简爱(英文版)-第72部分

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but　I　could　not　undeceive　her　then。　I　must　wait　for　my　master　to　give　explanations；　and　so　must　she。　I　ate　what　I　could；　and　then　I　hastened　upstairs。　I　met　Adèle　leaving　the　schoolroom。
“Where　are　you　going？　It　is　time　for　lessons。”
“Mr。　Rochester　has　sent　me　away　to　the　nursery。”
“Where　is　he？”
“In　there；”　pointing　to　the　apartment　she　had　left；　and　I　went　in；　and　there　he　stood。
“e　and　bid　me　good…morning；”　said　he。　I　gladly　advanced；　and　it　was　not　merely　a　cold　word　now；　or　even　a　shake　of　the　hand　that　I　received；　but　an　embrace　and　a　kiss。　It　seemed　natural：　it　seemed　genial　to　be　so　well　loved；　so　caressed　by　him。
“Jane；　you　look　blooming；　and　smiling；　and　pretty；”　said　he：　“truly　pretty　this　morning。　Is　this　my　pale；　little　elf？　Is　this　my　mustard…seed？　This　little　sunny…faced　girl　with　the　dimpled　cheek　and　rosy　lips；　the　satin…smooth　hazel　hair；　and　the　radiant　hazel　eyes？”　（I　had　green　eyes；　reader；　but　you　must　excuse　the　mistake：　for　him　they　were　new…dyed；　I　suppose。）
“It　is　Jane　Eyre；　sir。”
“Soon　to　be　Jane　Rochester；”　he　added：　“in　four　weeks；　Ja；　not　a　day　more。　Do　you　hear　that？”
I　did；　and　I　could　not　quite　prehend　it：　it　made　me　giddy。　The　feeling；　the　announcement　sent　through　me；　was　something　stronger　than　was　consistent　with　joy—something　that　smote　and　stunned。　It　was；　I　think　almost　fear。
“You　blushed；　and　now　you　are　white；　Jane：　what　is　that　for？”
“Because　you　gave　me　a　new　name—Jane　Rochester；　and　it　seems　so　strange。”
“Yes；　Mrs。　Rochester；”　said　he；　“young　Mrs。　Rochester—Fairfax　Rochester’s　girl…bride。”
“It　can　never　be；　sir；　it　does　not　sound　likely。　Human　beings　never　enjoy　plete　happiness　in　this　world。　I　was　not　born　for　a　different　destiny　to　the　rest　of　my　species：　to　imagine　such　a　lot　befalling　me　is　a　fairy　tale—a　day…dream。”
“Which　I　can　and　will　realise。　I　shall　begin　to…day。　This　morning　I　wrote　to　my　banker　in　London　to　send　me　certain　jewels　he　has　in　his　keeping；—heirlooms　for　the　ladies　of　Thornfield。　In　a　day　or　two　I　hope　to　pour　them　into　your　lap：　for　every　privilege；　every　attention　shall　be　yours　that　I　would　accord　a　peer’s　daughter；　if　about　to　marry　her。”
“Oh；　sir！—never　rain　jewels！　I　don’t　like　to　hear　them　spoken　of。　Jewels　for　Jane　Eyre　sounds　unnatural　and　strange：　I　would　rather　not　have　them。”
“I　will　myself　put　the　diamond　chain　round　your　neck；　and　the　circlet　on　your　forehead；—which　it　will　bee：　for　nature；　at　least；　has　stamped　her　patent　of　nobility　on　this　brow；　Jane；　and　I　will　clasp　the　bracelets　on　these　fine　wrists；　and　load　these　fairy…　like　fingers　with　rings。”
“No；　no；　sir！　think　of　other　subjects；　and　speak　of　other　things；　and　in　another　strain。　Don’t　address　me　as　if　I　were　a　beauty；　I　am　your　plain；　Quakerish　governess。”
“You　are　a　beauty　in　my　eyes；　and　a　beauty　just　after　the　desire　of　my　heart；—delicate　and　aerial。”
“Puny　and　insignificant；　you　mean。　You　are　dreaming；　sir；—or　you　are　sneering。　For　God’s　sake　don’t　be　ironical！”
“I　will　make　the　world　acknowledge　you　a　beauty；　too；”　he　went　on；　while　I　really　became　uneasy　at　the　strain　he　had　adopted；　because　I　felt　he　was　either　deluding　himself　or　trying　to　delude　me。　“I　will　attire　my　Jane　in　satin　and　lace；　and　she　shall　have　roses　in　her　hair；　and　I　will　cover　the　head　I　love　best　with　a　priceless　veil。”
“And　then　you　won’t　know　me；　sir；　and　I　shall　not　be　your　Jane　Eyre　any　longer；　but　an　ape　in　a　harlequin’s　jacket—a　jay　in　borrowed　plumes。　I　would　as　soon　see　you；　Mr。　Rochester；　tricked　out　in　stage…trappings；　as　myself　clad　in　a　court…lady’s　robe；　and　I　don’t　call　you　handsome；　sir；　though　I　love　you　most　dearly：　far　too　dearly　to　flatter　you。　Don’t　flatter　me。”
He　pursued　his　theme；　however；　without　noticing　my　deprecation。　“This　very　day　I　shall　take　you　in　the　carriage　to　Millcote；　and　you　must　choose　some　dresses　for　yourself。　I　told　you　we　shall　be　married　in　four　weeks。　The　wedding　is　to　take　place　quietly；　in　the　church　down　below　yonder；　and　then　I　shall　waft　you　away　at　once　to　town。　After　a　brief　stay　there；　I　shall　bear　my　treasure　to　regions　nearer　the　sun：　to　French　vineyards　and　Italian　plains；　and　she　shall　see　whatever　is　famous　in　old　story　and　in　modern　record：　she　shall　taste；　too；　of　the　life　of　cities；　and　she　shall　learn　to　value　herself　by　just　parison　with　others。”
