简爱(英文版)-第31部分

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d　on　the　sideboard；　each　had　taken　what　he　chose；　and　they　stood　about　here　and　there　in　groups；　their　plates　and　glasses　in　their　hands。　Every　one　seemed　in　high　glee；　laughter　and　conversation　were　general　and　animated。　Mr。　Mason　stood　near　the　fire；　talking　to　Colonel　and　Mrs。　Dent；　and　appeared　as　merry　as　any　of　them。　I　filled　a　wine…glass　（I　saw　Miss　Ingram　watch　me　frowningly　as　I　did　so：　she　thought　I　was　taking　a　liberty；　I　daresay）；　and　I　returned　to　the　library。
Mr。　Rochester’s　extreme　pallor　had　disappeared；　and　he　looked　once　more　firm　and　stern。　He　took　the　glass　from　my　hand。
“Here　is　to　your　health；　ministrant　spirit！”　he　said。　He　swallowed　the　contents　and　returned　it　to　me。　“What　are　they　doing；　Jane？”
“Laughing　and　talking；　sir。”
“They　don’t　look　grave　and　mysterious；　as　if　they　had　heard　something　strange？”
“Not　at　all：　they　are　full　of　jests　and　gaiety。”
“And　Mason？”
“He　was　laughing　too。”
“If　all　these　people　came　in　a　body　and　spat　at　me；　what　would　you　do；　Jane？”
“Turn　them　out　of　the　room；　sir；　if　I　could。”
He　half　smiled。　“But　if　I　were　to　go　to　them；　and　they　only　looked　at　me　coldly；　and　whispered　sneeringly　amongst　each　other；　and　then　dropped　off　and　left　me　one　by　one；　what　then？　Would　you　go　with　them？”
“I　rather　think　not；　sir：　I　should　have　more　pleasure　in　staying　with　you。”
“To　fort　me？”
“Yes；　sir；　to　fort　you；　as　well　as　I　could。”
“And　if　they　laid　you　under　a　ban　for　adhering　to　me？”
“I；　probably；　should　know　nothing　about　their　ban；　and　if　I　did；　I　should　care　nothing　about　it。”
“Then；　you　could　dare　censure　for　my　sake？”
“I　could　dare　it　for　the　sake　of　any　friend　who　deserved　my　adherence；　as　you；　I　am　sure；　do。”
“Go　back　now　into　the　room；　step　quietly　up　to　Mason；　and　whisper　in　his　ear　that　Mr。　Rochester　is　e　and　wishes　to　see　him：　show　him　in　here　and　then　leave　me。”
“Yes；　sir。”
I　did　his　behest。　The　pany　all　stared　at　me　as　I　passed　straight　among　them。　I　sought　Mr。　Mason；　delivered　the　message；　and　preceded　him　from　the　room：　I　ushered　him　into　the　library；　and　then　I　went　upstairs。
At　a　late　hour；　after　I　had　been　in　bed　some　time；　I　heard　the　visitors　repair　to　their　chambers：　I　distinguished　Mr。　Rochester’s　voice；　and　heard　him　say；　“This　way；　Mason；　this　is　your　room。”
He　spoke　cheerfully：　the　gay　tones　set　my　heart　at　ease。　I　was　soon　asleep。
Chapter　20
I　had　forgotten　to　draw　my　curtain；　which　I　usually　did；　and　also　to　let　down　my　window…blind。　The　consequence　was；　that　when　the　moon；　which　was　full　and　bright　（for　the　night　was　fine）；　came　in　her　course　to　that　space　in　the　sky　opposite　my　casement；　and　looked　in　at　me　through　the　unveiled　panes；　her　glorious　gaze　roused　me。　Awaking　in　the　dead　of　night；　I　opened　my　eyes　on　her　disk—silver…　white　and　crystal　clear。　It　was　beautiful；　but　too　solemn；　I　half　rose；　and　stretched　my　arm　to　draw　the　curtain。
Good　God！　What　a　cry！
The　night—its　silence—its　rest；　was　rent　in　twain　by　a　savage；　a　sharp；　a　shrilly　sound　that　ran　from　end　to　end　of　Thornfield　Hall。
