牛津書蟲第6級6-01.Jane Eyre Chapter 13

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Chapter13

Mr.Rochester,itseems,bythesurgeon’sorders,wenttobedearlythatnight;nordidherisesoonnextmorning.Whenhedidcomedown,itwastoattendtobusiness:hisagentandsomeofhistenantswerearrived,andwaitingtospeakwithhim.

AdeleandIhadnowtovacatethelibrary:itwouldbeindailyrequisitionasareception-roomforcallers.Afirewaslitinanapartmentupstairs,andthereIcarriedourbooks,andarrangeditforthefutureschoolroom.IdiscernedinthecourseofthemorningthatThornfieldHallwasachangedplace:nolongersilentasachurch,itechoedeveryhourortwotoaknockatthedoor,oraclangofthebell;steps,too,oftentraversedthehall,andnewvoicesspokeindifferentkeysbelow;arillfromtheouterworldwasflowingthroughit;ithadamaster:formypart,Ilikeditbetter.

Adelewasnoteasytoteachthatday;shecouldnotapply:shekeptrunningtothedoorandlookingoverthebanisterstoseeifshecouldgetaglimpseofMr.Rochester;thenshecoinedpretextstogodownstairs,inorder,asIshrewdlysuspected,tovisitthelibrary,whereIknewshewasnotwanted;then,whenIgotalittleangry,andmadehersitstill,shecontinuedtotalkincessantlyofher“ami,MonsieurEdouardFairfaxDERochester,”asshedubbedhim(Ihadnotbeforeheardhisprenomens),andtoconjecturewhatpresentshehadbroughther:foritappearshehadintimatedthenightbefore,thatwhenhisluggagecamefrom

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Millcote,therewouldbefoundamongstitalittleboxinwhosecontentsshehadaninterest.

“Etceladoitsignifier,”saidshe,“qu’ilyauralededansuncadeaupourmoi,etpeut-etrepourvousaussi,mademoiselle.Monsieuraparledevous:ilm’ademandelenomdemagouvernante,etsiellen’etaitpasunepetitepersonne,assezminceetunpeupale.J’aiditqu’oui:carc’estvrai,n’est-cepas,mademoiselle?”

IandmypupildinedasusualinMrs.Fairfax’sparlour;theafternoonwaswildandsnowy,andwepasseditintheschoolroom.AtdarkIallowedAdeletoputawaybooksandwork,andtorundownstairs;for,fromthecomparativesilencebelow,andfromthecessationofappealstothedoor-bell,IconjecturedthatMr.Rochesterwasnowatliberty.Leftalone,Iwalkedtothewindow;butnothingwastobeseenthence:twilightandsnowflakestogetherthickenedtheair,andhidtheveryshrubsonthelawn.Iletdownthecurtainandwentbacktothefireside.

IntheclearembersIwastracingaview,notunlikeapictureIrememberedtohaveseenofthecastleofHeidelberg,ontheRhine,whenMrs.Fairfaxcamein,breakingupbyherentrancethefierymosaicIhadbeenpiercingtogether,andscatteringtoosomeheavyunwelcomethoughtsthatwerebeginningtothrongonmysolitude.

“Mr.Rochesterwouldbegladifyouandyourpupilwouldtaketeawithhiminthedrawing-roomthis

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evening,”saidshe:“hehasbeensomuchengagedall

daythathecouldnotasktoseeyoubefore.”

“Whenishistea-time?”Iinquired.

“Oh,atsixo’clock:hekeepsearlyhoursinthecountry.Youhadbetterchangeyourfrocknow;Iwillgowith

youandfastenit.Hereisacandle.”

“Isitnecessarytochangemyfrock?”

“Yes,youhadbetter:IalwaysdressfortheeveningwhenMr.Rochesterishere.”

Thisadditionalceremonyseemedsomewhatstately;however,Irepairedtomyroom,and,withMrs.Fairfax’said,replacedmyblackstuffdressbyoneofblacksilk;thebestandtheonlyadditionaloneIhad,exceptoneoflightgrey,which,inmyLowoodnotionsofthetoilette,Ithoughttoofinetobeworn,exceptonfirst-rateoccasions.

“Youwantabrooch,”saidMrs.Fairfax.IhadasinglelittlepearlornamentwhichMissTemplegavemeasapartingkeepsake:Iputiton,andthenwewentdownstairs.UnusedasIwastostrangers,itwasratheratrialtoappearthusformallysummonedinMr.Rochester’spresence.IletMrs.Fairfaxprecedemeintothedining-room,andkeptinhershadeaswecrossedthatapartment;and,passingthearch,whosecurtainwasnowdropped,enteredtheelegantrecessbeyond.

