小说园

第31部分（第2页）

To　much　confabulation　succeeded　a　sound　of　scrubbing　and　setting　to　rights；　and　when　I　passed　the　room；　in　going　downstairs　to　dinner；　I　saw　through　the　open　door　that　all　was　again　restored　to　plete　order；　only　the　bed　was　stripped　of　its　hangings。　Leah　stood　up　in　the　window…seat；　rubbing　the　panes　of　glass　dimmed　with　smoke。　I　was　about　to　address　her；　for　I　wished　to　know　what　account　had　been　given　of　the　affair：　but；　on　advancing；　I　saw　a　second　person　in　the　chamber—a　woman　sitting　on　a　chair　by　the　bedside；　and　sewing　rings　to　new　curtains。　That　woman　was　no　other　than　Grace　Poole。

There　she　sat；　staid　and　taciturn…looking；　as　usual；　in　her　brown　stuff　gown；　her　check　apron；　white　handkerchief；　and　cap。　She　was　intent　on　her　work；　in　which　her　whole　thoughts　seemed　absorbed：　on　her　hard　forehead；　and　in　her　monplace　features；　was　nothing　either　of　the　paleness　or　desperation　one　would　have　expected　to　see　marking　the　countenance　of　a　woman　who　had　attempted　murder；　and　whose　intended　victim　had　followed　her　last　night　to　her　lair；　and　（as　I　believed）；　charged　her　with　the　crime　she　wished　to　perpetrate。　I　was　amazed—confounded。　She　looked　up；　while　I　still　gazed　at　her：　no　start；　no　increase　or　failure　of　colour　betrayed　emotion；　consciousness　of　guilt；　or　fear　of　detection。　She　said　“Good　morning；　Miss；”　in　her　usual　phlegmatic　and　brief　manner；　and　taking　up　another　ring　and　more　tape；　went　on　with　her　sewing。

“I　will　put　her　to　some　test；”　thought　I：　“such　absolute　imperability　is　past　prehension。”

“Good　morning；　Grace；”　I　said。　“Has　anything　happened　here？　I　thought　I　heard　the　servants　all　talking　together　a　while　ago。”

“Only　master　had　been　reading　in　his　bed　last　night；　he　fell　asleep　with　his　candle　lit；　and　the　curtains　got　on　fire；　but；　fortunately；　he　awoke　before　the　bed…clothes　or　the　wood…work　caught；　and　contrived　to　quench　the　flames　with　the　water　in　the　ewer。

“A　strange　affair！”　I　said；　in　a　low　voice：　then；　looking　at　her　fixedly—“Did　Mr。　Rochester　wake　nobody？　Did　no　one　hear　him　move？”

She　again　raised　her　eyes　to　me；　and　this　time　there　was　something　of　consciousness　in　their　expression。　She　seemed　to　examine　me　warily；　then　she　answered—

“The　servants　sleep　so　far　off；　you　know；　Miss；　they　would　not　be　likely　to　hear。　Mrs。　Fairfax’s　room　and　yours　are　the　nearest　to　master’s；　but　Mrs。　Fairfax　said　she　heard　nothing：　when　people　get　elderly；　they　often　sleep　heavy。”　She　paused；　and　then　added；　with　a　sort　of　assumed　indifference；　but　still　in　a　marked　and　significant　tone—“But　you　are　young；　Miss；　and　I　should　say　a　light　sleeper：　perhaps　you　may　have　heard　a　noise？”

“I　did；”　said　I；　dropping　my　voice；　so　that　Leah；　who　was　still　polishing　the　panes；　could　not　hear　me；　“and　at　first　I　thought　it　was　Pilot：　but　Pilot　cannot　laugh；　and　I　am　certain　I　heard　a　laugh；　and　a　strange　one。”

She　took　a　new　needleful　of　thread；　waxed　it　carefully；　threaded　her　needle　with　a　steady　hand；　and　then　observed；　with　perfect　posure—

