第15章 思念里的流浪狗 5（第2页）

&winterIwasattheMorrises，IhadawasaweekbeforeChristmas，andwewerehavingcold，frostyweather。Onthatday，Iwaslyihefire，gettingtired。

&hedooropened，andayounggirlcalledBessieDrury。

Shehadadashawlthrownoverhershoulders，arunacrossthestreetfromherfather'shouse。"Oh，Mrs。Morris，"shesaid，"willyouletLauraeoverandstaywithmetonight？Mammahasjustgottenatelegramfrthatheraunt，Mrs。Cole，isveryill，aoseeher，andpapaisgoiherebytonight'strain，andsheisafraidIwillbelonelyifIdon'thaveLaura。"

"Verywell，"saidMrs。Morris，"IthinkLaurawouldliketogo。"

"Yes，i;saidMissLaura，smilingatherfriend。"Iwilleoverinhalfanhour。"

"Thankyou，somuissBessie。Andshehurrieda>

Aftersheleft，Mr。Morrislookedupfromhispaper。"Therewillbesomeohehousebesidesthosetwogirls？"

"Oh，yes，"saidMrs。Morris，"Mrs。Druryhasheroldnurse，whohasbeewentyyears，awomaidsbesides，andDonald，thean，whosleepsoverthestable。Sotheyarewellprotected。"

&quood，"saidMr。Morris。Aohispaper。

WhenMisslaurastairswithherlittlesat，Igotupandstoodbesideher。"Dear，oldJoe，"shesaid，"youmusthehedoora。

Ihadtostepba，butIdwhidreadfully。Ianddownthefloorandrantotheled。

"Mother，"Mr。morrissaid，turningtohiswife，"letthedoggo。"

"Verywell，"shesaid，inapuzzledway。"Jack，justruhhim。"

JadIweresoodoor，ahebellandgavemeihemaidwhoope。Iwalkedsoftlyintoafrontroom，andthereIfoundmydearMissLaura。

"Hadn'twebettergotobed？"saidMissLaura，whenthehallclockstru。

"Yes，Isupposewehad，"saidMissBessie。

"Whereisthisanimaltosleep？"

"Idon'tknow，"saidMissLaura，"hesleepsiableathome，orihJim。"

"SupposeSusanmakeshimahekitstove？"saidMissBessie。

SusaIwasnotwilli。Ibarkedsoloudlywhemeupaloheyhadtoletmegoupstairswiththem。

MissLaurawasalmostangrywithme，butIothelpit。IhadeovertheretoprotedIwasn'tgoingtoleaveher，ifIcouldhelpit。

&wogirlstalkedftime，aheyfellasleep。JustbeforeMissLauradroppedoff，shefaveme，andputdownherhaolickasIlayclosebyherbed。

Iwasverytired，andIhadaverysoftabed，soIsoooaheavysleep。ButIattheslightestnoise。OnceMissLauraturnedinbed，aimeMissBessielaughedinhersleep，andagain，therewerequeerghefrostylimbsofthetreesoutside，thatmademestartupquiysleep。

Therewasabigthehall，aimeitstruckI。Oafterithadstrupedupoutofasoundnap。Ihadbeendreamingaboutmyearlyhome。Jenkinswasafterme，andmylimbswerequiveringandtremblingasifIhadbeentryiawayfromhim。

Isprangupandshookmyself。ThenItookaturnarouhetwogirlswerebreathily；Icouldscarcelyhearthem。Iwalkedtothedooraothehall。Therewasadimlightburhedoorofthenurse'sroomstoodopelytoitandlookedin。Shewasbreathingheavilyandmutteringinhersleep。

&aosleep，butIot。SueasyfeelingoIhadtokeepwalkingabout。Iwentoutintothehallagainandstoodattheheadofthestaircase。IthoughtIwouldtakeawalkthroughthelowerhall，aobedagain。

TheDrurys'carpetswerealllikevelvet，andmypawsdidliheydidohattheMorrises。Ithestairslikeadwalkedalongthelowerhall，smellihedoors，listeniherewasnonightlightburningdowwasquitedark，butiftherehadbeenanystrangepersonaboutIwouldhavesmelledhim。

Irisedwhehefarthereoseeatinygleamoflightshineforaninstantfromuhedining-roomdoor。Theawayagain。Thedining-roomlacetoeat。Surelyhepeopleinthehousewouldbethereafterthesupper