牛津書(shū)蟲(chóng)第6級(jí)6-01.Jane Eyre Chapter 20

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Chapter20

Ihadforgottentodrawmycurtain,whichIusuallydid,andalsotoletdownmywindow-blind.Theconsequencewas,thatwhenthemoon,whichwasfullandbright(forthenightwasfine),cameinhercoursetothatspaceintheskyoppositemycasement,andlookedinatmethroughtheunveiledpanes,hergloriousgazerousedme.Awakinginthedeadofnight,Iopenedmyeyesonherdisk—silver-whiteandcrystalclear.Itwasbeautiful,buttoosolemn;Ihalfrose,and

stretchedmyarmtodrawthecurtain.

GoodGod!Whatacry!

Thenight—itssilence—itsrest,wasrentintwainbyasavage,asharp,ashrillysoundthatranfromendtoendofThornfieldHall.

Mypulsestopped:myheartstoodstill;mystretchedarmwasparalysed.Thecrydied,andwasnotrenewed.Indeed,whateverbeingutteredthatfearfulshriekcouldnotsoonrepeatit:notthewidest-wingedcondorontheAndescould,twiceinsuccession,sendoutsuchayellfromthecloudshroudinghiseyrie.Thethingdeliveringsuchutterancemustrestereitcouldrepeattheeffort.

Itcameoutofthethirdstorey;foritpassedoverhead.Andoverhead—yes,intheroomjustabovemychamber-ceiling—Inowheardastruggle:adeadlyoneitseemedfromthenoise;andahalf-smotheredvoiceshouted-

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“Help!help!help!”threetimesrapidly.

“Willnoonecome?”itcried;andthen,whilethestaggeringandstampingwentonwildly,I

distinguishedthroughplankandplaster:-

“Rochester!Rochester!forGod’ssake,come!”

Achamber-dooropened:someoneran,orrushed,alongthegallery.Anotherstepstampedontheflooringaboveandsomethingfell;andtherewassilence.

Ihadputonsomeclothes,thoughhorrorshookallmylimbs;Iissuedfrommyapartment.Thesleeperswereallaroused:ejaculations,terrifiedmurmurssoundedineveryroom;doorafterdoorunclosed;onelookedoutandanotherlookedout;thegalleryfilled.Gentlemenandladiesalikehadquittedtheirbeds;and“Oh!whatisit?”—“Whoishurt?”—“Whathashappened?”—“Fetchalight!”—“Isitfire?”—“Arethererobbers?”—“Whereshallwerun?”wasdemandedconfusedlyonallhands.Butforthemoonlighttheywouldhavebeenincompletedarkness.Theyrantoandfro;theycrowdedtogether:somesobbed,somestumbled:theconfusionwasinextricable.

“WherethedevilisRochester?”criedColonelDent.“Icannotfindhiminhisbed.”

“Here!here!”wasshoutedinreturn.“Becomposed,allofyou:I’mcoming.”

Andthedoorattheendofthegalleryopened,andMr.Rochesteradvancedwithacandle:hehadjust

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descendedfromtheupperstorey.Oneoftheladiesrantohimdirectly;sheseizedhisarm:itwasMissIngram.

“Whatawfuleventhastakenplace?”saidshe.“Speak!letusknowtheworstatonce!”

“Butdon’tpullmedownorstrangleme,”hereplied:fortheMissesEshtonwereclingingabouthimnow;andthetwodowagers,invastwhitewrappers,werebearingdownonhimlikeshipsinfullsail.

“All’sright!—all’sright!”hecried.“It’samererehearsalofMuchAdoaboutNothing.Ladies,keepoff,orIshallwaxdangerous.”

