简爱(英文版)-第74章

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vants　will；　you　know；　ma’am—and　he　set　store　on　her　past　everything：　for　all；　nobody　but　him　thought　her　so　very　handsome。　She　was　a　little　small　thing；　they　say；　almost　like　a　child。　I　never　saw　her　myself；　but　I’ve　heard　Leah；　the　house…maid；　tell　of　her。　Leah　liked　her　well　enough。　Mr。　Rochester　was　about　forty；　and　this　governess　not　twenty；　and　you　see；　when　gentlemen　of　his　age　fall　in　love　with　girls；　they　are　often　like　as　if　they　were　bewitched。　Well；　he　would　marry　her。”
“You　shall　tell　me　this　part　of　the　story　another　time；”　I　said；　“but　now　I　have　a　particular　reason　for　wishing　to　hear　all　about　the　fire。　Was　it　suspected　that　this　lunatic；　Mrs。　Rochester；　had　any　hand　in　it？”
“You’ve　hit　it；　ma’am：　it’s　quite　certain　that　it　was　her；　and　nobody　but　her；　that　set　it　going。　She　had　a　woman　to　take　care　of　her　called　Mrs。　Poole—an　able　woman　in　her　line；　and　very　trustworthy；　but　for　one　fault—a　fault　mon　to　a　deal　of　them　nurses　and　matrons—she　kept　a　private　bottle　of　gin　by　her；　and　now　and　then　took　a　drop　over…much。　It　is　excusable；　for　she　had　a　hard　life　of　it：　but　still　it　was　dangerous；　for　when　Mrs。　Poole　was　fast　asleep　after　the　gin　and　water；　the　mad　lady；　who　was　as　cunning　as　a　witch；　would　take　the　keys　out　of　her　pocket；　let　herself　out　of　her　chamber；　and　go　roaming　about　the　house；　doing　any　wild　mischief　that　came　into　her　head。　They　say　she　had　nearly　burnt　her　husband　in　his　bed　once：　but　I　don’t　know　about　that。　However；　on　this　night；　she　set　fire　first　to　the　hangings　of　the　room　next　her　own；　and　then　she　got　down　to　a　lower　storey；　and　made　her　way　to　the　chamber　that　had　been　the　governess’s—（she　was　like　as　if　she　knew　somehow　how　matters　had　gone　on；　and　had　a　spite　at　her）—and　she　kindled　the　bed　there；　but　there　was　nobody　sleeping　in　it；　fortunately。　The　governess　had　run　away　two　months　before；　and　for　all　Mr。　Rochester　sought　her　as　if　she　had　been　the　most　precious　thing　he　had　in　the　world；　he　never　could　hear　a　word　of　her；　and　he　grew　savage—quite　savage　on　his　disappointment：　he　never　was　a　wild　man；　but　he　got　dangerous　after　he　lost　her。　He　would　be　alone；　too。　He　sent　Mrs。　Fairfax；　the　housekeeper；　away　to　her　friends　at　a　distance；　but　he　did　it　handsomely；　for　he　settled　an　annuity　on　her　for　life：　and　she　deserved　it—she　was　a　very　good　woman。　Miss　Adèle；　a　ward　he　had；　was　put　to　school。　He　broke　off　acquaintance　with　all　the　gentry；　and　shut　himself　up　like　a　hermit　at　the　Hall。”
“What！　did　he　not　leave　England？”
“Leave　England？　Bless　you；　no！　He　would　not　cross　the　door…stones　of　the　house；　except　at　night；　when　he　walked　just　like　a　ghost　about　the　grounds　and　in　the　orchard　as　if　he　had　lost　his　senses—　which　it　is　my　opinion　he　had；　for　a　more　spirited；　bolder；　keener　gentleman　than　he　was　before　that　midge　of　a　governess　crossed　him；　you　never　saw；　ma’am。　He　was　not　a　man　given　to　wine；　or　cards；　or　racing；　as　some　are；　and　he　was　not　so　very　handsome；　but　he　had　a　courage　and　a　will　of　his　own；　if　ever　man　had。　I　knew　him　from　a　boy；　you　see：　and　for　my　part；　I　have　often　wished　that　Miss　Eyre　had　been　sunk　in　the　sea　before　she　came　to　Thornfield　Hall。”
“Then　Mr。　Rochester　was　at　home　when　the　fire　broke　out？”
