简爱(英文版)-第44部分

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of　their　wits。
“I　am　sure　she　is　something　not　right！”　they　cried；　one　and　all。　“She　told　us　such　things！　She　knows　all　about　us！”　and　they　sank　breathless　into　the　various　seats　the　gentlemen　hastened　to　bring　them。
Pressed　for　further　explanation；　they　declared　she　had　told　them　of　things　they　had　said　and　done　when　they　were　mere　children；　described　books　and　ornaments　they　had　in　their　boudoirs　at　home：　keepsakes　that　different　relations　had　presented　to　them。　They　affirmed　that　she　had　even　divined　their　thoughts；　and　had　whispered　in　the　ear　of　each　the　name　of　the　person　she　liked　best　in　the　world；　and　informed　them　of　what　they　most　wished　for。
Here　the　gentlemen　interposed　with　earnest　petitions　to　be　further　enlightened　on　these　two　last…named　points；　but　they　got　only　blushes；　ejaculations；　tremors；　and　titters；　in　return　for　their　importunity。　The　matrons；　meantime；　offered　vinaigrettes　and　wielded　fans；　and　again　and　again　reiterated　the　expression　of　their　concern　that　their　warning　had　not　been　taken　in　time；　and　the　elder　gentlemen　laughed；　and　the　younger　urged　their　services　on　the　agitated　fair　ones。
In　the　midst　of　the　tumult；　and　while　my　eyes　and　ears　were　fully　engaged　in　the　scene　before　me；　I　heard　a　hem　close　at　my　elbow：　I　turned；　and　saw　Sam。
“If　you　please；　miss；　the　gipsy　declares　that　there　is　another　young　single　lady　in　the　room　who　has　not　been　to　her　yet；　and　she　swears　she　will　not　go　till　she　has　seen　all。　I　thought　it　must　be　you：　there　is　no　one　else　for　it。　What　shall　I　tell　her？”
“Oh；　I　will　go　by　all　means；”　I　answered：　and　I　was　glad　of　the　unexpected　opportunity　to　gratify　my　much…excited　curiosity。　I　slipped　out　of　the　room；　unobserved　by　any　eye—for　the　pany　were　gathered　in　one　mass　about　the　trembling　trio　just　returned—and　I　closed　the　door　quietly　behind　me。
“If　you　like；　miss；”　said　Sam；　“I’ll　wait　in　the　hall　for　you；　and　if　she　frightens　you；　just　call　and　I’ll　e　in。”
“No；　Sam；　return　to　the　kitchen：　I　am　not　in　the　least　afraid。”　Nor　was　I；　but　I　was　a　good　deal　interested　and　excited。
Chapter　19
The　library　looked　tranquil　enough　as　I　entered　it；　and　the　Sibyl—　if　Sibyl　she　were—was　seated　snugly　enough　in　an　easy…chair　at　the　chimney…corner。　She　had　on　a　red　cloak　and　a　black　bon：　or　rather；　a　broad…brimmed　gipsy　hat；　tied　down　with　a　striped　handkerchief　under　her　chin。　An　extinguished　candle　stood　on　the　table；　she　was　bending　over　the　fire；　and　seemed　reading　in　a　little　black　book；　like　a　prayer…book；　by　the　light　of　the　blaze：　she　muttered　the　words　to　herself；　as　most　old　women　do；　while　she　read；　she　did　not　desist　immediately　on　my　entrance：　it　appeared　she　wished　to　finish　a　paragraph。
I　stood　on　the　rug　and　warmed　my　hands；　which　were　rather　cold　with　sitting　at　a　distance　from　the　drawing…room　fire。　I　felt　now　as　posed　as　ever　I　did　in　my　life：　there　was　nothing　indeed　in　the　gipsy’s　appearance　to　trouble　one’s　calm。　She　shut　her　book　and　slowly　looked　up；　her　hat…brim　partially　shaded　her　face；　yet　I　could　see；　as　she　raised　it；　that　it　was　a　strange　one。　It　looked　all　brown　and　black：　elf…locks　bristled　out　from　beneath　a　white　band　which　passed　under　her　chin；　and　came　half　over　her　cheeks；　or　rather　jaws：　her　eye　confronted　me　at　once；　with　a　bold　and　direct　gaze。
