简爱(英文版)-第29部分

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ye　was　large　and　well　cut；　but　the　life　looking　out　of　it　was　a　tame；　vacant　life—at　least　so　I　thought。
The　sound　of　the　dressing…bell　dispersed　the　party。　It　was　not　till　after　dinner　that　I　saw　him　again：　he　then　seemed　quite　at　his　ease。　But　I　liked　his　physiognomy　even　less　than　before：　it　struck　me　as　being　at　the　same　time　unsettled　and　inanimate。　His　eye　wandered；　and　had　no　meaning　in　its　wandering：　this　gave　him　an　odd　look；　such　as　I　never　remembered　to　have　seen。　For　a　handsome　and　not　an　unamiable…looking　man；　he　repelled　me　exceedingly：　there　was　no　power　in　that　smooth…skinned　face　of　a　full　oval　shape：　no　firmness　in　that　aquiline　nose　and　small　cherry　mouth；　there　was　no　thought　on　the　low；　even　forehead；　no　mand　in　that　blank；　brown　eye。
As　I　sat　in　my　usual　nook；　and　looked　at　him　with　the　light　of　the　girandoles　on　the　mantelpiece　beaming　full　over　him—for　he　occupied　an　arm…chair　drawn　close　to　the　fire；　and　kept　shrinking　still　nearer；　as　if　he　were　cold；　I　pared　him　with　Mr。　Rochester。　I　think　（with　deference　be　it　spoken）　the　contrast　could　not　be　much　greater　between　a　sleek　gander　and　a　fierce　falcon：　between　a　meek　sheep　and　the　rough…coated　keen…eyed　dog；　its　guardian。
He　had　spoken　of　Mr。　Rochester　as　an　old　friend。　A　curious　friendship　theirs　must　have　been：　a　pointed　illustration；　indeed；　of　the　old　adage　that　“extremes　meet。”
Two　or　three　of　the　gentlemen　sat　near　him；　and　I　caught　at　times　scraps　of　their　conversation　across　the　room。　At　first　I　could　not　make　much　sense　of　what　I　heard；　for　the　discourse　of　Louisa　Eshton　and　Mary　Ingram；　who　sat　nearer　to　me；　confused　the　fragmentary　sentences　that　reached　me　at　intervals。　These　last　were　discussing　the　stranger；　they　both　called　him　“a　beautiful　man。”　Louisa　said　he　was　“a　love　of　a　creature；”　and　she　“adored　him；”　and　Mary　instanced　his　“pretty　little　mouth；　and　nice　nose；”　as　her　ideal　of　the　charming。
“And　what　a　sweet…tempered　forehead　he　has！”　cried　Louisa；—“so　smooth—none　of　those　frowning　irregularities　I　dislike　so　much；　and　such　a　placid　eye　and　smile！”
And　then；　to　my　great　relief；　Mr。　Henry　Lynn　summoned　them　to　the　other　side　of　the　room；　to　settle　some　point　about　the　deferred　excursion　to　Hay　mon。
I　was　now　able　to　concentrate　my　attention　on　the　group　by　the　fire；　and　I　presently　gathered　that　the　new…er　was　called　Mr。　Mason；　then　I　learned　that　he　was　but　just　arrived　in　England；　and　that　he　came　from　some　hot　country：　which　was　the　reason；　doubtless；　his　face　was　so　sallow；　and　that　he　sat　so　near　the　hearth；　and　wore　a　surtout　in　the　house。　Presently　the　words　Jamaica；　Kingston；　Spanish　Town；　indicated　the　West　Indies　as　his　residence；　and　it　was　with　no　little　surprise　I　gathered；　ere　long；　that　he　had　there　first　seen　and　bee　acquainted　with　Mr。　Rochester。　He　spoke　of　his　friend’s　dislike　of　the　burning　heats；　the　hurricanes；　and　rainy　seasons　of　that　region。　I　knew　Mr。　Rochester　had　been　a　traveller：　Mrs。　Fairfax　had　said　so；　but　I　thought　the　continent　of　Europe　had　bounded　his　wanderings；　till　now　I　had　never　heard　a　hint　given　of　visits　to　more　distant　shores。
