简爱(英文版)-第69部分

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　together　somewhere　under　the　shelter　of　his　protection；　and　not　quite　exiled　from　the　sunshine　of　his　presence。
A　fortnight　of　dubious　calm　succeeded　my　return　to　Thornfield　Hall。　Nothing　was　said　of　the　master’s　marriage；　and　I　saw　no　preparation　going　on　for　such　an　event。　Almost　every　day　I　asked　Mrs。　Fairfax　if　she　had　yet　heard　anything　decided：　her　answer　was　always　in　the　negative。　Once　she　said　she　had　actually　put　the　question　to　Mr。　Rochester　as　to　when　he　was　going　to　bring　his　bride　home；　but　he　had　answered　her　only　by　a　joke　and　one　of　his　queer　looks；　and　she　could　not　tell　what　to　make　of　him。
One　thing　specially　surprised　me；　and　that　was；　there　were　no　journeyings　backward　and　forward；　no　visits　to　Ingram　Park：　to　be　sure　it　was　twenty　miles　off；　on　the　borders　of　another　county；　but　what　was　that　distance　to　an　ardent　lover？　To　so　practised　and　indefatigable　a　horseman　as　Mr。　Rochester；　it　would　be　but　a　morning’s　ride。　I　began　to　cherish　hopes　I　had　no　right　to　conceive：　that　the　match　was　broken　off；　that　rumour　had　been　mistaken；　that　one　or　both　parties　had　changed　their　minds。　I　used　to　look　at　my　master’s　face　to　see　if　it　were　sad　or　fierce；　but　I　could　not　remember　the　time　when　it　had　been　so　uniformly　clear　of　clouds　or　evil　feelings。　If；　in　the　moments　I　and　my　pupil　spent　with　him；　I　lacked　spirits　and　sank　into　inevitable　dejection；　he　became　even　gay。　Never　had　he　called　me　more　frequently　to　his　presence；　never　been　kinder　to　me　when　there—and；　alas！　never　had　I　loved　him　so　well。
Chapter　23
A　splendid　Midsummer　shone　over　England：　skies　so　pure；　suns　so　radiant　as　were　then　seen　in　long　succession；　seldom　favour　even　singly；　our　wave…girt　land。　It　was　as　if　a　band　of　Italian　days　had　e　from　the　South；　like　a　flock　of　glorious　passenger　birds；　and　lighted　to　rest　them　on　the　cliffs　of　Albion。　The　hay　was　all　got　in；　the　fields　round　Thornfield　were　green　and　shorn；　the　roads　white　and　baked；　the　trees　were　in　their　dark　prime；　hedge　and　wood；　full…leaved　and　deeply　tinted；　contrasted　well　with　the　sunny　hue　of　the　cleared　meadows　between。
On　Midsummer…eve；　Adèle；　weary　with　gathering　wild　strawberries　in　Hay　Lane　half　the　day；　had　gone　to　bed　with　the　sun。　I　watched　her　drop　asleep；　and　when　I　left　her；　I　sought　the　garden。
It　was　now　the　sweetest　hour　of　the　twenty…four：…　“Day　its　fervid　fires　had　wasted；”　and　dew　fell　cool　on　panting　plain　and　scorched　summit。　Where　the　sun　had　gone　down　in　simple　state—pure　of　the　pomp　of　clouds—spread　a　solemn　purple；　burning　with　the　light　of　red　jewel　and　furnace　flame　at　one　point；　on　one　hill…peak；　and　extending　high　and　wide；　soft　and　still　softer；　over　half　heaven。　The　east　had　its　own　charm　or　fine　deep　blue；　and　its　own　modest　gem；　a　casino　and　solitary　star：　soon　it　would　boast　the　moon；　but　she　was　yet　beneath　the　horizon。
I　walked　a　while　on　the　pavement；　but　a　subtle；　well…known　scent—　that　of　a　cigar—stole　from　some　window；　I　saw　the　library　casement　open　a　handbreadth；　I　knew　I　might　be　watched　thence；　so　I　went　apart　into　the　orchard。　No　nook　in　the　grounds　more　sheltered　and　more　Eden…like；　it　was　full　of　trees；　it　bloomed　with　flowers：　a　very　high　wall　shut　it　out　from　the　court；　on　one　side；　on　the　other；　a　beech　avenue　screened　it　from　the　lawn。　At　the　bottom　was　a　sunk　fence；　its　sole　separation　from　lonely　fields：　a　winding　walk；　bordered　with　laurels　and　terminating　in　a　giant　horse…　chestnut；　circled　at　the　base　by　a　seat；　led　down　to　the　fence。　Here　one　could　wander　unseen。　While　such　honey…dew　fell；　such　silence　reigned；　such　gloaming　gathered；　I　felt　as　if　I　could　haunt　such　shade　for　ever；　but　in　threading　the　flower　and　fruit　parterres　at　the　upper　part　of　the　enclosure；　enticed　there　by　the　light　the　now　rising　moon　cast　on　this　more　open　quarter；　my　step　is　stayed—　not　by　sound；　not　by　sight；　but　once　more　by　a　warning　fragrance。
