子浪小说

第43部分（第2页）

“I　wish　I　could　forget　it；”　was　the　answer。

“You　will　when　you　are　out　of　the　country：　when　you　get　back　to　Spanish　Town；　you　may　think　of　her　as　dead　and　buried—or　rather；　you　need　not　think　of　her　at　all。”

“Impossible　to　forget　this　night！”

“It　is　not　impossible：　have　some　energy；　man。　You　thought　you　were　as　dead　as　a　herring　two　hours　since；　and　you　are　all　alive　and　talking　now。　There！—Carter　has　done　with　you　or　nearly　so；　I’ll　make　you　decent　in　a　trice。　Jane”　（he　turned　to　me　for　the　first　time　since　his　re…entrance）；　“take　this　key：　go　down　into　my　bedroom；　and　walk　straight　forward　into　my　dressing…room：　open　the　top　drawer　of　the　wardrobe　and　take　out　a　clean　shirt　and　neck…　handkerchief：　bring　them　here；　and　be　nimble。”

I　went；　sought　the　repository　he　had　mentioned；　found　the　articles　named；　and　returned　with　them。

“Now；”　said　he；　“go　to　the　other　side　of　the　bed　while　I　order　his　toilet；　but　don’t　leave　the　room：　you　may　be　wanted　again。”

I　retired　as　directed。

“Was　anybody　stirring　below　when　you　r。　Rochester　presently。

“No；　sir；　all　was　very　still。”

“We　shall　get　you　off　cannily；　Dick：　and　it　will　be　better；　both　for　your　sake；　and　for　that　of　the　poor　creature　in　yonder。　I　have　striven　long　to　avoid　exposure；　and　I　should　not　like　it　to　e　at　last。　Here；　Carter；　help　him　on　with　his　waist…coat。　Where　did　you　leave　your　furred　cloak？　You　can’t　travel　a　mile　without　that；　I　know；　in　this　damned　cold　climate。　In　your　room？—Jane；　run　down　to　Mr。　Mason’s　room；—the　one　next　mine；—and　fetch　a　cloak　you　will　see　there。”

Again　I　ran；　and　again　returned；　bearing　an　immense　mantle　lined　and　edged　with　fur。

“Now；　I’ve　another　errand　for　you；”　said　my　untiring　master；　“you　must　away　to　my　room　again。　What　a　mercy　you　are　shod　with　velvet；　Jane！—a　clod…hopping　messenger　would　never　do　at　this　juncture。　You　must　open　the　middle　drawer　of　my　toilet…table　and　take　out　a　little　phial　and　a　little　glass　you　will　find　there；—quick！”

I　flew　thither　and　back；　bringing　the　desired　vessels。

“That’s　well！　Now；　doctor；　I　shall　take　the　liberty　of　administering　a　dose　myself；　on　my　own　responsibility。　I　got　this　cordial　at　Rome；　of　an　Italian　charlatan—a　fellow　you　would　have　kicked；　Carter。　It　is　not　a　thing　to　be　used　indiscriminately；　but　it　is　good　upon　occasion：　as　now；　for　instance。　Jane；　a　little　water。”

He　held　out　the　tiny　glass；　and　I　half　filled　it　from　the　water…　bottle　on　the　washstand。

“That　will　do；—now　wet　the　lip　of　the　phial。”

I　did　so；　he　measured　twelve　drops　of　a　crimson　liquid；　and　presented　it　to　Mason。

“Drink；　Richard：　it　will　give　you　the　heart　you　lack；　for　an　hour　or　so。”

“But　will　it　hurt　me？—is　it　inflammatory？”

“Drink！　drink！　drink！”

Mr。　Mason　obeyed；　because　it　was　evidently　useless　to　resist。　He　was　dressed　now：　he　still　looked　pale；　but　he　was　no　longer　gory　and　sullied。　Mr。　Rochester　let　him　sit　three　minutes　after　he　had　swallowed　the　liquid；　he　then　took　his　arm—

“Now　I　am　sure　you　can　get　on　your　feet；”　he　said—“try。”

The　patient　rose。

“Carter；　take　him　under　the　other　shoulder。　Be　of　good　cheer；　Richard；　step　out—that’s　it！”

“I　do　feel　better；”　remarked　Mr。　Mason。

“I　am　sure　you　do。　Now；　Jane；　trip　on　before　us　away　to　the　backstairs；　unbolt　the　side…passage　door；　and　tell　the　driver　of　the　post…chaise　you　will　see　in　the　yard—or　just　outside；　for　I　told　him　not　to　drive　his　rattling　wheels　over　the　pavement—to　be　ready；　we　are　ing：　and；　Jane；　if　any　one　is　about；　e　to　the　foot　of　the　stairs　and　hem。”

It　was　by　this　time　half…past　five；　and　the　sun　was　on　the　point　of　rising；　but　I　found　the　kitchen　still　dark　and　silent。　The　side…　passage　door　was　fastened；　I　opened　it　with　as　little　noise　as　possible：　all　the　yard　was　quiet；　but　the　gates　stood　wide　open；　and　there　was　a　post…chaise；　with　horses　ready　harnessed；　and　driver　seated　on　the　box；　stationed　outside。　I　approached　him；　and　said　the　gentlemen　were　ing；　he　nodded：　then　I　looked　carefully　round　and　listened。　The　stillness　of　early　morning　slumbered　everywhere；　the　curtains　were　yet　drawn　over　the　servants’　chamber　windows；　little　birds　were　just　twittering　in　the　blossom…blanched　orchard　trees；　whose　boughs　drooped　like　white　garlands　over　the　wall　enclosing　one　side　of　the　yard；　the　carriage　horses　stamped　from　time　to　time　in　their　closed　stables：　all　else　was　s

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