子浪小说

第55部分（第1页）

“And　what　will　you　do；　Ja；　while　I　am　bargaining　for　so　many　tons　of　flesh　and　such　an　assortment　of　black　eyes？”

“I’ll　be　preparing　myself　to　go　out　as　a　missionary　to　preach　liberty　to　them　that　are　enslaved—your　harem　inmates　amongst　the　rest。　I’ll　get　admitted　there；　and　I’ll　stir　up　mutiny；　and　you；　three…tailed　bashaw　as　you　are；　sir；　shall　in　a　trice　find　yourself　fettered　amongst　our　hands：　nor　will　I；　for　one；　consent　to　cut　your　bonds　till　you　have　signed　a　charter；　the　most　liberal　that　despot　ever　yet　conferred。”

“I　would　consent　to　be　at　your　mercy；　Jane。”

“I　would　have　no　mercy；　Mr。　Rochester；　if　you　supplicated　for　it　with　an　eye　like　that。　While　you　looked　so；　I　should　be　certain　that　whatever　charter　you　might　grant　under　coercion；　your　first　act；　when　released；　would　be　to　violate　its　conditions。”

“Why；　Jane；　what　would　you　have？　I　fear　you　will　pel　me　to　go　through　a　private　marriage　ceremony；　besides　that　performed　at　the　altar。　You　will　stipulate；　I　see；　for　peculiar　terms—what　will　they　be？”

“I　only　want　an　easy　mind；　sir；　not　crushed　by　crowded　obligations。　Do　you　remember　what　you　said　of　Céline　Varens？—of　the　diamonds；　the　cashmeres　you　gave　her？　I　will　not　be　your　English　Céline　Varens。　I　shall　continue　to　act　as　Adèle’s　governess；　by　that　I　shall　earn　my　board　and　lodging；　and　thirty　pounds　a　year　besides。　I’ll　furnish　my　own　wardrobe　out　of　that　money；　and　you　shall　give　me　nothing　but—”

“Well；　but　what？”

“Your　regard；　and　if　I　give　you　mine　in　return；　that　debt　will　be　quit。”

“Well；　for　cool　native　impudence　and　pure　innate　pride；　you　haven’t　your　equal；”　said　he。　We　were　now　approaching　Thornfield。　“Will　it　please　you　to　dine　with　me　to…day？”　he　asked；　as　we　re…entered　the　gates。

“No；　thank　you；　sir。”

“And　what　for；　‘no；　thank　you？’　if　one　may　inquire。”

“I　never　have　dined　with　you；　sir：　and　I　see　no　reason　why　I　should　now：　till—”

“Till　what？　You　delight　in　half…phrases。”

“Till　I　can’t　help　it。”

“Do　you　suppose　I　eat　like　an　ogre　or　a　ghoul；　that　you　dread　being　the　panion　of　my　repast？”

“I　have　formed　no　supposition　on　the　subject；　sir；　but　I　want　to　go　on　as　usual　for　another　month。”

“You　will　give　up　your　governessing　slavery　at　once。”

“Indeed；　begging　your　pardon；　sir；　I　shall　not。　I　shall　just　go　on　with　it　as　usual。　I　shall　keep　out　of　your　way　all　day；　as　I　have　been　accustomed　to　do：　you　may　send　for　me　in　the　evening；　when　you　feel　disposed　to　see　me；　and　I’ll　e　then；　but　at　no　other　time。”

“I　want　a　smoke；　Jane；　or　a　pinch　of　snuff；　to　fort　me　under　all　this；　‘pour　me　donner　une　contenance；’　as　Adèle　would　say；　and　unfortunately　I　have　neither　my　cigar…case；　nor　my　snuff…box。　But　listen—whisper。　It　is　your　time　now；　little　tyrant；　but　it　will　be　mine　presently；　and　when　once　I　have　fairly　seized　you；　to　have　and　to　hold；　I’ll　just—figuratively　speaking—attach　you　to　a　chain　like　this”　（touching　his　watch…guard）。　“Yes；　bonny　wee　thing；　I’ll　wear　you　in　my　bosom；　lest　my　jewel　I　should　tyne。”

He　said　this　as　he　helped　me　to　alight　from　the　carriage；　and　while　he　afterwards　lifted　out　Adèle；　I　entered　the　house；　and　made　good　my　retreat　upstairs。

He　duly　summoned　me　to　his　presence　in　the　evening。　I　had　prepared　an　occupation　for　him；　for　I　was　determined　not　to　spend　the　whole　time　in　a　tête…à…tête　conversation。　I　remembered　his　fine　voice；　I　knew　he　liked　to　sing—good　singers　generally　do。　I　was　no　vocalist　myself；　and；　in　his　fastidious　judgment；　no　musician；　either；　but　I　delighted　in　listening　when　the　performance　was　good。　No　sooner　had　twilight；　that　hour　of　romance；　began　to　lower　her　blue　and　starry　banner　over　the　lattice；　than　I　rose；　opened　the　piano；　and　entreated　him；　for　the　love　of　heaven；　to　give　me　a　song。　He　said　I　was　a　capricious　witch；　and　that　he　would　rather　sing　another　time；　but　I　averred　that　no　time　was　like　the　present。

“Did　I　like　his　voice？”　he　asked。

“Very　much。”　I　was　not　fond　of　pampering　that　susceptible　vanity　of　his；　but　for　once；　and　from　motives　of　expediency；　I　would　e’en　soothe　and　stimulate　it。

“Then；　Jane；　you　must　play　the　acpaniment。”

“Very　well；　sir；　I　will　try。”

I　did　try；　but　was　presently　swept　off　the　stool　and　denominated　“a　little　bungler。”　Being　pushed　unceremoniously　to　one　side—which　was　precisely　what　I　wished—he　usurped　my　place；　and　proceeded　to　acpany　himself：　for　he　could　play　as　well　as　sing。　I　hied　me　to　the　window…recess。　And　while　I　sat　there　and　looked　out　on　the　still　trees　and　dim　lawn；　to　a　sweet　air　was　sung　in　mellow　tones　the　following　strain：—

“The　truest　love　that　ever　heart

Felt　at　its　kindled　core；

Did　through　each　vein；　in　quickened　start；

The　tide　of　being　pour。

Her　ing　was　my　hope　each　day；

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