My　pulse　stopped：　my　heart　stood　still；　my　stretched　arm　was　paralysed。　The　cry　died；　and　was　not　renewed。　Indeed；　whatever　being　uttered　that　fearful　shriek　could　not　soon　repeat　it：　not　the　widest…winged　condor　on　the　Andes　could；　twice　in　succession；　send　out　such　a　yell　from　the　cloud　shrouding　his　eyrie。　The　thing　delivering　such　utterance　must　rest　ere　it　could　repeat　the　effort。
It　came　out　of　the　third　storey；　for　it　passed　overhead。　And　overhead—yes；　in　the　room　just　above　my　chamber…ceiling—I　now　heard　a　struggle：　a　deadly　one　it　seemed　from　the　noise；　and　a　half…smothered　voice　shouted—
“Help！　help！　help！”　three　times　rapidly。
“Will　no　one　e？”　it　cried；　and　then；　while　the　staggering　and　stamping　went　on　wildly；　I　distinguished　through　plank　and　plaster：—
“Rochester！　Rochester！　for　God’s　sake；　e！”
A　chamber…door　opened：　some　one　ran；　or　rushed；　along　the　gallery。　Another　step　stamped　on　the　flooring　above　and　something　fell；　and　there　was　silence。
I　had　put　on　some　clothes；　though　horror　shook　all　my　limbs；　I　issued　from　my　apartment。　The　sleepers　were　all　aroused：　ejaculations；　terrified　murmurs　sounded　in　every　room；　door　after　door　unclosed；　one　looked　out　and　another　looked　out；　the　gallery　filled。　Gentlemen　and　ladies　alike　had　quitted　their　beds；　and　“Oh！　what　is　it？”—“Who　is　hurt？”—“What　has　happened？”—“Fetch　a　light！”—“Is　it　fire？”—“Are　there　robbers？”—“Where　shall　we　run？”　was　demanded　confusedly　on　all　hands。　But　for　the　moonlight　they　would　have　been　in　plete　darkness。　They　ran　to　and　fro；　they　crowded　together：　some　sobbed；　some　stumbled：　the　confusion　was　inextricable。
“Where　the　devil　is　Rochester？”　cried　Colonel　Dent。　“I　cannot　find　him　in　his　bed。”
“Here！　here！”　was　shouted　in　return。　“Be　posed；　all　of　you：　I’m　ing。”
And　the　door　at　the　end　of　the　gallery　opened；　and　Mr。　Rochester　advanced　with　a　candle：　he　had　just　descended　from　the　upper　storey。　One　of　the　ladies　ran　to　him　directly；　she　seized　his　arm：　it　was　Miss　Ingram。
“What　awful　event　has　taken　place？”　said　she。　“Speak！　let　us　know　the　worst　at　once！”
“But　don’t　pull　me　down　or　strangle　me；”　he　replied：　for　the　Misses　Eshton　were　clinging　about　him　now；　and　the　two　dowagers；　in　vast　white　wrappers；　were　bearing　down　on　him　like　ships　in　full　sail。
“All’s　right！—all’s　right！”　he　cried。　“It’s　a　mere　rehearsal　of　Much　Ado　about　Nothing。　Ladies；　keep　off；　or　I　shall　wax　dangerous。”
And　dangerous　he　looked：　his　black　eyes　darted　sparks。　Calming　himself　by　an　effort；　he　added—
“A　servant　has　had　the　nightmare；　that　is　all。　She’s　an　excitable；　nervous　person：　she　construed　her　dream　into　an　apparition；　or　something　of　that　sort；　no　doubt；　and　has　taken　a　fit　with　fright。　Now；　then；　I　must　see　you　all　back　into　your　rooms；　for；　till　the　house　is　settled；　she　cannot　be　looked　after。　Gentlemen；　have　the　goodness　to　set　the　ladies　the　example。　Miss　Ingram；　I　am　sure　you　will　not　fail　in　evincing　superiority　to　idle　terrors。　Amy　and　Louisa；　return　to　your　nests　like　a　pair　of　doves；　as　you　are。　Mesdames”　（to　the　dowagers）；　“you　will　take　cold　to　a　dead　certainty；　if　you　stay　in　this　chill　gallery　any　longer。”
