简爱(英文版)-第59章

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She　pointed　to　the　rocking…chair：　I　took　it。　She　bustled　about；　examining　me　every　now　and　then　with　the　corner　of　her　eye。　Turning　to　me；　as　she　took　some　loaves　from　the　oven；　she　asked　bluntly—
“Did　you　ever　go　a…begging　afore　you　came　here？”
I　was　indignant　for　a　moment；　but　remembering　that　anger　was　out　of　the　question；　and　that　I　had　indeed　appeared　as　a　beggar　to　her；　I　answered　quietly；　but　still　not　without　a　certain　marked　firmness—
“You　are　mistaken　in　supposing　me　a　beggar。　I　am　no　beggar；　any　more　than　yourself　or　your　young　ladies。”
After　a　pause　she　said；　“I　dunnut　understand　that：　you’ve　like　no　house；　nor　no　brass；　I　guess？”
“The　want　of　house　or　brass　（by　which　I　suppose　you　mean　money）　does　not　make　a　beggar　in　your　sense　of　the　word。”
“Are　you　book…learned？”　she　inquired　presently。
“Yes；　very。”
“But　you’ve　never　been　to　a　boarding…school？”
“I　was　at　a　boarding…school　eight　years。”
She　opened　her　eyes　wide。　“Whatever　cannot　ye　keep　yourself　for；　then？”
“I　have　kept　myself；　and；　I　trust；　shall　keep　myself　again。　What　are　you　going　to　do　with　these　gooseberries？”　I　inquired；　as　she　brought　out　a　basket　of　the　fruit。
“Mak’　‘em　into　pies。”
“Give　them　to　me　and　I’ll　pick　them。”
“Nay；　I　dunnut　want　ye　to　do　nought。”
“But　I　must　do　something。　Let　me　have　them。”
She　consented；　and　she　even　brought　me　a　clean　towel　to　spread　over　my　dress；　“lest；”　as　she　said；　“I　should　mucky　it。”
“Ye’ve　not　been　used　to　sarvant’s　wark；　I　see　by　your　hands；”　she　remarked。　“Happen　ye’ve　been　a　dressmaker？”
“No；　you　are　wrong。　And　now；　never　mind　what　I　have　been：　don’t　trouble　your　head　further　about　me；　but　tell　me　the　name　of　the　house　where　we　are。”
“Some　calls　it　Marsh　End；　and　some　calls　it　Moor　House。”
“And　the　gentleman　who　lives　here　is　called　Mr。　St。　John？”
“Nay；　he　doesn’t　live　here：　he　is　only　staying　a　while。　When　he　is　at　home；　he　is　in　his　own　parish　at　Morton。”
“That　village　a　few　miles　off？
“Aye。”
“And　what　is　he？”
“He　is　a　parson。”
I　remembered　the　answer　of　the　old　housekeeper　at　the　parsonage；　when　I　had　asked　to　see　the　clergyman。　“This；　then；　was　his　father’s　residence？”
“Aye；　old　Mr。　Rivers　lived　here；　and　his　father；　and　grandfather；　and　gurt　（great）　grandfather　afore　him。”
“The　name；　then；　of　that　gentleman；　is　Mr。　St。　John　Rivers？”
“Aye；　St。　John　is　like　his　kirstened　name。”
“And　his　sisters　are　called　Diana　and　Mary　Rivers？”
“Yes。”
“Their　father　is　dead？”
“Dead　three　weeks　sin’　of　a　stroke。”
“They　have　no　mother？”
“The　mistress　has　been　dead　this　mony　a　year。”
“Have　you　lived　with　the　family　long？”
“I’ve　lived　here　thirty　year。　I　nursed　them　all　three。”
“That　proves　you　must　have　been　an　honest　and　faithful　servant。　I　will　say　so　much　for　you；　though　you　have　had　the　incivility　to　call　me　a　beggar。”
She　again　regarded　me　with　a　surprised　stare。　“I　believe；”　she　said；　“I　y　thoughts　of　you：　but　there　is　so　mony　cheats　goes　about；　you　mun　forgie　me。”
“And　though；”　I　continued；　rather　severely；　“you　wished　to　turn　me　from　the　door；　on　a　night　when　you　should　not　have　shut　out　a　dog。”
“Well；　it　was　hard：　but　what　can　a　body　do？　I　thought　more　o’　th’　childer　nor　of　mysel：　poor　things！　They’ve　like　nobody　to　tak’　care　on　‘em　but　me。　I’m　like　to　look　sharpish。”