Twowaxcandlesstoodlightedonthetable,andtwoonthemantelpiece;baskinginthelightandheatofa

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superbfire,layPilot—Adelekneltnearhim.HalfreclinedonacouchappearedMr.Rochester,hisfootsupportedbythecushion;hewaslookingatAdeleandthedog:thefireshonefullonhisface.Iknewmytravellerwithhisbroadandjettyeyebrows;hissquareforehead,madesquarerbythehorizontalsweepofhisblackhair.Irecognisedhisdecisivenose,moreremarkableforcharacterthanbeauty;hisfullnostrils,denoting,Ithought,choler;hisgrimmouth,chin,andjaw—yes,allthreewereverygrim,andnomistake.Hisshape,nowdivestedofcloak,Iperceivedharmonisedinsquarenesswithhisphysiognomy:Isupposeitwasagoodfigureintheathleticsenseoftheterm—broadchestedandthinflanked,thoughneithertallnorgraceful.

Mr.RochestermusthavebeenawareoftheentranceofMrs.Fairfaxandmyself;butitappearedhewasnotinthemoodtonoticeus,forheneverliftedhisheadasweapproached.

“HereisMissEyre,sir,”saidMrs.Fairfax,inherquietway.Hebowed,stillnottakinghiseyesfromthegroupofthedogandchild.

“LetMissEyrebeseated,”saidhe:andtherewassomethingintheforcedstiffbow,intheimpatientyetformaltone,whichseemedfurthertoexpress,“WhatthedeuceisittomewhetherMissEyrebethereornot?AtthismomentIamnotdisposedtoaccosther.”

Isatdownquitedisembarrassed.Areceptionoffinishedpolitenesswouldprobablyhaveconfusedme:Icould

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nothavereturnedorrepaiditbyansweringgraceandeleganceonmypart;butharshcapricelaidmeundernoobligation;onthecontrary,adecentquiescence,underthefreakofmanner,gavemetheadvantage.Besides,theeccentricityoftheproceedingwaspiquant:Ifeltinterestedtoseehowhewouldgoon.

Hewentonasastatuewould,thatis,heneitherspokenormoved.Mrs.Fairfaxseemedtothinkitnecessarythatsomeoneshouldbeamiable,andshebegantotalk.Kindly,asusual—and,asusual,rathertrite—shecondoledwithhimonthepressureofbusinesshehadhadallday;ontheannoyanceitmusthavebeentohimwiththatpainfulsprain:thenshecommendedhispatienceandperseveranceingoingthroughwithit.

“Madam,Ishouldlikesometea,”wasthesolerejoindershegot.Shehastenedtoringthebell;andwhenthetraycame,sheproceededtoarrangethecups,spoons,&c.,withassiduouscelerity.IandAdelewenttothetable;butthemasterdidnotleavehiscouch.

“WillyouhandMr.Rochester’scup?”saidMrs.Fairfaxtome;“Adelemightperhapsspillit.”

Ididasrequested.Ashetookthecupfrommyhand,Adele,thinkingthemomentpropitiousformakingarequestinmyfavour,criedout-

“N’est-cepas,monsieur,qu’ilyauncadeaupourMademoiselleEyredansvotrepetitcoffre?”

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“Whotalksofcadeaux?”saidhegruffly.“Didyouexpectapresent,MissEyre?Areyoufondofpresents?”andhesearchedmyfacewitheyesthatIsawweredark,irate,andpiercing.

“Ihardlyknow,sir;Ihavelittleexperienceofthem:theyaregenerallythoughtpleasantthings.”

“Generallythought?ButwhatdoYOUthink?”

“Ishouldbeobligedtotaketime,sir,beforeIcouldgiveyouananswerworthyofyouracceptance:apresenthasmanyfacestoit,hasitnot?andoneshouldconsiderall,beforepronouncinganopinionastoitsnature.”

“MissEyre,youarenotsounsophisticatedasAdele:shedemandsa‘cadeau,’clamorously,themomentsheseesme:youbeataboutthebush.”

“BecauseIhavelessconfidenceinmydesertsthanAdelehas:shecanprefertheclaimofoldacquaintance,andtherighttooofcustom;forshesaysyouhavealwaysbeeninthehabitofgivingherplaythings;butifIhadtomakeoutacaseIshouldbepuzzled,sinceIamastranger,andhavedonenothingtoentitlemetoanacknowledgment.”

