子浪小说

第37部分（第2页）

“Nothing—nothing；　sir。　I　am　not　depressed。”

“But　I　affirm　that　you　are：　so　much　depressed　that　a　few　more　words　would　bring　tears　to　your　eyes—indeed；　they　are　there　now；　shining　and　swimming；　and　a　bead　has　slipped　from　the　lash　and　fallen　on　to　the　flag。　If　I　had　time；　and　was　not　in　mortal　dread　of　some　prating　prig　of　a　servant　passing；　I　would　know　what　all　this　means。　Well；　to…night　I　excuse　you；　but　understand　that　so　long　as　my　visitors　stay；　I　expect　you　to　appear　in　the　drawing…room　every　evening；　it　is　my　wish；　don’t　neglect　it。　Now　go；　and　send　Sophie　for　Adèle。　Good…night；　my—”　He　stopped；　bit　his　lip；　and　abruptly　left　me。

Chapter　18

Merry　days　were　these　at　Thornfield　Hall；　and　busy　days　too：　how　different　from　the　first　three　months　of　stillness；　monotony；　and　solitude　I　had　passed　beneath　its　roof！　All　sad　feelings　seemed　now　driven　from　the　house；　all　gloomy　associations　forgotten：　there　was　life　everywhere；　movement　all　day　long。　You　could　not　now　traverse　the　gallery；　once　so　hushed；　nor　enter　the　front　chambers；　once　so　tenantless；　without　encountering　a　smart　lady’s…maid　or　a　dandy　valet。

The　kitchen；　the　butler’s　pantry；　the　servants’　hall；　the　entrance　hall；　were　equally　alive；　and　the　saloons　were　only　left　void　and　still　when　the　blue　sky　and　halcyon　sunshine　of　the　genial　spring　weather　called　their　occupants　out　into　the　grounds。　Even　when　that　weather　was　broken；　and　continuous　rain　set　in　for　some　days；　no　damp　seemed　cast　over　enjoyment：　indoor　amusements　only　became　more　lively　and　varied；　in　consequence　of　the　stop　put　to　outdoor　gaiety。

I　wondered　what　they　were　going　to　do　the　first　evening　a　change　of　entertainment　was　proposed：　they　spoke　of　“playing　charades；”　but　in　my　ignorance　I　did　not　understand　the　term。　The　servants　were　called　in；　the　dining…room　tables　wheeled　away；　the　lights　otherwise　disposed；　the　chairs　placed　in　a　semicircle　opposite　the　arch。　While　Mr。　Rochester　and　the　other　gentlemen　directed　these　alterations；　the　ladies　were　running　up　and　down　stairs　ringing　for　their　maids。　Mrs。　Fairfax　was　summoned　to　give　information　respecting　the　resources　of　the　house　in　shawls；　dresses；　draperies　of　any　kind；　and　certain　wardrobes　of　the　third　storey　were　ransacked；　and　their　contents；　in　the　shape　of　brocaded　and　hooped　petticoats；　satin　sacques；　black　modes；　lace　lappets；　&c。；　were　brought　down　in　armfuls　by　the　abigails；　then　a　selection　was　made；　and　such　things　as　were　chosen　were　carried　to　the　boudoir　within　the　drawing…room。

Meantime；　Mr。　Rochester　had　again　summoned　the　ladies　round　him；　and　was　selecting　certain　of　their　number　to　be　of　his　party。　“Miss　Ingram　is　mine；　of　course；”　said　he：　afterwards　he　named　the　two　Misses　Eshton；　and　Mrs。　Dent。　He　looked　at　me：　I　happened　to　be　near　him；　as　I　had　been　fastening　the　clasp　of　Mrs。　Dent’s　bracelet；　which　had　got　loose。

“Will　you　play？”　he　asked。　I　shook　my　head。　He　did　not　insist；　which　I　rather　feared　he　would　have　done；　he　alloy　usual　seat。

He　and　his　aids　now　withdrew　behind　the　curtain：　the　other　party；　which　was　headed　by　Colonel　Dent；　sat　down　on　the　crescent　of　chairs。　One　of　the　gentlemen；　Mr。　Eshton；　observing　me；　seemed　to　propose　that　I　should　be　asked　to　join　them；　but　Lady　Ingram　instantly　negatived　the　notion。

“No；”　I　heard　her　say：　“she　looks　too　stupid　for　any　game　of　the　sort。”

Ere　long　a　bell　tinkled；　and　the　curtain　drew　up。　Within　the　arch；　the　bulky　figure　of　Sir　George　Lynn；　whom　Mr。　Rochester　had　likewise　chosen；　was　seen　enveloped　in　a　white　sheet：　before　him；　on　a　table；　lay　open　a　large　book；　and　at　his　side　stood　Amy　Eshton；　draped　in　Mr。　Rochester’s　cloak；　and　holding　a　book　in　her　hand。　Somebody；　unseen；　rang　the　bell　merrily；　then　Adèle　（who　had　insisted　on　being　one　of　her　guardian’s　party）；　bounded　forward；　scattering　round　her　the　contents　of　a　basket　of　flowers　she　carried　on　her　arm。　Then　appeared　the　magnificent　figure　of　Miss　Ingram；　clad　in　white；　a　long　veil　on　her　head；　and　a　wreath　of　roses　round　her　brow；　by　her　side　walked　Mr。　Rochester；　and　together　they　drew　near　the　table。　They　knelt；　while　Mrs。　Dent　and　Louisa　Eshton；　dressed　also　in　white；　took　up　their　stations　behind　them。　A　ceremony　followed；　in　dumb　show；　in　which　it　was　easy　to　recognise　the　pantomime　of　a　marriage。　At　its　termination；　Colonel　Dent　and　his　party　consulted　in　whispers　for　two　minutes；　then　the　Colonel　called　out—

