按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
癥es。” After which he murmured; “It will atone—it will atone。 Have I not found her friendless; and cold; and fortless? Will I not guard; and cherish; and solace her? Is there not love in my heart; and constancy in my resolves? It will expiate at God’s tribunal。 I know my Maker sanctions what I do。 For the world’s judgment—I wash my hands thereof。 For man’s opinion—I defy it。”
But what had befallen the night? The moon was not yet set; and we were all in shadow: I could scarcely see my master’s face; near as I was。 And what ailed the chestnut tree? it writhed and groaned; while wind roared in the laurel walk; and came sweeping over us。
“We must go in;” said Mr。 Rochester: “the weather changes。 I could have sat with thee till morning; Jane。”
“And so;” thought I; “could I with you。” I should have said so; perhaps; but a livid; vivid spark leapt out of a cloud at which I was looking; and there was a crack; a crash; and a close rattling peal; and I thought only of hiding my dazzled eyes against Mr。 Rochester’s shoulder。
The rain rushed down。 He hurried me up the walk; through the grounds; and into the house; but we were quite wet before we could pass the threshold。 He was taking off my shawl in the hall; and shaking the water out of my loosened hair; when Mrs。 Fairfax emerged from her room。 I did not observe her at first; nor did Mr。 Rochester。 The lamp was lit。 The clock was on the stroke of twelve。
“Hasten to take off your wet things;” said he; “and before you go; good…night—good…night; my darling!”
He kissed me repeatedly。 When I looked up; on leaving his arms; there stood the widow; pale; grave; and amazed。 I only smiled at her; and ran upstairs。 “Explanation will do for another time;” thought I。 Still; when I reached my chamber; I felt a pang at the idea she should even temporarily misconstrue what she had seen。 But joy soon effaced every other feeling; and loud as the wind blew; near and deep as the thunder crashed; fierce and frequent as the lightning gleamed; cataract…like as the rain fell during a storm of two hours’ duration; I experienced no fear and little awe。 Mr。 Rochester came thrice to my door in the course of it; to ask if I fort; that was strength for anything。
Before I left my bed in the morning; little Adèle came running in to tell me that the great horse…chestnut at the bottom of the orchard had been struck by lightning in the night; and half of it split away。
Chapter 24
As I rose and dressed; I thought over what had happened; and wondered if it were a dream。 I could not be certain of the reality till I had seen Mr。 Rochester again; and heard him renew his words of love and promise。
While arranging my hair; I looked at my face in the glass; and felt it was no longer plain: there was hope in its aspect and life in its colour; and my eyes seemed as if they had beheld the fount of fruition; and borrowed beams from the lustrous ripple。 I had often been unwilling to look at my master; because I feared he could not be pleased at my look; but I was sure I might lift my face to his now; and not cool his affection by its expression。 I took a plain but clean and light summer dress from my drawer and put it on: it seemed no attire had ever so well bee me; because none had I ever worn in so blissful a mood。
I was not surprised; when I ran down into the hall; to see that a brilliant June morning had succeeded to the tempest of the night; and to feel; through the open glass door; the breathing of a fresh and fragrant breeze。 Nature must be gladsome when I was so happy。 A beggar…woman and her little boy—pale; ragged objects both—were ing up the walk; and I ran down and gave them all the money I happened to have in my purse—some three or four shillings: good or bad; they must partake of my jubilee。 The rooks cawed; and blither birds sang; but nothing was so merry or so musical as my own rejoicing heart。
Mrs。 Fairfax surprised me by looking out of the window with a sad countenance; and saying gravely—“Miss Eyre; will you e to breakfast?” During the meal she was quiet and cool: but I could not undeceive her then。 I must wait for my master to give explanations; and so must she。 I ate what I could; and then I hastened upstairs。 I met Adèle leaving the schoolroom。
“Where are you going? It is time for lessons。”
“Mr。 Rochester has sent me away to the nursery。”
“Where is he?”
“In there;” pointing to the apartment she had left; and I went in; and there he stood。
“e and bid me good…morning;” said he。 I gladly advanced; and it was not merely a cold word now; or even a shake of the hand that I received; but an embrace and a kiss。 It seemed natural: it seemed genial to be so well loved; so caressed by him。
“Jane; you look blooming; and smiling; and pretty;” said he: “truly pretty this morning。 Is this my pale; little elf? Is this my mustard…seed? This little sunny…faced girl with the dimpled cheek and rosy lips; the satin…smooth hazel hair; and the radiant hazel eyes?” (I had green eyes; reader; but you must excuse the mistake: for him they were new…dyed; I suppose。)
“It is Jane Eyre; sir。”
“Soon to be Jane Rochester;” he added: “in four weeks; Ja; not a day more。 Do you hear that?”
I did; and I could not quite prehend it: it made me giddy。 The feeling; the announcement sent through me; was something stronger than was consistent with joy—something that smote and stunned。 It was; I think almost fear。
“You blushed; and now you are white; Jane: what is that for?”
“Because you gave me a new name—Jane Rochester; and it seems so strange。”
“Yes; Mrs。 Rochester;” said he; “young Mrs。 Rochester—Fairfax Rochester’s girl…bride。”
“It can never be; sir; it does not sound likely。 Human beings never enjoy plete happiness in this world。 I was not born for a different destiny to the rest of my species: to imagine such a lot befalling me is a fairy tale—a day…dream。”
“Which I can and will realise。 I shall begin to…day。 This morning I wrote to my banker in London to send me certain jewels he has in his keeping;—heirlooms for the ladies of Thornfield。 In a day or two I hope to pour them into your lap: for every privilege; every attention shall be yours that I woul