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简爱(英文版)-第65章

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“Sit down!—Let me hear what they said about me。”
“I had better not stay long; sir; it must be near eleven o’clock。 Oh; are you aware; Mr。 Rochester; that a stranger has arrived here since you left this morning?”
“A stranger!—no; who can it be? I expected no one; is he gone?”
“No; he said he had known you long; and that he could take the liberty of installing himself here till you returned。”
“The devil he did! Did he give his name?”
“His name is Mason; sir; and he es from the West Indies; from Spanish Town; in Jamaica; I think。”
Mr。 Rochester was standing near me; he had taken my hand; as if to lead me to a chair。 As I spoke he gave my wrist a convulsive grip; the smile on his lips froze: apparently a spasm caught his breath。
“Mason!—the West Indies!” he said; in the tone one might fancy a speaking automaton to enounce its single words; “Mason!—the West Indies!” he reiterated; and he went over the syllables three times; growing; in the intervals of speaking; whiter than ashes: he hardly seemed to know what he was doing。
“Do you feel ill; sir?” I inquired。
“Jane; I’ve got a blow; I’ve got a blow; Jane!” He staggered。
“Oh; lean on me; sir。”
“Jane; you offered me your shoulder once before; let me have it now。”
“Yes; sir; yes; and my arm。”
He sat down; and made me sit beside him。 Holding my hand in both his own; he chafed it; gazing on me; at the same time; with the most troubled and dreary look。
“My little friend!” said he; “I wish I were in a quiet island with only you; and trouble; and danger; and hideous recollections removed from me。”
“Can I help you; sir?—I’d give my life to serve you。”
“Jane; if aid is wanted; I’ll seek it at your hands; I promise you that。”
“Thank you; sir。 Tell me what to do;—I’ll try; at least; to do it。”
“Fetch me now; Jane; a glass of wine from the dining…room: they will be at supper there; and tell me if Mason is with them; and what he is doing。”
I went。 I found all the party in the dining…room at supper; as Mr。 Rochester had said; they were not seated at table;—the supper was arranged on the sideboard; each had taken what he chose; and they stood about here and there in groups; their plates and glasses in their hands。 Every one seemed in high glee; laughter and conversation were general and animated。 Mr。 Mason stood near the fire; talking to Colonel and Mrs。 Dent; and appeared as merry as any of them。 I filled a wine…glass (I saw Miss Ingram watch me frowningly as I did so: she thought I was taking a liberty; I daresay); and I returned to the library。
Mr。 Rochester’s extreme pallor had disappeared; and he looked once more firm and stern。 He took the glass from my hand。
“Here is to your health; ministrant spirit!” he said。 He swallowed the contents and returned it to me。 “What are they doing; Jane?”
“Laughing and talking; sir。”
“They don’t look grave and mysterious; as if they had heard something strange?”
“Not at all: they are full of jests and gaiety。”
“And Mason?”
“He was laughing too。”
“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 pl
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