小说园

第23部分（第2页）

“Whose　house　is　it？”

“Mr。　Rochester’s。”

“Do　you　know　Mr。　Rochester？”

“No；　I　have　never　seen　him。”

“He　is　not　resident；　then？”

“No。”

“Can　you　tell　me　where　he　is？”

“I　cannot。”

“You　are　not　a　servant　at　the　hall；　of　course。　You　are—”　He　stopped；　ran　his　eye　over　my　dress；　ple：　a　black　merino　cloak；　a　black　beaver　bon；　neither　of　them　half　fine　enough　for　a　lady’s…maid。　He　seemed　puzzled　to　decide　what　I　was；　I　helped　him。

“I　am　the　governess。”

“Ah；　the　governess！”　he　repeated；　“deuce　take　me；　if　I　had　not　forgotten！　The　governess！”　and　again　my　raiment　underwent　scrutiny。　In　two　minutes　he　rose　from　the　stile：　his　face　expressed　pain　when　he　tried　to　move。

“I　cannot　mission　you　to　fetch　help；”　he　said；　“but　you　may　help　me　a　little　yourself；　if　you　will　be　so　kind。”

“Yes；　sir。”

“You　have　not　an　umbrella　that　I　can　use　as　a　stick？”

“No。”

“Try　to　get　hold　of　my　horse’s　bridle　and　lead　him　to　me：　you　are　not　afraid？”

I　should　have　been　afraid　to　touch　a　horse　when　alone；　but　when　told　to　do　it；　I　was　disposed　to　obey。　I　put　down　my　muff　on　the　stile；　and　went　up　to　the　tall　steed；　I　endeavoured　to　catch　the　bridle；　but　it　was　a　spirited　thing；　and　would　not　let　me　e　near　its　head；　I　made　effort　on　effort；　though　in　vain：　meantime；　I　was　mortally　afraid　of　its　trampling　fore…feet。　The　traveller　waited　and　watched　for　some　time；　and　at　last　he　laughed。

“I　see；”　he　said；　“the　mountain　will　never　be　brought　to　Mahomet；　so　all　you　can　do　is　to　aid　Mahomet　to　go　to　the　mountain；　I　must　beg　of　you　to　e　here。”

I　came。　“Excuse　me；”　he　continued：　“necessity　pels　me　to　make　you　useful。”　He　laid　a　heavy　hand　on　my　shoulder；　and　leaning　on　me　with　some　stress；　limped　to　his　horse。　Having　once　caught　the　bridle；　he　mastered　it　directly　and　sprang　to　his　saddle；　grimacing　grimly　as　he　made　the　effort；　for　it　wrenched　his　sprain。

“Now；”　said　he；　releasing　his　under　lip　from　a　hard　bite；　“just　hand　me　my　whip；　it　lies　there　under　the　hedge。”

I　sought　it　and　found　it。

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