And　so；　by　dint　of　alternate　coaxing　and　manding；　he　contrived　to　get　them　all　once　more　enclosed　in　their　separate　dormitories。　I　did　not　wait　to　be　ordered　back　to　mine；　but　retreated　unnoticed；　as　unnoticed　I　had　left　it。
Not；　however；　to　go　to　bed：　on　the　contrary；　I　began　and　dressed　myself　carefully。　The　sounds　I　had　heard　after　the　scream；　and　the　words　that　had　been　uttered；　had　probably　been　heard　only　by　me；　for　they　had　proceeded　from　the　room　above　mine：　but　they　assured　me　that　it　was　not　a　servant’s　dream　which　had　thus　struck　horror　through　the　house；　and　that　the　explanation　Mr。　Rochester　had　given　was　merely　an　invention　framed　to　pacify　his　guests。　I　dressed；　then；　to　be　ready　for　emergencies。　When　dressed；　I　sat　a　long　time　by　the　window　looking　out　over　the　silent　grounds　and　silvered　fields　and　waiting　for　I　knew　not　what。　It　seemed　to　me　that　some　event　must　follow　the　strange　cry；　struggle；　and　call。
No：　stillness　returned：　each　murmur　and　movement　ceased　gradually；　and　in　about　an　hour　Thornfield　Hall　was　again　as　hushed　as　a　desert。　It　seemed　that　sleep　and　night　had　resumed　their　empire。　Meantime　the　moon　declined：　she　was　about　to　set。　Not　liking　to　sit　in　the　cold　and　darkness；　I　thought　I　would　lie　down　on　my　bed；　dressed　as　I　was。　I　left　the　window；　and　moved　with　little　noise　across　the　carpet；　as　I　stooped　to　take　off　my　shoes；　a　cautious　hand　tapped　low　at　the　door。
“Am　I　wanted？”　I　asked。
“Are　you　up？”　asked　the　voice　I　expected　to　hear；　viz。；　my　master’s。
“Yes；　sir。”
“And　dressed？”
“Yes。”
“e　out；　then；　quietly。”
I　obeyed。　Mr。　Rochester　stood　in　the　gallery　holding　a　light。
“I　want　you；”　he　said：　“e　this　way：　take　your　time；　and　make　no　noise。”
My　slippers　were　thin：　I　could　walk　the　matted　floor　as　softly　as　a　cat。　He　glided　up　the　gallery　and　up　the　stairs；　and　stopped　in　the　dark；　low　corridor　of　the　fateful　third　storey：　I　had　followed　and　stood　at　his　side。
“Have　you　a　sponge　in　your　room？”　he　asked　in　a　whisper。
“Yes；　sir。”
“Have　you　any　salts—volatile　salts？　Yes。”
“Go　back　and　fetch　both。”
I　returned；　sought　the　sponge　on　the　washstand；　the　salts　in　my　drawer；　and　once　more　retraced　my　steps。　He　still　waited；　he　held　a　key　in　his　hand：　approaching　one　of　the　small；　black　doors；　he　put　it　in　the　lock；　he　paused；　and　addressed　me　again。
“You　don’t　turn　sick　at　the　sight　of　blood？”
“I　think　I　shall　not：　I　have　never　been　tried　yet。”
I　felt　a　thrill　while　I　answered　him；　but　no　coldness；　and　no　faintness。
“Just　give　me　your　hand；”　he　said：　“it　will　not　do　to　risk　a　fainting　fit。”
I　put　my　fingers　into　his。　“Warm　and　steady；”　was　his　remark：　he　turned　the　key　and　opened　the　door。
