? ? ? ? One dark evening, when I was later than usual - for I had, that day, been making my parting visit to Blunderstone, as we were now about to return home - I found him alone in Mr. Peggotty's house, sitting thoughtfully before the fire. He was so intent upon his own reflections that he was quite unconscious of my approach. This, indeed, he might easily have been if he had been less absorbed, for footsteps fell noiselessly on the sandy ground outside; but even my entrance failed to rouse him. I was standing close to him, looking at him; and still, with a heavy brow, he was lost in his meditations.
? ? ? ? He gave such a start when I put my hand upon his shoulder, that he made me start too.
? ? ? ? 'You come upon me,' he said, almost angrily, 'like a reproachful ghost!'
? ? ? ? 'I was obliged to announce myself, somehow,' I replied. 'Have I called you down from the stars?'
? ? ? ? 'No,' he answered. 'No.'
? ? ? ? 'Up from anywhere, then?' said I, taking my seat near him.
? ? ? ? 'I was looking at the pictures in the fire,' he returned.
? ? ? ? 'But you are spoiling them for me,' said I, as he stirred it quickly with a piece of burning wood, striking out of it a train of red-hot sparks that went careering up the little chimney, and roaring out into the air.
Pages:
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529