Chapter 36
Thedaylightcame.Iroseatdawn.Ibusiedmyselfforanhourortwowitharrangingmythingsinmychamber,drawers,andwardrobe,intheorderwhereinIshouldwishtoleavethemduringabriefabsence.Meantime,IheardSt.Johnquithisroom.Hestoppedatmydoor:Ifearedhewouldknoo,butaslipofpaperasseduhedoor.Itookitup.Itborethesewords—
“Youleftmetoosuddenlylastnight.Hadyoustayedbutalittlelonger,youwouldhavelaidyourhandontheChristian’scrossandtheangel’s.Ishallexpectyourcleardecisionwheurnthisdayfht.Meadpraythatyoueiation:thespirit,Itrust,iswilling,buttheflesh,Isee,isweak.Ishallprayforyouhourly.—Yours,ST.JOHN.”
“Myspirit,”Iansweredmentally,“iswillingtodowhatisright;andmyflesh,Ihope,isstrongenoughtoaplishthewillofHeaven,whewillisdistinctlyknowanyrate,itshallbestrongenoughtosearquire—togropeanoutletfromthiscloudofdoubt,andfindtheopendayofcertainty.”
ItwasthefirstofJuhemwasovercastandchilly:raifastonmycasement.Iheardthefront-dooropen,andSt.Johnpassout.Lookingthroughthewindow,IsawhimtraversethegardeookthewayoverthemistymoorsinthedireofWhitcross—therehewouldmeetthecoach.
“InafewmorehoursIshallsucceedyouinthattrack,cousin,”thoughtI:“ItoohaveacoaeetatWhitcross.ItoohavesometoseeandaskafterinEngland,beforeIdepartforever.”
Itwatwohoursofbreakfast-time.Ifilledtheintervalinwalkingsoftlyaboutmyroom,andpthevisitationwhichhadgivenmyplanstheirprese.IrecalledthatinwardsensationIhadexperienced:forIcouldrecallit,withallitsunspeakablestrangeness.IrecalledthevoiceIhadheard;agaiionedwhecame,asvainlyasbefore:itseemediiernalworld.Iaskedwasitamerenervousimpression—adelusion?Icouldnotceiveorbelieve:itwasmorelikeaninspiration.ThewondrousshockoffeelinghadeliketheearthquakewhichshookthefoundationsofPaulandSilas’sprison;ithadopehedoorsofthesoul’scellandlooseditsbands—ithadwakeoutofitssleep,whesprangtrembling,listening,aghast;thenvibratedthriceaystartledear,andinmyquakiandthroughmyspirit,whieitherfearednorshook,butexultedasifinjoyoverthesuccessofoneeffortithadbeenprivilegedtomake,indepeofthecumbrousbody.
“Eremanydays,”Isaid,asIterminatedmymusings,“Iwillknowsomethingofhimwhosevoiceseemedlastnighttosummotershaveprovedofnoavail—personalinquiryshallreplacethem.”
AtbreakfastIannouoDianaandMarythatIwasgoingajourney,andshouldbeabsentatleastfourdays.
“Alone,Jaheyasked.
“Yes;itwastoseeorhearnewsofafriendaboutwhomIhadforsometimebeenuneasy.”
Theymighthavesaid,asIhavenodoubttheythought,thattheyhadbelievedmetobewithoutanyfriendssavethem:for,indeed,Ihadoftensaidso;but,withtheirtruenaturaldelicacy,theyabstainedfroment,exceptthatDianaaskedmeifIwassureIwaswellenoughtotravel.Ilookedverypale,sheobserved.Ireplied,thatnothingailedmesaveayofmind,whichIhopedsoontoalleviate.
Itwaseasytomakemyfurtherarras;forIwastroubledwithnoinquiries—nosurmises.HavingonceexplaihemthatIcouldnotnowbeexplicitaboutmyplans,theykindlyandwiselyacquiesthesilehwhichIpursuedthem,acctometheprivilegeoffreeaIshouldundersimilarcircumstanceshaveaccordedthem.
IleftMoorHouseatthreeo’clockp.m.,andsoonafterfourIstoodatthefootofthesign-postofWhitcross,waitingthearrivalofthecoachwhichwastotakemetodistantThornfield.Amidstthesilehosesolitaryroadsahills,Ihearditapproaagreatdistawasthesamevehiclewhence,ayearago,Ihadalightedonesummereveningonthisveryspot—howdesolate,andhopeless,andobjectless!ItstoppedasIbeed.Ientered—notnowobligedtopartwithmywholefortuhepriceofitsaodation.OncemoreontheroadtoThornfield,Ifeltlikethemessenger-pigeonflyinghome.
Itwasajourneyofsix-and-thirtyhours.IhadsetoutfromWhitcrossonaTuesdayafternoon,andearlyonthesucceedingThursdaymthecoachstoppedtowaterthehorsesatawaysideinn,situatedinthemidstofserywhosegreenhedgesandlargefieldsandlowpastoralhills(howmildoffeatureandverdantofhueparedwiththesternNorth-MidlandmoorsofMortomyeyelikethelisofaoncefamiliarface.Yes,Ikhecharacterofthislandscape:Iwassurewewerenearmybourne.
“HowfarisThornfieldHallfromhere?”Iaskedoftheostler.
“Justtwomiles,ma’am,acrossthefields.”
