小说园

第44部分（第1页）

e　of　the　yard；　the　carriage　horses　stamped　from　time　to　time　in　their　closed　stables：　all　else　was　still。

The　gentlemen　now　appeared。　Mason；　supported　by　Mr。　Rochester　and　the　surgeon；　seemed　to　walk　with　tolerable　ease：　they　assisted　him　into　the　chaise；　Carter　followed。

“Take　care　of　him；”　said　Mr。　Rochester　to　the　latter；　“and　keep　him　at　your　house　till　he　is　quite　well：　I　shall　ride　over　in　a　day　or　two　to　see　how　he　gets　on。　Richard；　how　is　it　with　you？”

“The　fresh　air　revives　me；　Fairfax。”

“Leave　the　window　open　on　his　side；　Carter；　there　is　no　wind—good…　bye；　Dick。”

“Fairfax—”

“Well　what　is　it？”

“Let　her　be　taken　care　of；　let　her　be　treated　as　tenderly　as　may　be：　let　her—”　he　stopped　and　burst　into　tears。

“I　do　my　best；　and　have　done　it；　and　will　do　it；”　was　the　answer：　he　shut　up　the　chaise　door；　and　the　vehicle　drove　away。

“Yet　would　to　God　there　was　an　end　of　all　this！”　added　Mr。　Rochester；　as　he　closed　and　barred　the　heavy　yard…gates。

This　done；　he　moved　with　slow　step　and　abstracted　air　towards　a　door　in　the　wall　bordering　the　orchard。　I；　supposing　he　had　done　with　me；　prepared　to　return　to　the　house；　again；　however；　I　heard　him　call　“Jane！”　He　had　opened　feel　portal　and　stood　at　it；　waiting　for　me。

“e　where　there　is　some　freshness；　for　a　few　moments；”　he　said；　“that　house　is　a　mere　dungeon：　don’t　you　feel　it　so？”

“It　seems　to　me　a　splendid　mansion；　sir。”

“The　glamour　of　inexperience　is　over　your　eyes；”　he　answered；　“and　you　see　it　through　a　charmed　medium：　you　cannot　discern　that　the　gilding　is　slime　and　the　silk　draperies　cobwebs；　that　the　marble　is　sordid　slate；　and　the　polished　woods　mere　refuse　chips　and　scaly　bark。　Now　here”　（he　pointed　to　the　leafy　enclosure　we　had　entered）　“all　is　real；　sweet；　and　pure。”

He　strayed　down　a　walk　edged　with　box；　with　apple　trees；　pear　trees；　and　cherry　trees　on　one　side；　and　a　border　on　the　other　full　of　all　sorts　of　old…fashioned　flowers；　stocks；　sweet…williams；　primroses；　pansies；　mingled　with　southernwood；　sweet…briar；　and　various　fragrant　herbs。　They　were　fresh　now　as　a　succession　of　April　showers　and　gleams；　followed　by　a　lovely　spring　morning；　could　make　them：　the　sun　was　just　entering　the　dappled　east；　and　his　light　illumined　the　wreathed　and　dewy　orchard　trees　and　shone　do。

“Jane；　will　you　have　a　flower？”

He　gathered　a　half…blown　rose；　the　first　on　the　bush；　and　offered　it　to　me。

“Thank　you；　sir。”

“Do　you　like　this　sunrise；　Jane？　That　sky　with　its　high　and　light　clouds　which　are　sure　to　melt　away　as　the　day　waxes　warm—this　placid　and　balmly　atmosphere？”

“I　do；　very　much。”

“You　have　passed　a　strange　night；　Jane。”

“Yes；　sir。”

“And　it　has　made　you　look　pale—were　you　afraid　when　I　left　you　alone　with　Mason？”

“I　was　afraid　of　some　one　ing　out　of　the　inner　room。”

“But　I　had　fastened　the　door—I　had　the　key　in　my　pocket：　I　should　have　been　a　careless　shepherd　if　I　had　left　a　lamb—my　pet　lamb—so　near　a　wolf’s　den；　unguarded：　you　were　safe。”

“Will　Grace　Poole　live　here　still；　sir？”

“Oh　yes！　don’t　trouble　your　head　about　her—put　the　thing　out　of　your　thoughts。”

“Yet　it　seems　to　me　your　life　is　hardly　secure　while　she　stays。”

“Never　fear—I　will　take　care　of　myself。”

“Is　the　danger　you　apprehended　last　night　gone　by　now；　sir？”

“I　cannot　vouch　for　that　till　Mason　is　out　of　England：　nor　even　then。　To　live；　for　me；　Jane；　is　to　stand　on　a　crater…crust　which　may　crack　and　spue　fire　any　day。”

“But　Mr。　Mason　seems　a　man　easily　led。　Your　influence；　sir；　is　evidently　potent　with　him：　he　will　never　set　you　at　defiance　or　wilfully　injure　you。”

“Oh；　no！　Mason　will　not　defy　me；　nor；　knowing　it；　will　he　hurt　me—　but；　unintentionally；　he　might　in　a　moment；　by　one　careless　word；　deprive　me；　if　not　of　life；　yet　for　ever　of　happiness。”

“Tell　him　to　be　cautious；　sir：　let　him　know　what　you　fear；　and　show　him　how　to　avert　the　danger。”