I　maintained　a　grave　silence　for　some　minutes。
“You　munnut　think　too　hardly　of　me；”　she　again　remarked。
“But　I　do　think　hardly　of　you；”　I　said；　“and　I’ll　tell　you　why—not　so　much　because　you　refused　to　give　me　shelter；　or　regarded　me　as　an　impostor；　as　because　you　just　now　made　it　a　species　of　reproach　that　I　had　no　‘brass’　and　no　house。　Some　of　the　best　people　that　ever　lived　have　been　as　destitute　as　I　am；　and　if　you　are　a　Christian；　you　ought　not　to　consider　poverty　a　crime。”
“No　more　I　ought；”　said　she：　“Mr。　St。　John　tells　me　so　too；　and　I　see　I　wor　wrang—but　I’ve　clear　a　different　notion　on　you　now　to　what　I　had。　You　look　a　raight　down　dacent　little　crater。”
“That　will　do—I　forgive　you　now。　Shake　hands。”
She　put　her　floury　and　horny　hand　into　mine；　another　and　heartier　smile　illumined　her　rough　face；　and　from　that　moment　we　were　friends。
Hannah　was　evidently　fond　of　talking。　While　I　picked　the　fruit；　and　she　made　the　paste　for　the　pies；　she　proceeded　to　give　me　sundry　details　about　her　deceased　master　and　mistress；　and　“the　childer；”　as　she　called　the　young　people。
Old　Mr。　Rivers；　she　said；　was　a　plain　man　enough；　but　a　gentleman；　and　of　as　ancient　a　family　as　could　be　found。　Marsh　End　had　belonged　to　the　Rivers　ever　since　it　was　a　house：　and　it　was；　she　affirmed；　“aboon　two　hundred　year　old—for　all　it　looked　but　a　small；　humble　place；　naught　to　pare　wi’　Mr。　Oliver’s　grand　hall　down　i’　Morton　Vale。　But　she　could　remember　Bill　Oliver’s　father　a　journeyman　needlemaker；　and　th’　Rivers　wor　gentry　i’　th’　owd　days　o’　th’　Henrys；　as　onybody　might　see　by　looking　into　th’　registers　i’　Morton　Church　vestry。”　Still；　she　allowed；　“the　owd　maister　was　like　other　folk—naught　mich　out　o’　t’　mon　way：　stark　mad　o’　shooting；　and　farming；　and　sich　like。”　The　mistress　was　different。　She　was　a　great　reader；　and　studied　a　deal；　and　the　“bairns”　had　taken　after　her。　There　was　nothing　like　them　in　these　parts；　nor　ever　had　been；　they　had　liked　learning；　all　three；　almost　from　the　time　they　could　speak；　and　they　had　always　been　“of　a　mak’　of　their　own。”　Mr。　St。　John；　when　he　grew　up；　would　go　to　college　and　be　a　parson；　and　the　girls；　as　soon　as　they　left　school；　would　seek　places　as　governesses：　for　they　had　told　her　their　father　had　some　years　ago　lost　a　great　deal　of　money　by　a　man　he　had　trusted　turning　bankrupt；　and　as　he　was　now　not　rich　enough　to　give　them　fortunes；　they　must　provide　for　themselves。　They　had　lived　very　little　at　home　for　a　long　while；　and　were　only　e　now　to　stay　a　few　weeks　on　account　of　their　father’s　death；　but　they　did　so　like　Marsh　End　and　Morton；　and　all　these　moors　and　hills　about。　They　had　been　in　London；　and　many　other　grand　towns；　but　they　always　said　there　was　no　place　like　home；　and　then　they　were　so　agreeable　with　each　other—never　fell　out　nor　“threaped。”　She　did　not　know　where　there　was　such　a　family　for　being　united。
Having　finished　my　task　of　gooseberry　picking；　I　asked　where　the　two　ladies　and　their　brother　were　now。
“Gone　over　to　Morton　for　a　walk；　but　they　would　be　back　in　half…an…　hour　to　tea。”
They　returned　within　the　time　Hannah　had　allotted　them：　they　entered　by　the　kitchen　door。　Mr。　St。　John；　when　he　saw　me；　merely　bowed　and　passed　through；　the　two　ladies　stopped：　Mary；　in　a　few　words；　kindly　and　calmly　expressed　the　pleasure　she　felt　in　seeing　me　well　enough　to　be　able　to　e　down；　Diana　took　my　hand：　she　shook　her　head　at　me。