I　was　pondering　these　things；　when　an　incident；　and　a　somewhat　unexpected　one；　broke　the　thread　of　my　musings。　Mr。　Mason；　shivering　as　some　one　chanced　to　open　the　door；　asked　for　more　coal　to　be　put　on　the　fire；　which　had　burnt　out　its　flame；　though　its　mass　of　cinder　still　shone　hot　and　red。　The　footman　who　brought　the　coal；　in　going　out；　stopped　near　Mr。　Eshton’s　chair；　and　said　something　to　him　in　a　low　voice；　of　which　I　heard　only　the　words；　“old　e。”
“Tell　her　she　shall　be　put　in　the　stocks　if　she　does　not　take　herself　off；”　replied　the　magistrate。
“No—stop！”　interrupted　Colonel　Dent。　“Don’t　send　her　away；　Eshton；　we　might　turn　the　thing　to　account；　better　consult　the　ladies。”　And　speaking　aloud；　he　continued—“Ladies；　you　talked　of　going　to　Hay　mon　to　visit　the　gipsy　camp；　Sam　here　says　that　one　of　the　old　Mother　Bunches　is　in　the　servants’　hall　at　this　moment；　and　insists　upon　being　brought　in　before　‘the　quality；’　to　tell　them　their　fortunes。　Would　you　like　to　see　her？”
“Surely；　colonel；”　cried　Lady　Ingram；　“you　would　not　encourage　such　a　low　impostor？　Dismiss　her；　by　all　means；　at　once！”
“But　I　cannot　persuade　her　to　go　away；　my　lady；”　said　the　footman；　“nor　can　any　of　the　servants：　Mrs。　Fairfax　is　with　her　just　now；　entreating　her　to　be　gone；　but　she　has　taken　a　chair　in　the　chimney…　er；　and　says　nothing　shall　stir　her　from　it　till　she　gets　leave　to　e　in　here。”
“What　does　she　want？”　asked　Mrs。　Eshton。
“‘To　tell　the　gentry　their　fortunes；’　she　says；　ma’am；　and　she　swears　she　must　and　will　do　it。”
“What　is　she　like？”　inquired　the　Misses　Eshton；　in　a　breath。
“A　shockingly　ugly　old　creature；　miss；　almost　as　black　as　a　crock。”
“Why；　she’s　a　real　sorceress！”　cried　Frederick　Lynn。　“Let　us　have　her　in；　of　course。”
“To　be　sure；”　rejoined　his　brother；　“it　would　be　a　thousand　pities　to　throw　away　such　a　chance　of　fun。”
“My　dear　boys；　what　are　you　thinking　about？”　exclaimed　Mrs。　Lynn。
“I　cannot　possibly　countenance　any　such　inconsistent　proceeding；”　chimed　in　the　Dowager　Ingram。
“Indeed；　mama；　but　you　can—and　will；”　pronounced　the　haughty　voice　of　Blanche；　as　she　turned　round　on　the　piano…stool；　where　till　now　she　had　sat　silent；　apparently　examining　sundry　sheets　of　music。　“I　have　a　curiosity　to　hear　my　fortune　told：　therefore；　Sam；　order　the　beldame　forward。”
“My　darling　Blanche！　recollect—”
“I　do—I　recollect　all　you　can　suggest；　and　I　must　have　my　！”
“Yes—yes—yes！”　cried　all　the　juveniles；　both　ladies　and　gentlemen。　“Let　her　e—it　will　be　excellent　sport！”
The　footman　still　lingered。　“She　looks　such　a　rough　one；”　said　he。
“Go！”　ejaculated　Miss　Ingram；　and　the　man　went。
Excitement　instantly　seized　the　whole　party：　a　running　fire　of　raillery　and　jests　was　proceeding　when　Sam　returned。
“She　won’t　e　now；”　said　he。　“She　says　it’s　not　her　mission　to　appear　before　the　‘vulgar　herd’　（them’s　her　words）。　I　must　show　her　into　a　room　by　herself；　and　then　those　who　wish　to　consult　her　must　go　to　her　one　by　one。”