I　saw　a　room　I　remembered　to　have　seen　before；　the　day　Mrs。　Fairfax　showed　me　over　the　house：　it　was　hung　with　tapestry；　but　the　tapestry　was　now　looped　up　in　one　part；　and　there　was　a　door　apparent；　which　had　then　been　concealed。　This　door　was　open；　a　light　shone　out　of　the　room　within：　I　heard　thence　a　snarling；　snatching　sound；　almost　like　a　dog　quarrelling。　Mr。　Rochester；　putting　down　his　candle；　said　to　me；　“Wait　a　minute；”　and　he　went　forward　to　the　inner　apartment。　A　shout　of　laughter　greeted　his　entrance；　noisy　at　first；　and　terminating　in　Grace　Poole’s　own　goblin　ha！　ha！　She　then　was　there。　He　made　some　sort　of　arrangement　without　speaking；　though　I　heard　a　low　voice　address　him：　he　came　out　and　closed　the　door　behind　him。
“Here；　Jane！”　he　said；　and　I　walked　round　to　the　other　side　of　a　large　bed；　which　with　its　drawn　curtains　concealed　a　considerable　portion　of　the　chamber。　An　easy…chair　was　near　the　bed…head：　a　man　sat　in　it；　dressed　with　the　exception　of　his　coat；　he　was　still；　his　head　leant　back；　his　eyes　were　closed。　Mr。　Rochester　held　the　candle　over　him；　I　recognised　in　his　pale　and　seemingly　lifeless　face—the　stranger；　Mason：　I　saw　too　that　his　linen　on　one　side；　and　one　arm；　was　almost　soaked　in　blood。
“Hold　the　candle；”　said　Mr。　Rochester；　and　I　took　it：　he　fetched　a　basin　of　water　from　the　washstand：　“Hold　that；”　said　he。　I　obeyed。　He　took　the　sponge；　dipped　it　in；　and　moistened　the　corpse…like　face；　he　asked　for　my　smelling…bottle；　and　applied　it　to　the　nostrils。　Mr。　Mason　shortly　unclosed　his　eyes；　he　groaned。　Mr。　Rochester　opened　the　shirt　of　the　wounded　man；　whose　arm　and　shoulder　were　bandaged：　he　sponged　away　blood；　trickling　fast　down。
“Is　there　immediate　danger？”　murmured　Mr。　Mason。
“Pooh！　No—a　mere　scratch。　Don’t　be　so　overe；　man：　bear　up！　I’ll　fetch　a　surgeon　for　you　now；　myself：　you’ll　be　able　to　be　removed　by　morning；　I　hope。　Jane；”　he　continued。
“Sir？”
“I　shall　have　to　leave　you　in　this　room　with　this　gentleman；　for　an　hour；　or　perhaps　two　hours：　you　will　sponge　the　blood　as　I　do　when　it　returns：　if　he　feels　faint；　you　will　put　the　glass　of　water　on　that　stand　to　his　lips；　and　your　salts　to　his　nose。　You　will　not　speak　to　him　on　any　pretext—and—Richard；　it　will　be　at　the　peril　of　your　life　if　you　speak　to　her：　open　your　lips—agitate　yourself—and　I’ll　not　answer　for　the　consequences。”
Again　the　poor　man　groaned；　he　looked　as　if　he　dared　not　move；　fear；　either　of　death　or　of　something　else；　appeared　almost　to　paralyse　him。　Mr。　Rochester　put　the　now　bloody　sponge　into　my　hand；　and　I　proceeded　to　use　it　as　he　had　done。　He　watched　me　a　second；　then　saying；　“Remember！—No　conversation；”　he　left　the　room。　I　experienced　a　strange　feeling　as　the　key　grated　in　the　lock；　and　the　sound　of　his　retreating　step　ceased　to　be　heard。
Here　then　I　was　in　the　third　storey；　fastened　into　one　of　its　mystic　cells；　night　around　me；　a　pale　and　bloody　spectacle　under　my　eyes　and　hands；　a　murderess　hardly　separated　from　me　by　a　single　door：　yes—that　was　appalling—the　rest　I　could　bear；　but　I　shuddered　at　the　thought　of　Grace　Poole　bursting　out　upon　me。