“Myjourneyisclosed,”Ithoughttomyself.Igotoutofthecoach,gaveaboxIhadintotheostler’scharge,tobekepttillIcalledforit;paidmyfare;satisfiedthean,andwasgoing:thebrighteningdaygleamedonthesignoftheinn,andIreadingiltletters,“TheRochesterArms.”Myheartleaptup:Iwasalreadyonmymaster’sverylands.Itfellagaihoughtstruckit:—
“Yourmasterhimselfmaybebeyoishel,fhtyouknow:andthen,ifheisatThornfieldHall,towardswhichyouhasten,whobesideshimisthere?Hislunaticwife:andyouhavenothingtodowithhim:youdarenotspeaktohimorseekhispresence.Youhavelostyourlabour—youhadbettergonofarther,”urgedthemonitor.“Askinformationofthepeopleattheinn;theygiveyouallyouseek:theysolveyourdoubtsatonce.Gouptothatman,andinquireifMr.Rochesterbeathome.”
Thesuggestionwassensible,aIcouldnotforcemyselftoait.Isodreadedareplythatwouldcrushmewithdespair.Toprolongdoubtrolonghope.ImightyetoncemoreseetheHalluherayofherstar.Therewasthestilebeforeme—theveryfieldsthroughwhichIhadhurried,blind,deaf,distractedwitharevengefulfurytragandscme,onthemIfledfromThornfield:ereIwellknewwhatcourseIhadresolvedtotake,Iwasinthemidstofthem.HowfastIwalked!HowIraimes!HowIlookedforwardtocatchthefirstviewofthewell-knownwoods!WithwhatfeelingsIweledsireesIknew,andfamiliarglimpsesofmeadowandhillbetweenthem!
Atlastthewoodsrose;therookeryclustereddark;aloudgbrokethemstillness.Strangedelightinspiredme:onIhastened.Anotherfieldcrossed—alahreaded—andtherewerethecourtyardwalls—thebackoffices:thehouseitself,therookerystillhid.“Myfirstviewofitshallbeinfront,”Idetermined,“whereitsboldbattlementswillstriketheeyenoblyatondwhereIsimymaster’sverywindow:perhapshewillbestandingatit—herisesearly:perhapsheisnowwalkingintheorchard,oronthepavementinfront.CouldIbutseehim!—butamoment!Surely,inthatcase,Ishouldnotbesomadastoruntohim?Iottell—Iamain.AndifIdid—whatthen?Godblesshim!Whatthen?Whowouldbehurtbymyoncemoretastingthelifehisglangiveme?Irave:perhapsatthismomentheiswatgthesunriseoverthePyrenees,oroidelessseaofthesouth.”
Ihadcoastedalongthelowerwalloftheorchard—tursaherewasagatejustthere,openingintothemeadow,betweentwostonepillarsedbystoneballs.FrombehindonepillarIcouldpeeproundquietlyatthefullfrontofthemansion.Iadvancedmyheadwithprecaution,desiroustoascertainifanybedroomwindow-blindswereyetdrawnup:battlements,windows,longfront—allfromthisshelteredstatiomyand.
ThecrowssailingoverheadperhapswatchedmewhileItookthissurvey.Iwonderwhattheythought.TheymusthavesideredIwasverycarefulandtimidatfirst,andthatgraduallyIgrewveryboldandreckless.Apeep,andthenalongstare;andtheurefrommynidastrayingoutintothemeadow;andasuddenstopfullinfrontofthegreatmansion,andaprotracted,hardygazetowardsit.“Whataffectationofdiffidehisatfirst?”theymighthavedemanded;“whatstupidregardlessnessnow?”
Hearanillustration,reader.
Aloverfindshismistressasleeponamossybank;hewishestocatchaglimpseofherfairfacewithoutwakingher.Hestealssoftlyrass,carefultomakenosound;hepauses—fangshehasstirred:hewithdraws:notforworldswouldhebeseen.Allisstill:heagainadvances:hebendsaboveher;alightveilrestsonherfeatures:heliftsit,bendslower;nowhiseyesanticipatethevisioy—warm,andblooming,andlovely,i.Howhurriedwastheirfirstglahowtheyfix!Howhestarts!Howhesuddenlyandvehementlyclaspsinbotharmstheformhedarednot,amomentsiouchwithhisfinger!Howhecallsaloudaname,anddropshisburden,andgazesonitwildly!Hethusgraspsandcries,andgazes,becausehenolongerfearstowakenbyanysoundheutter—byanymovementhemake.Hethoughthislovesleptsweetly:hefindssheisstonedead.
Ilookedwithtimorousjoytowardsastatelyhouse:Isawablaedruin.
ocowerbehindagate-post,iopeepupatchamberlattices,fearinglifewasastirbehindthem!olistenfordoorsopening—tofancystepsonthepavementravel-walk!Thelawn,thegrouroddenandwaste:theportalyawnedvoid.Thefrontwas,asIhadoinadream,butawell-likewall,veryhighandveryfragile-looking,perforatedwithpanelesswindows:noroof,nobattlements,noeys—allhadcrashedin.
Andtherewasthesilenceofdeathaboutit:thesolitudeofalonesomewild.Nowohatlettersaddressedtopeopleherehadneverreceivedananswer:aswelldespatchepistlestoavaultinachurchaisle.ThegrimblaessofthestooldbywhatfatetheHallhadfallen—byflagration:buthowkindled?Whatstorybelohisdisaster?Whatloss,besidesmortarandmarbleandwood-workhadfolloweduponit?Hadlifebeenwreckedasroperty?Ifso,whose?Dreadfulquestion:therewasnoooa—notevendumbsign,mutetoken.