Anddangeroushelooked:hisblackeyesdartedsparks.Calminghimselfbyaneffort,headded-

“Aservanthashadthenightmare;thatisall.She’sanexcitable,nervousperson:sheconstruedherdreamintoanapparition,orsomethingofthatsort,nodoubt;andhastakenafitwithfright.Now,then,Imustseeyouallbackintoyourrooms;for,tillthehouseissettled,shecannotbelookedafter.Gentlemen,havethegoodnesstosettheladiestheexample.MissIngram,Iamsureyouwillnotfailinevincingsuperioritytoidleterrors.AmyandLouisa,returntoyournestslikeapairofdoves,asyouare.Mesdames”(tothedowagers),“youwilltakecoldtoadeadcertainty,ifyoustayinthischillgalleryanylonger.”

Andso,bydintofalternatecoaxingandcommanding,hecontrivedtogetthemalloncemoreenclosedin

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theirseparatedormitories.Ididnotwaittobeorderedbacktomine,butretreatedunnoticed,asunnoticedIhadleftit.

Not,however,togotobed:onthecontrary,Ibegananddressedmyselfcarefully.ThesoundsIhadheardafterthescream,andthewordsthathadbeenuttered,hadprobablybeenheardonlybyme;fortheyhadproceededfromtheroomabovemine:buttheyassuredmethatitwasnotaservant’sdreamwhichhadthusstruckhorrorthroughthehouse;andthattheexplanationMr.Rochesterhadgivenwasmerelyaninventionframedtopacifyhisguests.Idressed,then,tobereadyforemergencies.Whendressed,IsatalongtimebythewindowlookingoutoverthesilentgroundsandsilveredfieldsandwaitingforIknewnotwhat.Itseemedtomethatsomeeventmustfollowthestrangecry,struggle,andcall.

No:stillnessreturned:eachmurmurandmovementceasedgradually,andinaboutanhourThornfieldHallwasagainashushedasadesert.Itseemedthatsleepandnighthadresumedtheirempire.Meantimethemoondeclined:shewasabouttoset.Notlikingtositinthecoldanddarkness,IthoughtIwouldliedownonmybed,dressedasIwas.Ileftthewindow,andmovedwithlittlenoiseacrossthecarpet;asIstoopedtotake

offmyshoes,acautioushandtappedlowatthedoor.“AmIwanted?”Iasked.

“Areyouup?”askedthevoiceIexpectedtohear,viz.,mymaster’s.

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“Yes,sir.”

“Anddressed?”

“Yes.”

“Comeout,then,quietly.”

Iobeyed.Mr.Rochesterstoodinthegalleryholdingalight.

“Iwantyou,”hesaid:“comethisway:takeyourtime,andmakenonoise.”

Myslipperswerethin:Icouldwalkthemattedfloorassoftlyasacat.Heglidedupthegalleryandupthestairs,andstoppedinthedark,lowcorridorofthefatefulthirdstorey:Ihadfollowedandstoodathisside.

“Haveyouaspongeinyourroom?”heaskedinawhisper.

“Yes,sir.”

“Haveyouanysalts—volatilesalts?”

“Yes.”

“Gobackandfetchboth.”

Ireturned,soughtthespongeonthewashstand,thesaltsinmydrawer,andoncemoreretracedmysteps.Hestillwaited;heheldakeyinhishand:approachingoneofthesmall,blackdoors,heputitinthelock;hepaused,andaddressedmeagain.

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“Youdon’tturnsickatthesightofblood?”“IthinkIshallnot:Ihaveneverbeentriedyet.”

IfeltathrillwhileIansweredhim;butnocoldness,andnofaintness.

“Justgivemeyourhand,”hesaid:“itwillnotdotoriskafaintingfit.”

Iputmyfingersintohis.“Warmandsteady,”washisremark:heturnedthekeyandopenedthedoor.