“It　is　hardly　likely　master　would　laugh；　I　should　think；　Miss；　when　he　was　in　such　danger：　You　must　have　been　dreaming。”

“I　was　not　dreaming；”　I　said；　with　some　warmth；　for　her　brazen　coolness　provoked　me。　Again　she　looked　at　me；　and　with　the　same　scrutinising　and　conscious　eye。

“Have　you　told　master　that　you　heard　a　laugh？”　she　inquired。

“I　have　not　had　the　opportunity　of　speaking　to　him　this　morning。”

“You　did　not　think　of　opening　your　door　and　looking　out　into　the　gallery？”　she　further　asked。

She　appeared　to　be　cross…questioning　me；　attempting　to　draw　from　me　information　unawares。　The　idea　struck　me　that　if　she　discovered　I　knew　or　suspected　her　guilt；　she　would　be　playing　of　some　of　her　malignant　pranks　on　me；　I　thought　it　advisable　to　be　on　my　guard。

“On　the　contrary；”　said　I；　“I　bolted　my　door。”

“Then　you　are　not　in　the　habit　of　bolting　your　door　every　night　before　you　get　into　bed？”

“Fiend！　she　wants　to　know　my　habits；　that　she　may　lay　her　plans　accordingly！”　Indignation　again　prevailed　over　prudence：　I　replied　sharply；　“Hitherto　I　have　often　omitted　to　fasten　the　bolt：　I　did　not　think　it　necessary。　I　was　not　aware　any　danger　or　annoyance　was　to　be　dreaded　at　Thornfield　Hall：　but　in　future”　（and　I　laid　marked　stress　on　the　words）　“I　shall　take　good　care　to　make　all　secure　before　I　venture　to　lie　down。”

“It　will　be　wise　so　to　do；”　was　her　answer：　“this　neighbourhood　is　as　quiet　as　any　I　know；　and　I　never　heard　of　the　hall　being　attempted　by　robbers　since　it　was　a　house；　though　there　are　hundreds　of　pounds’　worth　of　plate　in　the　plate…closet；　as　is　well　known。　And　you　see；　for　such　a　large　house；　there　are　very　few　servants；　because　master　has　never　lived　here　much；　and　when　he　does　e；　being　a　bachelor；　he　needs　little　waiting　on：　but　I　always　think　it　best　to　err　on　the　safe　side；　a　door　is　soon　fastened；　and　it　is　as　well　to　have　a　drawn　bolt　between　one　and　any　mischief　that　may　be　about。　A　deal　of　people；　Miss；　are　for　trusting　all　to　Providence；　but　I　say　Providence　will　not　dispense　with　the　means；　though　He　often　blesses　them　when　they　are　used　discreetly。”　And　here　she　closed　her　harangue：　a　long　one　for　her；　and　uttered　with　the　demureness　of　a　Quakeress。

I　still　stood　absolutely　dumfoundered　at　what　appeared　to　me　her　miraculous　self…possession　and　most　inscrutable　hypocrisy；　when　the　cook　entered。

“Mrs。　Poole；”　said　she；　addressing　Grace；　“the　servants’　dinner　will　soon　be　ready：　will　you　e　down？”

“No；　just　put　my　pint　of　porter　and　bit　of　pudding　on　a　tray；　and　I’ll　carry　it　upstairs。”

“You’ll　have　some　meat？”

“Just　a　morsel；　and　a　taste　of　cheese；　that’s　all。”

“And　the　sago？”

“Never　mind　it　at　present：　I　shall　be　ing　down　before　teatime：　I’ll　make　it　myself。”

The　cook　here　turned　to　me；　saying　that　Mrs。　Fairfax　was　waiting　for　me：　so　I　departed。

I　hardly　heard　Mrs。　Fairfax’s　account　of　the　curtain　conflagration　during　dinner；　so　much　was　I　occupied　in　puzzling　my　brains　over　the　enigmatical　character　of　Grace　Poole；　and　s