Inwanderingrouteredwallsandthroughthedevastatedinteriatheredevidethecalamitywasnotoflateoccurrence.Wintersnows,Ithought,haddriftedthroughthatvoidarch,winterraieninatthosehollowcasements;for,amidstthedrenchedpilesofrubbish,springhadcherishedvegetation:grassandweedgrewhereandtherebetweeonesandfallenrafters.Andoh!wheremeahehaplessowhiswrewhatland?Underices?Myeyeinvoluntarilywahegreychurchtowerhegates,andIasked,“IshewithDamerdeRochester,sharingtheshelterofhisnarrowmarblehouse?”
Someanswermustbehadtothesequestions.Icouldfinditnowherebutattheinn,andthither,erelong,Ireturhehosthimselfbroughtmybreakfastintotheparlour.Irequestedhimtoshutthedoorandsitdown:Ihadsomequestionstoaskhim.Butwhenheplied,Iscarcelyknewhowtobegin;suchhorrorhadIofthepossibleanswers.AhespectacleofdesolationIhadjustleftpreparedmeinameasureforataleofmisery.Thehostectable-looking,middle-agedman.
“YouknowThornfieldHall,ofcourse?”Imaosayatlast.
“Yes,ma’am;Ilivedthereonce.”
“Didyou?”Notinmytime,Ithought:youareastraome.
“IwasthelateMr.Rochester’sbutler,”headded.
Thelate!Iseemtohavereceived,withfullforce,theblowIhadbeentryingtoevade.
“Thelate!”gasped.“Ishedead?”
“Imeanthepreseleman,Mr.Edward’sfather,”heexplained.Ibreathedagain:mybloodresumeditsflow.FullyassuredbythesewordsthatMr.Edward—myMr.Rochester(Godblesshim,whereverhewas!)—wasatleastalive:was,inshort,“thepreseleman.”Gladdeningwords!ItseemedIcouldhearallthatwastoe—whateverthedisclosuresmightbe—withparativetranquillity.Sincehewasnotinthegrave,Icouldbear,Ithought,tolearnthathewasattheAntipodes.
“IsMr.RochesterlivingatThornfieldHallnow?”Iasked,knowing,ofcourse,whattheanswerwouldbe,butyetdesirousofdeferringthedirectquestionastowherehereallywas.
“No,ma’am—oh,no!Nooneislivingthere.Isupposeyouareastraheseparts,oryouwouldhaveheardpenedlastautumn,—ThornfieldHallisquitearuin:itwasburntdownjustaboutharvest-time.Adreadfulcalamity!suimmensequantityofvaluablepropertydestroyed:hardlyanyofthefurniturecouldbesaved.Thefirebrokeoutatdeadofnight,andbeforetheenginesarrivedfromMillcote,thebuildingwasonemassofflame.Itwasaterriblespectacle:Iwitmyself.”
“Atdeadofnight!”Imuttered.Yes,thatwaseverthehouroffatalityatThornfield.“Wasitknownhowitinated?”Idemanded.
“Theyguessed,ma’am:theyguessed.Indeed,Ishouldsayitwasascertainedbeyondadoubt.Youarenotperhapsaware,”hetinued,edginghischairalittlehetable,andspeakinglow,“thattherewasalady—a—alunatic,keptinthehouse?”
“Ihaveheardsomethingofit.”
“Shetinveryclosefi,ma’am:peopleevenforsomeyearswasnotabsolutelycertainofherexistenoonesawher:theyonlyknewbyrumourthatsuchapersonwasattheHall;andwhoorwhatshewasitwasdifficulttojecture.TheysaidMr.Edwardhadbroughtherfromabroad,andsomebelievedshehadbeenhismistress.Butaqueerthinghappenedayearsince—averyqueerthing.”
Ifearednowtohearmyownstory.Iendeavouredtorecallhimtothemainfact.
“Andthislady?”
“Thislady,ma’am,”heanswered,“turtobeMr.Rochester’swife!Thediscoverywasbroughtaboutiraway.Therewasayounglady,agovertheHall,thatMr.Rochesterfellin—”
“Butthefire,”Isuggested.
“I’mingtothat,ma’am—thatMr.Edwardfellih.Theservantssaytheyneversawanybodysomuloveashewas:hewasafterhertinually.Theyusedtowatchhim—servantswill,youknow,ma’am—astoreonherpasteverything:forall,nobodybuthimthoughthersoveryhandsome.Shewasalittlesmallthing,theysay,almostlikeachild.Ineversawhermyself;butI’veheardLeah,thehouse-maid,tellofher.Leahlikedherwellenough.Mr.Rochesterwasaboutforty,andthisgovernessnottwenty;andyousee,whelemenofhisagefallihgirls,theyareoftenlikeasiftheywerebewitched.Well,hewouldmarryher.”
“Youshalltellmethispartofthestoryaime,”Isaid;“butnoarticularreasonforwishingtohearallaboutthefire.Wasitsuspectedthatthislunatic,Mrs.Rochester,hadanyhandinit?”