“You　should　have　waited　for　my　leave　to　descend；”　she　said。　“You　still　look　very　pale—and　so　thin！　Poor　child！—poor　girl！”
Diana　had　a　voice　toned；　to　my　ear；　like　the　cooing　of　a　dove。　She　possessed　eyes　whose　gaze　I　delighted　to　encounter。　Her　whole　face　seemed　to　me　fill　of　charm。　Mary’s　countenance　was　equally　intelligent—her　features　equally　pretty；　but　her　expression　was　more　reserved；　and　her　manners；　though　gentle；　more　distant。　Diana　looked　and　spoke　with　a　certain　authority：　she　had　a　will；　evidently。　It　was　my　nature　to　feel　pleasure　in　yielding　to　an　authority　supported　like　hers；　and　to　bend；　where　my　conscience　and　self…respect　permitted；　to　an　active　will。
“And　what　business　have　you　here？”　she　continued。　“It　is　not　your　place。　Mary　and　I　sit　in　the　kitchen　sometimes；　because　at　home　we　like　to　be　free；　even　to　license—but　you　are　a　visitor；　and　must　go　into　the　parlour。”
“I　am　very　well　here。”
“Not　at　all；　with　Hannah　bustling　about　and　covering　you　with　flour。”
“Besides；　the　fire　is　too　hot　for　you；”　interposed　Mary。
“To　be　sure；”　added　her　sister。　“e；　you　must　be　obedient。”　And　still　holding　my　hand　she　made　me　rise；　and　led　me　into　the　inner　room。
“Sit　there；”　she　said；　placing　me　on　the　sofa；　“while　we　take　our　things　off　and　get　the　tea　ready；　it　is　another　privilege　we　exercise　in　our　little　moorland　home—to　prepare　our　own　meals　when　we　are　so　inclined；　or　when　Hannah　is　baking；　brewing；　washing；　or　ironing。”
She　closed　the　door；　leaving　me　solus　with　Mr。　St。　John；　who　sat　opposite；　a　book　or　newspaper　in　his　hand。　I　examined　first；　the　parlour；　and　then　its　occupant。
The　parlour　was　rather　a　small　room；　very　plainly　furnished；　yet　fortable；　because　clean　and　neat。　The　old…fashioned　chairs　were　very　bright；　and　the　walnut…wood　table　was　like　a　looking…glass。　A　feen　and　women　of　other　days　decorated　the　stained　walls；　a　cupboard　with　glass　doors　contained　some　books　and　an　ancient　set　of　china。　There　was　no　superfluous　ornament　in　the　room—not　one　modern　piece　of　furniture；　save　a　brace　of　workboxes　and　a　lady’s　desk　in　rosewood；　which　stood　on　a　side…table：　everything—including　the　carpet　and　curtains—looked　at　once　well　worn　and　well　saved。
Mr。　St。　John—sitting　as　still　as　one　of　the　dusty　pictures　on　the　walls；　keeping　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　page　he　perused；　and　his　lips　mutely　sealed—was　easy　enough　to　examine。　Had　he　been　a　statue　instead　of　a　man；　he　could　not　have　been　easier。　He　was　young—　perhaps　from　twenty…eight　to　thirty—tall；　slender；　his　face　riveted　the　eye；　it　was　like　a　Greek　face；　very　pure　in　outline：　quite　a　straight；　classic　nose；　quite　an　Athenian　mouth　and　chin。　It　is　seldom；　indeed；　an　English　face　es　so　near　the　antique　models　as　did　his。　He　might　well　be　a　little　shocked　at　the　irregularity　of　my　lineaments；　his　own　being　so　harmonious。　His　eyes　were　large　and　blue；　with　brown　lashes；　his　high　forehead；　colourless　as　ivory；　was　partially　streaked　over　by　careless　locks　of　fair　hair。
