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简爱(英文版)-第70章

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 the door of the mysterious chamber。 Jane; when will you watch with me again?”
“Whenever I can be useful; sir。”
“For instance; the night before I am married! I am sure I shall not be able to sleep。 Will you promise to sit up with me to bear me pany? To you I can talk of my lovely one: for now you have seen her and know her。”
“Yes; sir。”
“She’s a rare one; is she not; Jane?”
“Yes; sir。”
“A strapper—a real strapper; Jane: big; brown; and buxom; with hair just such as the ladies of Carthage must have had。 Bless me! there’s Dent and Lynn in the stables! Go in by the shrubbery; through that wicket。”
As I went one way; he went another; and I heard him in the yard; saying cheerfully—
“Mason got the start of you all this morning; he was gone before sunrise: I rose at four to see him off。”
Chapter 21
Presentiments are strange things! and so are sympathies; and so are signs; and the three bined make one mystery to which humanity has not yet found the key。 I never laughed at presentiments in my life; because I have had strange ones of my own。 Sympathies; I believe; exist (for instance; between far…distant; long…absent; wholly estranged relatives asserting; notwithstanding their alienation; the unity of the source to which each traces his origin) whose workings baffle mortal prehension。 And signs; for aught we know; may be but the sympathies of Nature with man。
When I was a little girl; only six years old; I one night heard Bessie Leaven say to Martha Abbot that she had been dreaming about a little child; and that to dream of children was a sure sign of trouble; either to one’s self or one’s kin。 The saying might have worn out of my memory; had not a circumstance immediately followed which served indelibly to fix it there。 The next day Bessie was sent for home to the deathbed of her little sister。
Of late I had often recalled this saying and this incident; for during the past week scarcely a night had gone over my couch that had not brought with it a dream of an infant; which I sometimes hushed in my arms; sometimes dandled on my knee; sometimes watched playing with daisies on a lawn; or again; dabbling its hands in running water。 It was a wailing child this night; and a laughing one the next: now it nestled close to me; and now it ran from me; but whatever mood the apparition evinced; whatever aspect it wore; it failed not for seven successive nights to meet me the moment I entered the land of slumber。
I did not like this iteration of one idea—this strange recurrence of one image; and I grew nervous as bedtime approached and the hour of the vision drew near。 It was from panionship with this baby… phantom I had been roused on that moonlight night when I heard the cry; and it was on the afternoon of the day following I was summoned downstairs by a message that some one wanted me in Mrs。 Fairfax’s room。 On repairing thither; I found a man waiting for me; having the appearance of a gentleman’s servant: he was dressed in deep mourning; and the hat he held in his hand was surrounded with a crape band。
“I daresay you hardly remember me; Miss;” he said; rising as I entered; “but my name is Leaven: I lived coachman with Mrs。 Reed when you were at Gateshead; eight or nine years since; and I live there still。”
“Oh; Robert! how do you do? I remember you very well: you used to give me a ride sometimes on Miss Georgiana’s bay pony。 And how is Bessie? You are married to Bessie?”
“Yes; Miss: my wife is very hearty; thank you; she brought me another little one about two months since—we have three now—and both mother and child are thriving。”
“And are the family well at the house; Robert?”
“I am sorry I can’t give you better news of them; Miss: they are very badly at present—in great trouble。”
“I hope no one is dead;” I said; glancing at his black dress。 He too looked down at the crape round his hat and replied—
“Mr。 John died yesterday was a week; at his chambers in London。”
“Mr。 John?”
“Yes。”
“And how does his mother bear it?”
“Why; you see; Miss Eyre; it is not a mon mishap: his life has been very wild: these last three years he gave himself up to strange ways; and his death was shocking。”
“I heard from Bessie he was not doing well。”
“Doing well! He could not do worse: he ruined his health and his estate amongst the worst men and the worst women。 He got into debt and into jail: his mother helped him out twice; but as soon as he was free he returned to his old panions and habits。 His head was not strong: the knaves he lived amongst fooled him beyond anything I ever heard。 He came down to Gateshead about three weeks ago and wanted missis to give up all to him。 Missis refused: her means have long been much reduced by his extravagance; so he went back again; and the next news was that he was dead。 How he died; God knows!—they say he killed himself。”
I was silent: the things were frightful。 Robert Leaven resumed—
“Missis had been out of health herself for some time: she had got very stout; but was not strong with it; and the loss of money and fear of poverty were quite breaking her down。 The information about Mr。 John’s death and the manner of it came too suddenly: it brought on a stroke。 She was three days without speaking; but last Tuesday she seemed rather better: she appeared as if she wanted to say something; and kept making signs to my wife and mumbling。 It was only yesterday morning; however; that Bessie understood she was pronouncing your name; and at last she made out the words; ‘Bring Jane—fetch Jane Eyre: I want to speak to her。’ Bessie is not sure whether she is in her right mind; or means anything by the words; but she told Miss Reed and Miss Georgiana; and advised them to send for you。 The young ladies put it off at first; but their mother grew so restless; and said; ‘Jane; Jane;’ so many times; that at last they consented。 I left Gateshead yesterday: and if you can get ready; Miss; I should like to take you back with me early to… morrow morning。”
“Yes; Robert; I shall be ready: it seems to me that I ought to go。”
“I think so too; Miss。 Bessie said she was sure you would not refuse: but I suppose you will have to ask leave before you can get off?”
“Yes; and I will do it now;” and having directed him to the servants’ hall; and remended him to the care of John’s wife; and the attentions of John himself; I went in search of Mr。 Rochester。
He was not in any of the lower rooms; he was not in the yard; the stables; or the grounds。 I asked Mrs。 Fairfax if she had seen him;—yes: she believed he was playing billiards with Miss Ingram。 To the billiard…room I hastened: the click of balls and the hum of voices resounded thence; Mr。 Rochester; Miss Ingram; the two Misses Eshton; and their admirers; were all busied in the game。 It required some courage to disturb so interesting a party; my errand; however; was one I could not defer; so I approached the master where he stood at Miss Ingram’s side。 She turned as I drew near; and looked at me haughtily: her eyes seemed to demand; “What can the creeping creature want now?” and when I said; in a low voice; “Mr。 Rochester;” she made a movement as if tempted to order me away。 I remember her appearance at th
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