“You’vehitit,ma’am:it’squitecertainthatitwasher,andnobodybuther,thatsetitgoing.ShehadawomantotakecareofhercalledMrs.Poole—anablewomaninherline,arustworthy,butforonefault—afaultontoadealofthemnursesandmatrons—shekeptaprivatebottleofginbyher,andnowaookadropover-much.Itisexcusable,forshehadahardlifeofit:butstillitwasdangerous;forwhenMrs.Poolewasfastasleepaftertheginandwater,themadlady,whowasasingasawitch,wouldtakethekeysoutofherpocket,letherselfoutofherchamber,andgoroamingaboutthehouse,doinganywildmischiefthatcameintoherhead.TheysayshehadnearlyburntherhusbandinhisbedoIdon’tknowaboutthat.However,onthisnight,shesetfirefirsttothehangingsoftheroomherown,andthedowntoalowerstorey,andmadeherwaytothechamberthathadbeenthegoverness’s—(shewaslikeasifsheknewsomehowhowmattershadgoneon,andhadaspiteather)—andshekihebedthere;buttherewasnobodysleepinginit,fortuhegovernesshadrunawaytwomonthsbefore;andforallMr.Rochestersoughtherasifshehadbeepreciousthinghehadintheworld,henevercouldhearawordofher;andhegrewsavage—quitesavageonhisdisappoi:heneverwasawildman,buthegotdangerousafterhelosther.Hewouldbealooo.HesentMrs.Fairfax,thehousekeeper,awaytoherfriendsatadistahedidithandsomely,forhesettledanannuityonherforlife:andshedeservedit—shewasaverygoodwoman.MissAdèle,awardhehad,uttoschool.Hebrokeoffacquaintahallthegentry,andshuthimselfuplikeahermitattheHall.”
“What!didhenotleaveEngland?”
“LeaveEngland?Blessyou,no!Hewouldnotcrossthedoor-stohehouse,exceptatnight,whenhewalkedjustlikeaghostaboutthegroundsandintheorchardasifhehadlosthissenses—whichitismyopinionhehad;foramorespirited,bolder,keelemanthanhewasbeforethatmidgeofagovernesscrossedhim,youneversaw,ma’am.Hewasnotamaowine,orcards,orrag,assomeare,andhewasnotsoveryhandsome;buthehadaceandawillofhisown,ifevermanhad.Iknewhimfromaboy,yousee:andformypart,IhaveoftenwishedthatMissEyrehadbeensunkintheseabeforeshecametoThornfieldHall.”
“ThenMr.Rochesterwasathomewhenthefirebrokeout?”
“Yes,indeedwashe;auptotheatticswhenallwasburningaboveandbelow,andgottheservantsoutoftheirbedsandhelpedthemdownhimself,abacktogethismadwifeoutofhercell.Aheycalledouttohimthatshewasontheroof,whereshewasstanding,wavingherarms,abovethebattlements,andshoutingouttilltheycouldhearheramileoff:Isawherandheardherwithmyowneyes.Shewasabigwoman,andhadlongblackhair:wecouldseeitstreamingagainsttheflamesasshestood.Iwitnessed,andseveralmorewitnessed,Mr.Rochesterasdthroughthesky-lightontotheroof;weheardhimcall‘Bertha!’Wesaroachher;andthen,ma’am,sheyelledandgaveaspring,aminuteshelaysmashedonthepavement.”
“Dead?”
“Dead!Ay,deadasthestonesonwhichherbrainsandbloodwerescattered.”
“GoodGod!”
“Youmaywellsayso,ma’am:itwasfrightful!”
Heshuddered.
“Andafterwards?”Iurged.
“Well,ma’am,afterwardsthehousewasburnttotheground:thereareonlysomebitsofwallsstandingnow.”
“Wereanyotherliveslost?”
“No—perhapsitwouldhavebeeeriftherehad.”
“Whatdoyoumean?”
“PoorMr.Edward!”heejaculated,“Ilittlethoughtevertohaveseenit!Somesayitwasajustjudgmentonhimforkeepinghisfirstmarriagesecret,andwantingtotakeanotherwifewhilehehadoneliving:butIpityhim,formypart.”
“Yousaidhewasalive?”Iexclaimed.
“Yes,yes:heisalive;butmanythinkhehadbetterhedead.”
“Why?How?”Mybloodwasagainrunningcold.“Whereishe?”Idemanded.“IsheinEngland?”
“Ay—ay—he’sinEngland;he’tgetoutofEngland,Ifancy—he’safixturenow.”
Whatagonywasthis!Andthemanseemedresolvedtoprotractit.
“Heisstone-blind,”hesaidatlast.“Yes,heisstone-blind,isMr.Edward.”
Ihaddreadedworse.Ihaddreadedhewasmad.Isummorengthtoaskwhathadcausedthiscalamity.
“Itwasallhisownce,andabodymaysay,hiskindness,inaway,ma’am:hewouldhehousetilleveryoneelsewasoutbeforehim.Ashecamedownthegreatstaircaseatlast,afterMrs.Rochesterhadflungherselffromthebattlements,therewasagreatcrash—allfell.Hewastakenoutfromuheruins,alive,butsadlyhurt:abeamhadfalleninsucharotecthimpartly;butoneeyewask,andonehandsocrushedthatMr.Carter,thesurgeon,hadtoamputateitdirectly.Theothereyeinflamed:helostthesightofthatalso.Heisnowhelpless,indeed—blindandacripple.”
“Whereishe?Wheredoeshenowlive?”
“AtFerndean,amanor-houseonafarmhehas,aboutthirtymilesoff:quiteadesolatespot.”
“Whoiswithhim?”
“OldJohnandhiswife:hewouldhavenoneelse.Heisquitebrokendown,theysay.”
“Haveyouanysortofveyance?”
“Wehaveachaise,ma’am,averyhandsomechaise.”
