子浪小说

第41部分（第2页）

“Oh；　you　have　been　very　correct—very　careful；　very　sensible。”

I　reflected；　and　thought；　on　the　whole；　I　had。　It　was　a　fort；　but；　indeed；　I　had　been　on　my　guard　almost　from　the　beginning　of　the　interview。　Something　of　masquerade　I　suspected。　I　knew　gipsies　and　fortune…tellers　did　not　express　themselves　as　this　seeming　old　woman　had　expressed　herself；　besides　I　had　noted　her　feigned　voice；　her　anxiety　to　conceal　her　features。　But　my　mind　had　been　running　on　Grace　Poole—that　living　enigma；　that　mystery　of　mysteries；　as　I　considered　her。　I　had　never　thought　of　Mr。　Rochester。

“Well；”　said　he；　“what　are　you　musing　about？　What　does　that　grave　smile　signify？”

“Wonder　and　self…congratulation；　sir。　I　have　your　permission　to　retire　now；　I　suppose？”

“No；　stay　a　moment；　and　tell　me　what　the　people　in　the　drawing…room　yonder　are　doing。”

“Discussing　the　gipsy；　I　daresay。”

“Sit　down！—Let　me　hear　what　they　said　about　me。”

“I　had　better　not　stay　long；　sir；　it　must　be　near　eleven　o’clock。　Oh；　are　you　aware；　Mr。　Rochester；　that　a　stranger　has　arrived　here　since　you　left　this　morning？”

“A　stranger！—no；　who　can　it　be？　I　expected　no　one；　is　he　gone？”

“No；　he　said　he　had　known　you　long；　and　that　he　could　take　the　liberty　of　installing　himself　here　till　you　returned。”

“The　devil　he　did！　Did　he　give　his　name？”

“His　name　is　Mason；　sir；　and　he　es　from　the　West　Indies；　from　Spanish　Town；　in　Jamaica；　I　think。”

Mr。　Rochester　was　standing　near　me；　he　had　taken　my　hand；　as　if　to　lead　me　to　a　chair。　As　I　spoke　he　gave　my　wrist　a　convulsive　grip；　the　smile　on　his　lips　froze：　apparently　a　spasm　caught　his　breath。

“Mason！—the　West　Indies！”　he　said；　in　the　tone　one　might　fancy　a　speaking　automaton　to　enounce　its　single　words；　“Mason！—the　West　Indies！”　he　reiterated；　and　he　went　over　the　syllables　three　times；　growing；　in　the　intervals　of　speaking；　whiter　than　ashes：　he　hardly　seemed　to　know　what　he　was　doing。

“Do　you　feel　ill；　sir？”　I　inquired。

“Jane；　I’ve　got　a　blow；　I’ve　got　a　blow；　Jane！”　He　staggered。

“Oh；　lean　on　me；　sir。”

“Jane；　you　offered　me　your　shoulder　once　before；　let　me　have　it　now。”

“Yes；　sir；　yes；　and　my　arm。”

He　sat　down；　and　made　me　sit　beside　him。　Holding　my　hand　in　both　his　own；　he　chafed　it；　gazing　on　me；　at　the　same　time；　with　the　most　troubled　and　dreary　look。

“My　little　friend！”　said　he；　“I　wish　I　were　in　a　quiet　island　with　only　you；　and　trouble；　and　danger；　and　hideous　recollections　removed　from　me。”

“Can　I　help　you；　sir？—I’d　give　my　life　to　serve　you。”

“Jane；　if　aid　is　wanted；　I’ll　seek　it　at　your　hands；　I　promise　you　that。”

“Thank　you；　sir。　Tell　me　what　to　do；—I’ll　try；　at　least；　to　do　it。”

“Fetch　me　now；　Jane；　a　glass　of　wine　from　the　dining…room：　they　will　be　at　supper　there；　and　tell　me　if　Mason　is　with　them；　and　what　he　is　doing。”

I　went。　I　found　all　the　party　in　the　dining…room　at　supper；　as　Mr。　Rochester　had　said；　they　were　not　seated　at　table；—the　supper　was　arranged　on　the　sideboard；　each　had　taken　what　he　chose；　and　they　stood　about　here　and　there　in　groups；　their　plates　and　glasses　in　their　hands。　Every　one　seemed　in　high　glee；　laughter　and　conversation　were　general　and　animated。　Mr。　Mason　stood　near　the　fire；　talking　to　Colonel　and　Mrs。　Dent；　and　appeared　as　merry　as　any　of　them。　I　filled　a　wine…glass　（I　saw　Miss　Ingram　watch　me　frowningly　as　I　did　so：　she　thought　I　was　taking　a　liberty；　I　daresay）；　and　I　returned　to　the　library。

Mr。　Rochester’s　extreme　pallor　had　disappeared；　and　he　looked　once　more　firm　and　stern。　He　took　the　glass　from　my　hand。

“Here　is　to　your　health；　ministrant　spirit！”　he　said。　He　swallowed　the　contents　and　returned　it　to　me。　“What　are　they　doing；　Jane？”

“Laughing　and　talking；　sir。”

“They　don’t　look　grave　and　mysterious；　as　if　they　had　heard　something　strange？”

“Not　at　all：　they　are　full　of　jests　and　gaiety。”

“And　Mason？”

“He　was　laughing　too。”

“If　all　these　people　came　in　a　body　and　spat　at　me；　what　would　you　do；　Jane？”

“Turn　them　out　of　the　room；　sir；　if　I　could。”

He　half　smiled。　“But　if　I　were　to　go　to　them；

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