子浪小说

第8部分（第2页）

Five　o’clock　had　hardly　struck　on　the　morning　of　the　19th　of　January；　when　Bessie　brought　a　candle　into　my　closet　and　found　me　already　up　and　nearly　dressed。　I　had　risen　half…an…hour　before　her　entrance；　and　had　washed　my　face；　and　put　on　my　clothes　by　the　light　of　a　half…moon　just　setting；　whose　rays　streamed　through　the　narrow　window　near　my　crib。　I　was　to　leave　Gateshead　that　day　by　a　coach　which　passed　the　lodge　gates　at　six　a。m。　Bessie　was　the　only　person　yet　risen；　she　had　lit　a　fire　in　the　nursery；　where　she　now　proceeded　to　make　my　breakfast。　Few　children　can　eat　when　excited　with　the　thoughts　of　a　journey；　nor　could　I。　Bessie；　having　pressed　me　in　vain　to　take　a　few　spoonfuls　of　the　boiled　milk　and　bread　she　had　prepared　for　me；　wrapped　up　some　biscuits　in　a　paper　and　put　them　into　my　bag；　then　she　helped　me　on　with　my　pelisse　and　bon；　and　wrapping　herself　in　a　shawl；　she　and　I　left　the　nursery。　As　we　passed　Mrs。　Reed’s　bedroom；　she　said；　“Will　you　go　in　and　bid　Missis　good…bye？”

“No；　Bessie：　she　came　to　my　crib　last　night　when　you　were　gone　down　to　supper；　and　said　I　need　not　disturb　her　in　the　morning；　or　my　cousins　either；　and　she　told　me　to　remember　that　she　had　always　been　my　best　friend；　and　to　speak　of　her　and　be　grateful　to　her　accordingly。”

“What　did　you　say；　Miss？”

“Nothing：　I　covered　my　face　with　the　bedclothes；　and　turned　from　her　to　the　wall。”

“That　was　wrong；　Miss　Jane。”

“It　was　quite　right；　Bessie。　Your　Missis　has　not　been　my　friend：　she　has　been　my　foe。”

“O　Miss　Jane！　don’t　say　so！”

“Good…bye　to　Gateshead！”　cried　I；　as　we　passed　through　the　hall　and　went　out　at　the　front　door。

The　moon　was　set；　and　it　was　very　dark；　Bessie　carried　a　lantern；　whose　light　glanced　on　wet　steps　and　gravel　road　sodden　by　a　recent　thaw。　Raw　and　chill　was　the　winter　morning：　my　teeth　chattered　as　I　hastened　down　the　drive。　There　was　a　light　in　the　porter’s　lodge：　when　we　reached　it；　we　found　the　porter’s　wife　just　kindling　her　fire：　my　trunk；　which　had　been　carried　down　the　evening　before；　stood　corded　at　the　door。　It　wanted　but　a　few　minutes　of　six；　and　shortly　after　that　hour　had　struck；　the　distant　roll　of　wheels　announced　the　ing　coach；　I　went　to　the　door　and　watched　its　lamps　approach　rapidly　through　the　gloom。

“Is　she　going　by　herself？”　asked　the　porter’s　wife。

“Yes。”

“And　how　far　is　it？”

“Fifty　miles。”

“What　a　long　way！　I　wonder　Mrs。　Reed　is　not　afraid　to　trust　her　so　far　alone。”

The　coach　drew　up；　there　it　was　at　the　gates　with　its　four　horses　and　its　top　laden　with　passengers：　the　guard　and　coachman　loudly　urged　haste；　my　trunk　was　hoisted　up；　I　was　taken　from　Bessie’s　neck；　to　which　I　clung　with　kisses。

“Be　sure　and　take　good　care　of　her；”　cried　she　to　the　guard；　as　he　lifted　me　into　the　inside。

“Ay；　ay！”　was　the　answer：　the　door　was　slapped　to；　a　voice　exclaimed　“All　right；”　and　on　we　drove。　Thus　was　I　severed　from　Bessie　and　Gateshead；　thus　whirled　away　to　unknown；　and；　as　I　then　deemed；　remote　and　mysterious　regions。