“Letitbegotreadyinstantly;andifyourpost-boydrivemetoFerndeanbeforedarkthisday,I’llpaybothyouandhimtwicethehireyouusuallydemand.”松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读
“Youleftmetoosuddenlylastnight.Hadyoustayedbutalittlelonger,youwouldhavelaidyourhandontheChristian’scrossandtheangel’s.Ishallexpectyourcleardecisionwheurnthisdayfht.Meadpraythatyoueiation:thespirit,Itrust,iswilling,buttheflesh,Isee,isweak.Ishallprayforyouhourly.—Yours,ST.JOHN.”
“Myspirit,”Iansweredmentally,“iswillingtodowhatisright;andmyflesh,Ihope,isstrongenoughtoaplishthewillofHeaven,whewillisdistinctlyknowanyrate,itshallbestrongenoughtosearquire—togropeanoutletfromthiscloudofdoubt,andfindtheopendayofcertainty.”
ItwasthefirstofJuhemwasovercastandchilly:raifastonmycasement.Iheardthefront-dooropen,andSt.Johnpassout.Lookingthroughthewindow,IsawhimtraversethegardeookthewayoverthemistymoorsinthedireofWhitcross—therehewouldmeetthecoach.
“InafewmorehoursIshallsucceedyouinthattrack,cousin,”thoughtI:“ItoohaveacoaeetatWhitcross.ItoohavesometoseeandaskafterinEngland,beforeIdepartforever.”
Itwatwohoursofbreakfast-time.Ifilledtheintervalinwalkingsoftlyaboutmyroom,andpthevisitationwhichhadgivenmyplanstheirprese.IrecalledthatinwardsensationIhadexperienced:forIcouldrecallit,withallitsunspeakablestrangeness.IrecalledthevoiceIhadheard;agaiionedwhecame,asvainlyasbefore:itseemediiernalworld.Iaskedwasitamerenervousimpression—adelusion?Icouldnotceiveorbelieve:itwasmorelikeaninspiration.ThewondrousshockoffeelinghadeliketheearthquakewhichshookthefoundationsofPaulandSilas’sprison;ithadopehedoorsofthesoul’scellandlooseditsbands—ithadwakeoutofitssleep,whesprangtrembling,listening,aghast;thenvibratedthriceaystartledear,andinmyquakiandthroughmyspirit,whieitherfearednorshook,butexultedasifinjoyoverthesuccessofoneeffortithadbeenprivilegedtomake,indepeofthecumbrousbody.
“Eremanydays,”Isaid,asIterminatedmymusings,“Iwillknowsomethingofhimwhosevoiceseemedlastnighttosummotershaveprovedofnoavail—personalinquiryshallreplacethem.”
AtbreakfastIannouoDianaandMarythatIwasgoingajourney,andshouldbeabsentatleastfourdays.
“Alone,Jaheyasked.
“Yes;itwastoseeorhearnewsofafriendaboutwhomIhadforsometimebeenuneasy.”
Theymighthavesaid,asIhavenodoubttheythought,thattheyhadbelievedmetobewithoutanyfriendssavethem:for,indeed,Ihadoftensaidso;but,withtheirtruenaturaldelicacy,theyabstainedfroment,exceptthatDianaaskedmeifIwassureIwaswellenoughtotravel.Ilookedverypale,sheobserved.Ireplied,thatnothingailedmesaveayofmind,whichIhopedsoontoalleviate.
Itwaseasytomakemyfurtherarras;forIwastroubledwithnoinquiries—nosurmises.HavingonceexplaihemthatIcouldnotnowbeexplicitaboutmyplans,theykindlyandwiselyacquiesthesilehwhichIpursuedthem,acctometheprivilegeoffreeaIshouldundersimilarcircumstanceshaveaccordedthem.
IleftMoorHouseatthreeo’clockp.m.,andsoonafterfourIstoodatthefootofthesign-postofWhitcross,waitingthearrivalofthecoachwhichwastotakemetodistantThornfield.Amidstthesilehosesolitaryroadsahills,Ihearditapproaagreatdistawasthesamevehiclewhence,ayearago,Ihadalightedonesummereveningonthisveryspot—howdesolate,andhopeless,andobjectless!ItstoppedasIbeed.Ientered—notnowobligedtopartwithmywholefortuhepriceofitsaodation.OncemoreontheroadtoThornfield,Ifeltlikethemessenger-pigeonflyinghome.
Itwasajourneyofsix-and-thirtyhours.IhadsetoutfromWhitcrossonaTuesdayafternoon,andearlyonthesucceedingThursdaymthecoachstoppedtowaterthehorsesatawaysideinn,situatedinthemidstofserywhosegreenhedgesandlargefieldsandlowpastoralhills(howmildoffeatureandverdantofhueparedwiththesternNorth-MidlandmoorsofMortomyeyelikethelisofaoncefamiliarface.Yes,Ikhecharacterofthislandscape:Iwassurewewerenearmybourne.
“HowfarisThornfieldHallfromhere?”Iaskedoftheostler.
“Justtwomiles,ma’am,acrossthefields.”
