子浪小说

第26部分（第2页）

“Yes。　The　present　Mr。　Rochester　has　not　been　very　long　in　possession　of　the　property；　only　about　nine　years。”

“Nine　years　is　a　tolerable　time。　Was　he　so　very　fond　of　his　brother　as　to　be　still　inconsolable　for　his　loss？”

“Why；　no—perhaps　not。　I　believe　there　were　some　misunderstandings　between　them。　Mr。　Rowland　Rochester　r。　Edward；　and　perhaps　he　prejudiced　his　father　against　him。　The　old　gentleman　was　fond　of　money；　and　anxious　to　keep　the　family　estate　together。　He　did　not　like　to　diminish　the　property　by　division；　and　yet　he　was　anxious　that　Mr。　Edward　should　have　wealth；　too；　to　keep　up　the　consequence　of　the　name；　and；　soon　after　he　was　of　age；　some　steps　were　taken　that　ade　a　great　deal　of　mischief。　Old　Mr。　Rochester　and　Mr。　Rowland　bined　to　bring　Mr。　Edward　into　what　he　considered　a　painful　position；　for　the　sake　of　making　his　fortune：　what　the　precise　nature　of　that　position　was　I　never　clearly　knew；　but　his　spirit　could　not　brook　what　he　had　to　suffer　in　it。　He　is　not　very　forgiving：　he　broke　with　his　family；　and　now　for　many　years　he　has　led　an　unsettled　kind　of　life。　I　don’t　think　he　has　ever　been　resident　at　Thornfield　for　a　fortnight　together；　since　the　death　of　his　brother　without　a　will　left　him　master　of　the　estate；　and；　indeed；　no　wonder　he　shuns　the　old　place。”

“Why　should　he　shun　it？”

“Perhaps　he　thinks　it　gloomy。”

The　answer　was　evasive。　I　should　have　liked　something　clearer；　but　Mrs。　Fairfax　either　could　not；　or　would　not；　give　me　more　explicit　information　of　the　origin　and　nature　of　Mr。　Rochester’s　trials。　She　averred　they　were　a　mystery　to　herself；　and　that　what　she　knew　was　chiefly　from　conjecture。　It　was　evident；　indeed；　that　she　wished　me　to　drop　the　subject；　which　I　did　accordingly。

Chapter　14

For　several　subsequent　days　I　saw　little　of　Mr。　Rochester。　In　the　mornings　he　seemed　much　engaged　with　business；　and；　in　the　afternoon；　gentlemen　from　Millcote　or　the　neighbourhood　called；　and　sometimes　stayed　to　dine　with　him。　When　his　sprain　was　well　enough　to　admit　of　horse　exercise；　he　rode　out　a　good　deal；　probably　to　return　these　visits；　as　he　generally　did　not　e　back　till　late　at　night。

During　this　interval；　even　Adèle　was　seldom　sent　for　to　his　presence；　and　all　my　acquaintance　with　him　was　confined　to　an　occasional　rencontre　in　the　hall；　on　the　stairs；　or　in　the　gallery；　when　he　would　sometimes　pass　me　haughtily　and　coldly；　just　acknowledging　my　presence　by　a　distant　nod　or　a　cool　glance；　and　sometimes　bow　and　smile　with　gentlemanlike　affability。　His　changes　of　mood　did　not　offend　me；　because　I　saw　that　I　had　nothing　to　do　with　their　alternation；　the　ebb　and　flow　depended　on　causes　quite　disconnected　with　me。

One　day　he　had　had　pany　to　dinner；　and　had　sent　for　my　portfolio；　in　order；　doubtless；　to　exhibit　its　contents：　the　gentlemen　went　away　early；　to　attend　a　public　meeting　at　Millcote；　as　Mrs。　Fairfax　informed　me；　but　the　night　being　wet　and　inclement；　Mr。　Rochester　did　not　acpany　them。　Soon　after　they　were　gone　he　rang　the　bell：　a　message　came　that　I　and　Adèle　were　to　go　downstairs。　I　brushed　Adèle’s　hair　and　made　her　neat；　and　having　ascertained　that　I　was　myself　in　my　usual　Quaker　trim；　where　there　was　nothing　to　retouch—　all　being　too　close　and　plain；　braided　locks　included；　to　admit　of　disarrangement—we　descended；　Adèle　wondering　whether　the　petit　coffre　was　at　length　e；　for；　owing　to　some　mistake；　its　arrival　had　hitherto　been　delayed。　She　was　gratified：　there　it　stood；　a　little　carton；　on　the　table　when　we　entered　the　dining…room。　She　appeared　to　know　it　by　instinct。