“Well；　and　you　want　your　fortune　told？”　she　said；　in　a　voice　as　decided　as　her　glance；　as　harsh　as　her　features。
“I　don’t　care　about　it；　mother；　you　may　please　yourself：　but　I　ought　to　warn　you；　I　have　no　faith。”
“It’s　like　your　impudence　to　say　so：　I　expected　it　of　you；　I　heard　it　in　your　step　as　you　crossed　the　threshold。”
“Did　you？　You’ve　a　quick　ear。”
“I　have；　and　a　quick　eye　and　a　quick　brain。”
“You　need　them　all　in　your　trade。”
“I　do；　especially　when　I’ve　customers　like　you　to　deal　with。　Why　don’t　you　tremble？”
“I’m　not　cold。”
“Why　don’t　you　turn　pale？”
“I　am　not　sick。”
“Why　don’t　you　consult　my　art？”
“I’m　not　silly。”
The　old　crone　“nichered”　a　laugh　under　her　bon　and　bandage；　she　then　drew　out　a　short　black　pipe；　and　lighting　it　began　to　smoke。　Having　indulged　a　while　in　this　sedative；　she　raised　her　bent　body；　took　the　pipe　from　her　lips；　and　while　gazing　steadily　at　the　fire；　said　very　deliberately—“You　are　cold；　you　are　sick；　and　you　are　silly。”
“Prove　it；”　I　rejoined。
“I　will；　in　few　words。　You　are　cold；　because　you　are　alone：　no　contact　strikes　the　fire　from　you　that　is　in　you。　You　are　sick；　because　the　best　of　feelings；　the　highest　and　the　sweetest　given　to　man；　keeps　far　away　from　you。　You　are　silly；　because；　suffer　as　you　may；　you　will　not　beckon　it　to　approach；　nor　will　you　stir　one　step　to　meet　it　where　it　waits　you。”
She　again　put　her　short　black　pipe　to　her　lips；　and　renewed　her　smoking　with　vigour。
“You　might　say　all　that　to　almost　any　one　who　you　knew　lived　as　a　solitary　dependent　in　a　great　house。”
“I　might　say　it　to　almost　any　one：　but　would　it　be　true　of　almost　any　one？”
“In　my　circumstances。”
“Yes；　just　so；　in　your　circumstances：　but　find　me　another　precisely　placed　as　you　are。”
“It　would　be　easy　to　find　you　thousands。”
“You　could　scarcely　find　me　one。　If　you　knew　it；　you　are　peculiarly　situated：　very　near　happiness；　yes；　within　reach　of　it。　The　materials　are　all　prepared；　there　only　wants　a　movement　to　bine　them。　Chance　laid　them　somewhat　apart；　let　them　be　once　approached　and　bliss　results。”
“I　don’t　understand　enigmas。　I　never　could　guess　a　riddle　in　my　life。”
“If　you　wish　me　to　speak　more　plainly；　show　me　your　palm。”
“And　I　must　cross　it　with　silver；　I　suppose？”
“To　be　sure。”
I　gave　her　a　shilling：　she　put　it　into　an　old　stocking…foot　which　she　took　out　of　her　pocket；　and　having　tied　it　round　and　returned　it；　she　told　me　to　hold　out　my　hand。　I　did。　She　ached　her　face　to　the　palm；　and　pored　over　it　without　touching　it。
“It　is　too　fine；”　said　she。　“I　can　make　nothing　of　such　a　hand　as　that；　almost　without　lines：　besides；　what　is　in　a　palm？　Destiny　is　not　written　there。”
“I　believe　you；”　said　I。
“No；”　she　continued；　“it　is　in　the　face：　on　the　forehead；　about　the　eyes；　in　the　lines　of　the　mouth。　Kneel；　and　lift　up　your　head。”
“Ah！　now　you　are　ing　to　reality；”　I　said；　as　I　obeyed　her。　“I　shall　begin　to　put　some　faith　in　you　presently。”
I　knelt　within　half　a　yard　of　her。　She　stirred　the　fire；　so　that　a　ripple　of　light　broke　from　the　disturbed　coal：　the　glare；　however；　as　she　sat；　only　threw　her　face　into　deeper　shadow：　mine；　it　illumined。
“I　wonder　with　what　feelings　you　came　to　me　to…night；”　she　said；　when　she　had　examined　me　a　while。　“I　wonder　what　thoughts　are　busy　in　your　heart　during　all　the　hours　you　sit　in　yonder　room　with　the　fine　people　flitting　before　you　like　shapes　in　a　magic…lantern：　just　as　little　sympathetic　munion　passing　between　you　and　them　as　if　they　were　really　mere　shadows　of　human　forms；　and　not　the　actual　substance。”