“Myjourneyisclosed,”Ithoughttomyself.Igotoutofthecoach,gaveaboxIhadintotheostler’scharge,tobekepttillIcalledforit;paidmyfare;satisfiedthean,andwasgoing:thebrighteningdaygleamedonthesignoftheinn,andIreadingiltletters,“TheRochesterArms.”Myheartleaptup:Iwasalreadyonmymaster’sverylands.Itfellagaihoughtstruckit:—
“Yourmasterhimselfmaybebeyoishel,fhtyouknow:andthen,ifheisatThornfieldHall,towardswhichyouhasten,whobesideshimisthere?Hislunaticwife:andyouhavenothingtodowithhim:youdarenotspeaktohimorseekhispresence.Youhavelostyourlabour—youhadbettergonofarther,”urgedthemonitor.“Askinformationofthepeopleattheinn;theygiveyouallyouseek:theysolveyourdoubtsatonce.Gouptothatman,andinquireifMr.Rochesterbeathome.”
Thesuggestionwassensible,aIcouldnotforcemyselftoait.Isodreadedareplythatwouldcrushmewithdespair.Toprolongdoubtrolonghope.ImightyetoncemoreseetheHalluherayofherstar.Therewasthestilebeforeme—theveryfieldsthroughwhichIhadhurried,blind,deaf,distractedwitharevengefulfurytragandscme,onthemIfledfromThornfield:ereIwellknewwhatcourseIhadresolvedtotake,Iwasinthemidstofthem.HowfastIwalked!HowIraimes!HowIlookedforwardtocatchthefirstviewofthewell-knownwoods!WithwhatfeelingsIweledsireesIknew,andfamiliarglimpsesofmeadowandhillbetweenthem!
Atlastthewoodsrose;therookeryclustereddark;aloudgbrokethemstillness.Strangedelightinspiredme:onIhastened.Anotherfieldcrossed—alahreaded—andtherewerethecourtyardwalls—thebackoffices:thehouseitself,therookerystillhid.“Myfirstviewofitshallbeinfront,”Idetermined,“whereitsboldbattlementswillstriketheeyenoblyatondwhereIsimymaster’sverywindow:perhapshewillbestandingatit—herisesearly:perhapsheisnowwalkingintheorchard,oronthepavementinfront.CouldIbutseehim!—butamoment!Surely,inthatcase,Ishouldnotbesomadastoruntohim?Iottell—Iamain.AndifIdid—whatthen?Godblesshim!Whatthen?Whowouldbehurtbymyoncemoretastingthelifehisglangiveme?Irave:perhapsatthismomentheiswatgthesunriseoverthePyrenees,oroidelessseaofthesouth.”
Ihadcoastedalongthelowerwalloftheorchard—tursaherewasagatejustthere,openingintothemeadow,betweentwostonepillarsedbystoneballs.FrombehindonepillarIcouldpeeproundquietlyatthefullfrontofthemansion.Iadvancedmyheadwithprecaution,desiroustoascertainifanybedroomwindow-blindswereyetdrawnup:battlements,windows,longfront—allfromthisshelteredstatiomyand.
ThecrowssailingoverheadperhapswatchedmewhileItookthissurvey.Iwonderwhattheythought.TheymusthavesideredIwasverycarefulandtimidatfirst,andthatgraduallyIgrewveryboldandreckless.Apeep,andthenalongstare;andtheurefrommynidastrayingoutintothemeadow;andasuddenstopfullinfrontofthegreatmansion,andaprotracted,hardygazetowardsit.“Whataffectationofdiffidehisatfirst?”theymighthavedemanded;“whatstupidregardlessnessnow?”
Hearanillustration,reader.
Aloverfindshismistressasleeponamossybank;hewishestocatchaglimpseofherfairfacewithoutwakingher.Hestealssoftlyrass,carefultomakenosound;hepauses—fangshehasstirred:hewithdraws:notforworldswouldhebeseen.Allisstill:heagainadvances:hebendsaboveher;alightveilrestsonherfeatures:heliftsit,bendslower;nowhiseyesanticipatethevisioy—warm,andblooming,andlovely,i.Howhurriedwastheirfirstglahowtheyfix!Howhestarts!Howhesuddenlyandvehementlyclaspsinbotharmstheformhedarednot,amomentsiouchwithhisfinger!Howhecallsaloudaname,anddropshisburden,andgazesonitwildly!Hethusgraspsandcries,andgazes,becausehenolongerfearstowakenbyanysoundheutter—byanymovementhemake.Hethoughthislovesleptsweetly:hefindssheisstonedead.
Ilookedwithtimorousjoytowardsastatelyhouse:Isawablaedruin.
ocowerbehindagate-post,iopeepupatchamberlattices,fearinglifewasastirbehindthem!olistenfordoorsopening—tofancystepsonthepavementravel-walk!Thelawn,thegrouroddenandwaste:theportalyawnedvoid.Thefrontwas,asIhadoinadream,butawell-likewall,veryhighandveryfragile-looking,perforatedwithpanelesswindows:noroof,nobattlements,noeys—allhadcrashedin.
Andtherewasthesilenceofdeathaboutit:thesolitudeofalonesomewild.Nowohatlettersaddressedtopeopleherehadneverreceivedananswer:aswelldespatchepistlestoavaultinachurchaisle.ThegrimblaessofthestooldbywhatfatetheHallhadfallen—byflagration:buthowkindled?Whatstorybelohisdisaster?Whatloss,besidesmortarandmarbleandwood-workhadfolloweduponit?Hadlifebeenwreckedasroperty?Ifso,whose?Dreadfulquestion:therewasnoooa—notevendumbsign,mutetoken.
