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简爱(英文版)-第章

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“In what shape?”
“In the shape of Miss Ingram; a noble and beautiful woman;—your bride。”
“My bride! What bride? I have no bride!”
“But you will have。”
“Yes;—I will!—I will!” He set his teeth。
“Then I must go:… you have said it yourself。”
“No: you must stay! I swear it—and the oath shall be kept。”
“I tell you I must go!” I retorted; roused to something like passion。 “Do you think I can stay to bee nothing to you? Do you think I am an automaton?—a machine without feelings? and can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips; and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think; because I am poor; obscure; plain; and little; I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong!—I have as much soul as you;—and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth; I should have made it as hard for you to leave me; as it is now for me to leave you。 I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom; conventionalities; nor even of mortal flesh;—it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave; and we stood at God’s feet; equal;—as we are!”
“As we are!” repeated Mr。 Rochester—“so;” he added; enclosing me in his arms。 Gathering me to his breast; pressing his lips on my lips: “so; Jane!”
“Yes; so; sir;” I rejoined: “and yet not so; for you are a married man—or as good as a married man; and wed to one inferior to you—to one with whom you have no sympathy—whom I do not believe you truly love; for I have seen and heard you sneer at her。 I would scorn such a union: therefore I am better than you—let me go!”
“Where; Jane? To Ireland?”
“Yes—to Ireland。 I have spoken my mind; and can go anywhere now。”
“Jane; be still; don’t struggle so; like a wild frantic bird that is rending its own plumage in its desperation。”
“I am no bird; and no  ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will; which I now exert to leave you。”
Another effort set me at liberty; and I stood erect before him。
“And your will shall decide your destiny;” he said: “I offer you my hand; my heart; and a share of all my possessions。”
“You play a farce; which I merely laugh at。”
“I ask you to pass through life at my side—to be my second self; and best earthly panion。”
“For that fate you have already made your choice; and must abide by it。”
“Jane; be still a few moments: you are over…excited: I will be still too。”
A waft of wind came sweeping down the laurel…walk; and trembled through the boughs of the chestnut: it wandered away—away—to an indefinite distance—it died。 The nightingale’s song was then the only voice of the hour: in listening to it; I again wept。 Mr。 Rochester sat quiet; looking at me gently and seriously。 Some time passed before he spoke; he at last said—
“e to my side; Jane; and let us explain and understand one another。”
“I will never again e to your side: I am torn away now; and cannot return。”
“But; Jane; I summon you as my wife: it is you only I intend to marry。”
I was silent: I thought he mocked me。
“e; Jane—e hither。”
“Your bride stands between us。”
He rose; and with a stride reached me。
“My bride is here;” he said; again drawing me to him; “because my equal is here; and my likeness。 Jane; will you marry me?”
Still I did not answer; and still I writhed myself from his grasp: for I was still incredulous。
“Do you doubt me; Jane?”
“Entirely。”
“You have no faith in me?”
“Not a whit。”
“Am I a liar in your eyes?” he asked passionately。 “Little sceptic; you shall be convinced。 What love have I for Miss Ingram? None: and that you know。 What love has she for me? None: as I have taken pains to prove: I caused a rumour to reach her that my fortune was not a third of what was supposed; and after that I presented myself to see the result; it was coldness both from her and her mother。 I would not—I could not—marry Miss Ingram。 You— you strange; you almost unearthly thing!—I love as my own flesh。 You—poor and obscure; and small and plain as you are—I entreat to accept me as a husband。”
“What; me!” I ejaculated; beginning in his earnestness—and especially in his incivility—to credit his sincerity: “me who have not a friend in the world but you… if you are my friend: not a shilling but what you have given me?”
“You; Jane; I must have you for my own—entirely my own。 Will you be mine? Say yes; quickly。”
“Mr。 Rochester; let me look at your face: turn to the moonlight。”
“Why?”
“Because I want to read your countenance—turn!”
“There! you will find it scarcely more legible than a crumpled; scratched page。 Read on: only make haste; for I suffer。”
His face was very much agitated and very much flushed; and there were strong workings in the features; and strange gleams in the eyes
“Oh; Jane; you torture me!” he exclaimed。 “With that searching and yet faithful and generous look; you torture me!”
“How can I do that? If you are true; and your offer real; my only feelings to you must be gratitude and devotion—they cannot torture。”
“Gratitude!” he ejaculated; and added wildly—“Jane accept me quickly。 Say; Edward—give me my name—Edward—I will marry you。”
“Are you in earnest? Do you truly love me? Do you sincerely wish me to be your wife?”
“I do; and if an oath is necessary to satisfy you; I swear it。”
“Then; sir; I will marry you。”
“Edward—my little wife!”
“Dear Edward!”
“e to me—e to me entirely now;” said he; and added; in his deepest tone; speaking in my ear as his cheek was laid on mine; “Make my happiness—I will make yours。”
“God pardon me!” he subjoined ere long; “and man meddle not with me: I have her; and will hold her。”
“There is no one to meddle; sir。 I have no kindred to interfere。”
“No—that is the best of it;” he said。 And if I had loved him less I should have thought his accent and look of exultation savage; but; sitting by him; roused from the nightmare of parting—called to the paradise of union—I thought only of the bliss given me to drink in so abundant a flow。 Again and again he said; “Are you happy; Jane?” And again and again I answered; “Yes。” After which he murmur
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