小说园

第54部分（第1页）

are　twenty　years　of　difference　in　your　ages。　He　might　almost　be　your　father。”

“No；　indeed；　Mrs。　Fairfax！”　exclaimed　I；　tled；　“he　is　nothing　like　my　father！　No　one；　who　saw　us　together；　would　suppose　it　for　an　instant。　Mr。　Rochester　looks　as　young；　and　is　as　young；　as　some　men　at　five…and…twenty。”

“Is　it　really　for　love　he　is　going　to　marry　you？”　she　asked。

I　was　so　hurt　by　her　coldness　and　scepticism；　that　the　tears　rose　to　my　eyes。

“I　am　sorry　to　grieve　you；”　pursued　the　widow；　“but　you　are　so　young；　and　so　little　acquainted　with　men；　I　wished　to　put　you　on　your　guard。　It　is　an　old　saying　that　‘all　is　not　gold　that　glitters；’　and　in　this　case　I　do　fear　there　will　be　something　found　to　be　different　to　what　either　you　or　I　expect。”

“Why？—am　I　a　monster？”　I　said：　“is　it　impossible　that　Mr。　Rochester　should　have　a　sincere　affection　for　me？”

“No：　you　are　very　well；　and　much　improved　of　late；　and　Mr。　Rochester；　I　daresay；　is　fond　of　you。　I　have　always　noticed　that　you　were　a　sort　of　pet　of　his。　There　are　times　when；　for　your　sake；　I　have　been　a　little　uneasy　at　his　marked　preference；　and　have　wished　to　put　you　on　your　guard：　but　I　did　not　like　to　suggest　even　the　possibility　of　wrong。　I　knew　such　an　idea　would　shock；　perhaps　offend　you；　and　you　were　so　discreet；　and　so　thoroughly　modest　and　sensible；　I　hoped　you　might　be　trusted　to　protect　yourself。　　night　I　cannot　tell　you　what　I　suffered　when　I　sought　all　over　the　house；　and　could　find　you　nowhere；　nor　the　master　either；　and　then；　at　twelve　o’clock；　saw　you　e　in　with　him。”

“Well；　never　mind　that　now；”　I　interrupted　impatiently；　“it　is　enough　that　all　was　right。”

“I　hope　all　will　be　right　in　the　end；”　she　said：　“but　believe　me；　you　cannot　be　too　careful。　Try　and　keep　Mr。　Rochester　at　a　distance：　distrust　yourself　as　well　as　him。　Gentlemen　in　his　station　are　not　accustomed　to　marry　their　governesses。”

I　was　growing　truly　irritated：　happily；　Adèle　ran　in。

“Let　me　go；—let　me　go　to　Millcote　too！”　she　cried。　“Mr。　Rochester　won’t：　though　there　is　so　much　room　in　the　new　carriage。　Beg　him　to　let　me　go　mademoiselle。”

“That　I　will；　Adèle；”　and　I　hastened　away　onitress。　The　carriage　was　ready：　they　were　bringing　it　round　to　the　front；　and　my　master　was　the　pavement；　Pilot　following　him　backwards　and　forwards。

“Adèle　may　acpany　us；　may　she　not；　sir？”

“I　told　her　no。　I’ll　have　no　brats！—I’ll　have　only　you。”

“Do　let　her　go；　Mr。　Rochester；　if　you　please：　it　would　be　better。”

“Not　it：　she　will　be　a　restraint。”

He　ptory；　both　in　look　and　voice。　The　chill　of　Mrs。　Fairfax’s　warnings；　and　the　damp　of　her　doubts　were　upon　me：　something　of　unsubstantiality　and　uncertainty　had　beset　my　hopes。　I　half　lost　the　sense　of　power　over　him。　I　was　about　mechanically　to　obey　him；　without　further　remonstrance；　but　as　he　helped　me　into　the　carriage；　he　looked　at　my　face。

“What　is　the　matter？”　he　asked；　“all　the　sunshine　is　gone。　Do　you　really　wish　the　bairn　to　go？　Will　it　annoy　you　if　she　is　left　behind？”

“I　would　far　rather　she　went；　sir。”

“Then　off　for　your　bon；　and　back　like　a　flash　of　lightning！”　cried　he　to　Adèle。

She　obeyed　him　with　what　speed　she　might。

“After　all；　a　single　morning’s　interruption　will　not　matter　much；”　said　he；　“when　I　mean　shortly　to　claim　you—your　thoughts；　conversation；　and　pany—for　life。”

Adèle；　when　lifted　in；　menced　kissing　me；　by　way　of　expressing　her　gratitude　for　my　intercession：　she　was　instantly　stowed　away　into　a　corner　on　the　other　side　of　him。　She　then　peeped　round　to　where　I　sat；　so　stern　a　neighbour　was　too　restrictive　to　him；　in　his　present　fractious　mood；　she　dared　whisper　no　observations；　nor　ask　of　him　any　information。

“Let　her　e　to　me；”　I　entreated：　“she　will；　perhaps；　trouble　you；　sir：　there　is　plenty　of　room　on　this　side。”

He　handed　her　over　as　if　she　had　been　a　lapdog。　“I’ll　send　her　to　school　yet；”　he　said；　but　now　he　was　smiling。