Inwanderingrouteredwallsandthroughthedevastatedinteriatheredevidethecalamitywasnotoflateoccurrence.Wintersnows,Ithought,haddriftedthroughthatvoidarch,winterraieninatthosehollowcasements;for,amidstthedrenchedpilesofrubbish,springhadcherishedvegetation:grassandweedgrewhereandtherebetweeonesandfallenrafters.Andoh!wheremeahehaplessowhiswrewhatland?Underices?Myeyeinvoluntarilywahegreychurchtowerhegates,andIasked,“IshewithDamerdeRochester,sharingtheshelterofhisnarrowmarblehouse?”
Someanswermustbehadtothesequestions.Icouldfinditnowherebutattheinn,andthither,erelong,Ireturhehosthimselfbroughtmybreakfastintotheparlour.Irequestedhimtoshutthedoorandsitdown:Ihadsomequestionstoaskhim.Butwhenheplied,Iscarcelyknewhowtobegin;suchhorrorhadIofthepossibleanswers.AhespectacleofdesolationIhadjustleftpreparedmeinameasureforataleofmisery.Thehostectable-looking,middle-agedman.
“YouknowThornfieldHall,ofcourse?”Imaosayatlast.
“Yes,ma’am;Ilivedthereonce.”
“Didyou?”Notinmytime,Ithought:youareastraome.
“IwasthelateMr.Rochester’sbutler,”headded.
Thelate!Iseemtohavereceived,withfullforce,theblowIhadbeentryingtoevade.
“Thelate!”gasped.“Ishedead?”
“Imeanthepreseleman,Mr.Edward’sfather,”heexplained.Ibreathedagain:mybloodresumeditsflow.FullyassuredbythesewordsthatMr.Edward—myMr.Rochester(Godblesshim,whereverhewas!)—wasatleastalive:was,inshort,“thepreseleman.”Gladdeningwords!ItseemedIcouldhearallthatwastoe—whateverthedisclosuresmightbe—withparativetranquillity.Sincehewasnotinthegrave,Icouldbear,Ithought,tolearnthathewasattheAntipodes.
“IsMr.RochesterlivingatThornfieldHallnow?”Iasked,knowing,ofcourse,whattheanswerwouldbe,butyetdesirousofdeferringthedirectquestionastowherehereallywas.
“No,ma’am—oh,no!Nooneislivingthere.Isupposeyouareastraheseparts,oryouwouldhaveheardpenedlastautumn,—ThornfieldHallisquitearuin:itwasburntdownjustaboutharvest-time.Adreadfulcalamity!suimmensequantityofvaluablepropertydestroyed:hardlyanyofthefurniturecouldbesaved.Thefirebrokeoutatdeadofnight,andbeforetheenginesarrivedfromMillcote,thebuildingwasonemassofflame.Itwasaterriblespectacle:Iwitmyself.”
“Atdeadofnight!”Imuttered.Yes,thatwaseverthehouroffatalityatThornfield.“Wasitknownhowitinated?”Idemanded.
“Theyguessed,ma’am:theyguessed.Indeed,Ishouldsayitwasascertainedbeyondadoubt.Youarenotperhapsaware,”hetinued,edginghischairalittlehetable,andspeakinglow,“thattherewasalady—a—alunatic,keptinthehouse?”
“Ihaveheardsomethingofit.”
“Shetinveryclosefi,ma’am:peopleevenforsomeyearswasnotabsolutelycertainofherexistenoonesawher:theyonlyknewbyrumourthatsuchapersonwasattheHall;andwhoorwhatshewasitwasdifficulttojecture.TheysaidMr.Edwardhadbroughtherfromabroad,andsomebelievedshehadbeenhismistress.Butaqueerthinghappenedayearsince—averyqueerthing.”
Ifearednowtohearmyownstory.Iendeavouredtorecallhimtothemainfact.
“Andthislady?”
“Thislady,ma’am,”heanswered,“turtobeMr.Rochester’swife!Thediscoverywasbroughtaboutiraway.Therewasayounglady,agovertheHall,thatMr.Rochesterfellin—”
“Butthefire,”Isuggested.
“I’mingtothat,ma’am—thatMr.Edwardfellih.Theservantssaytheyneversawanybodysomuloveashewas:hewasafterhertinually.Theyusedtowatchhim—servantswill,youknow,ma’am—astoreonherpasteverything:forall,nobodybuthimthoughthersoveryhandsome.Shewasalittlesmallthing,theysay,almostlikeachild.Ineversawhermyself;butI’veheardLeah,thehouse-maid,tellofher.Leahlikedherwellenough.Mr.Rochesterwasaboutforty,andthisgovernessnottwenty;andyousee,whelemenofhisagefallihgirls,theyareoftenlikeasiftheywerebewitched.Well,hewouldmarryher.”
“Youshalltellmethispartofthestoryaime,”Isaid;“butnoarticularreasonforwishingtohearallaboutthefire.Wasitsuspectedthatthislunatic,Mrs.Rochester,hadanyhandinit?”
