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第58部分(第1页)

“And since I cannot do it; Jane; it must have been unreal。”

“But; sir; when I said so to myself on rising this morning; and when I looked round the room to gather courage and fort from the cheerful aspect of each familiar object in full daylight; there—on the carpet—I saw what gave the distinct lie to my hypothesis;—the veil; torn from top to bottom in two halves!”

I felt Mr。 Rochester start and shudder; he hastily flung his arms round me。 “Thank God!” he exclaimed; “that if anything malignant did e near you last night; it was only the veil that was harmed。 Oh; to think what might have happened!”

He drew his breath short; and strained me so close to him; I could scarcely pant。 After some minutes’ silence; he continued; cheerily—

“Now; Ja; I’ll explain to you all about it。 It was half dream; half reality。 A woman did; I doubt not; enter your room: and that woman was—must have been—Grace Poole。 You call her a strange being yourself: from all you know; you have reason so to call her— what did she do to me? what to Mason? In a state between sleeping and waking; you noticed her entrance and her actions; but feverish; almost delirious as you were; you ascribed to her a goblin appearance different from her own: the long dishevelled hair; the swelled black face; the exaggerated stature; were figments of imagination; results of nightmare: the spiteful tearing of the veil was real: and it is like her。 I see you would ask why I keep such a woman in my house: when we have been married a year and a day; I will tell you; but not now。 Are you satisfied; Jane? Do you accept my solution of the mystery?”

I reflected; and in truth it appeared to me the only possible one: satisfied I was not; but to please him I endeavoured to appear so— relieved; I certainly did feel; so I answered him with a contented smile。 And now; as it was long past one; I prepared to leave him。

“Does not Sophie sleep with Adèle in the nursery?” he asked; as I lit my candle。

“Yes; sir。”

“And there is room enough in Adèle’s little bed for you。 You must share it with her to…night; Jane: it is no wonder that the incident you have related should make you nervous; and I would rather you did not sleep alone: promise me to go to the nursery。”

“I shall be very glad to do so; sir。”

“And fasten the door securely on the inside。 Wake Sophie when you go upstairs; under pretence of requesting her to rouse you in good time to…morrow; for you must be dressed and have finished breakfast before eight。 And now; no more sombre thoughts: chase dull care away; Ja。 Don’t you hear to what soft whispers the wind has fallen? and there is no more beating of rain against the window… panes: look here” (he lifted up the curtain)—“it is a lovely night!”

It was。 Half heaven was pure and stainless: the clouds; now trooping before the wind; which had shifted to the west; were filing off eastward in long; silvered columns。 The moon shone peacefully。

“Well;” said Mr。 Rochester; gazing inquiringly into my eyes; “how is my Ja now?”

“The night is serene; sir; and so am I。”

“And you will not dream of separation and sorrow to…night; but of happy love and blissful union。”

This prediction was but half fulfilled: I did not indeed dream of sorrow; but as little did I dream of joy; for I never slept at all。 With little Adèle in my arms; I watched the slumber of childhood—so tranquil; so passionless; so innocent—and waited for the ing day: all my life was awake and astir in my frame: and as soon as the sun rose I rose too。 I remember Adèle clung to me as I left her: I remember I kissed her as I loosened her little hands from my neck; and I cried over her with strange emotion; and quitted her because I feared my sobs would break her still sound repose。 She seemed the emblem of my past life; and he I was now to array myself to meet; the dread; but adored; type of my unknown future day。

Chapter 26

Sophie came at seven to dress me: she was very long indeed in acplishing her task; so long that Mr。 Rochester; grown; I suppose; impatient of my delay; sent up to ask why I did not e。 She was just fastening my veil (the plain square of blond after all) to my hair with a brooch; I hurried from under her hands as soon as I could。

“Stop!” she cried in French。 “Look at yourself in the mirror: you have not taken one peep。”

So I turned at the door: I saw a robed and veiled figure; so unlike my usual self that it seemed almost the image of a stranger。 “Jane!” called a voice; and I hastened down。 I was received at the foot of the stairs by Mr。 Rochester。

“Lingerer!” he said; “my brain is on fire with impatience; and you tarry so long!”

He took me into the dining…room; surveyed me keenly all over; pronounced me “fair as a lily; and not only the pride of his life; but the desire of his eyes;” and then telling me he would give me but ten minutes to eat some breakfast; he rang the bell。 One of his lately hired servants; a footman; answered it。

“Is John getting the carriage ready?”

“Yes; sir。”

“Is the luggage brought down?”

“They are bringing it down; sir。”

“Go you to the church: see if Mr。 Wood (the clergyman) and the clerk are there: return and tell me。”

The church; as the reader knows; was but just beyond the gates; the footman soon returned。

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