小说园

第58部分（第1页）

“And　since　I　cannot　do　it；　Jane；　it　must　have　been　unreal。”

“But；　sir；　when　I　said　so　to　myself　on　rising　this　morning；　and　when　I　looked　round　the　room　to　gather　courage　and　fort　from　the　cheerful　aspect　of　each　familiar　object　in　full　daylight；　there—on　the　carpet—I　saw　what　gave　the　distinct　lie　to　my　hypothesis；—the　veil；　torn　from　top　to　bottom　in　two　halves！”

I　felt　Mr。　Rochester　start　and　shudder；　he　hastily　flung　his　arms　round　me。　“Thank　God！”　he　exclaimed；　“that　if　anything　malignant　did　e　near　you　last　night；　it　was　only　the　veil　that　was　harmed。　Oh；　to　think　what　might　have　happened！”

He　drew　his　breath　short；　and　strained　me　so　close　to　him；　I　could　scarcely　pant。　After　some　minutes’　silence；　he　continued；　cheerily—

“Now；　Ja；　I’ll　explain　to　you　all　about　it。　It　was　half　dream；　half　reality。　A　woman　did；　I　doubt　not；　enter　your　room：　and　that　woman　was—must　have　been—Grace　Poole。　You　call　her　a　strange　being　yourself：　from　all　you　know；　you　have　reason　so　to　call　her—　what　did　she　do　to　me？　what　to　Mason？　In　a　state　between　sleeping　and　waking；　you　noticed　her　entrance　and　her　actions；　but　feverish；　almost　delirious　as　you　were；　you　ascribed　to　her　a　goblin　appearance　different　from　her　own：　the　long　dishevelled　hair；　the　swelled　black　face；　the　exaggerated　stature；　were　figments　of　imagination；　results　of　nightmare：　the　spiteful　tearing　of　the　veil　was　real：　and　it　is　like　her。　I　see　you　would　ask　why　I　keep　such　a　woman　in　my　house：　when　we　have　been　married　a　year　and　a　day；　I　will　tell　you；　but　not　now。　Are　you　satisfied；　Jane？　Do　you　accept　my　solution　of　the　mystery？”

I　reflected；　and　in　truth　it　appeared　to　me　the　only　possible　one：　satisfied　I　was　not；　but　to　please　him　I　endeavoured　to　appear　so—　relieved；　I　certainly　did　feel；　so　I　answered　him　with　a　contented　smile。　And　now；　as　it　was　long　past　one；　I　prepared　to　leave　him。

“Does　not　Sophie　sleep　with　Adèle　in　the　nursery？”　he　asked；　as　I　lit　my　candle。

“Yes；　sir。”

“And　there　is　room　enough　in　Adèle’s　little　bed　for　you。　You　must　share　it　with　her　to…night；　Jane：　it　is　no　wonder　that　the　incident　you　have　related　should　make　you　nervous；　and　I　would　rather　you　did　not　sleep　alone：　promise　me　to　go　to　the　nursery。”

“I　shall　be　very　glad　to　do　so；　sir。”

“And　fasten　the　door　securely　on　the　inside。　Wake　Sophie　when　you　go　upstairs；　under　pretence　of　requesting　her　to　rouse　you　in　good　time　to…morrow；　for　you　must　be　dressed　and　have　finished　breakfast　before　eight。　And　now；　no　more　sombre　thoughts：　chase　dull　care　away；　Ja。　Don’t　you　hear　to　what　soft　whispers　the　wind　has　fallen？　and　there　is　no　more　beating　of　rain　against　the　window…　panes：　look　here”　（he　lifted　up　the　curtain）—“it　is　a　lovely　night！”

It　was。　Half　heaven　was　pure　and　stainless：　the　clouds；　now　trooping　before　the　wind；　which　had　shifted　to　the　west；　were　filing　off　eastward　in　long；　silvered　columns。　The　moon　shone　peacefully。

“Well；”　said　Mr。　Rochester；　gazing　inquiringly　into　my　eyes；　“how　is　my　Ja　now？”

“The　night　is　serene；　sir；　and　so　am　I。”

“And　you　will　not　dream　of　separation　and　sorrow　to…night；　but　of　happy　love　and　blissful　union。”

This　prediction　was　but　half　fulfilled：　I　did　not　indeed　dream　of　sorrow；　but　as　little　did　I　dream　of　joy；　for　I　never　slept　at　all。　With　little　Adèle　in　my　arms；　I　watched　the　slumber　of　childhood—so　tranquil；　so　passionless；　so　innocent—and　waited　for　the　ing　day：　all　my　life　was　awake　and　astir　in　my　frame：　and　as　soon　as　the　sun　rose　I　rose　too。　I　remember　Adèle　clung　to　me　as　I　left　her：　I　remember　I　kissed　her　as　I　loosened　her　little　hands　from　my　neck；　and　I　cried　over　her　with　strange　emotion；　and　quitted　her　because　I　feared　my　sobs　would　break　her　still　sound　repose。　She　seemed　the　emblem　of　my　past　life；　and　he　I　was　now　to　array　myself　to　meet；　the　dread；　but　adored；　type　of　my　unknown　future　day。

Chapter　26

Sophie　came　at　seven　to　dress　me：　she　was　very　long　indeed　in　acplishing　her　task；　so　long　that　Mr。　Rochester；　grown；　I　suppose；　impatient　of　my　delay；　sent　up　to　ask　why　I　did　not　e。　She　was　just　fastening　my　veil　（the　plain　square　of　blond　after　all）　to　my　hair　with　a　brooch；　I　hurried　from　under　her　hands　as　soon　as　I　could。

“Stop！”　she　cried　in　French。　“Look　at　yourself　in　the　mirror：　you　have　not　taken　one　peep。”

So　I　turned　at　the　door：　I　saw　a　robed　and　veiled　figure；　so　unlike　my　usual　self　that　it　seemed　almost　the　image　of　a　stranger。　“Jane！”　called　a　voice；　and　I　hastened　down。　I　was　received　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs　by　Mr。　Rochester。

“Lingerer！”　he　said；　“my　brain　is　on　fire　with　impatience；　and　you　tarry　so　long！”

He　took　me　into　the　dining…room；　surveyed　me　keenly　all　over；　pronounced　me　“fair　as　a　lily；　and　not　only　the　pride　of　his　life；　but　the　desire　of　his　eyes；”　and　then　telling　me　he　would　give　me　but　ten　minutes　to　eat　some　breakfast；　he　rang　the　bell。　One　of　his　lately　hired　servants；　a　footman；　answered　it。

“Is　John　getting　the　carriage　ready？”

“Yes；　sir。”

“Is　the　luggage　brought　down？”

“They　are　bringing　it　down；　sir。”

“Go　you　to　the　church：　see　if　Mr。　Wood　（the　clergyman）　and　the　clerk　are　there：　return　and　tell　me。”

The　church；　as　the　reader　knows；　was　but　just　beyond　the　gates；　the　footman　soon　returned。