“Ma　boite！　ma　boite！”　exclaimed　she；　running　towards　it。

“Yes；　there　is　your　‘boite’　at　last：　take　it　into　a　corner；　you　genuine　daughter　of　Paris；　and　amuse　yourself　with　disembowelling　it；”　said　the　deep　and　rather　sarcastic　voice　of　Mr。　Rochester；　proceeding　from　the　depths　of　an　immense　easy…chair　at　the　fireside。　“And　mind；”　he　continued；　“don’t　bother　me　with　any　details　of　the　anatomical　process；　or　any　notice　of　the　condition　of　the　entrails：　let　your　operation　be　conducted　in　silence：　tiens…toi　tranquille；　enfant；　prends…tu？”

Adèle　seemed　scarcely　to　need　the　warning—she　had　already　retired　to　a　sofa　with　her　treasure；　and　was　busy　untying　the　cord　which　secured　the　lid。　Having　removed　this　impediment；　and　lifted　certain　silvery　envelopes　of　tissue　paper；　she　merely　exclaimed—

“Oh　ciel！　Que　c’est　beau！”　and　then　remained　absorbed　in　ecstatic　contemplation。

“Is　Miss　Eyre　there？”　now　demanded　the　master；　half　rising　from　his　seat　to　look　round　to　the　door；　near　which　I　still　stood。

“Ah！　well；　e　forward；　be　seated　here。”　He　drew　a　chair　near　his　own。　“I　am　not　fond　of　the　prattle　of　children；”　he　continued；　“for；　old　bachelor　as　I　am；　I　have　no　pleasant　associations　connected　with　their　lisp。　It　would　be　intolerable　to　me　to　pass　a　whole　evening　tête…à…tête　with　a　brat。　Don’t　draw　that　chair　farther　off；　Miss　Eyre；　sit　down　exactly　where　I　placed　it—if　you　please；　that　is。　Confound　these　civilities！　I　continually　forget　them。　Nor　do　I　particularly　affect　simple…minded　old　ladies。　By…　the…bye；　I　must　have　mine　in　mind；　it　won’t　do　to　neglect　her；　she　is　a　Fairfax；　or　wed　to　one；　and　blood　is　said　to　be　thicker　than　water。”

He　rang；　and　despatched　an　invitation　to　Mrs。　Fairfax；　who　soon　arrived；　knitting…basket　in　hand。

“Good　evening；　madam；　I　sent　to　you　for　a　charitable　purpose。　I　have　forbidden　Adèle　to　talk　to　me　about　her　presents；　and　she　is　bursting　with　repletion：　have　the　goodness　to　serve　her　as　auditress　and　interlocutrice；　it　will　be　one　of　the　most　benevolent　acts　you　ever　performed。”

Adèle；　indeed；　no　sooner　saw　Mrs。　Fairfax；　than　she　summoned　her　to　her　sofa；　and　there　quickly　filled　her　lap　with　the　porcelain；　the　ivory；　the　waxen　contents　of　her　“boite；”　pouring　out；　meantime；　explanations　and　raptures　in　such　broken　English　as　she　was　mistress　of。

“Now　I　have　performed　the　part　of　a　good　host；”　pursued　Mr。　Rochester；　“put　my　guests　into　the　way　of　amusing　each　other；　I　ought　to　be　at　liberty　to　attend　to　my　own　pleasure。　Miss　Eyre；　draw　your　chair　still　a　little　farther　forward：　you　are　yet　too　far　back；　I　cannot　see　you　without　disturbing　my　position　in　this　fortable　chair；　which　I　have　no　mind　to　do。”

I　did　as　I　was　bid；　though　I　would　much　rather　have　remained　somewhat　in　the　shade；　but　Mr。　Rochester　had　such　a　direct　way　of　giving　orders；　it　seemed　a　matter　of　course　to　obey　him　promptly。

We　were；　as　I　have　said；　in　the　dining…room：　the　lustre；　which　had　been　lit　for　dinner；　filled　the　room　with　a　festal　breadth　of　light；　the　large　fire　was　all　red　and　clear；　the　purple　curtains　hung　rich　and　ample　before　the　lofty　window　and　loftier　arch；　everything　was　still；　save　the　subdued　chat　of　Adèle　（she　dared　not　speak　loud）；　and；　filling　up　each　pause；　the　beating　of　winter　rain　against　the　panes。

Mr。　Rochester；　as　he　sat　in　his　damask…covered　chair；　looked　different　to　what　I　had　seen　him　look　before；　not　quite　so　stern—　much　less　gloomy。　There　was　a　smile　on　his　lips；　and　his　eyes　sparkled；　whether　with　wine　or　not；　I　am　not　sure；　but　I　think　it　very　probable。　He　was；　in　short；　in　his　after…dinner　mood；　more　expanded　and　genial；　and　also　more　self…indulgent　than　the　frigid　and　rigid　temper　of　the　morning；　still　he　looked　preciously　grim；　cushioning　his　massive　head　against　the　swelling　back　of　his　chair；　and　receiving　the　light　of　the　fire　on　his　granite…hewn　features；　and　in　his　great；　dark　eyes；　for　he　had　great；　dark　eyes；　and

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