简爱(英文版)-第79部分

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“It　must　have　been　one　of　them；”　interrupted　my　master。
“No；　sir；　I　solemnly　assure　you　to　the　contrary。　The　shape　standing　before　me　had　never　crossed　my　eyes　within　the　precincts　of　Thornfield　Hall　before；　the　height；　the　contour　were　new　to　me。”
“Describe　it；　Jane。”
“It　seemed；　sir；　a　woman；　tall　and　large；　with　thick　and　dark　hair　hanging　long　down　her　back。　I　know　not　what　dress　she　had　on：　it　was　white　and　straight；　but　whether　gown；　sheet；　or　shroud；　I　cannot　tell。”
“Did　you　see　her　face？”
“Not　at　first。　But　presently　she　took　my　veil　from　its　place；　she　held　it　up；　gazed　at　it　long；　and　then　she　threw　it　over　her　own　head；　and　turned　to　the　mirror。　At　that　moment　I　saw　the　reflection　of　the　visage　and　features　quite　distinctly　in　the　dark　oblong　glass。”
“And　how　were　they？”
“Fearful　and　ghastly　to　me—oh；　sir；　I　never　saw　a　face　like　it！　It　was　a　discoloured　face—it　was　a　savage　face。　I　wish　I　could　forget　the　roll　of　the　red　eyes　and　the　fearful　blackened　inflation　of　the　lineaments！”
“Ghosts　are　usually　pale；　Jane。”
“This；　sir；　was　purple：　the　lips　were　swelled　and　dark；　the　brow　furrowed：　the　black　eyebrows　widely　raised　over　the　bloodshot　eyes。　Shall　I　tell　you　of　what　it　reminded　me？”
“You　may。”
“Of　the　foul　German　spectre—the　Vampyre。”
“Ah！—what　did　it　do？”
“Sir；　it　removed　my　veil　from　its　gaunt　head；　rent　it　in　two　parts；　and　flinging　both　on　the　floor；　trampled　on　them。”
“Afterwards？”
“It　drew　aside　the　window…curtain　and　looked　out；　perhaps　it　saw　dawn　approaching；　for；　taking　the　candle；　it　retreated　to　the　door。　Just　at　my　bedside；　the　figure　stopped：　the　fiery　eyes　glared　upon　me—she　thrust　up　her　candle　close　to　my　face；　and　extinguished　it　under　my　eyes。　I　was　aware　her　lurid　visage　flamed　over　mine；　and　I　lost　consciousness：　for　the　second　time　in　my　life—only　the　second　time—I　became　insensible　from　terror。”
“Who　was　with　you　when　you　revived？”
“No　one；　sir；　but　the　broad　day。　I　rose；　bathed　my　head　and　face　in　water；　drank　a　long　draught；　felt　that　though　enfeebled　I　was　not　ill；　and　determined　that　to　none　but　you　would　I　impart　this　vision。　Now；　sir；　tell　me　who　and　what　that　woman　was？”
“The　creature　of　an　over…stimulated　brain；　that　is　certain。　I　must　be　careful　of　you；　my　treasure：　nerves　like　yours　were　not　made　for　rough　handling。”
“Sir；　depend　on　it；　my　nerves　were　not　in　fault；　the　thing　was　real：　the　transaction　actually　took　place。”
“And　your　previous　dreams；　were　they　real　too？　Is　Thornfield　Hall　a　ruin？　Am　I　severed　from　you　by　insuperable　obstacles？　Am　I　leaving　you　without　a　tear—without　a　kiss—without　a　word？”
“Not　yet。”
“Am　I　about　to　do　it？　Why；　the　day　is　already　menced　which　is　to　bind　us　indissolubly；　and　when　we　are　once　united；　there　shall　be　no　recurrence　of　these　mental　terrors：　I　guarantee　that。”
“Mental　terrors；　sir！　I　wish　I　could　believe　them　to　be　only　such：　I　wish　it　more　now　than　ever；　since　even　you　cannot　explain　to　me　the　mystery　of　that　awful　visitant。”
“And　since　I　cannot　do　it；　Jane；　it　must　have　been　unreal。”
“But；　sir；　when　I　said　so　to　myself　on　rising　this　morning；　and　when　I　looked　round　the　room　to　gather　courage　and　fort　from　the　cheerful　aspect　of　each　familiar　object　in　full　daylight；　there—on　the　carpet—I　saw　what　gave　the　distinct　lie　to　my　hypothesis；—the　veil；　torn　from　top　to　bottom　in　two　halves！”
I　felt　Mr。　Rochester　start　and　shudder；　he　hastily　flung　his　arms　round　me。　“Thank　God！”　he　exclaimed；　“that　if　anything　malignant　did　e　near　you　last　night；　it　was　only　the　veil　that　was　harmed。　Oh；　to　think　what　might　have　happened！”
He　drew　his　breath　short；　and　strained　me　so　close　to　him；　I　could　scarcely　pant。　After　some　minutes’　silence；　he　continued；　cheerily—