“Yes；　indeed　was　he；　and　he　went　up　to　the　attics　when　all　was　burning　above　and　below；　and　got　the　servants　out　of　their　beds　and　helped　them　down　himself；　and　went　back　to　get　his　mad　wife　out　of　her　cell。　And　then　they　called　out　to　him　that　she　was　on　the　roof；　where　she　was　standing；　waving　her　arms；　above　the　battlements；　and　shouting　out　till　they　could　hear　her　a　mile　off：　I　saw　her　and　heard　her　with　my　own　eyes。　She　was　a　big　woman；　and　had　long　black　hair：　we　could　see　it　streaming　against　the　flames　as　she　stood。　I　witnessed；　and　several　more　witnessed；　Mr。　Rochester　ascend　through　the　sky…light　on　to　the　roof；　we　heard　him　call　‘Bertha！’　We　saw　him　approach　her；　and　then；　ma’am；　she　yelled　and　gave　a　spring；　and　the　next　minute　she　lay　smashed　on　the　pavement。”
“Dead？”
“Dead！　Ay；　dead　as　the　stones　on　which　her　brains　and　blood　were　scattered。”
“Good　God！”
“You　may　well　say　so；　ma’am：　it　was　frightful！”
He　shuddered。
“And　afterwards？”　I　urged。
“Well；　ma’am；　afterwards　the　house　was　burnt　to　the　ground：　there　are　only　some　bits　of　walls　standing　now。”
“Were　any　other　lives　lost？”
“No—perhaps　it　would　have　been　better　if　there　had。”
“What　do　you　mean？”
“Poor　Mr。　Edward！”　he　ejaculated；　“I　little　thought　ever　to　have　seen　it！　Some　say　it　was　a　just　judgment　on　him　for　keeping　his　first　marriage　secret；　and　wanting　to　take　another　wife　while　he　had　one　living：　but　I　pity　him；　for　my　part。”
“You　said　he　was　alive？”　I　exclaimed。
“Yes；　yes：　he　is　alive；　but　many　think　he　had　better　he　dead。”
“Why？　How？”　My　blood　was　again　running　cold。　“Where　is　he？”　I　demanded。　“Is　he　in　England？”
“Ay—ay—he’s　in　England；　he　can’t　get　out　of　England；　I　fancy—he’s　a　fixture　now。”
What　agony　was　this！　And　the　man　seemed　resolved　to　protract　it。
“He　is　stone…blind；”　he　said　at　last。　“Yes；　he　is　stone…blind；　is　Mr。　Edward。”
I　had　dreaded　worse。　I　had　dreaded　he　was　mad。　I　summoned　strength　to　ask　what　had　caused　this　calamity。
“It　was　all　his　own　courage；　and　a　body　may　say；　his　kindness；　in　a　way；　ma’am：　he　wouldn’t　leave　the　house　till　every　one　else　was　out　before　him。　As　he　came　down　the　great　staircase　at　last；　after　Mrs。　Rochester　had　flung　herself　from　the　battlements；　there　was　a　great　crash—all　fell。　He　was　taken　out　from　under　the　ruins；　alive；　but　sadly　hurt：　a　beam　had　fallen　in　such　a　way　as　to　protect　him　partly；　but　one　eye　was　knocked　out；　and　one　hand　so　crushed　that　Mr。　Carter；　the　surgeon；　had　to　amputate　it　directly。　The　other　eye　inflamed：　he　lost　the　sight　of　that　also。　He　is　now　helpless；　indeed—blind　and　a　cripple。”
“Where　is　he？　Where　does　he　now　live？”
“At　Ferndean；　a　manor…house　on　a　farm　he　has；　about　thirty　miles　off：　quite　a　desolate　spot。”
“Who　is　with　him？”
“Old　John　and　his　wife：　he　would　have　none　else。　He　is　quite　broken　down；　they　say。”
“Have　you　any　sort　of　conveyance？”
“We　have　a　chaise；　ma’am；　a　very　handsome　chaise。”
“Let　it　be　got　ready　instantly；　and　if　your　post…boy　can　drive　me　to　Ferndean　before　dark　this　day；　I’ll　pay　both　you　and　him　twice　the　hire　you　usually　demand。”
Chapter　37