“Oh,don’tfallbackonover-modesty!IhaveexaminedAdele,andfindyouhavetakengreatpainswithher:sheisnotbright,shehasnotalents;yetinashorttimeshehasmademuchimprovement.”

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“Sir,youhavenowgivenmemy‘cadeau;’Iamobligedtoyou:itisthemeedteachersmostcovet—praiseoftheirpupils’progress.”

“Humph!”saidMr.Rochester,andhetookhisteainsilence.

“Cometothefire,”saidthemaster,whenthetraywastakenaway,andMrs.Fairfaxhadsettledintoacornerwithherknitting;whileAdelewasleadingmebythehandroundtheroom,showingmethebeautifulbooksandornamentsontheconsolesandchiffonnieres.Weobeyed,asindutybound;Adelewantedtotakeaseatonmyknee,butshewasorderedtoamuseherselfwith

Pilot.

“Youhavebeenresidentinmyhousethreemonths?”“Yes,sir.”

“Andyoucamefrom—?”

“FromLowoodschool,in-shire.”

“Ah!acharitableconcern.Howlongwereyouthere?”“Eightyears.”

“Eightyears!youmustbetenaciousoflife.Ithoughthalfthetimeinsuchaplacewouldhavedoneupanyconstitution!Nowonderyouhaveratherthelookofanotherworld.Imarvelledwhereyouhadgotthatsortofface.WhenyoucameonmeinHayLanelastnight,Ithoughtunaccountablyoffairytales,andhadhalfa

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mindtodemandwhetheryouhadbewitchedmyhorse:Iamnotsureyet.Whoareyourparents?”

“Ihavenone.”

“Noreverhad,Isuppose:doyourememberthem?”

“No.”

“Ithoughtnot.Andsoyouwerewaitingforyourpeoplewhenyousatonthatstile?”

“Forwhom,sir?”

“Forthemeningreen:itwasapropermoonlighteveningforthem.DidIbreakthroughoneofyourrings,thatyouspreadthatdamnediceonthecauseway?”

Ishookmyhead.“ThemeningreenallforsookEnglandahundredyearsago,”saidI,speakingasseriouslyashehaddone.“AndnoteveninHayLane,orthefieldsaboutit,couldyoufindatraceofthem.Idon’tthinkeithersummerorharvest,orwintermoon,willevershineontheirrevelsmore.”

Mrs.Fairfaxhaddroppedherknitting,and,withraisedeyebrows,seemedwonderingwhatsortoftalkthiswas.

“Well,”resumedMr.Rochester,“ifyoudisownparents,youmusthavesomesortofkinsfolk:unclesandaunts?”

“No;nonethatIeversaw.”

“Andyourhome?”

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“Ihavenone.”

“Wheredoyourbrothersandsisterslive?”

“Ihavenobrothersorsisters.”

“Whorecommendedyoutocomehere?”

“Iadvertised,andMrs.Fairfaxansweredmy

advertisement.”

“Yes,”saidthegoodlady,whonowknewwhatgroundwewereupon,“andIamdailythankfulforthechoiceProvidenceledmetomake.MissEyrehasbeenaninvaluablecompaniontome,andakindandcarefulteachertoAdele.”

“Don’ttroubleyourselftogiveheracharacter,”returnedMr.Rochester:“eulogiumswillnotbiasme;I

shalljudgeformyself.Shebeganbyfellingmyhorse.”“Sir?”saidMrs.Fairfax.

“Ihavetothankherforthissprain.”

Thewidowlookedbewildered.

“MissEyre,haveyoueverlivedinatown?”

“No,sir.”

“Haveyouseenmuchsociety?”

“NonebutthepupilsandteachersofLowood,andnowtheinmatesofThornfield.”

“Haveyoureadmuch?”

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“Onlysuchbooksascameinmyway;andtheyhavenotbeennumerousorverylearned.”

“Youhavelivedthelifeofanun:nodoubtyouarewelldrilledinreligiousforms;—Brocklehurst,whoI

understanddirectsLowood,isaparson,ishenot?”“Yes,sir.”

“Andyougirlsprobablyworshippedhim,asaconvent

fullofreligieuseswouldworshiptheirdirector.”“Oh,no.”

“Youareverycool!No!What!anovicenotworshipherpriest!Thatsoundsblasphemous.”

“IdislikedMr.Brocklehurst;andIwasnotaloneinthefeeling.Heisaharshman;atoncepompousandmeddling;hecutoffourhair;andforeconomy’ssakeboughtusbadneedlesandthread,withwhichwecouldhardlysew.”

