小说园

第24部分（第1页）

I　sought　it　and　found　it。

“Thank　you；　now　make　haste　with　the　letter　to　Hay；　and　return　as　fast　as　you　can。”

A　touch　of　a　spurred　heel　made　his　horse　first　start　and　rear；　and　then　bound　away；　the　dog　rushed　in　his　traces；　all　three　vanished；

“Like　heath　that；　in　the　wilderness；

The　wild　wind　whirls　away。”

I　took　up　my　muff　and　walked　on。　The　incident　had　occurred　and　was　gone　for　me：　it　was　an　incident　of　no　moment；　no　romance；　no　interest　in　a　sense；　yet　it　marked　with　change　one　single　hour　of　a　monotonous　life。　My　help　had　been　needed　and　claimed；　I　had　given　it：　I　was　pleased　to　have　done　something；　trivial；　transitory　though　the　deed　was；　it　was　yet　an　active　thing；　and　I　was　weary　of　an　existence　all　passive。　The　new　face；　too；　was　like　a　new　picture　introduced　to　the　gallery　of　memory；　and　it　was　dissimilar　to　all　the　others　hanging　there：　firstly；　because　it　was　masculine；　and；　secondly；　because　it　was　dark；　strong；　and　stern。　I　had　it　still　before　me　when　I　entered　Hay；　and　slipped　the　letter　into　the　post…　office；　I　saw　it　as　I　walked　fast　down…hill　all　the　way　home。　When　I　came　to　the　stile；　I　stopped　a　minute；　looked　round　and　listened；　with　an　idea　that　a　horse’s　hoofs　might　ring　on　the　causeway　again；　and　that　a　rider　in　a　cloak；　and　a　Gytrash…like　Newfoundland　dog；　might　be　again　apparent：　I　saw　only　the　hedge　and　a　pollard　willow　before　me；　rising　up　still　and　straight　to　meet　the　moonbeams；　I　heard　only　the　faintest　waft　of　wind　roaming　fitful　among　the　trees　round　Thornfield；　a　mile　distant；　and　when　I　glanced　down　in　the　direction　of　the　murmur；　my　eye；　traversing　the　hall…front；　caught　a　light　kindling　in　a　window：　it　reminded　me　that　I　was　late；　and　I　hurried　on。

I　did　not　like　re…entering　Thornfield。　To　pass　its　threshold　was　to　return　to　stagnation；　to　cross　the　silent　hall；　to　ascend　the　darksome　staircase；　to　seek　my　own　lonely　little　room；　and　then　to　meet　tranquil　Mrs。　Fairfax；　and　spend　the　long　winter　evening　with　her；　and　her　only；　was　to　quell　wholly　the　faint　excitement　wakened　by　my　walk；—to　slip　again　over　my　faculties　the　viewless　fetters　of　an　uniform　and　too　still　existence；　of　an　existence　whose　very　privileges　of　security　and　ease　I　was　being　incapable　of　appreciating。　What　good　it　would　have　done　me　at　that　time　to　have　been　tossed　in　the　storms　of　an　uncertain　struggling　life；　and　to　have　been　taught　by　rough　and　bitter　experience　to　long　for　the　calm　amidst　which　I　now　repined！　Yes；　just　as　much　good　as　it　would　do　a　man　tired　of　sitting　still　in　a　“too　easy　chair”　to　take　a　long　walk：　and　just　as　natural　was　the　wish　to　stir；　under　my　circumstances；　as　it　would　be　under　his。

I　lingered　at　the　gates；　I　lingered　on　the　lawn；　I　paced　backwards　and　forwards　on　the　pavement；　the　shutters　of　the　glass　door　were　closed；　I　could　not　see　into　the　interior；　and　both　my　eyes　and　spirit　seemed　drawn　from　the　gloomy　house—from　the　grey…hollow　filled　with　rayless　cells；　as　it　appeared　to　me—to　that　sky　expanded　before　me；—a　blue　sea　absolved　from　taint　of　cloud；　the　moon　ascending　it　in　solemn　march；　her　orb　seeming　to　look　up　as　she　left　the　hill…tops；　from　behind　which　she　had　e；　far　and　farther　below　her；　and　aspired　to　the　zenith；　midnight　dark　in　its　fathomless　depth　and　measureless　distance；　and　for　those　trembling　stars　that　followed　her　course；　they　made　my　heart　tremble；　my　veins　glow　when　I　viewed　them。　Little　things　recall　us　to　earth；　the　clock　struck　in　the　hall；　that　sufficed；　I　turned　from　moon　and　stars；　opened　a　side…door；　and　went　in。

The　hall　was　not　dark；　nor　yet　was　it　lit；　only　by　the　high…hung　bronze　lamp；　a　warm　glow　suffused　both　it　and　the　lower　steps　of　the　oak　staircase。　This　ruddy　shine　issued　from　the　great　dining…room；　whose　two…leaved　door　stood　open；　and　showed　a　genial　fire　in　the　grate；　glancing　on　marble　hearth　and　brass　fire…irons；　and　revealing　purple　draperies　and　polished　furniture；　in　the　most　pleasant　radiance。　It　revealed；　too；　a　group　near　the　mantelpiece：　I　had　scarcely　caught　it；　and　scarcely　bee　aware　of　a　cheerful　mingling　of　voices；　amongst　which　I　seemed　to　distinguish　the　tones　of　Adèle；　when　the　door　closed。