IsawaroomIrememberedtohaveseenbefore,thedayMrs.Fairfaxshowedmeoverthehouse:itwashungwithtapestry;butthetapestrywasnowloopedupinonepart,andtherewasadoorapparent,whichhadthenbeenconcealed.Thisdoorwasopen;alightshoneoutoftheroomwithin:Iheardthenceasnarling,snatchingsound,almostlikeadogquarrelling.Mr.Rochester,puttingdownhiscandle,saidtome,“Waitaminute,”andhewentforwardtotheinnerapartment.Ashoutoflaughtergreetedhisentrance;noisyatfirst,andterminatinginGracePoole’sowngoblinha!ha!SHEthenwasthere.Hemadesomesortofarrangementwithoutspeaking,thoughIheardalowvoiceaddresshim:hecameoutandclosedthedoorbehindhim.

“Here,Jane!”hesaid;andIwalkedroundtotheothersideofalargebed,whichwithitsdrawncurtainsconcealedaconsiderableportionofthechamber.Aneasy-chairwasnearthebed-head:amansatinit,dressedwiththeexceptionofhiscoat;hewasstill;his

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headleantback;hiseyeswereclosed.Mr.Rochesterheldthecandleoverhim;Irecognisedinhispaleandseeminglylifelessface—thestranger,Mason:Isawtoothathislinenononeside,andonearm,wasalmostsoakedinblood.

“Holdthecandle,”saidMr.Rochester,andItookit:hefetchedabasinofwaterfromthewashstand:“Holdthat,”saidhe.Iobeyed.Hetookthesponge,dippeditin,andmoistenedthecorpse-likeface;heaskedformysmelling-bottle,andappliedittothenostrils.Mr.Masonshortlyunclosedhiseyes;hegroaned.Mr.Rochesteropenedtheshirtofthewoundedman,whosearmandshoulderwerebandaged:hespongedawayblood,tricklingfastdown.

“Isthereimmediatedanger?”murmuredMr.Mason.

“Pooh!No—amerescratch.Don’tbesoovercome,man:bearup!I’llfetchasurgeonforyounow,myself:you’llbeabletoberemovedbymorning,Ihope.Jane,”

hecontinued.

“Sir?”

“Ishallhavetoleaveyouinthisroomwiththisgentleman,foranhour,orperhapstwohours:youwillspongethebloodasIdowhenitreturns:ifhefeelsfaint,youwillputtheglassofwateronthatstandtohislips,andyoursaltstohisnose.Youwillnotspeaktohimonanypretext—and—Richard,itwillbeattheperilofyourlifeifyouspeaktoher:openyourlips—

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agitateyourself--andI’llnotanswerfortheconsequences.”

Againthepoormangroaned;helookedasifhedarednotmove;fear,eitherofdeathorofsomethingelse,appearedalmosttoparalysehim.Mr.Rochesterputthenowbloodyspongeintomyhand,andIproceededtouseitashehaddone.Hewatchedmeasecond,thensaying,“Remember!—Noconversation,”helefttheroom.Iexperiencedastrangefeelingasthekeygratedinthelock,andthesoundofhisretreatingstepceasedtobeheard.

HerethenIwasinthethirdstorey,fastenedintooneofitsmysticcells;nightaroundme;apaleandbloodyspectacleundermyeyesandhands;amurderesshardlyseparatedfrommebyasingledoor:yes—thatwasappalling—therestIcouldbear;butIshudderedatthethoughtofGracePooleburstingoutuponme.

Imustkeeptomypost,however.Imustwatchthisghastlycountenance—theseblue,stilllipsforbiddentounclose—theseeyesnowshut,nowopening,nowwanderingthroughtheroom,nowfixingonme,andeverglazedwiththedulnessofhorror.Imustdipmyhandagainandagaininthebasinofbloodandwater,andwipeawaythetricklinggore.Imustseethelightoftheunsnuffedcandlewaneonmyemployment;theshadowsdarkenonthewrought,antiquetapestryroundme,andgrowblackunderthehangingsofthevastoldbed,andquiverstrangelyoverthedoorsofagreatcabinetopposite—whosefront,dividedinto

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twelvepanels,bore,ingrimdesign,theheadsofthetwelveapostles,eachenclosedinitsseparatepanelasinaframe;whileabovethematthetoproseaneboncrucifixandadyingChrist.

