小说园

第56部分（第2页）

“You；　sir；　are　the　most　phantom…like　of　all：　you　are　a　mere　dream。”

He　held　out　his　hand；　laughing。　“Is　that　a　dream？”　said　he；　placing　it　close　to　my　eyes。　He　had　a　rounded；　muscular；　and　vigorous　hand；　as　well　as　a　long；　strong　arm。

“Yes；　though　I　touch　it；　it　is　a　dream；”　said　I；　as　I　put　it　down　from　before　my　face。　“Sir；　have　you　finished　supper？”

“Yes；　Jane。”

I　rang　the　bell　and　ordered　away　the　tray。　When　we　were　again　alone；　I　stirred　the　fire；　and　then　took　a　low　seat　at　my　master’s　knee。

“It　is　near　midnight；”　I　said。

“Yes：　but　remember；　Jane；　you　promised　to　wake　with　me　the　night　before　my　wedding。”

“I　did；　and　I　will　keep　my　promise；　for　an　hour　or　two　at　least：　I　have　no　wish　to　go　to　bed。”

“Are　all　your　arrangements　plete？”

“All；　sir。”

“And　on　my　part　likewise；”　he　returned；　“I　have　settled　everything；　and　we　shall　leave　Thornfield　to…morrow；　within　half…an…hour　after　our　return　from　church。”

“Very　well；　sir。”

“With　what　an　extraordinary　smile　you　uttered　that　word—‘very　well；’　Jane！　What　a　bright　spot　of　colour　you　have　on　each　cheek！　and　how　strangely　your　eyes　glitter！　Are　you　well？”

“I　believe　I　am。”

“Believe！　What　is　the　matter？　Tell　me　what　you　feel。”

“I　could　not；　sir：　no　words　could　tell　you　what　I　feel。　I　wish　this　present　hour　would　never　end：　who　knows　with　what　fate　the　next　may　e　charged？”

“This　is　hypochondria；　Jane。　You　have　been　over…excited；　or　over…　fatigued。”

“Do　you；　sir；　feel　calm　and　happy？”

“Calm？—no：　but　happy—to　the　heart’s　core。”

I　looked　up　at　him　to　read　the　signs　of　bliss　in　his　face：　it　was　ardent　and　flushed。

“Give　me　your　confidence；　Jane；”　he　said：　“relieve　your　mind　of　any　weight　that　oppresses　it；　by　imparting　it　to　me。　What　do　you　fear？—that　I　shall　not　prove　a　good　husband？”

“It　is　the　idea　farthest　from　my　thoughts。”

“Are　you　apprehensive　of　the　new　sphere　you　are　about　to　enter？—of　the　new　life　into　which　you　are　passing？”

“No。”

“You　puzzle　me；　Jane：　your　look　and　tone　of　sorrowful　audacity　perplex　and　pain　me。　I　want　an　explanation。”

“Then；　sir；　listen。　You　were　from　home　last　night？”

“I　was：　I　know　that；　and　you　hinted　a　while　ago　at　something　which　had　happened　in