The　manor…house　of　Ferndean　was　a　building　of　considerable　antiquity；　moderate　size；　and　no　architectural　pretensions；　deep　buried　in　a　wood。　I　had　heard　of　it　before。　Mr。　Rochester　often　spoke　of　it；　and　sometimes　went　there。　His　father　had　purchased　the　estate　for　the　sake　of　the　game　covers。　He　would　have　let　the　house；　but　could　find　no　tenant；　in　consequence　of　its　ineligible　and　insalubrious　site。　Ferndean　then　remained　uninhabited　and　unfurnished；　with　the　exception　of　some　two　or　three　rooms　fitted　up　for　the　acmodation　of　the　squire　when　he　went　there　in　the　season　to　shoot。
To　this　house　I　came　just　ere　dark　on　an　evening　marked　by　the　characteristics　of　sad　sky；　cold　gale；　and　continued　small　perating　rain。　The　last　mile　I　performed　on　foot；　having　dismissed　the　chaise　and　driver　with　the　double　remuneration　I　had　promised。　Even　when　within　a　very　short　distance　of　the　manor…　house；　you　could　see　nothing　of　it；　so　thick　and　dark　grew　the　timber　of　the　gloomy　wood　about　it。　Iron　gates　between　granite　pillars　showed　me　where　to　enter；　and　passing　through　them；　I　found　myself　at　once　in　the　twilight　of　close…ranked　trees。　There　was　a　grass…grown　track　descending　the　forest　aisle　between　hoar　and　knotty　shafts　and　under　branched　arches。　I　followed　it；　expecting　soon　to　reach　the　dwelling；　but　it　stretched　on　and　on；　it　would　far　and　farther：　no　sign　of　habitation　or　grounds　was　visible。
I　thought　I　had　taken　a　wrong　direction　and　lost　my　way。　The　darkness　of　natural　as　well　as　of　sylvan　dusk　gathered　over　me。　I　looked　round　in　search　of　another　road。　There　was　none：　all　was　interwoven　stem；　columnar　trunk；　dense　summer　foliage—no　opening　anywhere。
I　proceeded：　at　last　my　way　opened；　the　trees　thinned　a　little；　presently　I　beheld　a　railing；　then　the　house—scarce；　by　this　dim　light；　distinguishable　from　the　trees；　so　dank　and　green　were　its　decaying　walls。　Entering　a　portal；　fastened　only　by　a　latch；　I　stood　amidst　a　space　of　enclosed　ground；　from　which　the　wood　swept　away　in　a　semicircle。　There　were　no　flowers；　no　garden…beds；　only　a　broad　gravel…walk　girdling　a　grass…plat；　and　this　set　in　the　heavy　frame　of　the　forest。　The　house　presented　two　pointed　gables　in　its　front；　the　windows　were　latticed　and　narrow：　the　front　door　was　narrow　too；　one　step　led　up　to　it。　The　whole　looked；　as　the　host　of　the　Rochester　Arms　had　said；　“quite　a　desolate　spot。”　It　was　as　still　as　a　church　on　a　week…day：　the　pattering　rain　on　the　forest　leaves　was　the　only　sound　audible　in　its　vicinage。
“Can　there　be　life　here？”　I　asked。
Yes；　life　of　some　kind　there　was；　for　I　heard　a　movement—that　narrow　front…door　was　unclosing；　and　some　shape　was　about　to　issue　from　the　grange。
It　opened　slowly：　a　figure　came　out　into　the　twilight　and　stood　on　the　step；　a　man　without　a　hat：　he　stretched　forth　his　hand　as　if　to　feel　whether　it　rained。　Dusk　as　it　was；　I　had　recognised　him—it　was　my　master；　Edward　Fairfax　Rochester；　and　no　other。
I　stayed　my　step；　almost　my　breath；　and　stood　to　watch　him—to　examine　him；　myself　unseen；　and　alas！　to　him　invisible。　It　was　a　sudden　meeting；　and　one　in　which　rapture　was　kept　well　in　check　by　pain。　I　had　no　difficulty　in　restraining　my　voice　from　exclamation；　my　step　from　hasty　advance。
His　form　was　of　the　same　strong　and　stalwart　contour　as　ever：　his　port　was　still　erect；　his　heir　was　still　raven　black；　nor　were　his　features　altered　or　sunk：　not　in　one　year’s　space；　by　any　sorrow；　could　his　athletic　strength　be　quelled　or　his　vigorous　prime　blighted。　But　in　his　countenance　I　saw　a　change：　that　looked　desperate　and　brooding—that　reminded　me　of　some　wronged　and　fettered　wild　beast　or　bird；　dangerous　to　approach　in　his　sullen　woe。　The　caged　eagle；　whose　gold…ringed　eyes　cruelty　has　extinguished；　might　look　as　looked　that　sightless　Samson。
