第115页
《简·爱(英文版)》章节:第115页,宠文网网友提供全文无弹窗免费在线阅读。!
He re-entered, pale and very gloomy. 'I have found it all out,'
said he, setting his candle down on the washstand; 'it is as I
thought.'
'How, sir?'
He made no reply, but stood with his arms folded, looking on the
ground. At the end of a few minutes he inquired in rather a peculiar
tone-
'I forget whether you said you saw anything when you opened your
chamber door.'
'No, sir, only the candlestick on the ground.'
'But you heard an odd laugh? You have heard that laugh before, I
should think, or something like it?'
'Yes, sir: there is a woman who sews here, called Grace Poole,- she
laughs in that way. She is a singular person.'
'Just so. Grace Poole- you have guessed it. She is, as you say,
singular- very. Well, I shall reflect on the subject. Meantime, I am
glad that you are the only person, besides myself, acquainted with the
precise details of to-night's incident. You are no talking fool: say
nothing about it. I will account for this state of affairs'
(pointing to the bed): 'and now return to your own room. I shall do
very well on the sofa in the library for the rest of the night. It
is near four:- in two hours the servants will be up.'
'Good-night, then, sir,' said I, departing.
He seemed surprised- very inconsistently so, as he had just told me
to go.
'What!' he exclaimed, 'are you quitting me already, and in that
way?'
'You said I might go, sir.'
'But not without taking leave; not without a word or two of
acknowledgment and good-will: not, in short, in that brief, dry
fashion. Why, you have saved my life!- snatched me from a horrible and
excruciating death! and you walk past me as if we were mutual
strangers! At least shake hands.'
He held out his hand; I gave him mine: he took it first in one,
then in both his own.
'You have saved my life: I have a pleasure in owing you so
immense a debt. I cannot say more. Nothing else that has being would
have been tolerable to me in the character of creditor for such an
obligation: but you: it is different;- I feel your benefits no burden,
Jane.'
He paused; gazed at me: words almost visible trembled on his lips,-
but his voice was checked.
'Good-night again, sir. There is no debt, benefit, burden,
obligation, in the case.'
'I knew,' he continued, you would do me good in some way, at some
time;- I saw it in your eyes when I first beheld you: their expression
and smile did not'- (again he stopped)- 'did not' (he proceeded
hastily) 'strike delight to my very inmost heart so for nothing.
People talk of natural sympathies; I have heard of good genii: there
are grains of truth in the wildest fable. My cherished preserver,
good-night!'
Strange energy was in his voice, strange fire in his look.
'I am glad I happened to be awake,' I said: and then I was going.
'What! you will go?'
'I am cold, sir.'
'Cold? Yes,- and standing in a pool! Go, then, Jane; go!' But he