Accordingastheshiftingobscurityandflickeringgleamhoveredhereorglancedthere,itwasnowthebeardedphysician,Luke,thatbenthisbrow;nowSt.John’slonghairthatwaved;andanonthedevilishfaceofJudas,thatgrewoutofthepanel,andseemedgatheringlifeandthreateningarevelationofthearch-traitor—ofSatanhimself—inhissubordinate’sform.

Amidstallthis,Ihadtolistenaswellaswatch:tolistenforthemovementsofthewildbeastorthefiendinyondersideden.ButsinceMr.Rochester’svisititseemedspellbound:allthenightIheardbutthreesoundsatthreelongintervals,—astepcreak,amomentaryrenewalofthesnarling,caninenoise,andadeephumangroan.

Thenmyownthoughtsworriedme.Whatcrimewasthisthatlivedincarnateinthissequesteredmansion,andcouldneitherbeexpellednorsubduedbytheowner?—whatmystery,thatbrokeoutnowinfireandnowinblood,atthedeadesthoursofnight?Whatcreaturewasit,that,maskedinanordinarywoman’sfaceandshape,utteredthevoice,nowofamockingdemon,andanonofacarrion-seekingbirdofprey?

AndthismanIbentover—thiscommonplace,quietstranger—howhadhebecomeinvolvedinthewebofhorror?andwhyhadtheFuryflownathim?What

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madehimseekthisquarterofthehouseatanuntimelyseason,whenheshouldhavebeenasleepinbed?IhadheardMr.Rochesterassignhimanapartmentbelow—whatbroughthimhere!Andwhy,now,washesotameundertheviolenceortreacherydonehim?WhydidhesoquietlysubmittotheconcealmentMr.Rochesterenforced?WhyDIDMr.Rochesterenforcethisconcealment?Hisguesthadbeenoutraged,hisownlifeonaformeroccasionhadbeenhideouslyplottedagainst;andbothattemptshesmotheredinsecrecyandsankinoblivion!Lastly,IsawMr.MasonwassubmissivetoMr.Rochester;thattheimpetuouswillofthelatterheldcompleteswayovertheinertnessoftheformer:thefewwordswhichhadpassedbetweenthemassuredmeofthis.Itwasevidentthatintheirformerintercourse,thepassivedispositionoftheonehadbeenhabituallyinfluencedbytheactiveenergyoftheother:whencethenhadarisenMr.Rochester’sdismaywhenheheardofMr.Mason’sarrival?Whyhadthemerenameofthisunresistingindividual—whomhiswordnowsufficedtocontrollikeachild—fallenonhim,afewhourssince,asathunderboltmightfallonanoak?

Oh!Icouldnotforgethislookandhispalenesswhenhewhispered:“Jane,Ihavegotablow—Ihavegotablow,Jane.”Icouldnotforgethowthearmhadtrembledwhichherestedonmyshoulder:anditwasnolightmatterwhichcouldthusbowtheresolutespiritandthrillthevigorousframeofFairfaxRochester.

“Whenwillhecome?Whenwillhecome?”Icriedinwardly,asthenightlingeredandlingered—asmy

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bleedingpatientdrooped,moaned,sickened:andneitherdaynoraidarrived.Ihad,againandagain,heldthewatertoMason’swhitelips;againandagainofferedhimthestimulatingsalts:myeffortsseemedineffectual:eitherbodilyormentalsuffering,orlossofblood,orallthreecombined,werefastprostratinghisstrength.Hemoanedso,andlookedsoweak,wild,andlost,Ifearedhewasdying;andImightnotevenspeaktohim.

