小说园

第78部分（第2页）

“Of　course：　that　was　all　settled　before。”

“You　are　not；　perhaps；　aware　that　I　am　your　namesake？—that　I　was　christened　St。　John　Eyre　Rivers？”

“No；　indeed！　I　remember　now　seeing　the　letter　E。　prised　in　your　initials　written　in　books　you　have　at　different　times　lent　me；　but　I　never　asked　for　what　name　it　stood。　But　what　then？　Surely—”

I　stopped：　I　could　not　trust　myself　to　entertain；　much　less　to　express；　the　thought　that　rushed　upon　me—that　embodied　itself；—　that；　in　a　second；　stood　out　a　strong；　solid　probability。　Circumstances　knit　themselves；　fitted　themselves；　shot　into　order：　the　chain　that　had　been　lying　hitherto　a　formless　lump　of　links　was　drawn　out　straight；—every　ring　was　perfect；　the　connection　plete。　I　knew；　by　instinct；　how　the　matter　stood；　before　St。　John　had　said　another　word；　but　I　cannot　expect　the　reader　to　have　the　same　intuitive　perception；　so　I　must　repeat　his　explanation。

“My　mother’s　name　was　Eyre；　she　had　two　brothers；　one　a　clergyman；　who　married　Miss　Jane　Reed；　of　Gateshead；　the　other；　John　Eyre；　Esq。；　merchant；　late　of　Funchal；　Madeira。　Mr。　Briggs；　being　Mr。　Eyre’s　solicitor；　wrote　to　us　last　August　to　inform　us　of　our　uncle’s　death；　and　to　say　that　he　had　left　his　property　to　his　brother　the　clergyman’s　orphan　daughter；　overlooking　us；　in　consequence　of　a　quarrel；　never　forgiven；　between　him　and　my　father。　He　wrote　again　a　few　weeks　since；　to　intimate　that　the　heiress　was　lost；　and　asking　if　we　knew　anything　of　her。　A　name　casually　written　on　a　slip　of　paper　has　enabled　me　to　find　her　out。　You　know　the　rest。”　Again　he　was　going；　but　I　set　my　back　against　the　door。

“Do　let　me　speak；”　I　said；　“let　me　have　one　moment　to　draw　breath　and　reflect。”　I　paused—he　stood　before　me；　hat　in　hand；　looking　posed　enough。　I　resumed—

“Your　mother　was　my　father’s　sister？”

“Yes。”

“My　aunt；　consequently？”

He　bowed。

“My　uncle　John　was　your　uncle　John？　You；　Diana；　and　Mary　are　his　sister’s　children；　as　I　am　his　brother’s　child？”

“Undeniably。”

“You　three；　then；　are　my　cousins；　half　our　blood　on　each　side　flows　from　the　same　source？”

“We　are　cousins；　yes。”

I　surveyed　him。　It　seemed　I　had　found　a　brother：　one　I　could　be　proud　of；—one　I　could　love；　and　two　sisters；　whose　qualities　were　such；　that；　when　I　knew　them　but　as　mere　strangers；　they　had　inspired　me　with　genuine　affection　and　admiration。　The　two　girls；　on　whom；　kneeling　down　on　the　wet　ground；　and　looking　through　the　low；　latticed　window　of　Moor　House　kitchen；　I　had　gazed　with　so　bitter　a　mixture　of　interest　and　despair；　were　my　near　kinswomen；　and　the　young　and　stately　gentleman　who　had　found　me　almost　dying　at　his　threshold　was　my　blood　relation。　Glorious　discovery　to　a　lonely　wretch！　This　was　wealth　indeed！—wealth　to　the　heart！—a　mine　of　pure；　genial　affections。　This　was　a　blessing；　bright；　vivid；　and　exhilarating；—not　like　the　ponderous　gift　of　gold：　rich　and　wele　enough　in　its　way；　but　sobering　from　its　weight。　I　now　clapped　my　hands　in　sudden　joy—my　pulse　bounded；　my　veins　thrilled。

“Oh；　I　am　glad！—I　am　glad！”　I　exclaimed。

St。　John　smiled。　“Did　I　not　say　you　neglected　essential　points　to　pursue　trifles？”　he　asked。　“You　were　serious　when　I　told　you　you　had　got　a　fortune；　and　now；　for　a　matter　of　no　moment；　you　are　excited。”

“What　can　you　mean？　It　may　be　of　no　moment　to　you；　you　have　sisters　and　don’t　care　for　a　cousin；　but　I　had　nobody；　and　now　three　relations；—or　two；　if　you　don’t　choose　to　be　counted；—are　born　into　my　world　full…grown。　I　say　again；　I　am　glad！”