“Thatwasveryfalseeconomy,”remarkedMrs.Fairfax,whonowagaincaughtthedriftofthedialogue.

“Andwasthattheheadandfrontofhisoffending?”demandedMr.Rochester.

“Hestarveduswhenhehadthesolesuperintendenceoftheprovisiondepartment,beforethecommitteewasappointed;andheboreduswithlonglecturesonceaweek,andwitheveningreadingsfrombooksofhisowninditing,aboutsuddendeathsandjudgments,whichmadeusafraidtogotobed.”

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“WhatagewereyouwhenyouwenttoLowood?”“Aboutten.”

“Andyoustayedthereeightyears:youarenow,then,

eighteen?”

Iassented.

“Arithmetic,yousee,isuseful;withoutitsaid,Ishouldhardlyhavebeenabletoguessyourage.Itisapointdifficulttofixwherethefeaturesandcountenancearesomuchatvarianceasinyourcase.Andnowwhatdid

youlearnatLowood?Canyouplay?”

“Alittle.”

“Ofcourse:thatistheestablishedanswer.Gointothelibrary—Imean,ifyouplease.—(Excusemytoneofcommand;Iamusedtosay,‘Dothis,’anditisdone:Icannotaltermycustomaryhabitsforonenewinmate.)—Go,then,intothelibrary;takeacandlewithyou;leavethedooropen;sitdowntothepiano,andplayatune.”

Ideparted,obeyinghisdirections.

“Enough!”hecalledoutinafewminutes.“YouplayALITTLE,Isee;likeanyotherEnglishschool-girl;perhapsratherbetterthansome,butnotwell.”

Iclosedthepianoandreturned.Mr.Rochestercontinued—“Adeleshowedmesomesketchesthismorning,whichshesaidwereyours.Idon’tknow

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whethertheywereentirelyofyourdoing;probablyamasteraidedyou?”

“No,indeed!”Iinterjected.

“Ah!thatprickspride.Well,fetchmeyourportfolio,ifyoucanvouchforitscontentsbeingoriginal;butdon’tpassyourwordunlessyouarecertain:Icanrecognisepatchwork.”

“ThenIwillsaynothing,andyoushalljudgeforyourself,sir.”

Ibroughttheportfoliofromthelibrary.

“Approachthetable,”saidhe;andIwheeledittohiscouch.AdeleandMrs.Fairfaxdrewneartoseethepictures.

“Nocrowding,”saidMr.Rochester:“takethedrawingsfrommyhandasIfinishwiththem;butdon’tpushyourfacesuptomine.”

Hedeliberatelyscrutinisedeachsketchandpainting.Threehelaidaside;theothers,whenhehadexaminedthem,hesweptfromhim.

“Takethemofftotheothertable,Mrs.Fairfax,”saidhe,“andlookatthemwithAdele;—you”(glancingatme)“resumeyourseat,andanswermyquestions.Iperceivethosepicturesweredonebyonehand:wasthathand

yours?”

“Yes.”

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“Andwhendidyoufindtimetodothem?Theyhavetakenmuchtime,andsomethought.”

“IdidtheminthelasttwovacationsIspentatLowood,whenIhadnootheroccupation.”

“Wheredidyougetyourcopies?”

“Outofmyhead.”

“ThatheadIseenowonyourshoulders?”

“Yes,sir.”

“Hasitotherfurnitureofthesamekindwithin?”“Ishouldthinkitmayhave:Ishouldhope—better.”

Hespreadthepicturesbeforehim,andagainsurveyedthemalternately.

Whileheissooccupied,Iwilltellyou,reader,whattheyare:andfirst,Imustpremisethattheyarenothingwonderful.Thesubjectshad,indeed,risenvividlyonmymind.AsIsawthemwiththespiritualeye,beforeIattemptedtoembodythem,theywerestriking;butmyhandwouldnotsecondmyfancy,andineachcaseithadwroughtoutbutapaleportraitofthethingIhadconceived.

Thesepictureswereinwater-colours.Thefirstrepresentedcloudslowandlivid,rollingoveraswollensea:allthedistancewasineclipse;so,too,wastheforeground;orrather,thenearestbillows,fortherewasnoland.Onegleamoflightliftedintoreliefahalf-

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submergedmast,onwhichsatacormorant,darkandlarge,withwingsfleckedwithfoam;itsbeakheldagoldbraceletsetwithgems,thatIhadtouchedwithasbrillianttintsasmypalettecouldyield,andasglitteringdistinctnessasmypencilcouldimpart.Sinkingbelowthebirdandmast,adrownedcorpseglancedthroughthegreenwater;afairarmwastheonlylimbclearlyvisible,whencethebracelethadbeenwashedortorn.