Thecandle,wastedatlast,wentout;asitexpired,Iperceivedstreaksofgreylightedgingthewindowcurtains:dawnwasthenapproaching.PresentlyIheardPilotbarkfarbelow,outofhisdistantkennelinthecourtyard:hoperevived.Norwasitunwarranted:infiveminutesmorethegratingkey,theyieldinglock,warnedmemywatchwasrelieved.Itcouldnothavelastedmorethantwohours:manyaweekhasseemedshorter.

Mr.Rochesterentered,andwithhimthesurgeonhehadbeentofetch.

“Now,Carter,beonthealert,”hesaidtothislast:“Igiveyoubuthalf-an-hourfordressingthewound,fasteningthebandages,gettingthepatientdownstairsandall.”

“Butishefittomove,sir?”

“Nodoubtofit;itisnothingserious;heisnervous,hisspiritsmustbekeptup.Come,settowork.”

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Mr.Rochesterdrewbackthethickcurtain,drewupthehollandblind,letinallthedaylighthecould;andIwassurprisedandcheeredtoseehowfardawnwasadvanced:whatrosystreakswerebeginningtobrightentheeast.ThenheapproachedMason,whomthesurgeonwasalreadyhandling.

“Now,mygoodfellow,howareyou?”heasked.“She’sdoneforme,Ifear,”wasthefaintreply.

“Notawhit!—courage!Thisdayfortnightyou’llhardlybeapintheworseofit:you’velostalittleblood;that’sall.Carter,assurehimthere’snodanger.”

“Icandothatconscientiously,”saidCarter,whohadnowundonethebandages;“onlyIwishIcouldhavegotheresooner:hewouldnothavebledsomuch—buthowisthis?Thefleshontheshoulderistornaswellascut.Thiswoundwasnotdonewithaknife:therehavebeenteethhere!”

“Shebitme,”hemurmured.“Sheworriedmelikeatigress,whenRochestergottheknifefromher.”

“Youshouldnothaveyielded:youshouldhavegrappledwithheratonce,”saidMr.Rochester.

“Butundersuchcircumstances,whatcouldonedo?”returnedMason.“Oh,itwasfrightful!”headded,shuddering.“AndIdidnotexpectit:shelookedsoquietatfirst.”

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“Iwarnedyou,”washisfriend’sanswer;“Isaid—beonyourguardwhenyougonearher.Besides,youmighthavewaitedtillto-morrow,andhadmewithyou:itwasmerefollytoattempttheinterviewto-night,andalone.”

“IthoughtIcouldhavedonesomegood.”

“Youthought!youthought!Yes,itmakesmeimpatienttohearyou:but,however,youhavesuffered,andarelikelytosufferenoughfornottakingmyadvice;soI’llsaynomore.Carter—hurry!—hurry!Thesunwillsoonrise,andImusthavehimoff.”

“Directly,sir;theshoulderisjustbandaged.Imustlooktothisotherwoundinthearm:shehashadherteethheretoo,Ithink.”

“Shesuckedtheblood:shesaidshe’ddrainmyheart,”saidMason.

IsawMr.Rochestershudder:asingularlymarkedexpressionofdisgust,horror,hatred,warpedhiscountenancealmosttodistortion;butheonlysaid-

“Come,besilent,Richard,andnevermindhergibberish:don’trepeatit.”

“IwishIcouldforgetit,”wastheanswer.

“Youwillwhenyouareoutofthecountry:whenyougetbacktoSpanishTown,youmaythinkofherasdeadandburied—orrather,youneednotthinkofheratall.”

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“Impossibletoforgetthisnight!”

“Itisnotimpossible:havesomeenergy,man.Youthoughtyouwereasdeadasaherringtwohourssince,andyouareallaliveandtalkingnow.There!—Carterhasdonewithyouornearlyso;I’llmakeyoudecentinatrice.Jane”(heturnedtomeforthefirsttimesincehisre-entrance),“takethiskey:godownintomybedroom,andwalkstraightforwardintomydressing-room:openthetopdrawerofthewardrobeandtakeoutacleanshirtandneck-handkerchief:bringthemhere;andbenimble.”

