小说园

第19部分（第2页）

“Yes。”

“Person　here　waiting　for　you。”

I　jumped　up；　took　my　muff　and　umbrella；　and　hastened　into　the　inn…　passage：　a　man　was　standing　by　the　open　door；　and　in　the　lamp…lit　street　I　dimly　saw　a　one…horse　conveyance。

“This　will　be　your　luggage；　I　suppose？”　said　the　man　rather　abruptly　when　he　saw　me；　pointing　to　my　trunk　in　the　passage。

“Yes。”　He　hoisted　it　on　to　the　vehicle；　which　was　a　sort　of　car；　and　then　I　got　in；　before　he　shut　me　up；　I　asked　him　how　far　it　was　to　Thornfield。

“A　matter　of　six　miles。”

“How　long　shall　we　be　before　we　get　there？”

“Happen　an　hour　and　a　half。”

He　fastened　the　car　door；　climbed　to　his　own　seat　outside；　and　we　set　off。　Our　progress　was　leisurely；　and　gave　me　ample　time　to　reflect；　I　was　content　to　be　at　length　so　near　the　end　of　my　journey；　and　as　I　leaned　back　in　the　fortable　though　not　elegant　conveyance；　I　meditated　much　at　my　ease。

“I　suppose；”　thought　I；　“judging　from　the　plainness　of　the　servant　and　carriage；　Mrs。　Fairfax　is　not　a　very　dashing　person：　so　much　the　better；　I　never　lived　amongst　fine　people　but　once；　and　I　was　very　miserable　with　them。　I　wonder　if　she　lives　alone　except　this　little　girl；　if　so；　and　if　she　is　in　any　degree　amiable；　I　shall　surely　be　able　to　get　on　with　her；　I　will　do　my　best；　it　is　a　pity　that　doing　one’s　best　does　not　always　answer。　At　Lowood；　indeed；　I　took　that　resolution；　kept　it；　and　succeeded　in　pleasing；　but　with　Mrs。　Reed；　I　remember　my　best　was　always　spurned　with　scorn。　I　pray　God　Mrs。　Fairfax　may　not　turn　out　a　second　Mrs。　Reed；　but　if　she　does；　I　am　not　bound　to　stay　with　her！　let　the　worst　e　to　the　worst；　I　can　advertise　again。　How　far　are　we　on　our　road　now；　I　wonder？”

I　let　down　the　window　and　looked　out；　Millcote　was　behind　us；　judging　by　the　number　of　its　lights；　it　seemed　a　place　of　considerable　magnitude；　much　larger　than　Lowton。　We　were　now；　as　far　as　I　could　see；　on　a　sort　of　mon；　but　there　were　houses　scattered　all　over　the　district；　I　felt　we　were　in　a　different　region　to　Lowood；　more　populous；　less　picturesque；　more　stirring；　less　romantic。

The　roads　were　heavy；　the　night　misty；　my　conductor　let　his　horse　walk　all　the　way；　and　the　hour　and　a　half　extended；　I　verify　believe；　to　two　hours；　at　last　he　turned　in　his　seat　and　said—

“You’re　noan　so　far　fro’　Thornfield　now。”

Again　I　looked　out：　we　were　passing　a　church；　I　saw　its　low　broad　tower　against　the　sky；　and　its　bell　was　tolling　a　quarter；　I　saw　a　narrow　galaxy　of　lights　too；　on　a　hillside；　marking　a　village　or　hamlet。　About　ten　minutes　after；　the　driver　got　down　and　opened　a　pair　of　gates：　we　passed　through；　and　they　clashed　to　behind　us。　We　now　slowly　ascended　a　drive；　and　came　upon　the　long　front　of　a　house：　candlelight　gleamed　from　one　curtained　bow…window；　all　the　rest　were　dark。　The　car　stopped　at　the　front　door；　it　was　opened　by　a　maid…servant；　I　alighted　and　went　in。

“Will　you　walk　this　way；　ma’am？”　said　the　girl；　and　I　followed　her　across　a　square　hall　with　high　doors　all　round：　she　ushered　me　into　a　room　whose　double　illumination　of　fire　and　candle　at　first　dazzled　me；　contrasting　as　it　did　with　the　darkness　to　which　my　eyes　had　been　for　two　hours　inured；　when　I　could　see；　however；　a　cosy　and　agreeable　picture　presented　itself　to　my　view。

A　snug　small　room；　a　round　table　by　a　cheerful　fire；　an　arm…chair　high…backed　and　old…fashioned；　wherein　sat　the　neatest　imaginable　little　elderly　lady；　in　widow’s　cap；　black　silk　gown；　and　snowy　muslin　apron；　exactly　like　what　I　had　fancied　Mrs。　Fairfax；　only　less　stately　and　milder　looking。　She　was　occupied　in　knitting；　a　large　cat　sat　demurely　at　her　feet；　nothing　in　short　was　wanting　to　plete　the　beau…ideal　of　domestic　fort。　A　more　reassuring　introduction　for　a　new　governess　could　scarcely　be　conceived；　there　was　no　grandeur　to　overwhelm；　no　stateliness　to　embarrass；　and　then；　as　I　entered；　the　old　lady　got　up　and　promptly　and　kindly　came　forward　to　meet　me。

“How　do　you　do；　my　dear？　I　am　afraid　you　have　had　a　tedious　ride；　John　drives　so　slowly；　you　must　be　cold；　e　to　the　fire。”

“Mrs。　Fairfax；　I　suppose？”　said　I。

“Yes；　you　are　right：　do　sit　down。”

She　conducted　me　to　her　own　chair；　and　then　began　to　remove　my　shawl　and　untie　my　bon…strings；　I　begged　she　would　not　give　herself　so　much　trouble。

“Oh；　it　is　no　trouble；　I　dare　say　your　own　hands　are　almost　numbed　with　cold。　Leah；　make　a　little　hot　negus　and　cut　a　sandwich　or　two：　here　are　the　keys　of　the　storeroom。”

And　she　produced　from　her　pocket　a　most　housewifely　bunch　of　keys；　and　delivered　them　to　the　servant。

“Now；　then；　draw　nearer　to　the　fire；”　she　continued。　“You’ve　brought　your　luggage　with　you；　haven’t　you；　my　dear？”

“Yes；　ma’am。”

“I’ll　see　it　carried　into　your　room；”　she　said；　and　bustled　out。

“She　treats　me　like　a　visitor；”　thought　I。　“I　little　expected　such　a　reception；　I　anticipated　only　coldness　and　stiffness：　this　is　not　like　what　I　have　heard　of　the　treatment　of　governesses；　but　I　must　not　exult　too　soon。”

She　returned；　with　her　own　hands　cleared　her　knitting　apparatus　and　a　book　or　two　from　the　table；　to　make　room　for　the　tray　which　Leah　now　brought；　and　then　herself　handed　me　the　refreshments。　I　felt　rather　confused　at　being　the　object　of　more　attention　than　I　had　ever　before　received；　and；　that　too；　shown　by　my　employer　and　superior；　but　as　she　did　not　herself　seem　to　consider　she　was　doing　anything　out　of　her　place；　I　thought　it　better　to　take　her　civilities　quietly。

“Shall　I　have　the　pleasure　of　seeing　Miss　Fairfax　to…night？”　I　asked；　when　I　had　partaken　of　what　she　offered　me。

“What　did　you　say；　my　dear？　I　am　a　little　deaf；”　returned　the　good　lady；　approaching　her　ear　to　my　mouth。

I　repeated　the　question　more　distin