小说园

第21部分（第1页）

Fortunately　I　had　had　the　advantage　of　being　taught　French　by　a　French　lady；　and　as　I　had　always　made　a　point　of　conversing　with　Madame　Pierrot　as　often　as　I　could；　and　had　besides；　during　the　last　seven　years；　learnt　a　portion　of　French　by　heart　daily—applying　myself　to　take　pains　with　my　accent；　and　imitating　as　closely　as　possible　the　pronunciation　of　my　teacher；　I　had　acquired　a　certain　degree　of　readiness　and　correctness　in　the　language；　and　was　not　likely　to　be　much　at　a　loss　with　Mademoiselle　Adela。　She　came　and　shook　hand　with　me　when　she　heard　that　I　was　her　governess；　and　as　I　led　her　in　to　breakfast；　I　addressed　some　phrases　to　her　in　her　own　tongue：　she　replied　briefly　at　first；　but　after　we　were　seated　at　the　table；　and　she　had　examined　me　some　ten　minutes　with　her　large　hazel　eyes；　she　suddenly　menced　chattering　fluently。

“Ah！”　cried　she；　in　French；　“you　speak　my　language　as　well　as　Mr。　Rochester　does：　I　can　talk　to　you　as　I　can　to　him；　and　so　can　Sophie。　She　will　be　glad：　nobody　here　understands　her：　Madame　Fairfax　is　all　English。　Sophie　is　my　nurse；　she　came　with　me　over　the　sea　in　a　great　ship　with　a　chimney　that　smoked—how　it　did　smoke！—and　I　was　sick；　and　so　was　Sophie；　and　so　was　Mr。　Rochester。　Mr。　Rochester　lay　down　on　a　sofa　in　a　pretty　room　called　the　salon；　and　Sophie　and　I　had　little　beds　in　another　place。　I　nearly　fell　out　of　mine；　it　was　like　a　shelf。　And　Mademoiselle—what　is　your　name？”

“Eyre—Jane　Eyre。”

“Aire？　Bah！　I　cannot　say　it。　Well；　our　ship　stopped　in　the　morning；　before　it　was　quite　daylight；　at　a　great　city—a　huge　city；　with　very　dark　houses　and　all　smoky；　not　at　all　like　the　pretty　clean　town　I　came　from；　and　Mr。　Rochester　carried　me　in　his　arms　over　a　plank　to　the　land；　and　Sophie　came　after；　and　we　all　got　into　a　coach；　which　took　us　to　a　beautiful　large　house；　larger　than　this　and　finer；　called　an　hotel。　We　stayed　there　nearly　a　week：　I　and　Sophie　used　to　walk　every　day　in　a　great　green　place　full　of　trees；　called　the　Park；　and　there　were　many　children　there　besides　me；　and　a　pond　with　beautiful　birds　in　it；　that　I　fed　with　crumbs。”

“Can　you　understand　her　when　she　runs　on　so　fast？”　asked　Mrs。　Fairfax。

I　understood　her　very　well；　for　I　had　been　accustomed　to　the　fluent　tongue　of　Madame　Pierrot。

“I　wish；”　continued　the　good　lady；　“you　would　ask　her　a　question　or　two　about　her　parents：　I　wonder　if　she　remembers　them？”

“Adèle；”　I　inquired；　“with　whom　did　you　live　when　you　were　in　that　pretty　clean　town　you　spoke　of？”

“I　lived　long　ago　with　mama；　but　she　is　gone　to　the　Holy　Virgin。　Mama　used　to　teach　me　to　dance　and　sing；　and　to　say　verses。　A　great　many　gentlemen　and　ladies　came　to　see　mama；　and　I　used　to　dance　before　them；　or　to　sit　on　their　knees　and　sing　to　them：　I　liked　it。　Shall　I　let　you　hear　me　sing　now？”

She　had　finished　her　breakfast；　so　I　permitted　her　to　give　a　specimen　of　her　acplishments。　Descending　from　her　chair；　she　came　and　placed　herself　on　my　knee；　then；　folding　her　little　hands　demurely　before　her；　shaking　back　her　curls　and　lifting　her　eyes　to　the　ceiling；　she　menced　singing　a　song　from　some　opera。　It　was　the　strain　of　a　forsaken　lady；　who；　after　bewailing　the　perfidy　of　her　lover；　calls　pride　to　her　aid；　desires　her　attendant　to　deck　her　in　her　brightest　jewels　and　richest　robes；　and　resolves　to　meet　the　false　one　that　night　at　a　ball；　and　prove　to　him；　by　the　gaiety　of　her　demeanour；　how　little　his　desertion　has　affected　her。

The　subject　seemed　strangely　chosen　for　an　infant　singer；　but　I　suppose　the　point　of　the　exhibition　lay　in　hearing　the　notes　of　love　and　jealousy　warbled　with　the　lisp　of　childhood；　and　in　very　bad　taste　that　point　was：　at　least　I　thought　so。