“Bride！”　Mr。　Rochester　bowed；　and　the　curtain　fell。

A　considerable　interval　elapsed　before　it　again　rose。　Its　second　rising　displayed　a　more　elaborately　prepared　scene　than　the　last。　The　drawing…room；　as　I　have　before　observed；　was　raised　two　steps　above　the　dining…room；　and　on　the　top　of　the　upper　step；　placed　a　yard　or　two　back　within　the　room；　appeared　a　large　marble　basin—　which　I　recognised　as　an　ornament　of　the　conservatory—where　it　usually　stood；　surrounded　by　exotics；　and　tenanted　by　gold　fish—and　whence　it　must　have　been　transported　with　some　trouble；　on　account　of　its　size　and　weight。

Seated　on　the　carpet；　by　the　side　of　this　basin；　was　seen　Mr。　Rochester；　costumed　in　shawls；　with　a　turban　on　his　head。　His　dark　eyes　and　swarthy　skin　and　Paynim　features　suited　the　costume　exactly：　he　looked　the　very　model　of　an　Eastern　emir；　an　agent　or　a　victim　of　the　bowstring。　Presently　advanced　into　view　Miss　Ingram。　She；　too；　was　attired　in　oriental　fashion：　a　crimson　scarf　tied　sash…like　round　the　waist：　an　embroidered　handkerchief　knotted　about　her　temples；　her　beautifully…moulded　arms　bare；　one　of　them　upraised　in　the　act　of　supporting　a　pitcher；　poised　gracefully　on　her　head。　Both　her　cast　of　form　and　feature；　her　plexion　and　her　general　air；　suggested　the　idea　of　some　Israelitish　princess　of　the　patriarchal　days；　and　such　was　doubtless　the　character　she　intended　to　represent。

She　approached　the　basin；　and　bent　over　it　as　if　to　fill　her　pitcher；　she　again　lifted　it　to　her　head。　The　personage　on　the　well…brink　now　seemed　to　accost　her；　to　make　some　request：…　“She　hasted；　let　down　her　pitcher　on　her　hand；　and　gave　him　to　drink。”　From　the　bosom　of　his　robe　he　then　produced　a　casket；　opened　it　and　showed　magnificent　bracelets　and　earrings；　she　acted　astonishment　and　admiration；　kneeling；　he　laid　the　treasure　at　her　feet；　incredulity　and　delight　were　expressed　by　her　looks　and　gestures；　the　stranger　fastened　the　bracelets　on　her　arms　and　the　rings　in　her　ears。　It　was　Eliezer　and　Rebecca：　the　camels　only　were　wanting。

The　divining　party　again　laid　their　heads　together：　apparently　they　could　not　agree　about　the　word　or　syllable　the　scene　illustrated。　Colonel　Dent；　their　spokesman；　demanded　“the　tableau　of　the　whole；”　whereupon　the　curtain　again　descended。

On　its　third　rising　only　a　portion　of　the　drawing…room　was　disclosed；　the　rest　being　concealed　by　a　screen；　hung　with　some　sort　of　dark　and　coarse　drapery。　The　marble　basin　was　removed；　in　its　place；　stood　a　deal　table　and　a　kitchen　chair：　these　objects　were　visible　by　a　very　dim　light　proceeding　from　a　horn　lantern；　the　wax　candles　being　all　extinguished。

Amidst　this　sordid　scene；　sat　a　man　with　his　clenched　hands　resting　on　his　knees；　and　his　eyes　bent　on　the　ground。　I　knew　Mr。　Rochester；　though　the　begrimed　face；　the　disordered　dress　（his　coat　hanging　loose　from　one　arm；　as　if　it　had　been　almost　torn　from　his　back　in　a　scuffle）；　the　desperate　and　scowling　countenance；　the　rough；　bristling　hair　might　well　have　disguised　him。　As　he　moved；　a　chain　clanked；　to　his　wrists　were　attached　fetters。

“Bridewell！”　exclaimed　Colonel　Dent；　and　the　charade　was　solved。

A　sufficient　interval　having　elapsed　for　the　performers　to　resume　their　ordinary　costume；　they　re…entered　the　dining…room。　Mr。　Rochester　led　in　Miss　Ingram；　she　was　plimenting　him　on　his　acting。

“Do　you　know；”　said　she；　“that；　of　the　three　characters；　I　liked　you　in　the　last　best？　Oh；　had　you　but　lived　a　few　years　earlier；　what　a　gallant　gentleman…highwayman　you　would　have　made！”

“Is　all　the　soot　washed　from　my　face？”　he　asked；　turning　it　towards　her。

“Alas！　yes：　the　more’s　the　pity！　Nothing　could　be　more　being　to　your　plexion　than　that　ruffian’s　rouge。”

“You　would　like　a　hero　of　the　road　then？”

“An　English　hero　of　the　road　would　be　the　next　best　thing　to　an　Italian　bandit；　and　that　could　only　be　surpassed　by　a　Levantine　pirate。”

“Well；　whatever　I　am；　remember　you　are　my　wife；　we　were　married　an　hour　since；　in　the　presence　of　all　these　witnesses。”　She　giggled；　and　her　colour　rose。

“Now；　Dent；”　continued　Mr。　Rochester；　“it　is　your　turn。”　And　as　the　other　party　withdrew；　he　and　his　band　took　the　vacated　seats。　Miss　Ingram　placed　herself

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