Sweet…briar　and　southernwood；　jasmine；　pink；　and　rose　have　long　been　yielding　their　evening　sacrifice　of　incense：　this　new　scent　is　neither　of　shrub　nor　flower；　it　is—I　know　it　well—it　is　Mr。　Rochester’s　cigar。　I　look　round　and　I　listen。　I　see　trees　laden　with　ripening　fruit。　I　hear　a　nightingale　warbling　in　a　wood　half　a　mile　off；　no　moving　form　is　visible；　no　ing　step　audible；　but　that　perfume　increases：　I　must　flee。　I　make　for　the　wicket　leading　to　the　shrubbery；　and　I　see　Mr。　Rochester　entering。　I　step　aside　into　the　ivy　recess；　he　will　not　stay　long：　he　will　soon　return　whence　he　came；　and　if　I　sit　still　he　will　never　see　me。
But　no—eventide　is　as　pleasant　to　him　as　to　me；　and　this　antique　garden　as　attractive；　and　he　strolls　on；　now　lifting　the　gooseberry…　tree　branches　to　look　at　the　fruit；　large　as　plums；　with　which　they　are　laden；　now　taking　a　ripe　cherry　from　the　wall；　now　stooping　towards　a　knot　of　flowers；　either　to　inhale　their　fragrance　or　to　admire　the　dew…beads　on　their　petals。　A　great　moth　goes　humming　by　me；　it　alights　on　a　plant　at　Mr。　Rochester’s　foot：　he　sees　it；　and　bends　to　examine　it。
“Now；　he　has　his　back　towards　me；”　thought　I；　“and　he　is　occupied　too；　perhaps；　if　I　walk　softly；　I　can　slip　away　unnoticed。”
I　trode　on　an　edging　of　turf　that　the　crackle　of　the　pebbly　gravel　might　not　betray　me：　he　was　standing　among　the　beds　at　a　yard　or　two　distant　from　where　I　had　to　pass；　the　moth　apparently　engaged　him。　“I　shall　get　by　very　well；”　I　meditated。　As　I　crossed　his　shadow；　thrown　long　over　the　garden　by　the　moon；　not　yet　risen　high；　he　said　quietly；　without　turning—
“Jane；　e　and　look　at　this　fellow。”
I　had　made　no　noise：　he　had　not　eyes　behind—could　his　shadow　feel？　I　started　at　first；　and　then　I　approached　him。
“Look　at　his　wings；”　said　he；　“he　reminds　me　rather　of　a　West　Indian　insect；　one　does　not　often　see　so　large　and　gay　a　night…rover　in　England；　there！　he　is　flown。”
The　moth　roamed　away。　I　was　sheepishly　retreating　also；　but　Mr。　Rochester　followed　me；　and　when　we　reached　the　wicket；　he　said—
“Turn　back：　on　so　lovely　a　night　it　is　a　shame　to　sit　in　the　house；　and　surely　no　one　can　wish　to　go　to　bed　while　sunset　is　thus　at　meeting　with　moonrise。”
It　is　one　of　my　faults；　that　though　my　tongue　is　sometimes　prompt　enough　at　an　answer；　there　are　times　when　it　sadly　fails　me　in　framing　an　excuse；　and　always　the　lapse　occurs　at　some　crisis；　when　a　facile　word　or　plausible　pretext　is　specially　wanted　to　get　me　out　of　painful　embarrassment。　I　did　not　like　to　walk　at　this　hour　alone　with　Mr。　Rochester　in　the　shadowy　orchard；　but　I　could　not　find　a　reason　to　allege　for　leaving　him。　I　followed　with　lagging　step；　and　thoughts　busily　bent　on　discovering　a　means　of　extrication；　but　he　himself　looked　so　posed　and　so　grave　also；　I　became　ashamed　of　feeling　any　confusion：　the　evil—if　evil　existent　or　prospective　there　was—seemed　to　lie　with　me　only；　his　mind　was　unconscious　and　quiet。
“Jane；”　he　remenced；　as　we　entered　the　laurel　walk；　and　slowly　strayed　down　in　the　direction　of　the　sunk　fence　and　the　horse…　chestnut；　“Thornfield　is　a　pleasant　place　in　summer；　is　it　not？”
“Yes；　sir。”
“You　must　have　bee　in　some　degree　attached　to　the　house；—you；　who　have　an　eye　for　natural　beauties；　and　a　good　deal　of　the　organ　of　Adhesiveness？”
“I　am　attached　to　it；　indeed。”
“And　though　I　don’t　prehend　how　it　is；　I　perceive　you　have　acquired　a　degree　of　regard　for　that　foolish　little　child　Adèle；　too；　and　even　for　simple　dame　Fairfax？”
“Yes；　sir；　in　different　ways；　I　have　an　affection　for　both。”
“And　would　be　sorry　to　part　with　them？”
“Yes。”
“Pity！”　he　said；　and　sighed　and　paused。　“It　is　always　the　way　of　events　in　this　life；”　he　continued　presently：　“no　sooner　have　you　got　settled　in　a　pleasant　resting…place；　than　a　voice　calls　out　to　you　to　rise　and　move　on；　for　the　hour　of　repose　is　expired。”
“Must　I　move　on；　sir？”　I　asked。　“Must　I　leave　Thornfield？”
“I　believe　you　must；　Jane。　I　am　sorry；　Ja；　but　I　believe　indeed　you　must。”
This　was　a　blow：　but　I　did　not　let　it　prostrate　me。
“Well；　sir；　I　shall　be　ready　when　the　order　to　march　es。”
“It　is　e　now—I　must　give　it　to…night。”
“Then　you　are　going　to　be　married；　sir？”
“Ex…act…ly—pre…cise…ly：　with　your　usual　acuteness；　you　have　hit　the　nail　straight　on　the　head