I　remember　but　little　of　the　journey；　I　only　know　that　the　day　seemed　to　me　of　a　preternatural　length；　and　that　we　appeared　to　travel　over　hundreds　of　miles　of　road。　We　passed　through　several　towns；　and　in　one；　a　very　large　one；　the　coach　stopped；　the　horses　were　taken　out；　and　the　passengers　alighted　to　dine。　I　was　carried　into　an　inn；　where　the　guard　wanted　me　to　have　some　dinner；　but；　as　I　had　no　appetite；　he　left　me　in　an　immense　room　with　a　fireplace　at　each　end；　a　chandelier　pendent　from　the　ceiling；　and　a　little　red　gallery　high　up　against　the　wall　filled　with　musical　instruments。　Here　I　walked　about　for　a　long　time；　feeling　very　strange；　and　mortally　apprehensive　of　some　one　ing　in　and　kidnapping　me；　for　I　believed　in　kidnappers；　their　exploits　having　frequently　figured　in　Bessie’s　fireside　chronicles。　At　last　the　guard　returned；　once　more　I　was　stowed　away　in　the　coach；　my　protector　mounted　his　own　seat；　sounded　his　hollow　horn；　and　away　we　rattled　over　the　“stony　street”　of　L…。

The　afternoon　came　on　wet　and　somewhat　misty：　as　it　waned　into　dusk；　I　began　to　feel　that　we　were　getting　very　far　indeed　from　Gateshead：　we　ceased　to　pass　through　towns；　the　country　changed；　great　grey　hills　heaved　up　round　the　horizon：　as　twilight　deepened；　we　descended　a　valley；　dark　with　wood；　and　long　after　night　had　overclouded　the　prospect；　I　heard　a　wild　wind　rushing　amongst　trees。

Lulled　by　the　sound；　I　at　last　dropped　asleep；　I　had　not　long　slumbered　when　the　sudden　cessation　of　motion　awoke　me；　the　coach…　door　was　open；　and　a　person　like　a　servant　was　standing　at　it：　I　saw　her　face　and　dress　by　the　light　of　the　lamps。

“Is　there　a　little　girl　called　Jane　Eyre　here？”　she　asked。　I　answered　“Yes；”　and　was　then　lifted　out；　my　trunk　was　handed　down；　and　the　coach　instantly　drove　away。

I　was　stiff　with　long　sitting；　and　bewildered　with　the　noise　and　motion　of　the　coach：　Gathering　my　faculties；　I　looked　about　me。　Rain；　wind；　and　darkness　filled　the　air；　nevertheless；　I　dimly　discerned　a　wall　before　me　and　a　door　open　in　it；　through　this　door　I　passed　with　my　new　guide：　she　shut　and　locked　it　behind　her。　There　was　now　visible　a　house　or　houses—for　the　building　spread　far—with　many　windows；　and　lights　burning　in　some；　we　went　up　a　broad　pebbly　path；　splashing　wet；　and　were　admitted　at　a　door；　then　the　servant　led　me　through　a　passage　into　a　room　with　a　fire；　where　she　left　me　alone。

I　stood　and　warmed　my　numbed　fingers　over　the　blaze；　then　I　looked　round；　there　was　no　candle；　but　the　uncertain　light　from　the　hearth　showed；　by　intervals；　papered　walls；　carpet；　curtains；　shining　mahogany　furniture：　it　was　a　parlour；　not　so　spacious　or　splendid　as　the　drawing…room　at　Gateshead；　but　fortable　enough。　I　was　puzzling　to　make　out　the　subject　of　a　picture　on　the　wall；　when　the　door　opened；　and　an　individual　carrying　a　light　entered；　another　followed　close　behind。

The　first　was　a　tall　lady　with　dark　hair；　dark　eyes；　and　a　pale　and　large　forehead；　her　figure　was　partly　enveloped　in　a　shawl；　her　countenance　was　grave；　her　bearing　erect。

“The　child　is　very　young　to　be　sent　alone；”　said　she；　putting　her　candle　down　on　the　table。　She　considered　me　attentively　for　a　minute　or　two；　then　further　added—

“She　had　better　be　put　to　bed　soon；　she　looks　tired：　are　you　tired？”　she　asked；　placing　her　hand　on　my　shoulder。

“A　little；　ma’am。”

“And　hungry　too；　no　doubt：　let　her　have　some　supper　before　she　goes　to　bed；　Miss　Miller。　Is　this　the　first　time　you　have　left　your　parents　to　e　to　school；　my　little　girl？”

I　explained　to　her　that　I　had　no　parents。　She　inquired　how　long　they　had　bee