迪文小说

第14部分（第2页）

“You　will；”　said　she；　passing　her　arm　round　me。　“And　now　tell　me　who　is　the　lady　whom　Mr。　Brocklehurst　called　your　benefactress？”

“Mrs。　Reed；　my　uncle’s　wife。　My　uncle　is　dead；　and　he　left　me　to　her　care。”

“Did　she　not；　then；　adopt　you　of　her　own　accord？”

“No；　ma’am；　she　was　sorry　to　have　to　do　it：　but　my　uncle；　as　I　have　often　heard　the　servants　say；　got　her　to　promise　before　he　died　that　she　would　always　keep　me。”

“Well　now；　Jane；　you　know；　or　at　least　I　will　tell　you；　that　when　a　criminal　is　accused；　he　is　always　allowed　to　speak　in　his　own　defence。　You　have　been　charged　with　falsehood；　defend　yourself　to　me　as　well　as　you　can。　Say　whatever　your　memory　suggests　is　true；　but　add　nothing　and　exaggerate　nothing。”

I　resolved；　in　the　depth　of　my　heart；　that　I　would　be　most　moderate—most　correct；　and；　having　reflected　a　few　minutes　in　order　to　arrange　coherently　what　I　had　to　say；　I　told　her　all　the　story　of　my　sad　childhood。　Exhausted　by　emotion；　my　language　was　more　subdued　than　it　generally　was　when　it　developed　that　sad　theme；　and　mindful　of　Helen’s　warnings　against　the　indulgence　of　resentment；　I　infused　into　the　narrative　far　less　of　gall　and　wormwood　than　ordinary。　Thus　restrained　and　simplified；　it　sounded　more　credible：　I　felt　as　I　went　on　that　Miss　Temple　fully　believed　me。

In　the　course　of　the　tale　I　had　mentioned　Mr。　Lloyd　as　having　e　to　see　me　after　the　fit：　for　I　never　forgot　the；　to　me；　frightful　episode　of　the　red…room：　in　detailing　which；　my　excitement　was　sure；　in　some　degree；　to　break　bounds；　for　nothing　could　soften　in　my　recollection　the　spasm　of　agony　which　clutched　my　heart　when　Mrs。　Reed　spurned　my　wild　supplication　for　pardon；　and　locked　me　a　second　time　in　the　dark　and　haunted　chamber。

I　had　finished：　Miss　Temple　regarded　me　a　few　minutes　in　silence；　she　then　said—

“I　know　something　of　Mr。　Lloyd；　I　shall　write　to　him；　if　his　reply　agrees　with　your　statement；　you　shall　be　publicly　cleared　from　every　imputation；　to　me；　Jane；　you　are　clear　now。”

She　kissed　me；　and　still　keeping　me　at　her　side　（where　I　was　well　contented　to　stand；　for　I　derived　a　child’s　pleasure　from　the　contemplation　of　her　face；　her　dress；　her　one　or　two　ornaments；　her　white　forehead；　her　clustered　and　shining　curls；　and　beaming　dark　eyes）；　she　proceeded　to　address　Helen　Burns。

“How　are　you　to…night；　Helen？　Have　you　coughed　much　to…day？”

“Not　quite　so　much；　I　think；　ma’am。”

“And　the　pain　in　your　chest？”

“It　is　a　little　better。”

Miss　Temple　got　up；　took　her　hand　and　examined　her　pulse；　then　she　returned　to　her　own　seat：　as　she　resumed　it；　I　heard　her　sigh　low。　She　was　pensive　a　few　minutes；　then　rousing　herself；　she　said　cheerfully—

“But　you　two　are　my　visitors　to…night；　I　must　treat　you　as　such。”　She　rang　her　bell。

“Barbara；”　she　said　to　the　servant　who　answered　it；　“I　have　not　yet　had　tea；　bring　the　tray　and　place　cups　for　these　two　young　ladies。”

And　a　tray　was　soon　brought。　How　pretty；　to　my　eyes；　did　the　china　cups　and　bright　teapot　look；　placed　on　the　little　round　table　near　the　fire！　How　fragrant　was　the　steam　of　the　beverage；　and　the　scent　of　the　toast！　of　which；　however；　I；　to　my　dismay　（for　I　was　beginning　to　be　hungry）　discerned　only　a　very　small　portion：　Miss　Temple　discerned　it　too。

“Barbara；”　said　she；　“can　you　not　bring　a　little　more　bread　and　butter？　There　is　not　enough　for　three。”

Barbara　went　out：　she　returned　soon—

“Madam；　Mrs。　Harden　says　she　has　sent　up　the　usual　quantity。”

Mrs。　Harden；　be　it　observed；　was　the　housekeeper：　a　woman　after　Mr。　Brocklehurst’s　own　heart；　made　up　of　equal　parts　of　whalebone　and　iron。

“Oh；　very　well！”　returned　Miss　Temple；　“we　must　make　it　do；　Barbara；　I　suppose。”　And　as　the　girl　withdrew　she　added；　smiling；　“Fortunately；　I　have　it　in　my　power　to　supply　deficiencies　for　this　once。”

Having　invited　Hel