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第42部分(第1页)

“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; and they only looked at me coldly; and whispered sneeringly amongst each other; and then dropped off and left me one by one; what then? Would you go with them?”

“I rather think not; sir: I should have more pleasure in staying with you。”

“To fort me?”

“Yes; sir; to fort you; as well as I could。”

“And if they laid you under a ban for adhering to me?”

“I; probably; should know nothing about their ban; and if I did; I should care nothing about it。”

“Then; you could dare censure for my sake?”

“I could dare it for the sake of any friend who deserved my adherence; as you; I am sure; do。”

“Go back now into the room; step quietly up to Mason; and whisper in his ear that Mr。 Rochester is e and wishes to see him: show him in here and then leave me。”

“Yes; sir。”

I did his behest。 The pany all stared at me as I passed straight among them。 I sought Mr。 Mason; delivered the message; and preceded him from the room: I ushered him into the library; and then I went upstairs。

At a late hour; after I had been in bed some time; I heard the visitors repair to their chambers: I distinguished Mr。 Rochester’s voice; and heard him say; “This way; Mason; this is your room。”

He spoke cheerfully: the gay tones set my heart at ease。 I was soon asleep。

Chapter 20

I had forgotten to draw my curtain; which I usually did; and also to let down my window…blind。 The consequence was; that when the moon; which was full and bright (for the night was fine); came in her course to that space in the sky opposite my casement; and looked in at me through the unveiled panes; her glorious gaze roused me。 Awaking in the dead of night; I opened my eyes on her disk—silver… white and crystal clear。 It was beautiful; but too solemn; I half rose; and stretched my arm to draw the curtain。

Good God! What a cry!

The night—its silence—its rest; was rent in twain by a savage; a sharp; a shrilly sound that ran from end to end of Thornfield Hall。

My pulse stopped: my heart stood still; my stretched arm was paralysed。 The cry died; and was not renewed。 Indeed; whatever being uttered that fearful shriek could not soon repeat it: not the widest…winged condor on the Andes could; twice in succession; send out such a yell from the cloud shrouding his eyrie。 The thing delivering such utterance must rest ere it could repeat the effort。

It came out of the third storey; for it passed overhead。 And overhead—yes; in the room just above my chamber…ceiling—I now heard a struggle: a deadly one it seemed from the noise; and a half…smothered voice shouted—

“Help! help! help!” three times rapidly。

“Will no one e?” it cried; and then; while the staggering and stamping went on wildly; I distinguished through plank and plaster:—

“Rochester! Rochester! for God’s sake; e!”

A chamber…door opened: some one ran; or rushed; along the gallery。 Another step stamped on the flooring above and something fell; and there was silence。

I had put on some clothes; though horror shook all my limbs; I issued from my apartment。 The sleepers were all aroused: ejaculations; terrified murmurs sounded in every room; door after door unclosed; one looked out and another looked out; the gallery filled。 Gentlemen and ladies alike had quitted their beds; and “Oh! what is it?”—“Who is hurt?”—“What has happened?”—“Fetch a light!”—“Is it fire?”—“Are there robbers?”—“Where shall we run?” was demanded confusedly on all hands。 But for the moonlight they would have been in plete darkness。 They ran to and fro; they crowded together: some sobbed; some stumbled: the confusion was inextricable。

“Where the devil is Rochester?” cried Colonel Dent。 “I cannot find him in his bed。”

“Here! here!” was shouted in return。 “Be posed; all of you: I’m ing。”

And the door at the end of the gallery opened; and Mr。 Rochester advanced with a candle: he had just descended from the upper storey。 One of the ladies ran to him directly; she seized his arm: it was Miss Ingram。

“What awful event has taken place?” said she。 “Speak! let us know the worst at once!”

“But don’t pull me down or strangle me;” he replied: for the Misses Eshton were clinging about him now; and the two dowagers; in vast white wrappers; were bearing down on him like ships in full sail。

“All’s right!—all’s right!” he cried。 “It’s a mere rehearsal of Much Ado about Nothing。 Ladies; keep off; or I shall wax dangerous。”

And dangerous he looked: his black eyes darted sparks。 Calming himself by an effort; he added—

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