小说园

第37部分（第1页）

otions　shall　not　be　shared　between　me　and　the　shape　he　sees　in　his　mirror。　Mr。　Rochester；　now　sing；　and　I　will　play　for　you。”

“I　am　all　obedience；”　was　the　response。

“Here　then　is　a　Corsair…song。　Know　that　I　doat　on　Corsairs；　and　for　that　reason；　sing　it　con　spirito。”

“mands　from　Miss　Ingram’s　lips　would　put　spirit　into　a　mug　of　milk　and　water。”

“Take　care；　then：　if　you　don’t　please　me；　I　will　shame　you　by　showing　how　such　things　should　be　done。”

“That　is　offering　a　premium　on　incapacity：　I　shall　now　endeavour　to　fail。”

“Gardez…vous　en　bien！　If　you　err　wilfully；　I　shall　devise　a　proportionate　punishment。”

“Miss　Ingram　ought　to　be　clement；　for　she　has　it　in　her　power　to　inflict　a　chastisement　beyond　mortal　endurance。”

“Ha！　explain！”　manded　the　lady。

“Pardon　me；　madam：　no　need　of　explanation；　your　own　fine　sense　must　inform　you　that　one　of　your　frowns　would　be　a　sufficient　substitute　for　capital　punishment。”

“Sing！”　said　she；　and　again　touching　the　piano；　she　menced　an　acpaniment　in　spirited　style。

“Now　is　my　time　to　slip　away；”　thought　I：　but　the　tones　that　then　severed　the　air　arrested　me。　Mrs。　Fairfax　had　said　Mr。　Rochester　possessed　a　fine　voice：　he　did—a　mellow；　powerful　bass；　into　which　he　threw　his　own　feeling；　his　own　force；　finding　a　way　through　the　ear　to　the　heart；　and　there　waking　sensation　strangely。　I　waited　till　the　last　deep　and　full　vibration　had　expired—till　the　tide　of　talk；　checked　an　instant；　had　resumed　its　floy　sheltered　corner　and　made　my　exit　by　the　side…door；　which　was　fortunately　near。　Thence　a　narrow　passage　led　into　the　hall：　in　crossing　it；　I　perceived　my　sandal　was　loose；　I　stopped　to　tie　it；　kneeling　down　for　that　purpose　on　the　mat　at　the　foot　of　the　staircase。　I　heard　the　dining…room　door　unclose；　a　gentleman　came　out；　rising　hastily；　I　stood　face　to　face　with　him：　it　was　Mr。　Rochester。

“How　do　you　do？”　he　asked。

“I　am　very　well；　sir。”

“Why　did　you　not　e　and　speak　to　me　in　the　room？”

I　thought　I　might　have　retorted　the　question　on　him　who　put　it：　but　I　would　not　take　that　freedom。　I　answered—

“I　did　not　wish　to　disturb　you；　as　you　seemed　engaged；　sir。”

“What　have　you　been　doing　during　my　absence？”

“Nothing　particular；　teaching　Adèle　as　usual。”

“And　getting　a　good　deal　paler　than　you　were—as　I　saw　at　first　sight。　What　is　the　matter？”

“Nothing　at　all；　sir。”

“Did　you　take　any　cold　that　night　you　half　drowned　me？”

“Not　she　least。”

“Return　to　the　drawing…room：　you　are　deserting　too　early。”

“I　am　tired；　sir。”

He　looked　at　me　for　a　minute。

“And　a　little　depressed；”　he　said。　“What　about？　Tell　me。”