I　must　keep　to　my　post；　however。　I　must　watch　this　ghastly　countenance—these　blue；　still　lips　forbidden　to　unclose—these　eyes　now　shut；　now　opening；　now　wandering　through　the　room；　now　fixing　on　me；　and　ever　glazed　with　the　dulness　of　horror。　I　must　dip　my　hand　again　and　again　in　the　basin　of　blood　and　water；　and　wipe　away　the　trickling　gore。　I　must　see　the　light　of　the　unsnuffed　candle　wane　on　my　employment；　the　shadows　darken　on　the　e；　and　grow　black　under　the　hangings　of　the　vast　old　bed；　and　quiver　strangely　over　the　doors　of　a　great　cabi　opposite—whose　front；　divided　into　twelve　panels；　bore；　in　grim　design；　the　heads　of　the　twelve　apostles；　each　enclosed　in　its　separate　panel　as　in　a　frame；　while　above　them　at　the　top　rose　an　ebon　crucifix　and　a　dying　Christ。
According　as　the　shifting　obscurity　and　flickering　gleam　hovered　here　or　glanced　there；　it　was　now　the　bearded　physician；　Luke；　that　bent　his　brow；　now　St。　John’s　long　hair　that　waved；　and　anon　the　devilish　face　of　Judas；　that　grew　out　of　the　panel；　and　seemed　gathering　life　and　threatening　a　revelation　of　the　arch…traitor—of　Satan　himself—in　his　subordinate’s　form。
Amidst　all　this；　I　had　to　listen　as　well　as　watch：　to　listen　for　the　movements　of　the　wild　beast　or　the　fiend　in　yonder　side　den。　But　since　Mr。　Rochester’s　visit　it　seemed　spellbound：　all　the　night　I　heard　but　three　sounds　at　three　long　intervals；—a　step　creak；　a　momentary　renewal　of　the　snarling；　canine　noise；　and　a　deep　human　groan。
Then　my　own　thoughts　worried　me。　What　crime　was　this　that　lived　incarnate　in　this　sequestered　mansion；　and　could　neither　be　expelled　nor　subdued　by　the　owner？—what　mystery；　that　broke　out　now　in　fire　and　now　in　blood；　at　the　deadest　hours　of　night？　What　creature　was　it；　that；　masked　in　an　ordinary　woman’s　face　and　shape；　uttered　the　voice；　now　of　a　mocking　demon；　and　anon　of　a　carrion…seeking　bird　of　prey？
And　this　man　I　bent　over—this　monplace；　quiet　stranger—how　had　he　bee　involved　in　the　web　of　horror？　and　why　had　the　Fury　flown　at　him？　What　made　him　seek　this　quarter　of　the　house　at　an　untimely　season；　when　he　should　have　been　asleep　in　bed？　I　had　heard　Mr。　Rochester　assign　him　an　apartment　below—what　brought　him　here！　And　why；　now；　was　he　so　tame　under　the　violence　or　treachery　done　him？　it　to　the　concealment　Mr。　Rochester　enforced？　Why　did　Mr。　Rochester　enforce　this　concealment？　His　guest　had　been　outraged；　his　own　life　on　a　former　occasion　had　been　hideously　plotted　against；　and　both　attempts　he　smothered　in　secrecy　and　sank　in　oblivion！　ly；　I　saw　Mr。　Mason　was　submissive　to　Mr。　Rochester；　that　the　impetuous　will　of　the　latter　held　plete　sway　over　the　inertness　of　the　former：　the　few　words　which　had　passed　between　them　assured　me　of　this。　It　was　evident　that　in　their　former　intercourse；　the　passive　disposition　of　the　one　had　been　habitually　influenced　by　the　active　energy　of　the　other：　whence　then　had　arisen　Mr。　Rochester’s　dismay　when　he　heard　of　Mr。　Mason’s　arrival？　Why　had　the　mere　name　of　this　unresisting　individual—whom　his　word　now　sufficed　to　control　like　a　child—fallen　on　him；　a　few　hours　since；　as　a　thunderbolt　might　fall　on　an　oak？
Oh！　I　could　not　forget　his　look　and　his　paleness　when　he　whispered：　“Jane；　I　have　got　a　blow—I　h