小说园

第52部分（第2页）

“And　so；”　thought　I；　“could　I　with　you。”　I　should　have　said　so；　perhaps；　but　a　livid；　vivid　spark　leapt　out　of　a　cloud　at　which　I　was　looking；　and　there　was　a　crack；　a　crash；　and　a　close　rattling　peal；　and　I　thought　only　of　hiding　my　dazzled　eyes　against　Mr。　Rochester’s　shoulder。

The　rain　rushed　down。　He　hurried　me　up　the　walk；　through　the　grounds；　and　into　the　house；　but　we　were　quite　wet　before　we　could　pass　the　threshold。　He　was　taking　off　my　shawl　in　the　hall；　and　shaking　the　water　out　of　my　loosened　hair；　when　Mrs。　Fairfax　emerged　from　her　room。　I　did　not　observe　her　at　first；　nor　did　Mr。　Rochester。　The　lamp　was　lit。　The　clock　was　on　the　stroke　of　twelve。

“Hasten　to　take　off　your　wet　things；”　said　he；　“and　before　you　go；　good…night—good…night；　my　darling！”

He　kissed　me　repeatedly。　When　I　looked　up；　on　leaving　his　arms；　there　stood　the　widow；　pale；　grave；　and　amazed。　I　only　smiled　at　her；　and　ran　upstairs。　“Explanation　will　do　for　another　time；”　thought　I。　Still；　when　I　reached　my　chamber；　I　felt　a　pang　at　the　idea　she　should　even　temporarily　misconstrue　what　she　had　seen。　But　joy　soon　effaced　every　other　feeling；　and　loud　as　the　wind　blew；　near　and　deep　as　the　thunder　crashed；　fierce　and　frequent　as　the　lightning　gleamed；　cataract…like　as　the　rain　fell　during　a　storm　of　two　hours’　duration；　I　experienced　no　fear　and　little　awe。　Mr。　Rochester　came　thrice　to　my　door　in　the　course　of　it；　to　ask　if　I　fort；　that　was　strength　for　anything。

Before　I　left　my　bed　in　the　morning；　little　Adèle　came　running　in　to　tell　me　that　the　great　horse…chestnut　at　the　bottom　of　the　orchard　had　been　struck　by　lightning　in　the　night；　and　half　of　it　split　away。

Chapter　24

As　I　rose　and　dressed；　I　thought　over　what　had　happened；　and　wondered　if　it　were　a　dream。　I　could　not　be　certain　of　the　reality　till　I　had　seen　Mr。　Rochester　again；　and　heard　him　renew　his　words　of　love　and　promise。

While　arranging　my　hair；　I　looked　at　my　face　in　the　glass；　and　felt　it　was　no　longer　plain：　there　was　hope　in　its　aspect　and　life　in　its　colour；　and　my　eyes　seemed　as　if　they　had　beheld　the　fount　of　fruition；　and　borrowed　beams　from　the　lustrous　ripple。　I　had　often　been　unwilling　to　look　at　my　master；　because　I　feared　he　could　not　be　pleased　at　my　look；　but　I　was　sure　I　might　lift　my　face　to　his　now；　and　not　cool　his　affection　by　its　expression。　I　took　a　plain　but　clean　and　light　summer　dress　from　my　drawer　and　put　it　on：　it　seemed　no　attire　had　ever　so　well　bee　me；　because　none　had　I　ever　worn　in　so　blissful　a　mood。

I　was　not　surprised；　when　I　ran　down　into　the　hall；　to　see　that　a　brilliant　June　morning　had　succeeded　to　the　tempest　of　the　night；　and　to　feel；　through　the　open　glass　door；　the　breathing　of　a　fresh　and　fragrant　breeze。　Nature　must　be　gladsome　when　I　was　so　happy。　A　beggar…woman　and　her　little　boy—pale；　ragged　objects　both—were　ing　up　the　walk；　and　I　ran　down　and　gave　them　all　the　money　I　happened　to　have　in　my　purse—some　three　or　four　shillings：　good　or　bad；　they　must　partake　of　my　jubilee。　The　rooks　cawed；　and　blither　birds　sang；　but　nothing　was　so　merry　or　so　musical　as　my　own　rejoicing　heart。

Mrs。　Fairfax　surprised　me　by　looking　out　of　the　window　with　a　sad　countenance；　and　saying　gravely—“Miss　Eyre；　will　you　e　to　breakfast？”　During　the　meal　she　was　quiet　and　cool：　but　I　could　not　undeceive　her　then。　I　must　wait　for　my　master　to　give　explanations；　and　so　must　she。　I　ate　what　I　could；　and　then　I　hastened　upstairs。　I　met　Adèle　leaving　the　schoolroom。

“Where　are　you　going？　It　is　time　for　lessons。”

“Mr。　Rochester　has　sent　me　away　to　the　nursery。”

“Where　is　he？”

“In　there；”　pointing　to　the　apartment　she　had　left；　and　I　went　in；　and　there　he　stood。

