小说园

第46部分（第1页）

for　it。”

“And　so　have　I；　sir；”　I　returned；　putting　my　hands　and　my　purse　behind　me。　“I　could　not　spare　the　money　on　any　account。”

“Little　niggard！”　said　he；　“refusing　me　a　pecuniary　request！　Give　me　five　pounds；　Jane。”

“Not　five　shillings；　sir；　nor　five　pence。”

“Just　let　me　look　at　the　cash。”

“No；　sir；　you　are　not　to　be　trusted。”

“Jane！”

“Sir？”

“Promise　me　one　thing。”

“I’ll　promise　you　anything；　sir；　that　I　think　I　am　likely　to　perform。”

“Not　to　advertise：　and　to　trust　this　quest　of　a　situation　to　me。　I’ll　find　you　one　in　time。”

“I　shall　be　glad　so　to　do；　sir；　if　you；　in　your　turn；　will　promise　that　I　and　Adèle　shall　be　both　safe　out　of　the　house　before　your　bride　enters　it。”

“Very　well！　very　well！　I’ll　pledge　my　word　on　it。　You　go　to…　morrow；　then？”

“Yes；　sir；　early。”

“Shall　you　e　down　to　the　drawing…room　after　dinner？”

“No；　sir；　I　must　prepare　for　the　journey。”

“Then　you　and　I　must　bid　good…bye　for　a　little　while？”

“I　suppose　so；　sir。”

“And　how　do　people　perform　that　ceremony　of　parting；　Jane？　Teach　me；　I’m　not　quite　up　to　it。”

“They　say；　Farewell；　or　any　other　form　they　prefer。”

“Then　say　it。”

“Farewell；　Mr。　Rochester；　for　the　present。”

“What　must　I　say？”

“The　same；　if　you　like；　sir。”

“Farewell；　Miss　Eyre；　for　the　present；　is　that　all？”

“Yes？”

“It　seems　stingy；　to　my　notions；　and　dry；　and　unfriendly。　I　should　like　something　else：　a　little　addition　to　the　rite。　If　one　shook　hands；　for　instance；　but　no—that　would　not　content　me　either。　So　you’ll　do　no　more　than　say　Farewell；　Jane？”

“It　is　enough；　sir：　as　much　good…will　may　be　conveyed　in　one　hearty　word　as　in　many。”