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简爱(英文版)-第章

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and。
“I daresay you hardly remember me; Miss;” he said; rising as I entered; “but my name is Leaven: I lived coachman with Mrs。 Reed when you were at Gateshead; eight or nine years since; and I live there still。”
“Oh; Robert! how do you do? I remember you very well: you used to give me a ride sometimes on Miss Georgiana’s bay pony。 And how is Bessie? You are married to Bessie?”
“Yes; Miss: my wife is very hearty; thank you; she brought me another little one about two months since—we have three now—and both mother and child are thriving。”
“And are the family well at the house; Robert?”
“I am sorry I can’t give you better news of them; Miss: they are very badly at present—in great trouble。”
“I hope no one is dead;” I said; glancing at his black dress。 He too looked down at the crape round his hat and replied—
“Mr。 John died yesterday was a week; at his chambers in London。”
“Mr。 John?”
“Yes。”
“And how does his mother bear it?”
“Why; you see; Miss Eyre; it is not a mon mishap: his life has been very wild: these last three years he gave himself up to strange ways; and his death was shocking。”
“I heard from Bessie he was not doing well。”
“Doing well! He could not do worse: he ruined his health and his estate amongst the worst men and the worst women。 He got into debt and into jail: his mother helped him out twice; but as soon as he was free he returned to his old panions and habits。 His head was not strong: the knaves he lived amongst fooled him beyond anything I ever heard。 He came down to Gateshead about three weeks ago and wanted missis to give up all to him。 Missis refused: her means have long been much reduced by his extravagance; so he went back again; and the next news was that he was dead。 How he died; God knows!—they say he killed himself。”
I was silent: the things were frightful。 Robert Leaven resumed—
“Missis had been out of health herself for some time: she had got very stout; but was not strong with it; and the loss of money and fear of poverty were quite breaking her down。 The information about Mr。 John’s death and the manner of it came too suddenly: it brought on a stroke。 She was three days without speaking; but last Tuesday she seemed rather better: she appeared as if she wanted to say something; and kept making signs to my wife and mumbling。 It was only yesterday morning; however; that Bessie understood she was pronouncing your name; and at last she made out the words; ‘Bring Jane—fetch Jane Eyre: I want to speak to her。’ Bessie is not sure whether she is in her right mind; or means anything by the words; but she told Miss Reed and Miss Georgiana; and advised them to send for you。 The young ladies put it off at first; but their mother grew so restless; and said; ‘Jane; Jane;’ so many times; that at last they consented。 I left Gateshead yesterday: and if you can get ready; Miss; I should like to take you back with me early to… morrow morning。”
“Yes; Robert; I shall be ready: it seems to me that I ought to go。”
“I think so too; Miss。 Bessie said she was sure you would not refuse: but I suppose you will have to ask leave before you can get off?”
“Yes; and I will do it now;” and having directed him to the servants’ hall; and remended him to the care of John’s wife; and the attentions of John himself; I went in search of Mr。 Rochester。
He was not in any of the lower rooms; he was not in the yard; the stables; or the grounds。 I asked Mrs。 Fairfax if she had seen him;—yes: she believed he was playing billiards with Miss Ingram。 To the billiard…room I hastened: the click of balls and the hum of voices resounded thence; Mr。 Rochester; Miss Ingram; the two Misses Eshton; and their admirers; were all busied in the game。 It required some courage to disturb so interesting a party; my errand; however; was one I could not defer; so I approached the master where he stood at Miss Ingram’s side。 She turned as I drew near; and looked at me haughtily: her eyes seemed to demand; “What can the creeping creature want now?” and when I said; in a low voice; “Mr。 Rochester;” she made a movement as if tempted to order me away。 I remember her appearance at the moment—it was very graceful and very striking: she wore a morning robe of sky…blue crape; a gauzy azure scarf was twisted in her hair。 She had been all animation with the game; and irritated pride did not lower the expression of her haughty lineaments。
“Does that person r。 Rochester; and Mr。 Rochester turned to see who the “person” was。 He made a curious grimace—one of his strange and equivocal demonstrations—threw down his cue and followed me from the room。
“Well; Jane?” he said; as he rested his back against the schoolroom door; which he had shut。
“If you please; sir; I want leave of absence for a week or two。”
“What to do?—where to go?”
“To see a sick lady who has sent for me。”
“What sick lady?—where does she live?”
“At Gateshead; in—shire。”
“…shire? That is a hundred miles off! Who may she be that sends for people to see her that distance?”
“Her name is Reed; sir—Mrs。 Reed。”
“Reed of Gateshead? There was a Reed of Gateshead; a magistrate。”
“It is his widow; sir。”
“And what have you to do with her? How do you know her?”
“Mr。 Reed was my uncle—my mother’s brother。”
“The deuce he was! You never told me that before: you always said you had no relations。”
“None that would own me; sir。 Mr。 Reed is dead; and his wife cast me off。”
“Why?”
“Because I was poor; and burdensome; and she disliked me。”
“But Reed left children?—you must have cousins? Sir George Lynn was talking of a Reed of Gateshead yesterday; who; he said; was one of the veriest rascals on town; and Ingram was mentioning a Georgiana Reed of the same place; who was much admired for her beauty a season or two ago in London。”
“John Reed is dead; too; sir: he ruined himself and half…ruined his family; and is supposed to have mitted suicide。 The news so shocked his mother that it brought on an apoplectic attack。”
“And what good can you do her? Nonsense; Jane! I would never think of running a hundred miles to see an old lady who will; perhaps; be dead before you reach her: besides; you say 
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