“I　feel　tired　often；　sleepy　sometimes；　but　seldom　sad。”
“Then　you　have　some　secret　hope　to　buoy　you　up　and　please　you　with　whispers　of　the　future？”
“Not　I。　The　utmost　I　hope　is；　to　save　money　enough　out　of　my　earnings　to　set　up　a　school　some　day　in　a　little　house　rented　by　myself。”
“A　mean　nutriment　for　the　spirit　to　exist　on：　and　sitting　in　that　window…seat　（you　see　I　know　your　habits　）—”
“You　have　learned　them　from　the　servants。”
“Ah！　you　think　yourself　sharp。　Well；　perhaps　I　have：　to　speak　truth；　I　have　an　acquaintance　with　one　of　them；　Mrs。　Poole—”
I　started　to　my　feet　when　I　heard　the　name。
“You　have—have　you？”　thought　I；　“there　is　diablerie　in　the　business　after　all；　then！”
“Don’t　be　alarmed；”　continued　the　strange　being；　“she’s　a　safe　hand　is　Mrs。　Poole：　close　and　quiet；　any　one　may　repose　confidence　in　her。　But；　as　I　was　saying：　sitting　in　that　window…seat；　do　you　think　of　nothing　but　your　future　school？　Have　you　no　present　interest　in　any　of　the　pany　who　occupy　the　sofas　and　chairs　before　you？　Is　there　not　one　face　you　study？　one　figure　whose　movements　you　follow　with　at　least　curiosity？”
“I　like　to　observe　all　the　faces　and　all　the　figures。”
“But　do　you　never　single　one　from　the　rest—or　it　may　be；　two？”
“I　do　frequently；　when　the　gestures　or　looks　of　a　pair　seem　telling　a　tale：　it　amuses　me　to　watch　them。”
“What　tale　do　you　like　best　to　hear？”
“Oh；　I　have　not　much　choice！　They　generally　run　on　the　same　theme—　courtship；　and　promise　to　end　in　the　same　catastrophe—marriage。”
“And　do　you　like　that　monotonous　theme？”
“Positively；　I　don’t　care　about　it：　it　is　nothing　to　me。”
“Nothing　to　you？　When　a　lady；　young　and　full　of　life　and　health；　charming　with　beauty　and　endowed　with　the　gifts　of　rank　and　fortune；　sits　and　smiles　in　the　eyes　of　a　gentleman　you—”
“I　what？”
“You　know—and　perhaps　think　well　of。”
“I　don’t　know　the　gentlemen　here。　I　have　scarcely　interchanged　a　syllable　with　one　of　them；　and　as　to　thinking　well　of　them；　I　consider　some　respectable；　and　stately；　and　middle…aged；　and　others　young；　dashing；　handsome；　and　lively：　but　certainly　they　are　all　at　liberty　to　be　the　recipients　of　whose　smiles　they　please；　without　my　feeling　disposed　to　consider　the　transaction　of　any　moment　to　me。”
“You　don’t　know　the　gentlemen　here？　You　have　not　exchanged　a　syllable　with　one　of　them？　Will　you　say　that　of　the　master　of　the　house！”
“He　is　not　at　home。”
“A　profound　remark！　A　most　ingenious　quibble！　He　went　to　Millcote　this　morning；　and　will　be　back　here　to…night　or　to…morrow：　does　that　circumstance　exclude　him　from　the　list　of　your　acquaintance—　blot　him；　as　it　were；　out　of　existence？”
“No；　but　I　can　scarcely　see　what　Mr。　Rochester　has　to　do　with　the　theme　you　had　introduced。”
“I　was　talking　of　ladies　smiling　in　the　eyes　of　gentlemen；　and　of　late　so　many　smiles　have　been　shed　into　Mr。　Rochester’s　eyes　that　they　overflow　like　two　cups　filled　above　the　brim：　have　you　never　remarked　that？”
“Mr。　Rochester　has　a　right　to　enjoy　the　society　of　his　guests。”
“No　question　about　his　right：　but　have　you　never　observed　that；　of　all　the　tales　told　here　about　matrimony；　Mr。　Rochester　has　been　favoured　with　the　most　lively　and　the　most　continuous？”
“The　eagerness　of　a　listener　quickens　the　tongue　of　a　narrator。”　I　said　this　rathe