed　in

peace。　

His　father　looked　at　him　a　moment　with　strangely　shining　eyes；　

and　then　tiptoed　quietly　to　the　writing…desk；　found　a　pencil　and　

a　sheet　of　paper；　and　wrote　rapidly：



〃My　dear　boy；　here　is　what　you　asked　me　for；　do　what　you　like

with　it；　

and　ask　for　more　if　you　need　it。　　If　you　are　still　thinking　of　

that　work　with　Grenfell；　we'll　talk　it　over　to…day　after　church。　



I　want　to　know　your　heart　better；　and　if　I　have　made　mistakes〃



A　slight　noise　made　him　turn　his　head。　　Harold　was　sitting　up　in

bed　

with　wide…open　eyes。



〃Father！〃　he　cried；　〃is　that　you？〃



〃Yes；　my　son；〃　answered　John　Weightman；　〃I've　come　backI　mean　

I've　come　upno；　I　mean　come　inwell；　here　I　am；　

and　God　give　us　a　good　Christmas　together。〃








End