I　hastened　to　Mrs。　Fairfax’s　room；　there　was　a　fire　there　too；　but　no　candle；　and　no　Mrs。　Fairfax。　Instead；　all　alone；　sitting　upright　on　the　rug；　and　gazing　with　gravity　at　the　blaze；　I　beheld　a　great　black　and　white　long…haired　dog；　just　like　the　Gytrash　of　the　lane。　It　was　so　like　it　that　I　went　forward　and　said—“Pilot”　and　the　thing　got　up　and　came　to　me　and　snuffed　me。　I　caressed　him；　and　he　wagged　his　great　tail；　but　he　looked　an　eerie　creature　to　be　alone　with；　and　I　could　not　tell　whence　he　had　e。　I　rang　the　bell；　for　I　wanted　a　candle；　and　I　wanted；　too；　to　get　an　account　of　this　visitant。　Leah　entered。

“What　dog　is　this？”

“He　came　with　master。”

“With　whom？”

“With　master—Mr。　Rochester—he　is　just　arrived。”

“Indeed！　and　is　Mrs。　Fairfax　with　him？”

“Yes；　and　Miss　Adèle；　they　are　in　the　dining…room；　and　John　is　gone　for　a　surgeon；　for　master　has　had　an　accident；　his　horse　fell　and　his　ankle　is　sprained。”

“Did　the　horse　fall　in　Hay　Lane？”

“Yes；　ing　down…hill；　it　slipped　on　some　ice。”

“Ah！　Bring　me　a　candle　will　you　Leah？”

Leah　brought　it；　she　entered；　followed　by　Mrs。　Fairfax；　who　repeated　the　news；　adding　that　Mr。　Carter　the　surgeon　was　e；　and　was　now　with　Mr。　Rochester：　then　she　hurried　out　to　give　orders　about　tea；　and　I　went　upstairs　to　take　off　my　things。

Chapter　13

Mr。　Rochester；　it　seems；　by　the　surgeon’s　orders；　went　to　bed　early　that　night；　nor　did　he　rise　soon　next　morning。　When　he　did　e　down；　it　was　to　attend　to　business：　his　agent　and　some　of　his　tenants　were　arrived；　and　waiting　to　speak　with　him。

Adèle　and　I　had　now　to　vacate　the　library：　it　would　be　in　daily　requisition　as　a　reception…room　for　callers。　A　fire　was　lit　in　an　apartment　upstairs；　and　there　I　carried　our　books；　and　arranged　it　for　the　future　schoolroom。　I　discerned　in　the　course　of　the　morning　that　Thornfield　Hall　was　a　changed　place：　no　longer　silent　as　a　church；　it　echoed　every　hour　or　two　to　a　knock　at　the　door；　or　a　clang　of　the　bell；　steps；　too；　often　traversed　the　hall；　and　new　voices　spoke　in　different　keys　below；　a　rill　from　the　outer　world　was　flowing　through　it；　it　had　a　master：　for　my　part；　I　liked　it　better。

Adèle　was　not　easy　to　teach　that　day；　she　could　not　apply：　she　kept　running　to　the　door　and　looking　over　the　banisters　to　see　if　she　could　get　a　glimpse　of　Mr。　Rochester；　then　she　coined　pretexts　to　go　downstairs；　in　order；　as　I　shrewdly　suspected；　to　visit　the　library；　where　I　knew　she　was　not　wanted；　then；　when　I　got　a　little　angry；　and　made　her　sit　still；　she　continued　to　talk　incessantly　of　her　“ami；　Monsieur　Edouard　Fairfax　de　Rochester；”　as　she　dubbed　him　（I　had　not　before　heard　his　prenomens）；　and　to　conjecture　what　presents　he　had　brought　her：　for　it　appears　he　had　intimated　the　night　before；　that　when　his　luggage　came　from　Millcote；　there　would　be　found　amongst　it　a　little　box　in　whose　contents　she　had　an　interest。

“Et　cela　doit　signifier；”　said　she；　“qu’il　y　aura　le　dedans　un　cadeau　pour　moi；　et　peut…être　pour　vous　aussi；　mademoiselle。　Monsieur　a　parle　de　vous：　il　m’a　demande　le　nom　de　ma　gouvernante；　et　si　elle　n’etait　pas　une　petite　personne；　assez　mince　et　un　peu　pale。　J’ai　dit　qu’oui：　car　c’est　vrai；　n’est…ce　pas；　mademoiselle？”

