简爱(英文版)-第46部分

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d　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　place？”　said　she。　“Speak！　let　us　know　the　worst　at　once！”
“But　don’t　pull　me　down　or　strangle　me；”　he　replied：　for　the　Misses　Eshton　were　clinging　about　him　now；　and　the　two　dowagers；　in　vast　white　wrappers；　were　bearing　down　on　him　like　ships　in　full　sail。
“All’s　right！—all’s　right！”　he　cried。　“It’s　a　mere　rehearsal　of　Much　Ado　about　Nothing。　Ladies；　keep　off；　or　I　shall　wax　dangerous。”
And　dangerous　he　looked：　his　black　eyes　darted　sparks。　Calming　himself　by　an　effort；　he　added—
“A　servant　has　had　the　nightmare；　that　is　all。　She’s　an　excitable；　nervous　person：　she　construed　her　dream　into　an　apparition；　or　something　of　that　sort；　no　doubt；　and　has　taken　a　fit　with　fright。　Now；　then；　I　must　see　you　all　back　into　your　rooms；　for；　till　the　house　is　settled；　she　cannot　be　looked　after。　Gentlemen；　have　the　goodness　to　set　the　ladies　the　example。　Miss　Ingram；　I　am　sure　you　will　not　fail　in　evincing　superiority　to　idle　terrors。　Amy　and　Louisa；　return　to　your　nests　like　a　pair　of　doves；　as　you　are。　Mesdames”　（to　the　dowagers）；　“you　will　take　cold　to　a　dead　certainty；　if　you　stay　in　this　chill　gallery　any　longer。”
And　so；　by　dint　of　alternate　coaxing　and　manding；　he　contrived　to　get　them　all　once　more　enclosed　in　their　separate　dormitories。　I　did　not　wait　to　be　ordered　back　to　mine；　but　retreated　unnoticed；　as　unnoticed　I　had　left　it。
Not；　however；　to　go　to　bed：　on　the　contrary；　I　began　and　dressed　myself　carefully。　The　sounds　I　had　heard　after　the　scream；　and　the　words　that　had　been　uttered；　had　probably　been　heard　only　by　me；　for　they　had　proceeded　from　the　room　above　mine：　but　they　assured　me　that　it　was　not　a　servant’s　dream　which　had　thus　struck　horror　through　the　house；　and　that　the　explanation　Mr。　Rochester　had　given　was　merely　an　invention　framed　to　pacify　his　guests。　I　dressed；　then；　to　be　ready　for　emergencies。　When　dressed；　I　sat　a　long　time　by　the　window　looking　out　over　the　silent　grounds　and　silvered　fields　and　waiting　for　I　knew　not　what。　It　seemed　to　me　that　some　event　must　follow　the　strange　cry；　struggle；　and　call。
No：　stillness　returned：　each　murmur　and　movement　ceased　gradually；　and　in　about　an　hour　Thornfield　Hall　was　again　as　hushed　as　a　desert。　It　seemed　that　sleep　and　night　had　resumed　their　empire。　Meantime　the　moon　declined：　she　was　about　to　set。　Not　liking　to　sit　in　the　cold　and　darkness；　I　thought　I　would　lie　down　on　my　bed；　dressed　as　I　was。　I　left　the　window；　and　moved　with　little　noise　across　the　carpet；　as　I　stooped　to　take　off　my　shoes；　a　cautious　hand　tapped　low　at　the　door。
“Am　I　wanted？”　I　asked。
“Are　you　up？”　asked　the　voice　I　expected　to　hear；　viz。；　my　master’s。
“Yes；　sir。”
“And　dressed？”
“Yes。”
“e　out；　then；　quietly。”
I　obeyed。　Mr。　Rochester　stood　in　the　gallery　holding　a　light。
“I　want　you；”　he　said：　“e　this　way：　take　your　time；　and　make　no　noise。”
My　slippers　were　thin：　I　could　walk　the　matted　floor　as　softly　as　a　cat。　He　glided　up　the　gallery　and　up　the　stairs；　and　stopped　in　the　dark；　low　corridor　of　the　fateful　third　storey：　I　had　followed　and　stood　at　his　side。
“Have　you　a　sponge　in　your　room？”　he　asked　in　a　whisper。
“Yes；　sir。”
“Have　you　any　salts—volatile　salts？　Yes。”
“Go　back　and　fetch　both。”
I　returned；　sought　the　sponge　on　the　washstand；　the　salts　in　my　drawer；　and　once　more　retraced　my　steps。　He　still　waited；　he　held　a　key　in　his　hand：　approaching　one　of　the　small；　black　doors；　he　put　it　in　the　lock；　he　paused；　and　addressed　me　again。
“You　don’t　turn　sick　at　the　sight　of　blood？”
“I　think　I　shall　not：　I　have　never　been　tried　yet。”
I　felt　a　thrill　while　I　answered　him；　but　no　coldness；　and　no　faintness。
“Just　give　me　your　hand；”　he　said：　“it　will　not　do　to　risk　a　fainting　fit。”
I　put　my　fingers　into　his。　“Warm　and　steady；”　was　his　remark：　he　turned　the　key　and　opened　the　door。
I　saw　a　room　I　remembered　to　have　seen　before；　the　day　Mrs。　Fairfax　showed　me　over　the　house：　it　was　hung　with　tapestry；　but　the　tapestry　was　now　looped　up　in　one　part；　and　there　was　a　door　apparent；　which　had　then　been　concealed。　This　door　was　open；　a　light　shone　out　of　the　room　within：　I　heard　thence　a　snarling；　snatching　sound；　almost　like　a　dog　quarrelling。　Mr。　Rochester；　putting　down　his　candle；　said　to　me；　“Wait　a　minute；”　and　he　went　forward　to　the　inner　apartment。　A　shout　of　laughter　greeted　his　entrance；　noisy　at　first；　and　terminating　in　Grace　Poole’s　own　goblin　ha！　ha！　She　then　was　there。　He　made　some　sort　of　arrangement　without　speaking；　though　I　heard　a　low　voice　address　him：　he　came　out　and　closed　the　door　behind　him。
“Here；　Jane！”　he　said；　and　I　walked　round　to　the　other　side　of　a　large　bed；　which　with　its　drawn　curtains　concealed　a　considerable　portion　of　the　chamber。　An　easy…chair　was　near　the　bed…head：　a　man　sat　in　it；　dressed　with　the　exception　of　his　coat；　he　was　still；　his　head　leant　back；　his　eyes　were　closed。　Mr。　Rochester　held　the　candle　over　him；　I　recognised　in　his　pale　and　seemingly　lifeless　face—the　stranger；　Mason：　I　saw　too　that　his　linen　on　one　side；　and　one　arm；　was　almost　soaked　in　blood。
“Hold　the　candle；”　said　Mr。　Rochester；　and　I　took　it：　he　fetched