Thesecondpicturecontainedforforegroundonlythedimpeakofahill,withgrassandsomeleavesslantingasifbyabreeze.Beyondandabovespreadanexpanseofsky,darkblueasattwilight:risingintotheskywasawoman’sshapetothebust,portrayedintintsasduskandsoftasIcouldcombine.Thedimforeheadwascrownedwithastar;thelineamentsbelowwereseenasthroughthesuffusionofvapour;theeyesshonedarkandwild;thehairstreamedshadowy,likeabeamlesscloudtornbystormorbyelectrictravail.Onthenecklayapalereflectionlikemoonlight;thesamefaintlustretouchedthetrainofthincloudsfromwhichroseandbowedthisvisionoftheEveningStar.

Thethirdshowedthepinnacleofanicebergpiercingapolarwintersky:amusterofnorthernlightsrearedtheirdimlances,closeserried,alongthehorizon.Throwingtheseintodistance,rose,intheforeground,ahead,—acolossalhead,inclinedtowardstheiceberg,andrestingagainstit.Twothinhands,joinedundertheforehead,andsupportingit,drewupbeforethelowerfeaturesasableveil,abrowquitebloodless,whiteasbone,andaneyehollowandfixed,blankofmeaning

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butfortheglassinessofdespair,alonewerevisible.Abovethetemples,amidstwreathedturbanfoldsofblackdrapery,vagueinitscharacterandconsistencyascloud,gleamedaringofwhiteflame,gemmedwithsparklesofamoreluridtinge.Thispalecrescentwas“thelikenessofakinglycrown;”whatitdiademedwas“theshapewhichshapehadnone.”

“Wereyouhappywhenyoupaintedthesepictures?”askedMr.Rochesterpresently.

“Iwasabsorbed,sir:yes,andIwashappy.Topaintthem,inshort,wastoenjoyoneofthekeenestpleasuresIhaveeverknown.”

“Thatisnotsayingmuch.Yourpleasures,byyourownaccount,havebeenfew;butIdaresayyoudidexistinakindofartist’sdreamlandwhileyoublentandarrangedthesestrangetints.Didyousitatthemlongeachday?”

“Ihadnothingelsetodo,becauseitwasthevacation,andIsatatthemfrommorningtillnoon,andfromnoontillnight:thelengthofthemidsummerdaysfavouredmyinclinationtoapply.”

“Andyoufeltself-satisfiedwiththeresultofyourardentlabours?”

“Farfromit.Iwastormentedbythecontrastbetweenmyideaandmyhandiwork:ineachcaseIhadimaginedsomethingwhichIwasquitepowerlesstorealise.”

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“Notquite:youhavesecuredtheshadowofyourthought;butnomore,probably.Youhadnotenoughoftheartist’sskillandsciencetogiveitfullbeing:yetthedrawingsare,foraschool-girl,peculiar.Astothethoughts,theyareelfish.TheseeyesintheEveningStaryoumusthaveseeninadream.Howcouldyoumakethemlooksoclear,andyetnotatallbrilliant?fortheplanetabovequellstheirrays.Andwhatmeaningisthatintheirsolemndepth?Andwhotaughtyoutopaintwind?Thereisahighgaleinthatsky,andonthishill-top.WheredidyouseeLatmos?ForthatisLatmos.There!putthedrawingsaway!”

Ihadscarcetiedthestringsoftheportfolio,when,lookingathiswatch,hesaidabruptly-

“Itisnineo’clock:whatareyouabout,MissEyre,toletAdelesitupsolong?Takehertobed.”

Adelewenttokisshimbeforequittingtheroom:heenduredthecaress,butscarcelyseemedtorelishitmorethanPilotwouldhavedone,norsomuch.

“Iwishyouallgood-night,now,”saidhe,makingamovementofthehandtowardsthedoor,intokenthathewastiredofourcompany,andwishedtodismissus.Mrs.Fairfaxfoldedupherknitting:Itookmyportfolio:wecurtseyedtohim,receivedafrigidbowinreturn,andsowithdrew.

“YousaidMr.Rochesterwasnotstrikinglypeculiar,Mrs.Fairfax,”Iobserved,whenIrejoinedherinherroom,afterputtingAdeletobed.

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“Well,ishe?”

“Ithinkso:heisverychangefulandabrupt.”

“True:nodoubthemayappearsotoastranger,butIamsoaccustomedtohismanner,Ineve