Adèle　sang　the　canzote　tunefully　enough；　and　with　the　na？veté　of　her　age。　This　achieved；　she　jumped　from　my　knee　and　said；　“Now；　Mademoiselle；　I　will　repeat　you　some　poetry。”

Assuming　an　attitude；　she　began；　“La　Ligue　des　Rats：　fable　de　La　Fontaine。”　She　then　declaimed　the　little　piece　with　an　attention　to　punctuation　and　emphasis；　a　flexibility　of　voice　and　an　appropriateness　of　gesture；　very　unusual　indeed　at　her　age；　and　which　proved　she　had　been　carefully　trained。

“Was　it　your　mama　who　taught　you　that　piece？”　I　asked。

“Yes；　and　she　just　used　to　say　it　in　this　way：　‘Qu’　avez　vous　donc？　lui　dit　un　de　ces　rats；　parlez！’　She　made　me　lift　my　hand—so—to　remind　me　to　raise　my　voice　at　the　question。　Now　shall　I　dance　for　you？”

“No；　that　will　do：　but　after　your　mama　went　to　the　Holy　Virgin；　as　you　say；　with　whom　did　you　live　then？”

“With　Madame　Frédéric　and　her　husband：　she　took　care　of　me；　but　she　is　nothing　related　to　me。　I　think　she　is　poor；　for　she　had　not　so　fine　a　house　as　mama。　I　was　not　long　there。　Mr。　Rochester　asked　me　if　I　would　like　to　go　and　live　with　him　in　England；　and　I　said　yes；　for　I　knew　Mr。　Rochester　before　I　knew　Madame　Frédéric；　and　he　was　always　kind　to　me　and　gave　me　pretty　dresses　and　toys：　but　you　see　he　has　not　kept　his　word；　for　he　has　brought　me　to　England；　and　now　he　is　gone　back　again　himself；　and　I　never　see　him。”

After　breakfast；　Adèle　and　I　withdrew　to　the　library；　which　room；　it　appears；　Mr。　Rochester　had　directed　should　be　used　as　the　schoolroom。　Most　of　the　books　were　locked　up　behind　glass　doors；　but　there　was　one　bookcase　left　open　containing　everything　that　could　be　needed　in　the　way　of　elementary　works；　and　several　volumes　of　light　literature；　poetry；　biography；　travels；　a　few　romances；　&c。　I　suppose　he　had　considered　that　these　were　all　the　governess　would　require　for　her　private　perusal；　and；　indeed；　they　contented　me　amply　for　the　present；　pared　with　the　scanty　pickings　I　had　now　and　then　been　able　to　glean　at　Lowood；　they　seemed　to　offer　an　abundant　harvest　of　entertainment　and　information。　In　this　room；　too；　there　was　a　cabi　piano；　quite　new　and　of　superior　tone；　also　an　easel　for　painting　and　a　pair　of　globes。

I　found　my　pupil　sufficiently　docile；　though　disinclined　to　apply：　she　had　not　been　used　to　regular　occupation　of　any　kind。　I　felt　it　would　be　injudicious　to　confine　her　too　much　at　first；　so；　when　I　had　talked　to　her　a　great　deal；　and　got　her　to　learn　a　little；　and　when　the　morning　had　advanced　to　noon；　I　allowed　her　to　return　to　her　nurse。　I　then　proposed　to　occupy　myself　till　dinner…time　in　drawing　some　little　sketches　for　her　use。

As　I　was　going　upstairs　to　fetch　my　portfolio　and　pencils；　Mrs。　Fairfax　called　to　me：　“Your　morning　school…hours　are　over　now；　I　suppose；”　said　she。　She　was　in　a　room　the　folding…doors　of　which　stood　open：　I　went　in　when　she　addressed　me。　It　was　a　large；　stately　apartment；　with　purple　chairs　and　curtains；　a　Turkey　carpet；　walnut…panelled　walls；　one　vast　window　rich　in　slanted　glass；　and　a　lofty　ceiling；　nobly　moulded。　Mrs。　Fairfax　was　dusting　some　vases　of　fine　purple　spar；　which　stood　on　a　sideboard。

“What　a　beautiful　room！”　I　exclaimed；　as　I　looked　round；　for　I　had　never　before　seen　any　half　so　imposing。

“Yes；　this　is　the　dining…room。　I　have　just　opened　the　window；　to　let　in　a　little　air　and　sunshine；　for　everything　gets　so　damp　in　apartments　that　are　seldom　inhabited；　the　drawing…room　yonder　feels　like　a　vault。”