“Shall　I　travel？—and　with　you；　sir？”
“You　shall　sojourn　at　Paris；　Rome；　and　Naples：　at　Florence；　Venice；　and　Vienna：　all　the　ground　I　have　wandered　over　shall　be　re…trodden　by　you：　wherever　I　stamped　my　hoof；　your　sylph’s　foot　shall　step　also。　Ten　years　since；　I　flew　through　Europe　half　mad；　with　disgust；　hate；　and　rage　as　my　panions：　now　I　shall　revisit　it　healed　and　cleansed；　with　a　very　angel　as　my　forter。”
I　laughed　at　him　as　he　said　this。　“I　am　not　an　angel；”　I　asserted；　“and　I　will　not　be　one　till　I　die：　I　will　be　myself。　Mr。　Rochester；　you　must　neither　expect　nor　exact　anything　celestial　of　me—for　you　will　not　get　it；　any　more　than　I　shall　get　it　of　you：　which　I　do　not　at　all　anticipate。”
“What　do　you　anticipate　of　me？”
“For　a　little　while　you　will　perhaps　be　as　you　are　now；—a　very　little　while；　and　then　you　will　turn　cool；　and　then　you　will　be　capricious；　and　then　you　will　be　stern；　and　I　shall　have　much　ado　to　please　you：　but　when　you　get　well　used　to　me；　you　will　perhaps　like　me　again；—like　me；　I　say；　not　love　me。　I　suppose　your　love　will　effervesce　in　six　months；　or　less。　I　have　observed　in　books　written　by　men；　that　period　assigned　as　the　farthest　to　which　a　husband’s　ardour　extends。　Yet；　after　all；　as　a　friend　and　panion；　I　hope　never　to　bee　quite　distasteful　to　my　dear　master。”
“Distasteful！　and　like　you　again！　I　think　I　shall　like　you　again；　and　yet　again：　and　I　will　make　you　confess　I　do　not　only　like；　but　love　you—with　truth；　fervour；　constancy。”
“Yet　are　you　not　capricious；　sir？”
“To　women　who　please　me　only　by　their　faces；　I　am　the　very　devil　when　I　find　out　they　have　neither　souls　nor　hearts—when　they　open　to　me　a　perspective　of　flatness；　triviality；　and　perhaps　imbecility；　coarseness；　and　ill…temper：　but　to　the　clear　eye　and　eloquent　tongue；　to　the　soul　made　of　fire；　and　the　character　that　bends　but　does　not　break—at　once　supple　and　stable；　tractable　and　consistent—I　am　ever　tender　and　true。”
“Had　you　ever　experience　of　such　a　character；　sir？　Did　you　ever　love　such　an　one？”
“I　love　it　now。”
“But　before　me：　if　I；　indeed；　in　any　respect　e　up　to　your　difficult　standard？”
“I　never　met　your　likeness。　Jane；　you　please　me；　and　you　master　me—you　seem　to　submit；　and　I　like　the　sense　of　pliancy　you　impart；　and　while　I　am　twining　the　soft；　silken　skein　round　my　finger；　it　sends　a　thrill　up　my　arm　to　my　heart。　I　am　influenced—conquered；　and　the　influence　is　sweeter　than　I　can　express；　and　the　conquest　I　undergo　has　a　witchery　beyond　any　triumph　I　can　win。　Why　do　you　smile；　Jane？　What　does　that　inexplicable；　that　uncanny　turn　of　countenance　mean？”
“I　was　thinking；　sir　（you　will　excuse　the　idea；　it　was　involuntary）；　I　was　thinking　of　Hercules　and　Samson　with　their　charmers—”
“You　were；　you　little　elfish—”
“Hush；　sir！　You　don’t　talk　very　wisely　just　now；　any　more　than　those　gentlemen　acted　very　wisely。　However；　had　they　been　married；　they　would　no　doubt　by　their　severity　as　husbands　have　made　up　for　their　softness　as　suitors；　and　so　will　you；　I　fear。　I　wonder　how　you　will　answer　me　a　year　hence；　should　I　ask　a　favour　it　does　not　suit　your　convenience　or　pleasure　to　grant。”
“Ask　me　something　now；　Jane；—the　least　thing：　I　desire　to　be　entreated—”
“Indeed　I　will；　sir；　I　have　my　petition　all　ready。”
“Speak！　But　if　you　look　up　and　smile　with　that　countenance；　I　shall　swear　concession　before　I　know　to　what；　and　that　will　make　a　fool　of　me。”
“Not　at　all；　sir；　I　ask　only　this：　don’t　send　for　the　jewels；　and　don’t　crown　me　with　roses：　you　might　as　well　put　a　border　of　gold　lace　round　that　plain　pocket　handkerchief　you　have　there。”
“I　might　as　well　‘gild　refined　gold。’　I　know　it：　you　request　is　granted　then—for　the　time。　I　will　remand　the　order　I　despatched　to　my　banker。　But　you　have　not　yet　asked　for　anything；　you　have　prayed　a　gift　to　be