I　and　my　pupil　dined　as　usual　in　Mrs。　Fairfax’s　parlour；　the　afternoon　was　wild　and　snowy；　and　we　passed　it　in　the　schoolroom。　At　dark　I　allowed　Adèle　to　put　away　books　and　work；　and　to　run　downstairs；　for；　from　the　parative　silence　below；　and　from　the　cessation　of　appeals　to　the　door…bell；　I　conjectured　that　Mr。　Rochester　was　now　at　liberty。　Left　alone；　I　walked　to　the　window；　but　nothing　was　to　be　seen　thence：　twilight　and　snowflakes　together　thickened　the　air；　and　hid　the　very　shrubs　on　the　lawn。　I　let　down　the　curtain　and　went　back　to　the　fireside。

In　the　clear　embers　I　was　tracing　a　view；　not　unlike　a　picture　I　remembered　to　have　seen　of　the　castle　of　Heidelberg；　on　the　Rhine；　when　Mrs。　Fairfax　came　in；　breaking　up　by　her　entrance　the　fiery　mosaic　I　had　been　piercing　together；　and　scattering　too　some　heavy　unwele　thoughts　that　were　beginning　to　throng　on　my　solitude。

“Mr。　Rochester　would　be　glad　if　you　and　your　pupil　would　take　tea　with　him　in　the　drawing…room　this　evening；”　said　she：　“he　has　been　so　much　engaged　all　day　that　he　could　not　ask　to　see　you　before。”

“When　is　his　tea…time？”　I　inquired。

“Oh；　at　six　o’clock：　he　keeps　early　hours　in　the　country。　You　had　better　change　your　frock　now；　I　will　go　with　you　and　fasten　it。　Here　is　a　candle。”

“Is　it　necessary　to　change　my　frock？”

“Yes；　you　had　better：　I　always　dress　for　the　evening　when　Mr。　Rochester　is　here。”

This　additional　ceremony　seemed　somewhat　stately；　however；　I　repaired　to　my　room；　and；　with　Mrs。　Fairfax’s　aid；　replaced　my　black　stuff　dress　by　one　of　black　silk；　the　best　and　the　only　additional　one　I　had；　except　one　of　light　grey；　which；　in　my　Lowood　notions　of　the　toilette；　I　thought　too　fine　to　be　worn；　except　on　first…rate　occasions。

“You　want　a　brooch；”　said　Mrs。　Fairfax。　I　had　a　single　little　pearl　ornament　which　Miss　Temple　gave　me　as　a　parting　keepsake：　I　put　it　on；　and　then　we　went　downstairs。　Unused　as　I　was　to　strangers；　it　was　rather　a　trial　to　appear　thus　formally　summoned　in　Mr。　Rochester’s　presence。　I　let　Mrs。　Fairfax　precede　me　into　the　dining…room；　and　kept　in　her　shade　as　we　crossed　that　apartment；　and；　passing　the　arch；　whose　curtain　was　now　dropped；　entered　the　elegant　recess　beyond。

Two　wax　candles　stood　lighted　on　the　table；　and　two　on　the　mantelpiece；　basking　in　the　light　and　heat　of　a　superb　fire；　lay　Pilot—Adèle　knelt　near　him。　Half　reclined　on　a　couch　appeared　Mr。　Rochester；　his　foot　supported　by　the　cushion；　he　was　looking　at　Adèle　and　the　dog：　the　fire　shone　full　on　his　face。　I　knew　my　traveller　with　his　broad　and　jetty　eyebroade　squarer　by　the　horizontal　sweep　of　his　black　hair。　I　recognised　his　decisive　nose；　more　remarkable　for　character　than　beauty；　his　full　nostrils；　denoting；　I　thought；　choler；　his　grim　mouth；　chin；　and　jaw—yes；　all　three　were　very　grim；　and　no　mistake。　His　shape；　now　divested　of　cloak；　I　perceived　harmonised　in　squareness　with　his　physiognomy：　I　suppose　it　was　a　good　figure　in　the　athletic　sense　of　the　term—broad　chested　and　thin　flanked；　though　neither　tall　nor　graceful。

Mr。　Rochester　must　have　been　aware　of　the　entrance　of　Mrs。　Fairfax　and　myself；　but　it　appeared　he　was　not　in　the　mood　to　notice　us；　for　he　never　lifted　his　head　as　we　approached。

“Here　is　Miss　Eyre；　sir；”　said　Mrs。　Fairfax；　in　her　quiet　way。　He　bowed；　still　not　taking　his　eyes　from　the　group　of　the　dog　and　child。

“Let　Miss　Eyre　be　seated；”　said　he：　and　there　was　something　in　the　forced　stiff　bow；　in　the　impatient　yet　formal　tone；　which　seemed　further　to　express；　“What　the　deuce　is　it　to　me　whether　Miss　Eyre　be　there　or　not？　At　this　moment　I　am　not　disposed　to　accost　her。”

I　sat　dobarrassed。　A　reception　of　finished　politeness　would　probably　have　confused　me：　I　could　not　have　returned　or　repaid　it　by　answering　grace　and　elegance　on　my　part；　but　harsh　caprice　laid　me　under　no　obligation；　on　the　contrary；　a　decent　quiescence；　unde