“You’vehitit,ma’am:it’squitecertainthatitwasher,andnobodybuther,thatsetitgoing.ShehadawomantotakecareofhercalledMrs.Poole—anablewomaninherline,arustworthy,butforonefault—afaultontoadealofthemnursesandmatrons—shekeptaprivatebottleofginbyher,andnowaookadropover-much.Itisexcusable,forshehadahardlifeofit:butstillitwasdangerous;forwhenMrs.Poolewasfastasleepaftertheginandwater,themadlady,whowasasingasawitch,wouldtakethekeysoutofherpocket,letherselfoutofherchamber,andgoroamingaboutthehouse,doinganywildmischiefthatcameintoherhead.TheysayshehadnearlyburntherhusbandinhisbedoIdon’tknowaboutthat.However,onthisnight,shesetfirefirsttothehangingsoftheroomherown,andthedowntoalowerstorey,andmadeherwaytothechamberthathadbeenthegoverness’s—(shewaslikeasifsheknewsomehowhowmattershadgoneon,andhadaspiteather)—andshekihebedthere;buttherewasnobodysleepinginit,fortuhegovernesshadrunawaytwomonthsbefore;andforallMr.Rochestersoughtherasifshehadbeepreciousthinghehadintheworld,henevercouldhearawordofher;andhegrewsavage—quitesavageonhisdisappoi:heneverwasawildman,buthegotdangerousafterhelosther.Hewouldbealooo.HesentMrs.Fairfax,thehousekeeper,awaytoherfriendsatadistahedidithandsomely,forhesettledanannuityonherforlife:andshedeservedit—shewasaverygoodwoman.MissAdèle,awardhehad,uttoschool.Hebrokeoffacquaintahallthegentry,andshuthimselfuplikeahermitattheHall.”
“What!didhenotleaveEngland?”
“LeaveEngland?Blessyou,no!Hewouldnotcrossthedoor-stohehouse,exceptatnight,whenhewalkedjustlikeaghostaboutthegroundsandintheorchardasifhehadlosthissenses—whichitismyopinionhehad;foramorespirited,bolder,keelemanthanhewasbeforethatmidgeofagovernesscrossedhim,youneversaw,ma’am.Hewasnotamaowine,orcards,orrag,assomeare,andhewasnotsoveryhandsome;buthehadaceandawillofhisown,ifevermanhad.Iknewhimfromaboy,yousee:andformypart,IhaveoftenwishedthatMissEyrehadbeensunkintheseabeforeshecametoThornfieldHall.”
“ThenMr.Rochesterwasathomewhenthefirebrokeout?”
“Yes,indeedwashe;auptotheatticswhenallwasburningaboveandbelow,andgottheservantsoutoftheirbedsandhelpedthemdownhimself,abacktogethismadwifeoutofhercell.Aheycalledouttohimthatshewasontheroof,whereshewasstanding,wavingherarms,abovethebattlements,andshoutingouttilltheycouldhearheramileoff:Isawherandheardherwithmyowneyes.Shewasabigwoman,andhadlongblackhair:wecouldseeitstreamingagainsttheflamesasshestood.Iwitnessed,andseveralmorewitnessed,Mr.Rochesterasdthroughthesky-lightontotheroof;weheardhimcall‘Bertha!’Wesaroachher;andthen,ma’am,sheyelledandgaveaspring,aminuteshelaysmashedonthepavement.”
“Dead?”
“Dead!Ay,deadasthestonesonwhichherbrainsandbloodwerescattered.”
“GoodGod!”
“Youmaywellsayso,ma’am:itwasfrightful!”
Heshuddered.
“Andafterwards?”Iurged.
“Well,ma’am,afterwardsthehousewasburnttotheground:thereareonlysomebitsofwallsstandingnow.”
“Wereanyotherliveslost?”
“No—perhapsitwouldhavebeeeriftherehad.”
“Whatdoyoumean?”
“PoorMr.Edward!”heejaculated,“Ilittlethoughtevertohaveseenit!Somesayitwasajustjudgmentonhimforkeepinghisfirstmarriagesecret,andwantingtotakeanotherwifewhilehehadoneliving:butIpityhim,formypart.”
“Yousaidhewasalive?”Iexclaimed.
“Yes,yes:heisalive;butmanythinkhehadbetterhedead.”
“Why?How?”Mybloodwasagainrunningcold.“Whereishe?”Idemanded.“IsheinEngland?”
“Ay—ay—he’sinEngland;he’tgetoutofEngland,Ifancy—he’safixturenow.”
Whatagonywasthis!Andthemanseemedresolvedtoprotractit.
“Heisstone-blind,”hesaidatlast.“Yes,heisstone-blind,isMr.Edward.”
Ihaddreadedworse.Ihaddreadedhewasmad.Isummorengthtoaskwhathadcausedthiscalamity.
“Itwasallhisownce,andabodymaysay,hiskindness,inaway,ma’am:hewouldhehousetilleveryoneelsewasoutbeforehim.Ashecamedownthegreatstaircaseatlast,afterMrs.Rochesterhadflungherselffromthebattlements,therewasagreatcrash—allfell.Hewastakenoutfromuheruins,alive,butsadlyhurt:abeamhadfalleninsucharotecthimpartly;butoneeyewask,andonehandsocrushedthatMr.Carter,thesurgeon,hadtoamputateitdirectly.Theothereyeinflamed:helostthesightofthatalso.Heisnowhelpless,indeed—blindandacripple.”
“Whereishe?Wheredoeshenowlive?”
“AtFerndean,amanor-houseonafarmhehas,aboutthirtymilesoff:quiteadesolatespot.”
“Whoiswithhim?”
“OldJohnandhiswife:hewouldhavenoneelse.Heisquitebrokendown,theysay.”
“Haveyouanysortofveyance?”
“Wehaveachaise,ma’am,averyhandsomechaise.”
“Letitbegotreadyinstantly;andifyourpost-boydrivemetoFerndeanbeforedarkthisday,I’llpaybothyouandhimtwicethehireyouusuallydemand.”松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读
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