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！
“She is far better as she is；” concluded Adèle； after musing some time： “besides； she would get tired of living with only you in the moon。 If I were mademoiselle； I would never consent to go with you。”
“She has consented： she has pledged her word。”
“But you can’t get her there； there is no road to the moon： it is all air； and neither you nor she can fly。”
“Adèle； look at that field。” We were now outside Thornfield gates； and bowling lightly along the smooth road to Millcote； where the dust was well laid by the thunderstorm； and； where the low hedges and lofty timber trees on each side glistened green and rain… refreshed。
“In that field； Adèle； I was walking late one evening about a fortnight since—the evening of the day you helped me to make hay in the orchard meadows； and； as I was tired with raking swaths； I sat down to rest me on a stile； and there I took out a little book and a pencil； and began to write about a misfortune that befell me long ago； and a wish I had for happy days to e： I was writing away very fast； though daylight was fading from the leaf； when something came up the path and stopped two yards off me。 I looked at it。 It was a little thing with a veil of gossamer on its head。 I beckoned it to e near me； it stood soon at my knee。 I never spoke to it； and it never spoke to me； in words； but I read its eyes； and it read mine； and our speechless colloquy was to this effect—
“It was a fairy； and e from Elf…land； it said； and its errand was to make me happy： I must go with it out of the mon world to a lonely place—such as the moon； for instance—and it nodded its head towards her horn； rising over Hay…hill： it told me of the alabaster cave and silver vale where we might live。 I said I should like to go； but reminded it； as you did me； that I had no wings to fly。
“‘Oh；’ returned the fairy； ‘that does not signify！ Here is a talisman will remove all difficulties；’ and she held out a pretty gold ring。 ‘Put it；’ she said； ‘on the fourth finger of my left hand； and I am yours； and you are mine； and we shall leave earth； and make our own heaven yonder。’ She nodded again at the moon。 The ring； Adèle； is in my breeches…pocket； under the disguise of a sovereign： but I mean soon to change it to a ring again。”
“But what has mademoiselle to do with it？ I don’t care for the fairy： you said it was mademoiselle you would take to the moon？”
“Mademoiselle is a fairy；” he said； whispering mysteriously。 Whereupon I told her not to mind his badinage； and she； on her part； evinced a fund of genuine French scepticism： denominating Mr。 Rochester “un vrai menteur；” and assuring him that she made no account whatever of his “contes de fee；” and that “du reste； il n’y avait pas de fées； et quand meme il y en avait：” she was sure they would never appear to him； nor ever give him rings； or offer to live with him in the moon。
The hour spent at Millcote was a somewhat harassing one to me。 Mr。 Rochester obliged me to go to a certain silk warehouse： there I was ordered to choose half…a…dozen dresses。 I hated the business； I begged leave to defer it： no—it should be gone through with now。 By dint of entreaties expressed in energetic whispers； I reduced the half…dozen to two： these however； he vowed he would select himself。 With anxiety I watched his eye rove over the gay stores： he fixed on a rich silk of the most brilliant amethyst dye； and a superb pink satin。 I told him in a new series of whispers； that he might as well buy me a gold gown and a silver bon at once： I should certainly never venture to wear his choice。 With infinite difficulty； for he was stubborn as a stone； I persuaded him to make an exchange in favour of a sober black satin and pearl…grey silk。 “It might pass for the present；” he said； “but he would yet see me glittering like a parterre。”
Glad was I to get him out of the silk warehouse； and then out of a jewellers shop： the more he bought me； the more my cheek burned with a sense of annoyance and degradation。 As we re…entered the carriage； and I sat back feverish and fagged； I remembered what； in the hurry of events； dark and bright； I had wholly forgotten—the letter of my uncle； John Eyre； to Mrs。 Reed： his intention to adopt me and make me his legatee。 “It would； indeed； be a relief；” I thought； “if I had ever so small an independency； I never can bear being dressed like a doll by Mr。 Rochester； or sitting like a second Danae with the golden shower falling daily round me。 I will write to Madeira the moment I get home； and tell my uncle John I am going to be married； and to whom： if I had but a prospect of one day bringing Mr。 Rochester an accession of fortune； I could better endure to be kept by him now。” And somewhat relieved by this idea （which I failed not to execute that day）； I ventured once more to meet my master’s and lover’s eye； which most pertinaciously sought mine； though I averted both face and gaze。 He smiled； and I thought his smile was such as a sultan might； in a blissful and fond moment； bestow on a slave his gold and gems had enriched： I crushed his hand； which was ever hunting mine； vigorously； and thrust it back to him red with the passionate pressure。
“You need not look in that way；” I said； “if you do； I’ll wear nothing but my old Lowood frocks to the end of the chapter。 I’ll be married in this lilac gingham： you may make a dressing…gown for yourself out of the pearl…grey silk； and an infinite series of waistcoats out of the black satin。”
He chuckled； he rubbed his hands。 “Oh； it is rich to see and hear her？” he exclaimed。 “Is she original？ Is she piquant？ I would not exchange this one little English girl for the Grand Turk’s whole seraglio； gazelle…eyes； houri forms； and all！”
The Eastern allusion bit me again。 “I’ll not stand you an inch in the stead of a seraglio；” I said； “so don’t consider me an equivalent for one。 If you have a fancy for anything in that line； away with you； sir； to the bazaars of Stamboul without delay； and lay out in extensive slave…purchases some of that spare cash you seem at a loss to spend satisfactorily here。”
“And what will you do； Ja； while I am bargaining for so many tons of flesh and suc