第128页
《简·爱(英文版)》章节:第128页,宠文网网友提供全文无弹窗免费在线阅读。!
tarts, a plate or two and a knife and fork: with this booty I made a
hasty retreat. I had regained the gallery, and was just shutting the
back-door behind me, when an accelerated hum warned me that the ladies
were about to issue from their chambers. I could not proceed to the
schoolroom without passing some of their doors, and running the risk
of being surprised with my cargo of victualage; so I stood still at
this end, which, being windowless, was dark: quite dark now, for the
sun was set and twilight gathering.
Presently the chambers gave up their fair tenants one after
another: each came out gaily and airily, with dress that gleamed
lustrous through the dusk. For a moment they stood grouped together at
the other extremity of the gallery, conversing in a key of sweet
subdued vivacity: they then descended the staircase almost as
noiselessly as a bright mist rolls down a hill. Their collective
appearance had left on me an impression of high-born elegance, such as
I had never before received.
I found Adele peeping through the schoolroom door, which she held
ajar. 'What beautiful ladies!' cried she in English. 'Oh, I wish I
might go to them! Do you think Mr. Rochester will send for us by and
by, after dinner?'
'No, indeed, I don't; Mr. Rochester has something else to think
about. Never mind the ladies to-night; perhaps you will see them
to-morrow: here is your dinner.'
She was really hungry, so the chicken and tarts served to divert
her attention for a time. It was well I secured this forage, or both
she, I, and Sophie, to whom I conveyed a share of our repast, would
have run a chance of getting no dinner at all: every one downstairs
was too much engaged to think of us. The dessert was not carried out
till after nine, and at ten footmen were still running to and fro with
trays and coffee-cups. I allowed Adele to sit up much later than
usual; for she declared she could not possibly go to sleep while the
doors kept opening and shutting below, and people bustling about.
Besides, she added, a message might possibly come from Mr. Rochester
when she was undressed; 'et alors quel dommage!'
I told her stories as long as she would listen to them; and then
for a change I took her out into the gallery. The hall lamp was now
lit, and it amused her to look over the balustrade and watch the
servants passing backwards and forwards. When the evening was far
advanced, a sound of music issued from the drawing-room, whither the
piano had been removed; Adele and I sat down on the top step of the
stairs to listen. Presently a voice blent with the rich tones of the
instrument; it was a lady who sang, and very sweet her notes were. The
solo over, a duet followed, and then a glee: a joyous conversational
murmur filled up the intervals. I listened long: suddenly I discovered
that my ear was wholly intent on analysing the mingled sounds, and
trying to discriminate amidst the confusion of accents those of Mr.