And；　reader；　do　you　think　I　feared　him　in　his　blind　ferocity？—if　you　do；　you　little　know　me。　A　soft　hope　blest　with　my　sorrow　that　soon　I　should　dare　to　drop　a　kiss　on　that　brow　of　rock；　and　on　those　lips　so　sternly　sealed　beneath　it：　but　not　yet。　I　would　not　accost　him　yet。
He　descended　the　one　step；　and　advanced　slowly　and　gropingly　towards　the　grass…plat。　Where　was　his　daring　stride　now？　Then　he　paused；　as　if　he　knew　not　which　way　to　turn。　He　lifted　his　hand　and　opened　his　eyelids；　gazed　blank；　and　with　a　straining　effort；　on　the　sky；　and　toward　the　amphitheatre　of　trees：　one　saw　that　all　to　him　was　void　darkness。　He　stretched　his　right　hand　（the　left　arm；　the　mutilated　one；　he　kept　hidden　in　his　bosom）；　he　seemed　to　wish　by　touch　to　gain　an　idea　of　what　lay　around　him：　he　met　but　vacancy　still；　for　the　trees　were　some　yards　off　where　he　stood。　He　relinquished　the　endeavour；　folded　his　arms；　and　stood　quiet　and　mute　in　the　rain；　now　falling　fast　on　his　uncovered　head。　At　this　moment　John　approached　him　from　some　quarter。
“Will　you　take　my　arm；　sir？”　he　said；　“there　is　a　heavy　shower　ing　on：　had　you　not　better　go　in？”
“Let　me　alone；”　was　the　answer。
John　withdrew　without　having　observed　me。　Mr。　Rochester　now　tried　to　walk　about：　vainly；—all　was　too　uncertain。　He　groped　his　way　back　to　the　house；　and；　re…entering　it；　closed　the　door。
I　now　drew　near　and　knocked：　John’s　wife　opened　for　me。　“Mary；”　I　said；　“how　are　you？”
She　started　as　if　she　had　seen　a　ghost：　I　calmed　her。　To　her　hurried　“Is　it　really　you；　miss；　e　at　this　late　hour　to　this　lonely　place？”　I　answered　by　taking　her　hand；　and　then　I　followed　her　into　the　kitchen；　where　John　now　sat　by　a　good　fire。　I　explained　to　them；　in　few　words；　that　I　had　heard　all　which　had　happened　since　I　left　Thornfield；　and　that　I　was　e　to　see　Mr。　Rochester。　I　asked　John　to　go　down　to　the　turn…pike…house；　where　I　had　dismissed　the　chaise；　and　bring　my　trunk；　which　I　had　left　there：　and　then；　while　I　removed　my　bon　and　shaary　as　to　whether　I　could　be　acmodated　at　the　Manor　House　for　the　night；　and　finding　that　arrangements　to　that　effect；　though　difficult；　would　not　be　impossible；　I　informed　her　I　should　stay。　Just　at　this　moment　the　parlour…bell　rang。
“When　you　go　in；”　said　I；　“tell　your　master　that　a　person　wishes　to　speak　to　him；　but　do　not　give　my　name。”
“I　don’t　think　he　will　see　you；”　she　answered；　“he　refuses　everybody。”
When　she　returned；　I　inquired　what　he　had　said。　“You　are　to　send　in　your　name　and　your　business；”　she　replied。　She　then　proceeded　to　fill　a　glass　with　water；　and　place　it　on　a　tray；　together　with　candles。
“Is　that　what　he　rang　for？”　I　asked。
“Yes：　he　always　has　candles　brought　in　at　dark；　though　he　is　blind。”
“Give　the　tray　to　me；　I　will　carry　it　in。”
I　took　it　from　her　hand：　she　pointed　me　out　the　parlour　door。　The　tray　shook　as　I　held　it；　the　water　spilt　from　the　glass；　my　heart　struck　my　ribs　loud　and　fast。　Mary　opened　the　door　for　me；　and　shut　it　behind　me。
This　parlour　looked　gloomy：　a　neglected　handful　of　fire　burnt　low　in　the　grate；　and；　leaning　over　it；　with　his　head　supp