“e　and　bid　me　good…morning；”　said　he。　I　gladly　advanced；　and　it　was　not　merely　a　cold　word　now；　or　even　a　shake　of　the　hand　that　I　received；　but　an　embrace　and　a　kiss。　It　seemed　natural：　it　seemed　genial　to　be　so　well　loved；　so　caressed　by　him。

“Jane；　you　look　blooming；　and　smiling；　and　pretty；”　said　he：　“truly　pretty　this　morning。　Is　this　my　pale；　little　elf？　Is　this　my　mustard…seed？　This　little　sunny…faced　girl　with　the　dimpled　cheek　and　rosy　lips；　the　satin…smooth　hazel　hair；　and　the　radiant　hazel　eyes？”　（I　had　green　eyes；　reader；　but　you　must　excuse　the　mistake：　for　him　they　were　new…dyed；　I　suppose。）

“It　is　Jane　Eyre；　sir。”

“Soon　to　be　Jane　Rochester；”　he　added：　“in　four　weeks；　Ja；　not　a　day　more。　Do　you　hear　that？”

I　did；　and　I　could　not　quite　prehend　it：　it　made　me　giddy。　The　feeling；　the　announcement　sent　through　me；　was　something　stronger　than　was　consistent　with　joy—something　that　smote　and　stunned。　It　was；　I　think　almost　fear。

“You　blushed；　and　now　you　are　white；　Jane：　what　is　that　for？”

“Because　you　gave　me　a　new　name—Jane　Rochester；　and　it　seems　so　strange。”

“Yes；　Mrs。　Rochester；”　said　he；　“young　Mrs。　Rochester—Fairfax　Rochester’s　girl…bride。”

“It　can　never　be；　sir；　it　does　not　sound　likely。　Human　beings　never　enjoy　plete　happiness　in　this　world。　I　was　not　born　for　a　different　destiny　to　the　rest　of　my　species：　to　imagine　such　a　lot　befalling　me　is　a　fairy　tale—a　day…dream。”

“Which　I　can　and　will　realise。　I　shall　begin　to…day。　This　morning　I　wrote　to　my　banker　in　London　to　send　me　certain　jewels　he　has　in　his　keeping；—heirlooms　for　the　ladies　of　Thornfield。　In　a　day　or　two　I　hope　to　pour　them　into　your　lap：　for　every　privilege；　every　attention　shall　be　yours　that　I　would　accord　a　peer’s　daughter；　if　about　to　marry　her。”

“Oh；　sir！—never　rain　jewels！　I　don’t　like　to　hear　them　spoken　of。　Jewels　for　Jane　Eyre　sounds　unnatural　and　strange：　I　would　rather　not　have　them。”

“I　will　myself　put　the　diamond　chain　round　your　neck；　and　the　circlet　on　your　forehead；—which　it　will　bee：　for　nature；　at　least；　has　stamped　her　patent　of　nobility　on　this　brow；　Jane；　and　I　will　clasp　the　bracelets　on　these　fine　wrists；　and　load　these　fairy…　like　fingers　with　rings。”

“No；　no；　sir！　think　of　other　subjects；　and　speak　of　other　things；　and　in　another　strain。　Don’t　address　me　as　if　I　were　a　beauty；　I　am　your　plain；　Quakerish　governess。”

“You　are　a　beauty　in　my　eyes；　and　a　beauty　just　after　the　desire　of　my　heart；—delicate　and　aerial。”

“Puny　and　insignificant；　you　mean。　You　are　dreaming；　sir；—or　you　are　sneering。　For　God’s　sake　don’t　be　ironical！”

“I　will　make　the　world　acknowledge　you　a　beauty；　too；”　he　went　on；　while　I　really　became　uneasy　at　the　strain　he　had　adopted；　because　I　felt　he　was　either　deluding　himself　or　trying　to　delude　me。　“I　will　attire　my　Jane　in　satin　and　lace；　and　she　shall　have　roses　in　her　hair；　and　I　will　cover　the　head　I　love　best　with　a　priceless　veil。”

“And　then　you　won’t　know　me；　sir；　and　I　shall　not　be　your　Jane　Eyre　any　longer；　but　an　ape　in　a　harlequin’s　jacket—a　jay　in　borrowed　plumes。　I　would　as　soon　see　you；　Mr。　Rochester；　tricked　out　in　stage…trappings；　as　myself　clad　in　a　court…lady’s　robe；　and　I　don’t　call　you　handsome；　sir；　though　I　love　you　most　dearly：　far　too　dearly　to　flatter　you。　Don’t　flatter　me。”

He　pursued　his　theme；　however；　without　noticing　my　deprecation。　“This　very　day　I　shall　take　you　in　the　carriage　to　Millcote；　and　you　must　choose　some　dresses　for　yourself。　I　told　you　we　shall　be　married　in　four　weeks。　The　wedding　is　to　take　place　quietly；　in　the　church　down　below　yonder；　and　then　I　shall　waft　you　away　at　once　to　town。　After　a　brief　stay　there；　I