小说园

第45部分（第2页）

“Why？”

“Because　I　was　poor；　and　burdensome；　and　she　disliked　me。”

“But　Reed　left　children？—you　must　have　cousins？　Sir　George　Lynn　was　talking　of　a　Reed　of　Gateshead　yesterday；　who；　he　said；　was　one　of　the　veriest　rascals　on　town；　and　Ingram　was　mentioning　a　Georgiana　Reed　of　the　same　place；　who　was　much　admired　for　her　beauty　a　season　or　two　ago　in　London。”

“John　Reed　is　dead；　too；　sir：　he　ruined　himself　and　half…ruined　his　family；　and　is　supposed　to　have　mitted　suicide。　The　news　so　shocked　his　mother　that　it　brought　on　an　apoplectic　attack。”

“And　what　good　can　you　do　her？　Nonsense；　Jane！　I　would　never　think　of　running　a　hundred　miles　to　see　an　old　lady　who　will；　perhaps；　be　dead　before　you　reach　her：　besides；　you　say　she　cast　you　off。”

“Yes；　sir；　but　that　is　long　ago；　and　when　her　circumstances　were　very　different：　I　could　not　be　easy　to　neglect　her　wishes　now。”

“How　long　will　you　stay？”

“As　short　a　time　as　possible；　sir。”

“Promise　me　only　to　stay　a　week—”

“I　had　better　not　pass　my　word：　I　might　be　obliged　to　break　it。”

“At　all　events　you　will　e　back：　you　will　not　be　induced　under　any　pretext　to　take　up　a　permanent　residence　with　her？”

“Oh；　no！　I　shall　certainly　return　if　all　be　well。”

“And　who　goes　with　you？　You　don’t　travel　a　hundred　miles　alone。”

“No；　sir；　she　has　sent　her　coachman。”

“A　person　to　be　trusted？”

“Yes；　sir；　he　has　lived　ten　years　in　the　family。”

Mr。　Rochester　meditated。　“When　do　you　wish　to　go？”

“Early　to…morrow　morning；　sir。”

“Well；　you　must　have　some　money；　you　can’t　travel　without　money；　and　I　daresay　you　have　not　much：　I　have　given　you　no　salary　yet。　How　much　have　you　in　the　world；　Jane？”　he　asked；　smiling。

I　drew　out　my　purse；　a　meagre　thing　it　was。　“Five　shillings；　sir。”　He　took　the　purse；　poured　the　hoard　into　his　palm；　and　chuckled　over　it　as　if　its　scantiness　amused　him。　Soon　he　produced　his　pocket…　book：　“Here；”　said　he；　offering　me　a　note；　it　was　fifty　pounds；　and　he　owed　me　but　fifteen。　I　told　him　I　had　no　change。

“I　don’t　want　change；　you　know　that。　Take　your　wages。”

I　declined　accepting　more　than　was　my　due。　He　scowled　at　first；　then；　as　if　recollecting　something；　he　said—

“Right；　right！　Better　not　give　you　all　now：　you　would；　perhaps；　stay　away　three　months　if　you　had　fifty　pounds。　There　are　ten；　is　it　not　plenty？”

“Yes；　sir；　but　now　you　owe　me　five。”

“e　back　for　it；　then；　I　am　your　banker　for　forty　pounds。”

“Mr。　Rochester；　I　may　as　well　mention　another　matter　of　business　to　you　while　I　have　the　opportunity。”

“Matter　of　business？　I　am　curious　to　hear　it。”

“You　have　as　good　as　informed　me；　sir；　that　you　are　going　shortly　to　be　married？”

“Yes；　what　then？”

“In　that　case；　sir；　Adèle　ought　to　go　to　school：　I　am　sure　you　will　perceive　the　necessity　of　it。”

“To　get　her　out　of　my　bride’s　way；　who　might　otherwise　walk　over　her　rather　too　emphatically？　There’s　sense　in　the　suggestion；　not　a　doubt　of　it。　Adèle；　as　you　say；　must　go　to　school；　and　you；　of　course；　must　march　straight　to—the　devil？”

“I　hope　not；　sir；　but　I　must　seek　another　situation　somewhere。”

“In　course！”　he　exclaimed；　with　a　twang　of　voice　and　a　distortion　of　features　equally　fantastic　and　ludicrous。　He　looked　at　me　some　minutes。

“And　old　Madam　Reed；　or　the　Misses；　her　daughters；　will　be　solicited　by　you　to　seek　a　place；　I　suppose？”

“No；　sir；　I　am　not　on　such　terms　with　my　relatives　as　would　justify　me　in　asking　favours　of　them—but　I　shall　advertise。”

“You　shall　walk　up　the　pyramids　of　Egypt！”　he　growled。　“At　your　peril　you　advertise！　I　wish　I　had　only　offered　you　a　sovereign　instead　of　ten　pounds。　Give　me　back　nine　pounds；　Jane；　I’ve　a　use　for　it。”

“And　so　have　I；　sir；”　I　returned；　putting　my　hands　and　my　purse　behind　me。　“I　could　n