“Now；　Ja；　I’ll　explain　to　you　all　about　it。　It　was　half　dream；　half　reality。　A　woman　did；　I　doubt　not；　enter　your　room：　and　that　woman　was—must　have　been—Grace　Poole。　You　call　her　a　strange　being　yourself：　from　all　you　know；　you　have　reason　so　to　call　her—　what　did　she　do　to　me？　what　to　Mason？　In　a　state　between　sleeping　and　waking；　you　noticed　her　entrance　and　her　actions；　but　feverish；　almost　delirious　as　you　were；　you　ascribed　to　her　a　goblin　appearance　different　from　her　own：　the　long　dishevelled　hair；　the　swelled　black　face；　the　exaggerated　stature；　were　figments　of　imagination；　results　of　nightmare：　the　spiteful　tearing　of　the　veil　was　real：　and　it　is　like　her。　I　see　you　would　ask　why　I　keep　such　a　woman　in　my　house：　when　we　have　been　married　a　year　and　a　day；　I　will　tell　you；　but　not　now。　Are　you　satisfied；　Jane？　Do　you　accept　my　solution　of　the　mystery？”
I　reflected；　and　in　truth　it　appeared　to　me　the　only　possible　one：　satisfied　I　was　not；　but　to　please　him　I　endeavoured　to　appear　so—　relieved；　I　certainly　did　feel；　so　I　answered　him　with　a　contented　smile。　And　now；　as　it　was　long　past　one；　I　prepared　to　leave　him。
“Does　not　Sophie　sleep　with　Adèle　in　the　nursery？”　he　asked；　as　I　lit　my　candle。
“Yes；　sir。”
“And　there　is　room　enough　in　Adèle’s　little　bed　for　you。　You　must　share　it　with　her　to…night；　Jane：　it　is　no　wonder　that　the　incident　you　have　related　should　make　you　nervous；　and　I　would　rather　you　did　not　sleep　alone：　promise　me　to　go　to　the　nursery。”
“I　shall　be　very　glad　to　do　so；　sir。”
“And　fasten　the　door　securely　on　the　inside。　Wake　Sophie　when　you　go　upstairs；　under　pretence　of　requesting　her　to　rouse　you　in　good　time　to…morrow；　for　you　must　be　dressed　and　have　finished　breakfast　before　eight。　And　now；　no　more　sombre　thoughts：　chase　dull　care　away；　Ja。　Don’t　you　hear　to　what　soft　whispers　the　wind　has　fallen？　and　there　is　no　more　beating　of　rain　against　the　window…　panes：　look　here”　（he　lifted　up　the　curtain）—“it　is　a　lovely　night！”
It　was。　Half　heaven　was　pure　and　stainless：　the　clouds；　now　trooping　before　the　wind；　which　had　shifted　to　the　west；　were　filing　off　eastward　in　long；　silvered　columns。　The　moon　shone　peacefully。
“Well；”　said　Mr。　Rochester；　gazing　inquiringly　into　my　eyes；　“how　is　my　Ja　now？”
“The　night　is　serene；　sir；　and　so　am　I。”
“And　you　will　not　dream　of　separation　and　sorrow　to…night；　but　of　happy　love　and　blissful　union。”
This　prediction　was　but　half　fulfilled：　I　did　not　indeed　dream　of　sorrow；　but　as　little　did　I　dream　of　joy；　for　I　never　slept　at　all。　With　little　Adèle　in　my　arms；　I　watched　the　slumber　of　childhood—so　tranquil；　so　passionless；　so　innocent—and　waited　for　the　ing　day：　all　my　life　was　awake　and　astir　in　my　frame：　and　as　soon　as　the　sun　rose　I　rose　too。　I　remember　Adèle　clung　to　me　as　I　left　her：　I　remember　I　kissed　her　as　I　loosened　her　little　hands　from　my　neck；　and　I　cried　over　her　with　strange　emotion；　and　quitted　her　because　I　feared　my　sobs　would　break　her　still　sound　repose。　She　seemed　the　emblem　of　my　past　life；　and　he　I　was　now　to　array　myself　to　meet；　the　dread；　but　adored；　type　of　my　unknown　future　day。
Chapter　26
Sophie　came　at　seven　to　dress　me：　she　was　very　long　indeed　in　acplishing　her　task；　so　long　that　Mr。　Rochester；　grown；　I　suppose；　impatient　of　my　delay；　sent　up　to　ask　why　I　did　not　e。　She　was　just　fastening　my　veil　（the　plain　square　of　blond　after　all）　to　my　hair　with　a　brooch；　I　hurried　from　under　her　hands　as　soon　as　I　could。
“Stop！”　she　cried　in　French。　“Look　at　yourself　in　the　mirror：　you　have　not　taken　one　peep。”
So　I　turned　at　the　door：　I　saw　a　robed　and　veiled　figure；　so　unlike　my　usual　self　that　it　seemed　almost　the　image　of　a　stranger。　“Jane！”　called　a　voice；　and　I　hastened　down。　I　was　received　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs　by　Mr。　Rochester。
“Lingerer！”　he　said；　“my　brain　is　on　fire　with　impatience；　and　you　tarry　so　long！”
He　took　me　into　the　dining…room；　surveyed　me　keenly　all　over；　pronounced　me　“fair　as　a　lily；　and　not　only　the　pride　of　his　life；　but　the　desire　of　his　eyes；”　and　then　telling　me　he　would　give　me　but　ten　minutes　to　eat　some　breakfast；　he　rang　the　bell。　One　of　his　lately　hired　servants；　a　footman；　answered　it。
“Is　John　getting　the　carriage　ready？”
“Yes；　sir。”
“Is　the　luggage　brought　down？”
“They　are　bringing　it　down；　sir。”
“Go　you　to　the　church：　see　if　Mr。　Wood　（the　clergyman）　and　the　clerk　are　there：　return　and　tell　me。”
The　churc