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简爱(英文版)-第章

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“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 she cast you off。”
“Yes; sir; but that is long ago; and when her circumstances were very different: I could not be easy to neglect her wishes now。”
“How long will you stay?”
“As short a time as possible; sir。”
“Promise me only to stay a week—”
“I had better not pass my word: I might be obliged to break it。”
“At all events you will e back: you will not be induced under any pretext to take up a permanent residence with her?”
“Oh; no! I shall certainly return if all be well。”
“And who goes with you? You don’t travel a hundred miles alone。”
“No; sir; she has sent her coachman。”
“A person to be trusted?”
“Yes; sir; he has lived ten years in the family。”
Mr。 Rochester meditated。 “When do you wish to go?”
“Early to…morrow morning; sir。”
“Well; you must have some money; you can’t travel without money; and I daresay you have not much: I have given you no salary yet。 How much have you in the world; Jane?” he asked; smiling。
I drew out my purse; a meagre thing it was。 “Five shillings; sir。” He took the purse; poured the hoard into his palm; and chuckled over it as if its scantiness amused him。 Soon he produced his pocket… book: “Here;” said he; offering me a note; it was fifty pounds; and he owed me but fifteen。 I told him I had no change。
“I don’t want change; you know that。 Take your wages。”
I declined accepting more than was my due。 He scowled at first; then; as if recollecting something; he said—
“Right; right! Better not give you all now: you would; perhaps; stay away three months if you had fifty pounds。 There are ten; is it not plenty?”
“Yes; sir; but now you owe me five。”
“e back for it; then; I am your banker for forty pounds。”
“Mr。 Rochester; I may as well mention another matter of business to you while I have the opportunity。”
“Matter of business? I am curious to hear it。”
“You have as good as informed me; sir; that you are going shortly to be married?”
“Yes; what then?”
“In that case; sir; Adèle ought to go to school: I am sure you will perceive the necessity of it。”
“To get her out of my bride’s way; who might otherwise walk over her rather too emphatically? There’s sense in the suggestion; not a doubt of it。 Adèle; as you say; must go to school; and you; of course; must march straight to—the devil?”
“I hope not; sir; but I must seek another situation somewhere。”
“In course!” he exclaimed; with a twang of voice and a distortion of features equally fantastic and ludicrous。 He looked at me some minutes。
“And old Madam Reed; or the Misses; her daughters; will be solicited by you to seek a place; I suppose?”
“No; sir; I am not on such terms with my relatives as would justify me in asking favours of them—but I shall advertise。”
“You shall walk up the pyramids of Egypt!” he growled。 “At your peril you advertise! I wish I had only offered you a sovereign instead of ten pounds。 Give me back nine pounds; Jane; I’ve a use for it。”
“And so have I; sir;” I returned; putting my hands and my purse behind me。 “I could not spare the money on any account。”
“Little niggard!” said he; “refusing me a pecuniary request! Give me five pounds; Jane。”
“Not five shillings; sir; nor five pence。”
“Just let me look at the cash。”
“No; sir; you are not to be trusted。”
“Jane!”
“Sir?”
“Promise me one thing。”
“I’ll promise you anything; sir; that I think I am likely to perform。”
“Not to advertise: and to trust this quest of a situation to me。 I’ll find you one in time。”
“I shall be glad so to do; sir; if you; in your turn; will promise that I and Adèle shall be both safe out of the house before your bride enters it。”
“Very well! very well! I’ll pledge my word on it。 You go to… morrow; then?”
“Yes; sir; early。”
“Shall you e down to the drawing…room after dinner?”
“No; sir; I must prepare for the journey。”
“Then you and I must bid good…bye for a little while?”
“I suppose so; sir。”
“And how do people perform that ceremony of parting; Jane? Teach me; I’m not quite up to it。”
“They say; Farewell; or any other form they prefer。”
“Then say it。”
“Farewell; Mr。 Rochester; for the present。”
“What must I say?”
“The same; if you like; sir。”
“Farewell; Miss Eyre; for the present; is that all?”
“Yes?”
“It seems stingy; to my notions; and dry; and unfriendly。 I should like something else: a little addition to the rite。 If one shook hands; for instance; but no—that would not content me either。 So you’ll do no more than say Farewell; Jane?”
“It is enough; sir: as much good…will may be conveyed in one hearty word as in many。”
“Very likely; but it is blank and cool—‘Farewell。’”
“How long is he going to stand with his back against that door?” I asked myself; “I want to mence my packing。” The dinner…bell rang; and suddenly away he bolted; without another syllable: I saw him no more during the day; and was off before he had risen in the morning。
I reached the lodge at Gateshead about five o’clock in the afternoon of the first of May: I stepped in there before going up to the hall。 It was very clean and neat: the ornamental windows were hung with little white curtains; the floor was spotless; the grate and fire…irons were burnished bright; and the fire burnt clear。 Bessie sat on the hearth; nursing her last…born; and Robert and his sister played quietly in a corner。
“Bless you!—I knew you would e!” exclaimed Mrs。 Leaven; as I entered。
“Yes; Bessie;” said I; after I had kissed her; “and I trust I am not too late。 How is Mrs。 Reed?—Alive still; I hope。”
“Yes; she is alive; and more sensible and collected than she was。 The doctor says she may linger a week or two yet; but he hardly thinks she will finally recover。”
“Has she mentioned me lately?”
“She was talking of you only this morning; and wishing you would e; but she is sleeping now; or was ten minutes ago; when I was up at the house。 She generally lies in a kind of lethargy all the afternoon; and wakes up about six or seven。 W
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