Pagina 613 van 1118

"Who is he? Do you wish me to tell you? you must wait awhile

first. You are proud, because he protects you; provided you are

satisfied, no matter what becomes of me. Ask him his name. If I

should tell you, he would not speak to me so gently as he did to

you. I am an old woman, I am an old woman," continued she,

grumbling: but hearing the sobs of Lucy, she remembered the

threat of her master; and addressing her in a less bitter tone,

"Well! I have said no harm. Be cheerful. Do not ask me what I

cannot tell you, but have courage. How satisfied most people

would be, should he speak to them as he has spoken to you! Be

cheerful! Directly, you shall have something to eat; and from

what he said, I know it will be something good. And then, you

must lie down, and you will leave a little room for me," added

she, with an accent of suppressed rancour.

"I cannot eat; I cannot sleep. Leave me, approach me not. You

will not go away?"