“You　see　now；　my　queenly　Blanche；”　began　Lady　Ingram；　“she　encroaches。　Be　advised；　my　angel　girl—and—”
“Show　her　into　the　library；　of　course；”　cut　in　the　“angel　girl。”　“It　is　not　my　mission　to　listen　to　her　before　the　vulgar　herd　either：　I　mean　to　have　her　all　to　myself。　Is　there　a　fire　in　the　library？”
“Yes；　ma’am—but　she　looks　such　a　tinkler。”
“Cease　that　chatter；　blockhead！　and　do　my　bidding。”
Again　Sam　vanished；　and　mystery；　animation；　expectation　rose　to　full　flow　once　more。
“She’s　ready　now；”　said　the　footman；　as　he　reappeared。　“She　wishes　to　know　who　will　be　her　first　visitor。”
“I　think　I　had　better　just　look　in　upon　her　before　any　of　the　ladies　go；”　said　Colonel　Dent。
“Tell　her；　Sam；　a　gentleman　is　ing。”
Sam　went　and　returned。
“She　says；　sir；　that　she’ll　have　no　gentlemen；　they　need　not　trouble　themselves　to　e　near　her；　nor；”　he　added；　with　difficulty　suppressing　a　titter；　“any　ladies　either；　except　the　young；　and　single。”
“By　Jove；　she　has　taste！”　exclaimed　Henry　Lynn。
Miss　Ingram　rose　solemnly：　“I　go　first；”　she　said；　in　a　tone　which　might　have　befitted　the　leader　of　a　forlorn　hope；　mounting　a　breach　in　the　van　of　his　men。
“Oh；　my　best！　oh；　my　dearest！　pause—reflect！”　was　her　mama’s　cry；　but　she　swept　past　her　in　stately　silence；　passed　through　the　door　which　Colonel　Dent　held　open；　and　we　heard　her　enter　the　library。
A　parative　silence　ensued。　Lady　Ingram　thought　it　“le　cas”　to　wring　her　hands：　which　she　did　accordingly。　Miss　Mary　declared　she　felt；　for　her　part；　she　never　dared　venture。　Amy　and　Louisa　Eshton　tittered　under　their　breath；　and　looked　a　little　frightened。
The　minutes　passed　very　slowly：　fifteen　were　counted　before　the　library…door　again　opened。　Miss　Ingram　returned　to　us　through　the　arch。
Would　she　laugh？　Would　she　take　it　as　a　joke？　All　eyes　met　her　with　a　glance　of　eager　curiosity；　and　she　met　all　eyes　with　one　of　rebuff　and　coldness；　she　looked　neither　flurried　nor　merry：　she　walked　stiffly　to　her　seat；　and　took　it　in　silence。
“Well；　Blanche？”　said　Lord　Ingram。
“What　did　she　say；　sister？”　asked　Mary。
“What　did　you　think？　How　do　you　feel？—Is　she　a　real　fortune…　teller？”　demanded　the　Misses　Eshton。
“Now；　now；　good　people；”　returned　Miss　Ingram；　“don’t　press　upon　me。　Really　your　organs　of　wonder　and　credulity　are　easily　excited：　you　seem；　by　the　importance　of　you　all—my　good　mama　included—ascribe　to　this　matter；　absolutely　to　believe　we　have　a　genuine　witch　in　the　house；　who　is　in　close　alliance　with　the　old　gentleman。　I　have　seen　a　gipsy　vagabond；　she　has　practised　in　hackneyed　fashion　the　science　of　palmistry　and　told　me　what　such　people　usually　tell。　My　whim　is　gratified；　and　now　I　think　Mr。　Eshton　will　do　well　to　put　the　hag　in　the　stocks　to…morrow　morning；　as　he　threatened。”
