迪文小说

第2部分（第2页）

“What！　what！”　he　cried。　“Did　she　say　that　to　me？　Did　you　hear　her；　Eliza　and　Georgiana？　Won’t　I　tell　mama？　but　first—”

He　ran　headlong　at　me：　I　felt　him　grasp　my　hair　and　my　shoulder：　he　had　closed　with　a　desperate　thing。　I　really　saw　in　him　a　tyrant；　a　murderer。　I　felt　a　drop　or　two　of　blood　from　my　head　trickle　down　my　neck；　and　was　sensible　of　somewhat　pungent　suffering：　these　sensations　for　the　time　predominated　over　fear；　and　I　received　him　in　frantic　sort。　I　don’t　very　well　know　what　I　did　with　my　hands；　but　he　called　me　“Rat！　Rat！”　and　bellowed　out　aloud。　Aid　was　near　him：　Eliza　and　Georgiana　had　run　for　Mrs。　Reed；　who　was　gone　upstairs：　she　now　came　upon　the　scene；　followed　by　Bessie　and　her　maid　Abbot。　We　were　parted：　I　heard　the　words—

“Dear！　dear！　What　a　fury　to　fly　at　Master　John！”

“Did　ever　anybody　see　such　a　picture　of　passion！”

Then　Mrs。　Reed　subjoined—

“Take　her　away　to　the　red…room；　and　lock　her　in　there。”　Four　hands　were　immediately　laid　upon　me；　and　I　was　borne　upstairs。

Chapter　2

I　resisted　all　the　way：　a　new　thing　for　me；　and　a　circumstance　which　greatly　strengthened　the　bad　opinion　Bessie　and　Miss　Abbot　were　disposed　to　entertain　of　me。　The　fact　is；　I　was　a　trifle　beside　myself；　or　rather　out　of　myself；　as　the　French　would　say：　I　was　conscious　that　a　moment’s　mutiny　had　already　rendered　me　liable　to　strange　penalties；　and；　like　any　other　rebel　slave；　I　felt　resolved；　in　my　desperation；　to　go　all　lengths。

“Hold　her　arms；　Miss　Abbot：　she’s　like　a　mad　cat。”

“For　shame！　for　shame！”　cried　the　lady’s…maid。　“What　shocking　conduct；　Miss　Eyre；　to　strike　a　young　gentleman；　your　benefactress’s　son！　Your　young　master。”

“Master！　How　is　he　my　master？　Am　I　a　servant？”

“No；　you　are　less　than　a　servant；　for　you　do　nothing　for　your　keep。　There；　sit　down；　and　think　over　your　wickedness。”

They　had　got　me　by　this　time　into　the　apartment　indicated　by　Mrs。　Reed；　and　had　thrust　me　upon　a　stool：　my　impulse　was　to　rise　from　it　like　a　spring；　their　two　pair　of　hands　arrested　me　instantly。

“If　you　don’t　sit　still；　you　must　be　tied　down；”　said　Bessie。　“Miss　Abbot；　lend　me　your　garters；　she　would　break　mine　directly。”

Miss　Abbot　turned　to　divest　a　stout　leg　of　the　necessary　ligature。　This　preparation　for　bonds；　and　the　additional　ignominy　it　inferred；　took　a　little　of　the　excitement　out　of　me。

“Don’t　take　them　off；”　I　cried；　“I　will　not　stir。”

In　guarantee　whereof；　I　attached　myself　to　my　seat　by　my　hands。

“Mind　you　don’t；”　said　Bessie；　and　when　she　had　ascertained　that　I　was　really　subsiding；　she　loosened　her　hold　of　me；　then　she　and　Miss　Abbot　stood　with　folded　arms；　looking　darkly　and　doubtfully　on　my　face；　as　incredulous　of　my　sanity。

“She　never　did　so　before；”　at　last　said　Bessie；　turning　to　the　Abigail。

“But　it　was　always　in　her；”　was　the　reply。　“I’ve　told　Missis　often　my　opinion　about　the　child；　and　Missis　agreed　with　me。　She’s　an　underhand　little　thing：　I　never　saw　a　girl　of　her　age　with　so　much　cover。”

Bessie　answered　not；　but　ere　long；　addressing　me；　she　said—“You　ought　to　be　aware；　Miss；　that　you　are　under　obligations　to　Mrs。　Reed：　she　keeps　you：　if　she　were　to　turn　you　off；　you　would　have　to　go　to　the　poorhouse。”

I　had　nothing　to　say　to　these　words：　they　were　not　new　to　me：　my　very　first　recollections　of　existence　included　hints　of　the　same　kind。　This　reproach　of　my　dependence　had　bee　a　vague　sing…song　in　my　ear：　very　painful　and　crushing；　but　only　half　intelligible。　Miss　Abbot　joined　in—

“And　you　ought　not　to　think　yourself　on　an　equality　with　the　Misses　Reed　and　Master　Reed；　because　Missis　kindly　allows　you　to　be　brought　up　with　them。　They　will　have　a　great　deal　of　money；　and　you　will　have　none：　it　is　your　place　to　be　humble；　and　to　try　to　make　yourself　agreeable　to　them。”

“What　we　tell　you　is　for　your　good；”　added　Bessie；　in　no　harsh　voice；　“you　should　try　to　be　useful　and　pleasant；　then；　perhaps；　you　would　have　a　home　here；　but　if　you　bee　passionate　and　rude；　Missis　will　send　you　away；　I　am　sure。”

“Besides；”　said　Miss　Abbot；　“God　will　punish　her：　He　might　strike　her　dead　in　the　midst　of　her　tantrums；　and　then　where　would　she　go？　e；　Bessie；　we　will　leave　her：　I　wouldn’t　have　her　heart　for　anything。　Say　your　prayers；　Miss　Eyre；　when　you　are　by　yourself；　for　if　you　don’t　repent；　something　bad　might　be　permitted　to　e　down　the　chimney　and　fetch　you　away。”

They　went；　shutting　the　door；　and　locking　it　behind　them。

The　red…room　ber；　very　seldom　slept　in；　I　might　say　never；　indeed；　unless　when　a　chance　influx　of　visitors　at　Gateshead　Hall　rendered　it　necessary　to　turn　to　account　all　the　acmodation　it　contained：　yet　it　was　one　of　the　largest　and　stateliest　chambers　in　the　mansion。　A　bed　supported　on　massive　pillars　of　mahogany；　hung　with　curtains　of　deep　red　damask；　stood　out　like　a　tabernacle　in　the　centre；　the　two　large　windows；　with　their　blinds　always　drawn　down；　were　half　shrouded　in　festoons　and　falls　of　similar　drapery；　the　carpet　was　red；　the　table　at　the　foot　of　the　bed　was　covered　with　a　crimson　cloth；　the　walls　were　a　soft　fawn　colour　with　a　blush　of　pink　in　it；　the　wardrobe；　the　toilet…table；　the　chairs　were　of　darkly　polished　old　mahogany。　Out　of　these　deep　surrounding　shades　rose　high；　and　gla