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简爱(英文版)-第章

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“The night is serene; sir; and so am I。”
“And you will not dream of separation and sorrow to…night; but of happy love and blissful union。”
This prediction was but half fulfilled: I did not indeed dream of sorrow; but as little did I dream of joy; for I never slept at all。 With little Adèle in my arms; I watched the slumber of childhood—so tranquil; so passionless; so innocent—and waited for the ing day: all my life was awake and astir in my frame: and as soon as the sun rose I rose too。 I remember Adèle clung to me as I left her: I remember I kissed her as I loosened her little hands from my neck; and I cried over her with strange emotion; and quitted her because I feared my sobs would break her still sound repose。 She seemed the emblem of my past life; and he I was now to array myself to meet; the dread; but adored; type of my unknown future day。
Chapter 26
Sophie came at seven to dress me: she was very long indeed in acplishing her task; so long that Mr。 Rochester; grown; I suppose; impatient of my delay; sent up to ask why I did not e。 She was just fastening my veil (the plain square of blond after all) to my hair with a brooch; I hurried from under her hands as soon as I could。
“Stop!” she cried in French。 “Look at yourself in the mirror: you have not taken one peep。”
So I turned at the door: I saw a robed and veiled figure; so unlike my usual self that it seemed almost the image of a stranger。 “Jane!” called a voice; and I hastened down。 I was received at the foot of the stairs by Mr。 Rochester。
“Lingerer!” he said; “my brain is on fire with impatience; and you tarry so long!”
He took me into the dining…room; surveyed me keenly all over; pronounced me “fair as a lily; and not only the pride of his life; but the desire of his eyes;” and then telling me he would give me but ten minutes to eat some breakfast; he rang the bell。 One of his lately hired servants; a footman; answered it。
“Is John getting the carriage ready?”
“Yes; sir。”
“Is the luggage brought down?”
“They are bringing it down; sir。”
“Go you to the church: see if Mr。 Wood (the clergyman) and the clerk are there: return and tell me。”
The church; as the reader knows; was but just beyond the gates; the footman soon returned。
“Mr。 Wood is in the vestry; sir; putting on his surplice。”
“And the carriage?”
“The horses are harnessing。”
“We shall not want it to go to church; but it must be ready the moment we return: all the boxes and luggage arranged and strapped on; and the coachman in his seat。”
“Yes; sir。”
“Jane; are you ready?”
I rose。 There were no groomsmen; no bridesmaids; no relatives to wait for or marshal: none but Mr。 Rochester and I。 Mrs。 Fairfax stood in the hall as we passed。 I would fain have spoken to her; but my hand was held by a grasp of iron: I was hurried along by a stride I could hardly follow; and to look at Mr。 Rochester’s face was to feel that not a second of delay would be tolerated for any purpose。 I wonder what other bridegroom ever looked as he did—so bent up to a purpose; so grimly resolute: or who; under such steadfast brows; ever revealed such flaming and flashing eyes。
I know not whether the day was fair or foul; in descending the drive; I gazed neither on sky nor earth: my heart was with my eyes; and both seemed migrated into Mr。 Rochester’s frame。 I wanted to see the invisible thing on which; as we went along; he appeared to fasten a glance fierce and fell。 I wanted to feel the thoughts whose force he seemed breasting and resisting。
At the churchyard wicket he stopped: he discovered I was quite out of breath。 “Am I cruel in my love?” he said。 “Delay an instant: lean on me; Jane。”
And now I can recall the picture of the grey old house of God rising calm before me; of a rook wheeling round the steeple; of a ruddy morning sky beyond。 I remember something; too; of the green grave… mounds; and I have not forgotten; either; two figures of strangers straying amongst the low hillocks and reading the mementoes graven on the few mossy head…stones。 I noticed them; because; as they saw us; they passed round to the back of the church; and I doubted not they were going to enter by the side…aisle door and witness the ceremony。 By Mr。 Rochester they were not observed; he was earnestly looking at my face from which the blood had; I daresay; momentarily fled: for I felt my forehead dewy; and my cheeks and lips cold。 When I rallied; which I soon did; he walked gently with me up the path to the porch。
ple; the priest waited in his white surplice at the lowly altar; the clerk beside him。 All was still: two shadows only moved in a remote corner。 My conjecture had been correct: the strangers had slipped in before us; and they now stood by the vault of the Rochesters; their backs towards us; viewing through the rails the old time…stained marble tomb; where a kneeling angel guarded the remains of Damer de Rochester; slain at Marston Moor in the time of the civil wars; and of Elizabeth; his wife。
Our place was taken at the munion rails。 Hearing a cautious step behind me; I glanced over my shoulder: one of the strangers—a gentleman; evidently—was advancing up the chancel。 The service began。 The explanation of the intent of matrimony was gone through; and then the clergyman came a step further forward; and; bending slightly towards Mr。 Rochester; went on。
“I require and charge you both (as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgment; when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed); that if either of you know any impediment why ye may not lawfully be joined together in matrimony; ye do now confess it; for be ye well assured that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God’s Word doth allow; are not joined together by God; neither is their matrimony lawful。”
He paused; as the custom is。 When is the pause after that sentence ever broken by reply? Not; perhaps; once in a hundred years。 And the clergyman; who had not lifted his eyes from his book; and had held his breath but for a moment; was proceeding: his hand was already stretched towards Mr。 Rochester; as his lips unclosed to ask; “Wilt thou have this woman for thy wedded wife?”—when a distinct and near voice said—
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