Miss　Ingram　took　a　book；　leant　back　in　her　chair；　and　so　declined　further　conversation。　I　watched　her　for　nearly　half…an…hour：　during　all　that　time　she　never　turned　a　page；　and　her　face　grew　momently　darker；　more　dissatisfied；　and　more　sourly　expressive　of　disappointment。　She　had　obviously　not　heard　anything　to　her　advantage：　and　it　seemed　to　me；　from　her　prolonged　fit　of　gloom　and　taciturnity；　that　she　herself；　notwithstanding　her　professed　indifference；　attached　undue　importance　to　whatever　revelations　had　been　made　her。
Meantime；　Mary　Ingram；　Amy　and　Louisa　Eshton；　declared　they　dared　not　go　alone；　and　yet　they　all　wished　to　go。　A　negotiation　was　opened　through　the　medium　of　the　ambassador；　Sam；　and　after　much　pacing　to　and　fro；　till；　I　think；　the　said　Sam’s　calves　must　have　ached　with　the　exercise；　permission　was　at　last；　with　great　difficulty；　extorted　from　the　rigorous　Sibyl；　for　the　three　to　wait　upon　her　in　a　body。
Their　visit　was　not　so　still　as　Miss　Ingram’s　had　been：　we　heard　hysterical　giggling　and　little　shrieks　proceeding　from　the　library；　and　at　the　end　of　about　twenty　minutes　they　burst　the　door　open；　and　came　running　across　the　hall；　as　if　they　were　half…scared　out　of　their　wits。
“I　am　sure　she　is　something　not　right！”　they　cried；　one　and　all。　“She　told　us　such　things！　She　knows　all　about　us！”　and　they　sank　breathless　into　the　various　seats　the　gentlemen　hastened　to　bring　them。
Pressed　for　further　explanation；　they　declared　she　had　told　them　of　things　they　had　said　and　done　when　they　were　mere　children；　described　books　and　ornaments　they　had　in　their　boudoirs　at　home：　keepsakes　that　different　relations　had　presented　to　them。　They　affirmed　that　she　had　even　divined　their　thoughts；　and　had　whispered　in　the　ear　of　each　the　name　of　the　person　she　liked　best　in　the　world；　and　informed　them　of　what　they　most　wished　for。
Here　the　gentlemen　interposed　with　earnest　petitions　to　be　further　enlightened　on　these　two　last…named　points；　but　they　got　only　blushes；　ejaculations；　tremors；　and　titters；　in　return　for　their　importunity。　The　matrons；　meantime；　offered　vinaigrettes　and　wielded　fans；　and　again　and　again　reiterated　the　expression　of　their　concern　that　their　warning　had　not　been　taken　in　time；　and　the　elder　gentlemen　laughed；　and　the　younger　urged　their　services　on　the　agitated　fair　ones。
In　the　midst　of　the　tumult；　and　while　my　eyes　and　ears　were　fully　engaged　in　the　scene　before　me；　I　heard　a　hem　close　at　my　elbow：　I　turned；　and　saw　Sam。
“If　you　please；　miss；　the　gipsy　declares　that　there　is　another　young　single　lady　in　the　room　who　has　not　been　to　her　yet；　and　she　swears　she　will　not　go　till　she　has　seen　all。　I　thought　it　must　be　you：　there　is　no　one　else　for　it。　What　shall　I　tell　her？”
“Oh；　I　will　go　by　all　means；”　I　answered：　and　I　was　glad　of　the　unexpected　opportunity　to　gratify　my　much…excited　curiosity。　I　slipped　out　of　the　room；　unobserved　by　any　eye—for　the　pany　were　gathered　in　one　mass　about　the　trembling　trio　just　returned—and　I　closed　the　door　quietly　behind　me。
“If　you　like；　miss；”　said　Sam；　“I’ll　wait　in　the　hall　for　you；　and　if　she　frightens　you；　just　call　and　I’ll　e　in。”
“No；　Sam；　return　to　the　kitchen：　I　am　not　in　the　least　afraid。”　Nor　was　I；　but　I　was　a　good　deal　interested　and　excited。
