小说园

第52部分（第1页）

I　was　silent：　I　thought　he　mocked　me。

“e；　Jane—e　hither。”

“Your　bride　stands　between　us。”

He　rose；　and　with　a　stride　reached　me。

“My　bride　is　here；”　he　said；　again　drawing　me　to　him；　“because　my　equal　is　here；　and　my　likeness。　Jane；　will　you　marry　me？”

Still　I　did　not　answer；　and　still　I　writhed　myself　from　his　grasp：　for　I　was　still　incredulous。

“Do　you　doubt　me；　Jane？”

“Entirely。”

“You　have　no　faith　in　me？”

“Not　a　whit。”

“Am　I　a　liar　in　your　eyes？”　he　asked　passionately。　“Little　sceptic；　you　shall　be　convinced。　What　love　have　I　for　Miss　Ingram？　None：　and　that　you　know。　What　love　has　she　for　me？　None：　as　I　have　taken　pains　to　prove：　I　caused　a　rumour　to　reach　her　that　my　fortune　was　not　a　third　of　what　was　supposed；　and　after　that　I　presented　myself　to　see　the　result；　it　was　coldness　both　from　her　and　her　mother。　I　would　not—I　could　not—marry　Miss　Ingram。　You—　you　strange；　you　almost　unearthly　thing！—I　love　as　my　own　flesh。　You—poor　and　obscure；　and　small　and　plain　as　you　are—I　entreat　to　accept　me　as　a　husband。”

“What；　me！”　I　ejaculated；　beginning　in　his　earnestness—and　especially　in　his　incivility—to　credit　his　sincerity：　“me　who　have　not　a　friend　in　the　world　but　you…　if　you　are　my　friend：　not　a　shilling　but　what　you　have　given　me？”

“You；　Jane；　I　must　have　you　for　my　own—entirely　my　own。　Will　you　be　mine？　Say　yes；　quickly。”

“Mr。　Rochester；　let　me　look　at　your　face：　turn　to　the　moonlight。”

“Why？”

“Because　I　want　to　read　your　countenance—turn！”

“There！　you　will　find　it　scarcely　more　legible　than　a　crumpled；　scratched　page。　Read　on：　only　make　haste；　for　I　suffer。”

His　face　was　very　much　agitated　and　very　much　flushed；　and　there　were　strong　workings　in　the　features；　and　strange　gleams　in　the　eyes

“Oh；　Jane；　you　torture　me！”　he　exclaimed。　“With　that　searching　and　yet　faithful　and　generous　look；　you　torture　me！”

“How　can　I　do　that？　If　you　are　true；　and　your　offer　real；　my　only　feelings　to　you　must　be　gratitude　and　devotion—they　cannot　torture。”

“Gratitude！”　he　ejaculated；　and　added　wildly—“Jane　accept　me　quickly。　Say；　Edward—give　me　my　name—Edward—I　will　marry　you。”

“Are　you　in　earnest？　Do　you　truly　love　me？　Do　you　sincerely　wish　me　to　be　your　wife？”

“I　do；　and　if　an　oath　is　necessary　to　satisfy　you；　I　swear　it。”

“Then；　sir；　I　will　marry　you。”

“Edward—my　little　wife！”

“Dear　Edward！”

“e　to　me—e　to　me　entirely　now；”　said　he；　and　added；　in　his　deepest　tone；　speaking　in　my　ear　as　his　cheek　was　laid　on　mine；　“Make　my　happiness—I　will　make　yours。”

“God　pardon　me！”　he　subjoined　ere　long；　“and　man　meddle　not　with　me：　I　have　her；　and　will　hold　her。”

“There　is　no　one　to　meddle；　sir。　I　have　no　kindred　to　interfere。”

“No—that　is　the　best　of　it；”　he　said。　And　if　I　had　loved　him　less　I　should　have　thought　his　accent　and　look　of　exultation　savage；　but；　sitting　by　him；　roused　from　the　nightmare　of　parting—called　to　the　paradise　of　union—I　thought　only　of　the　bliss　given　me　to　drink　in　so　abundant　a　flow。　Again　and　again　he　said；　“Are　you　happy；　Jane？”　And　again　and　again　I　answered；　“Yes。”　After　which　he　murmured；　“It　will　atone—it　will　atone。　Have　I　not　found　her　friendless；　and　cold；　and　fortless？　Will　I　not　guard；　and　cherish；　and　solace　her？　Is　there　not　love　in　my　heart；　and　constancy　in　my　resolves？　It　will　expiate　at　God’s　tribunal。　I　know　my　Maker　sanctions　what　I　do。　For　the　world’s　judgment—I　wash　my　hands　thereof。　For　man’s　opinion—I　defy　it。”

But　what　had　befallen　the　night？　The　moon　was　not　yet　set；　and　we　were　all　in　shadow：　I　could　scarcely　see　my　master’s　face；　near　as　I　was。　And　what　ailed　the　chestnut　tree？　it　writhed　and　groaned；　while　wind　roared　in　the　laurel　walk；　and　came　sweeping　over　us。

“We　must　go　in；”　said　Mr。　Rochester：　“the　weather　changes。　I　could　have　sat　with　thee　till　morning；　Jane。”