I　walked　fast　through　the　room：　I　stopped；　half　suffocated　with　the　thoughts　that　rose　faster　than　I　could　receive；　prehend；　settle　them：…　thoughts　of　what　might；　could；　would；　and　should　be；　and　that　ere　long。　I　looked　at　the　blank　wall：　it　seemed　a　sky　thick　with　ascending　stars；—every　one　lit　me　to　a　purpose　or　delight。　Those　who　had　saved　my　life；　whom；　till　this　hour；　I　had　loved　barrenly；　I　could　now　benefit。　They　were　under　a　yoke；—I　could　free　them：　they　were　scattered；—I　could　reunite　them：　the　independence；　the　affluence　which　was　mine；　might　be　theirs　too。　Were　we　not　four？　Twenty　thousand　pounds　shared　equally　would　be　five　thousand　each；　justice—enough　and　to　spare：　justice　would　be　done；—mutual　happiness　secured。　Now　the　wealth　did　not　weigh　on　me：　now　it　was　not　a　mere　bequest　of　coin；—it　was　a　legacy　of　life；　hope；　enjoyment。

How　I　looked　while　these　ideas　were　taking　my　spirit　by　storm；　I　cannot　tell；　but　I　perceived　soon　that　Mr。　Rivers　had　placed　a　chair　behind　me；　and　was　gently　attempting　to　make　me　sit　down　on　it。　He　also　advised　me　to　be　posed；　I　scorned　the　insinuation　of　helplessness　and　distraction；　shook　off　his　hand；　and　began　to　walk　about　again。

“Write　to　Diana　and　Mary　to…morrow；”　I　said；　“and　tell　them　to　e　home　directly。　Diana　said　they　would　both　consider　themselves　rich　with　a　thousand　pounds；　so　with　five　thousand　they　will　do　very　well。”

“Tell　me　where　I　can　get　you　a　glass　of　water；”　said　St。　John；　“you　must　really　make　an　effort　to　tranquillise　your　feelings。”

“Nonsense！　and　what　sort　of　an　effect　will　the　bequest　have　on　you？　Will　it　keep　you　in　England；　induce　you　to　marry　Miss　Oliver；　and　settle　down　like　an　ordinary　mortal？”

“You　wander：　your　head　bees　confused。　I　have　been　too　abrupt　in　municating　the　news；　it　has　excited　you　beyond　your　strength。”

“Mr。　Rivers！　you　quite　put　me　out　of　patience：　I　am　rational　enough；　it　is　you　who　misunderstand；　or　rather　who　affect　to　misunderstand。”

“Perhaps；　if　you　explained　yourself　a　little　more　fully；　I　should　prehend　better。”

“Explain！　What　is　there　to　explain？　You　cannot　fail　to　see　that　twenty　thousand　pounds；　the　sum　in　question；　divided　equally　between　the　nephew　and　three　nieces　of　our　uncle；　will　give　five　thousand　to　each？　What　I　want　is；　that　you　should　write　to　your　sisters　and　tell　them　of　the　fortune　that　has　accrued　to　them。”

“To　you；　you　mean。”

“I　have　intimated　my　view　of　the　case：　I　am　incapable　of　taking　any　other。　I　am　not　brutally　selfish；　blindly　unjust；　or　fiendishly　ungrateful。　Besides；　I　am　resolved　I　will　have　a　home　and　connections。　I　like　Moor　House；　and　I　will　live　at　Moor　House；　I　like　Diana　and　Mary；　and　I　will　attach　myself　for　life　to　Diana　and　Mary。　It　would　please　and　benefit　me　to　have　five　thousand　pounds；　it　would　torment　and　oppress　me　to　have　twenty　thousand；　which；　moreover；　could　never　be　mine　in　justice；　though　it　might　in　law。　I　abandon　to　you；　then；　what　is　absolutely　superfluous　to　me。　Let　there　be　no　opposition；　and　no　discussion　about　it；　let　us　agree　amongst　each　other；　and　decide　the　point　at　once。”

“This　is　acting　on　first　impulses；　you　must　take　days　to　consider　such　a　matter；　ere　your　word　can　be　regarded　as　valid。”

“Oh！　if　all　you　doubt　is　my　sincerity；　I　am　easy：　you　see　the　justice　of　the　case？”

“I　do　see　a　certain　justice；　but　it　is　contrary　to　all　custom。　Besides；　the　entire　fortune　is　your　right：　my　uncle　gained　it　by　his　own　efforts；　he　was　free　to　leave　it　to　whom　he　would：　he　left　it　to　you。　After　all；　just