This　is　a　gentle　delineation；　is　it　not；　reader？　Yet　he　whom　it　describes　scarcely　impressed　one　with　the　idea　of　a　gentle；　a　yielding；　an　impressible；　or　even　of　a　placid　nature。　Quiescent　as　he　now　sat；　there　was　something　about　his　nostril；　his　mouth；　his　brow；　which；　to　my　perceptions；　indicated　elements　within　either　restless；　or　hard；　or　eager。　He　did　not　speak　to　me　one　word；　nor　even　direct　to　me　one　glance；　till　his　sisters　returned。　Diana；　as　she　passed　in　and　out；　in　the　course　of　preparing　tea；　brought　me　a　little　cake；　baked　on　the　top　of　the　oven。
“Eat　that　now；”　she　said：　“you　must　be　hungry。　Hannah　says　you　have　had　nothing　but　some　gruel　since　breakfast。”
I　did　not　refuse　it；　for　my　appetite　was　awakened　and　keen。　Mr。　Rivers　now　closed　his　book；　approached　the　table；　and；　as　he　took　a　seat；　fixed　his　blue　pictorial…looking　eyes　full　on　me。　There　was　an　unceremonious　directness；　a　searching；　decided　steadfastness　in　his　gaze　now；　which　told　that　intention；　and　not　diffidence；　had　hitherto　kept　it　averted　from　the　stranger。
“You　are　very　hungry；”　he　said。
“I　am；　sir。”　It　is　my　way—it　always　was　my　way；　by　instinct—ever　to　meet　the　brief　with　brevity；　the　direct　with　plainness。
“It　is　well　for　you　that　a　low　fever　has　forced　you　to　abstain　for　the　last　three　days：　there　would　have　been　danger　in　yielding　to　the　cravings　of　your　appetite　at　first。　Now　you　may　eat；　though　still　not　immoderately。”
“I　trust　I　shall　not　eat　long　at　your　expense；　sir；”　was　my　very　clumsily…contrived；　unpolished　answer。
“No；”　he　said　coolly：　“when　you　have　indicated　to　us　the　residence　of　your　friends；　we　can　write　to　them；　and　you　may　be　restored　to　home。”
“That；　I　must　plainly　tell　you；　is　out　of　my　power　to　do；　being　absolutely　without　home　and　friends。”
The　three　looked　at　me；　but　not　distrustfully；　I　felt　there　was　no　suspicion　in　their　glances：　there　was　more　of　curiosity。　I　speak　particularly　of　the　young　ladies。　St。　John’s　eyes；　though　clear　enough　in　a　literal　sense；　in　a　figurative　one　were　difficult　to　fathom。　He　seemed　to　use　them　rather　as　instruments　to　search　other　people’s　thoughts；　than　as　agents　to　reveal　his　own：　the　which　bination　of　keenness　and　reserve　was　considerably　more　calculated　to　embarrass　than　to　encourage。
“Do　you　mean　to　say；”　he　asked；　“that　you　are　pletely　isolated　from　every　connection？”
“I　do。　Not　a　tie　links　me　to　any　living　thing：　not　a　claim　do　I　possess　to　admittance　under　any　roof　in　England。”
“A　most　singular　position　at　your　age！”
Here　I　saw　his　glance　directed　to　my　hands；　which　were　folded　on　the　table　before　me。　I　wondered　what　he　sought　there：　his　words　soon　explained　the　quest。
“You　have　never　been　married？　You　are　a　spinster？”
Diana　laughed。　“Why；　she　can’t　he　above　seventeen　or　eighteen　years　old；　St。　John；”　said　she。
“I　am　near　nieen：　but　I　am　not　married。　No。”
I　felt　a　burning　glow　mount　to　my　face；　for　bitter　and　agitating　recollections　were　awakened　by　the　allusion　to　marriage。　They　all　saw　the　embarrassment　and　the　emotion。　Diana　and　Mary　relieved　me　by　turning　their　eyes　elsewhere　than　to　my　crimsoned　visage；　but　the　colder　and　sterner　brother　continued　to　gaze；　till　the　trouble　he　had　excited　forced　out　tears　as　well　as　colour。
“Where　did　you　last　reside？”　he　now　asked。
“You　are　too　inquisitive；　St。　John；”　murmured　Mary　in　a　low　voice；　but　he　leaned　over　the　table　and　required　an　answer　by　a　second　firm　and　piercing　look。
“The　name　of　the　place　where；