第193页
《简·爱(英文版)》章节:第193页,宠文网网友提供全文无弹窗免费在线阅读。!
'Must I move on, sir?' I asked. 'Must I leave Thornfield?'
'I believe you must, Jane. I am sorry, Janet, but I believe
indeed you must.'
This was a blow: but I did not let it prostrate me.
'Well, sir, I shall be ready when the order to march comes.'
'It is come now- I must give it to-night.'
'Then you are going to be married, sir?'
'Ex-act-ly- pre-cise-ly: with your usual acuteness, you have hit
the nail straight on the head.'
'Soon, sir?'
'Very soon, my- that is, Miss Eyre: and you'll remember, Jane,
the first time I, or Rumour, plainly intimated to you that it was my
intention to put my old bachelor's neck into the sacred noose, to
enter into the holy estate of matrimony- to take Miss Ingram to my
bosom, in short (she's an extensive armful: but that's not to the
point- one can't have too much of such a very excellent thing as my
beautiful Blanche): well, as I was saying- listen to me, Jane!
You're not turning your head to look after more moths, are you? That
was only a lady-clock, child, "flying away home." I wish to remind you
that it was you who first said to me, with that discretion I respect
in you- with that foresight, prudence, and humility which befit your
responsible and dependent position- that in case I married Miss
Ingram, both you and little Adele had better trot forthwith. I pass
over the sort of slur conveyed in this suggestion on the character
of my beloved; indeed, when you are far away, Janet, I'll try to
forget it: I shall notice only its wisdom; which is such that I have
made it my law of action. Adele must go to school; and you, Miss Eyre,
must get a new situation.'
'Yes, sir, I will advertise immediately: and meantime, I
suppose-' I was going to say, 'I suppose I may stay here, till I
find another shelter to betake myself to': but I stopped, feeling it
would not do to risk a long sentence, for my voice was not quite under
command.
'In about a month I hope to be a bridegroom,' continued Mr.
Rochester; 'and in the interim, I shall myself look out for employment
and an asylum for you.'
'Thank you, sir; I am sorry to give-'
'Oh, no need to apologise! I consider that when a dependant does
her duty as well as you have done yours, she has a sort of claim
upon her employer for any little assistance he can conveniently render
her; indeed I have already, through my future mother-in-law, heard
of a place that I think will suit: it is to undertake the education of
the five daughters of Mrs. Dionysius O'Gall of Bitternutt Lodge,
Connaught, Ireland. You'll like Ireland, I think: they're such
warmhearted people there, they say.'
'It is a long way off, sir.'
'No matter- a girl of your sense will not object to the voyage or
the distance.'
'Not the voyage, but the distance: and then the sea is a barrier-'
'From what, Jane?'
'From England and from Thornfield: and-'
'Well?'
'From you, sir.'