Iwent;soughttherepositoryhehadmentioned,foundthearticlesnamed,andreturnedwiththem.

“Now,”saidhe,“gototheothersideofthebedwhileIorderhistoilet;butdon’tleavetheroom:youmaybe

wantedagain.”

Iretiredasdirected.

“Wasanybodystirringbelowwhenyouwentdown,Jane?”inquiredMr.Rochesterpresently.

“No,sir;allwasverystill.”

“Weshallgetyouoffcannily,Dick:anditwillbebetter,bothforyoursake,andforthatofthepoorcreatureinyonder.Ihavestrivenlongtoavoidexposure,andIshouldnotlikeittocomeatlast.Here,Carter,helphimonwithhiswaist-coat.Wheredidyouleaveyourfurredcloak?Youcan’ttravelamilewithoutthat,Iknow,inthisdamnedcoldclimate.Inyour

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room?—Jane,rundowntoMr.Mason’sroom,—theonenextmine,—andfetchacloakyouwillseethere.”

AgainIran,andagainreturned,bearinganimmensemantlelinedandedgedwithfur.

“Now,I’veanothererrandforyou,”saidmyuntiringmaster;“youmustawaytomyroomagain.Whatamercyyouareshodwithvelvet,Jane!—aclod-hoppingmessengerwouldneverdoatthisjuncture.Youmustopenthemiddledrawerofmytoilet-tableandtakeoutalittlephialandalittleglassyouwillfindthere,—quick!”

Iflewthitherandback,bringingthedesiredvessels.

“That’swell!Now,doctor,Ishalltakethelibertyofadministeringadosemyself,onmyownresponsibility.IgotthiscordialatRome,ofanItaliancharlatan—afellowyouwouldhavekicked,Carter.Itisnotathingtobeusedindiscriminately,butitisgooduponoccasion:asnow,forinstance.Jane,alittlewater.”

Heheldoutthetinyglass,andIhalffilleditfromthewater-bottleonthewashstand.

“Thatwilldo;—nowwetthelipofthephial.”

Ididso;hemeasuredtwelvedropsofacrimsonliquid,andpresentedittoMason.

“Drink,Richard:itwillgiveyoutheheartyoulack,foranhourorso.”

“Butwillithurtme?—isitinflammatory?”

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“Drink!drink!drink!”

Mr.Masonobeyed,becauseitwasevidentlyuselesstoresist.Hewasdressednow:hestilllookedpale,buthewasnolongergoryandsullied.Mr.Rochesterlethimsitthreeminutesafterhehadswallowedtheliquid;hethentookhisarm-

“NowIamsureyoucangetonyourfeet,”hesaid—

“try.”

Thepatientrose.

“Carter,takehimundertheothershoulder.Beofgoodcheer,Richard;stepout—that’sit!”

“Idofeelbetter,”remarkedMr.Mason.

“Iamsureyoudo.Now,Jane,triponbeforeusawaytothebackstairs;unbolttheside-passagedoor,andtellthedriverofthepost-chaiseyouwillseeintheyard—orjustoutside,forItoldhimnottodrivehisrattlingwheelsoverthepavement—tobeready;wearecoming:and,Jane,ifanyoneisabout,cometothefootofthestairsandhem.”

Itwasbythistimehalf-pastfive,andthesunwasonthepointofrising;butIfoundthekitchenstilldarkandsilent.Theside-passagedoorwasfastened;Iopeneditwithaslittlenoiseaspossible:alltheyardwasquiet;butthegatesstoodwideopen,andtherewasapost-chaise,withhorsesreadyharnessed,anddriverseatedonthebox,stationedoutside.Iapproachedhim,andsaidthegentlemenwerecoming;henodded:then

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Ilookedcarefullyroundandlistened.Thestillnessofearlymorningslumberedeverywhere;thecurtainswereyetdrawnovertheservants’chamberwindows;littlebirdswerejusttwitteringintheblossom-blanchedorchardtrees,whoseboughsdroopedlikewhitegarlandsoverthewallenclosingonesideoftheyard;thecarriagehorsesstampedfromtimetotimeintheirclosedstables:allelsewasstill.