Chapter　19
The　library　looked　tranquil　enough　as　I　entered　it；　and　the　Sibyl—　if　Sibyl　she　were—was　seated　snugly　enough　in　an　easy…chair　at　the　chimney…corner。　She　had　on　a　red　cloak　and　a　black　bon：　or　rather；　a　broad…brimmed　gipsy　hat；　tied　down　with　a　striped　handkerchief　under　her　chin。　An　extinguished　candle　stood　on　the　table；　she　was　bending　over　the　fire；　and　seemed　reading　in　a　little　black　book；　like　a　prayer…book；　by　the　light　of　the　blaze：　she　muttered　the　words　to　herself；　as　most　old　women　do；　while　she　read；　she　did　not　desist　immediately　on　my　entrance：　it　appeared　she　wished　to　finish　a　paragraph。
I　stood　on　the　rug　and　warmed　my　hands；　which　were　rather　cold　with　sitting　at　a　distance　from　the　drawing…room　fire。　I　felt　now　as　posed　as　ever　I　did　in　my　life：　there　was　nothing　indeed　in　the　gipsy’s　appearance　to　trouble　one’s　calm。　She　shut　her　book　and　slowly　looked　up；　her　hat…brim　partially　shaded　her　face；　yet　I　could　see；　as　she　raised　it；　that　it　was　a　strange　one。　It　looked　all　brown　and　black：　elf…locks　bristled　out　from　beneath　a　white　band　which　passed　under　her　chin；　and　came　half　over　her　cheeks；　or　rather　jaws：　her　eye　confronted　me　at　once；　with　a　bold　and　direct　gaze。
“Well；　and　you　want　your　fortune　told？”　she　said；　in　a　voice　as　decided　as　her　glance；　as　harsh　as　her　features。
“I　don’t　care　about　it；　mother；　you　may　please　yourself：　but　I　ought　to　warn　you；　I　have　no　faith。”
“It’s　like　your　impudence　to　say　so：　I　expected　it　of　you；　I　heard　it　in　your　step　as　you　crossed　the　threshold。”
“Did　you？　You’ve　a　quick　ear。”
“I　have；　and　a　quick　eye　and　a　quick　brain。”
“You　need　them　all　in　your　trade。”
“I　do；　especially　when　I’ve　customers　like　you　to　deal　with。　Why　don’t　you　tremble？”
“I’m　not　cold。”
“Why　don’t　you　turn　pale？”
“I　am　not　sick。”
“Why　don’t　you　consult　my　art？”
“I’m　not　silly。”
The　old　crone　“nichered”　a　laugh　under　her　bon　and　bandage；　she　then　drew　out　a　short　black　pipe；　and　lighting　it　began　to　smoke。　Having　indulged　a　while　in　this　sedative；　she　raised　her　bent　body；　took　the　pipe　from　her　lips；　and　while　gazing　steadily　at　the　fire；　said　very　deliberately—“You　are　cold；　you　are　sick；　and　you　are　silly。”
“Prove　it；”　I　rejoined。
“I　will；　in　few　words。　You　are　cold；　because　you　are　alone：　no　contact　strikes　the　fire　from　you　that　is　in　you。　You　are　sick；　because　the　best　of　feelings；　the　highest　and　the　sweetest　given　to　man；　keeps　far　away　from　you。　You　are　silly；　because；　suffer　as　you　may；　you　will　not　beckon　it　to　approach；　nor　will　you　stir　one　step　to　meet　it　where　it　waits　you。”
She　again　put　her　short　black　pipe　to　her　lips；　and　renewed　her　smoking　with　vigour。
“You　might　say　all　that　to　almost　any　one　who　you　knew　lived　as　a　solitary　dependent　in　a　great　house。”
“I　might　say　it　to　almost　any　one：　but　would　it　be　true　of　almost　any　one？”
“In　my　circumstances。”
“Yes；　just　so；　in　your　circumstances：　but　find　me　another　precisely　placed　as　you　are。”
“It　would　be　easy　to　find　you　thousands。”
“You　could　scarcely　find　me　one。　If　you　kn