She　pointed　to　a　wide　arch　corresponding　to　the　window；　and　hung　like　it　with　a　Tyrian…dyed　curtain；　now　looped　up。　Mounting　to　it　by　two　broad　steps；　and　looking　through；　I　thought　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　fairy　place；　so　bright　to　my　novice…eyes　appeared　the　view　beyond。　Yet　it　was　merely　a　very　pretty　drawing…room；　and　within　it　a　boudoir；　both　spread　with　white　carpets；　on　which　seemed　laid　brilliant　garlands　of　flowers；　both　ceiled　with　snowy　mouldings　of　white　grapes　and　vine…leaves；　beneath　which　glowed　in　rich　contrast　crimson　couches　and　ottomans；　while　the　ornaments　on　the　pale　Pariain　mantelpiece　were　of　sparkling　Bohemian　glass；　ruby　red；　and　between　the　windows　large　mirrors　repeated　the　general　blending　of　snow　and　fire。

“In　what　order　you　keep　these　rooms；　Mrs。　Fairfax！”　said　I。　“No　dust；　no　canvas　coverings：　except　that　the　air　feels　chilly；　one　would　think　they　were　inhabited　daily。”

“Why；　Miss　Eyre；　though　Mr。　Rochester’s　visits　here　are　rare；　they　are　always　sudden　and　unexpected；　and　as　I　observed　that　it　put　him　out　to　find　everything　swathed　up；　and　to　have　a　bustle　of　arrangement　on　his　arrival；　I　thought　it　best　to　keep　the　rooms　in　readiness。”

“Is　Mr。　Rochester　an　exacting；　fastidious　sort　of　man？”

“Not　particularly　so；　but　he　has　a　gentleman’s　tastes　and　habits；　and　he　expects　to　have　things　managed　in　conformity　to　them。”

“Do　you　like　him？　Is　he　generally　liked？”

“Oh；　yes；　the　family　have　always　been　respected　here。　Almost　all　the　land　in　this　neighbourhood；　as　far　as　you　can　see；　has　belonged　to　the　Rochesters　time　out　of　mind。”

“Well；　but；　leaving　his　land　out　of　the　question；　do　you　like　him？　Is　he　liked　for　himself？”

“I　have　no　cause　to　do　otherwise　than　like　him；　and　I　believe　he　is　considered　a　just　and　liberal　landlord　by　his　tenants：　but　he　has　never　lived　much　amongst　them。”

“But　has　he　no　peculiarities？　What；　in　short；　is　his　character？”

“Oh！　his　character　is　unimpeachable；　I　suppose。　He　is　rather　peculiar；　perhaps：　he　has　travelled　a　great　deal；　and　seen　a　great　deal　of　the　world；　I　should　think。　I　dare　say　he　is　clever；　but　I　never　had　much　conversation　with　him。”

“In　what　way　is　he　peculiar？”

“I　don’t　know—it　is　not　easy　to　describe—nothing　striking；　but　you　feel　it　when　he　speaks　to　you；　you　cannot　be　always　sure　whether　he　is　in　jest　or　earnest；　whether　he　is　pleased　or　the　contrary；　you　don’t　thoroughly　understand　him；　in　short—at　least；　I　don’t：　but　it　is　of　no　consequence；　he　is　a　very　good　master。”

This　was　all　the　account　I　got　from　Mrs。　Fairfax　of　her　employer　and　mine。　There　are　people　who　seem　to　have　no　notion　of　sketching　a　character；　or　observing　and　describing　salient　points；　either　in　persons　or　things：　the　good　lady　evidently　belonged　to　this　class；　my　queries　puzzled；　but　did　not　draw　her　out。　Mr。　Rochester　was　Mr。　Rochester　in　her　eyes；　a　gentleman；　a　landed　proprietor—nothing　more：　she　inquired　and　searched　no　further；　and　evidently　wondered　at　my　wish　to　gain　a　more　definite　notion　of　his　identity。

When　we　left　the　dining…room；　she　proposed　to　show　me　over　the　rest　of　the　house；　and　I　followed　her　upstairs　and　downstairs；　admiring　as　I　went；　for　all　was　well　arranged　and　handsome。　The　large　front　chambers　I　thought　especially　grand：　and　some　of　the　third…storey　rooms；　though　dark　and　low；　were　interesting　from　their　air　of　antiquity。　The　furniture　once　appropriated　to　the　lower　apartments　had　from　time　to　time　been　removed　here；　as　fashions　changed：　and　the　imperfect　light　entering　by　their　narrow　casement　showed　bedsteads　of　a　hundred　years　old；　chests　in　oak　or　walnut；　looking；　with　their　strange　carvings　of　palm　branches　and　cherubs’　heads；　like　types　of　the　Hebrew　ark；　rows　of　venerable　chairs；　high…backed　and　narrow；　stools　still　more　antiquated；　on　whose　cushioned　tops　were　yet　apparent　traces　of　half…effaced　embroideries；　wrought　by　fingers　that　for　two　generations　had　been　coffin…dust。　All　these　relics　gave　to　the　third　storey　of　Thornfield　Hall　the　aspect　of　a　home　of　the　past：　a　shrine　of　memory。　I　liked　the　hush；　the　gloom；　the　quaintness　of　th