Thegentlemennowappeared.Mason,supportedbyMr.Rochesterandthesurgeon,seemedtowalkwithtolerableease:theyassistedhimintothechaise;Carterfollowed.

“Takecareofhim,”saidMr.Rochestertothelatter,“andkeephimatyourhousetillheisquitewell:Ishallrideoverinadayortwotoseehowhegetson.

Richard,howisitwithyou?”

“Thefreshairrevivesme,Fairfax.”

“Leavethewindowopenonhisside,Carter;thereisnowind—good-bye,Dick.”

“Fairfax—“

“Wellwhatisit?”

“Letherbetakencareof;letherbetreatedastenderlyasmaybe:lether—“hestoppedandburstintotears.

“Idomybest;andhavedoneit,andwilldoit,”wastheanswer:heshutupthechaisedoor,andthevehicledroveaway.

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“YetwouldtoGodtherewasanendofallthis!”addedMr.Rochester,asheclosedandbarredtheheavyyard-gates.

Thisdone,hemovedwithslowstepandabstractedairtowardsadoorinthewallborderingtheorchard.I,supposinghehaddonewithme,preparedtoreturntothehouse;again,however,Iheardhimcall“Jane!”Hehadopenedfeelportalandstoodatit,waitingforme.

“Comewherethereissomefreshness,forafewmoments,”hesaid;“thathouseisameredungeon:don’tyoufeelitso?”

“Itseemstomeasplendidmansion,sir.”

“Theglamourofinexperienceisoveryoureyes,”heanswered;“andyouseeitthroughacharmedmedium:youcannotdiscernthatthegildingisslimeandthesilkdraperiescobwebs;thatthemarbleissordidslate,andthepolishedwoodsmererefusechipsandscalybark.NowHERE”(hepointedtotheleafyenclosurewehadentered)“allisreal,sweet,andpure.”

Hestrayeddownawalkedgedwithbox,withappletrees,peartrees,andcherrytreesononeside,andaborderontheotherfullofallsortsofold-fashionedflowers,stocks,sweet-williams,primroses,pansies,mingledwithsouthernwood,sweet-briar,andvariousfragrantherbs.TheywerefreshnowasasuccessionofAprilshowersandgleams,followedbyalovelyspringmorning,couldmakethem:thesunwasjustenteringthedappledeast,andhislightilluminedthewreathed

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anddewyorchardtreesandshonedownthequietwalksunderthem.

“Jane,willyouhaveaflower?”

Hegatheredahalf-blownrose,thefirstonthebush,andofferedittome.

“Thankyou,sir.”

“Doyoulikethissunrise,Jane?Thatskywithitshighandlightcloudswhicharesuretomeltawayastheday

waxeswarm—thisplacidandbalmlyatmosphere?”“Ido,verymuch.”

“Youhavepassedastrangenight,Jane.”

“Yes,sir.”

“Andithasmadeyoulookpale—wereyouafraidwhenIleftyoualonewithMason?”

“Iwasafraidofsomeonecomingoutoftheinnerroom.”

“ButIhadfastenedthedoor—Ihadthekeyinmypocket:IshouldhavebeenacarelessshepherdifIhadleftalamb—mypetlamb—sonearawolf’sden,unguarded:youweresafe.”

“WillGracePooleliveherestill,sir?”

“Ohyes!don’ttroubleyourheadabouther—putthethingoutofyourthoughts.”

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“Yetitseemstomeyourlifeishardlysecurewhileshestays.”

“Never