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简爱(英文版)-第122部分

小说: 简爱(英文版) 字数: 每页4000字

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ill be satisfied; or it will take deadly vengeance on its frame。”
“Well; sir; I will stay with you: I have said so。”
“Yes—but you understand one thing by staying with me; and I understand another。 You; perhaps; could make up your mind to be about my hand and chair—to wait on me as a kind little nurse (for you have an affectionate heart and a generous spirit; which prompt you to make sacrifices for those you pity); and that ought to suffice for me no doubt。 I suppose I should now entertain none but fatherly feelings for you: do you think so? e—tell me。”
“I will think what you like; sir: I am content to be only your nurse; if you think it better。”
“But you cannot always be my nurse; Ja: you are young—you must marry one day。”
“I don’t care about being married。”
“You should care; Ja: if I were what I once was; I would try to make you care—but—a sightless block!”
He relapsed again into gloom。 I; on the contrary; became more cheerful; and took fresh courage: these last words gave me an insight as to where the difficulty lay; and as it was no difficulty y previous embarrassment。 I resumed a livelier vein of conversation。
“It is time some one undertook to rehumanise you;” said I; parting his thick and long uncut locks; “for I see you are being metamorphosed into a lion; or something of that sort。 You have a ‘faux air’ of Nebuchadnezzar in the fields about you; that is certain: your hair reminds me of eagles’ feathers; whether your nails are grown like birds’ claws or not; I have not yet noticed。”
“On this arm; I have neither hand nor nails;” he said; drawing the mutilated limb from his breast; and showing it to me。 “It is a mere stump—a ghastly sight! Don’t you think so; Jane?”
“It is a pity to see it; and a pity to see your eyes—and the scar of fire on your forehead: and the worst of it is; one is in danger of loving you too well for all this; and making too much of you。”
“I thought you would be revolted; Jane; when you saw my arm; and my cicatrised visage。”
“Did you? Don’t tell me so—lest I should say something disparaging to your judgment。 Now; let me leave you an instant; to make a better fire; and have the hearth swept up。 Can you tell when there is a good fire?”
“Yes; with the right eye I see a glow—a ruddy haze。”
“And you see the candles?”
“Very dimly—each is a luminous cloud。”
“Can you see me?”
“No; my fairy: but I am only too thankful to hear and feel you。”
“When do you take supper?”
“I never take supper。”
“But you shall have some to…night。 I am hungry: so are you; I daresay; only you forget。”
Summoning Mary; I soon had the room in more cheerful order: I prepared him; likewise; a fortable repast。 My spirits were excited; and with pleasure and ease I talked to him during supper; and for a long time after。 There was no harassing restraint; no repressing of glee and vivacity with him; for with him I was at perfect ease; because I knew I suited him; all I said or did seemed either to console or revive him。 Delightful consciousness! It brought to life and light my whole nature: in his presence I thoroughly lived; and he lived in mine。 Blind as he was; smiles played over his face; joy dawned on his forehead: his lineaments softened and warmed。
After supper; he began to ask me many questions; of where I had been; what I had been doing; how I had found him out; but I gave him only very partial replies: it was too late to enter into particulars that night。 Besides; I wished to touch no deep… thrilling chord—to open no fresh well of emotion in his heart: my sole present aim was to cheer him。 Cheered; as I have said; he was: and yet but by fits。 If a moment’s silence broke the conversation; he would turn restless; touch me; then say; “Jane。”
“You are altogether a human being; Jane? You are certain of that?”
“I conscientiously believe so; Mr。 Rochester。”
“Yet how; on this dark and doleful evening; could you so suddenly rise on my lone hearth? I stretched my hand to take a glass of water from a hireling; and it was given me by you: I asked a question; expecting John’s wife to answer me; and your voice spoke at my ear。”
“Because I had e in; in Mary’s stead; with the tray。”
“And there is enchantment in the very hour I am now spending with you。 Who can tell what a dark; dreary; hopeless life I have dragged on for months past? Doing nothing; expecting nothing; merging night in day; feeling but the sensation of cold when I let the fire go out; of hunger when I forgot to eat: and then a ceaseless sorrow; and; at times; a very delirium of desire to behold my Jane again。 Yes: for her restoration I longed; far more than for that of my lost sight。 How can it be that Jane is with me; and says she loves me? Will she not depart as suddenly as she came? To…morrow; I fear I shall find her no more。”
A monplace; practical reply; out of the train of his own disturbed ideas; was; I was sure; the best and most reassuring for him in this frame of mind。 I passed my finger over his eyebrows; and remarked that they were scorched; and that I would apply something which would make them grow as broad and black as ever。
“Where is the use of doing me good in any way; beneficent spirit; when; at some fatal moment; you will again desert me—passing like a shadow; whither and how to me unknown; and for me remaining afterwards undiscoverable?
“Have you a pocket…b about you; sir?”
“What for; Jane?”
“Just to b out this shaggy black mane。 I find you rather alarming; when I examine you close at hand: you talk of my being a fairy; but I am sure; you are more like a brownie。”
“Am I hideous; Jane?”
“Very; sir: you always were; you know。”
“Humph! The wickedness has not been taken out of you; wherever you have sojourned。”
“Yet I have been with good people; far better than you: a hundred times better people; possessed of ideas and views you never entertained in your life: quite more refined and exalted。”
“Who the deuce have you been with?”
“If you twist in that way you will make me pull the hair out of your head; and then I think you will cease to entertain doubts of my substantiality。”
“Who have you been with; Jane?”
“You shall not get it out of me to…night; sir; you must wait till to…morrow; to leave my tale half told; will; you know; be a sort of security that I shall appear at your breakfast table to finish it。 By the bye; I must mind not to rise on your hearth with only a glass of water then: I must bring an egg at the least; to say nothing of fried ham。”
“You mocking changeling—fairy…born and human…bred! You make me feel as I have not felt these twelve months。 If Saul could have had you for his David; the evil spirit would have been exorcised without the aid of the harp。”
“There; sir; you are redd up and made decent。 Now I’ll leave you: I have been travelling these last three days; and I believe I am tired。 Good night。”
“Just one word; Jane: were there only ladies in the house where you have been?”
I laughed and made my escape; still laughing as I ran upstairs。 “A good idea!” I thought with glee。 “I see I have the means of fretting him out of his melancholy for some time to e。”
Very early the next morning I heard him up and astir; wandering from one room to another。 As soon as Mary came doiss Eyre here?” Then: “Which room did you put her into? Was it dry? Is she up? Go and ask if she wants anything; and when she will e down。”
I came down as soon as I thought there was a prospect of breakfast。 Entering the room very softly; I had a view of him before he discovered my presence。 It was mournful; indeed; to witness the subjugation of that vigorous spirit to a corporeal infirmity。 He sat in his chair—still; but not at rest: expectant evidently; the lines of now habitual sadness marking his strong features。 His countenance reminded one of a lamp quenched; waiting to be re…lit— and alas! it was not himself that could now kindle the lustre of animated expression: he was dependent on another for that office! I had meant to be gay and careless; but the powerlessness of the strong man touched my heart to the quick: still I accosted him with what vivacity I could。
“It is a bright; sunny morning; sir;” I said。 “The rain is over and

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