第199页
《简·爱(英文版)》章节:第199页,宠文网网友提供全文无弹窗免费在线阅读。!
it was not merely a cold word now, or even a shake of the hand that
I received, but an embrace and a kiss. It seemed natural: it seemed
genial to be so well loved, so caressed by him.
'Jane, you look blooming, and smiling, and pretty,' said he: 'truly
pretty this morning. Is this my pale, little elf? Is this my
mustard-seed? This little sunny-faced girl with the dimpled cheek
and rosy lips; the satin-smooth hazel hair, and the radiant hazel
eyes?' (I had green eyes, reader; but you must excuse the mistake: for
him they were new-dyed, I suppose.)
'It is Jane Eyre, sir.'
'Soon to be Jane Rochester,' he added: 'in four weeks, Janet; not a
day more. Do you hear that?'
I did, and I could not quite comprehend it: it made me giddy. The
feeling, the announcement sent through me, was something stronger than
was consistent with joy- something that smote and stunned: it was, I
think, almost fear.
'You blushed, and now you are white, Jane: what is that for?'
'Because you gave me a new name- Jane Rochester; and it seems so
strange.'
'Yes, Mrs. Rochester,' said he; 'young Mrs. Rochester- Fairfax
Rochester's girl-bride.'
'It can never be, sir; it does not sound likely. Human beings never
enjoy complete happiness in this world. I was not born for a different
destiny to the rest of my species: to imagine such a lot befalling
me is a fairy tale- a day-dream.'
'Which I can and will realise. I shall begin to-day. This morning I
wrote to my banker in London to send me certain jewels he has in his
keeping,- heirlooms for the ladies of Thornfield. In a day or two I
hope to pour them into your lap: for every privilege, every
attention shall be yours that I would accord a peer's daughter, if
about to marry her.'
'Oh, sir!- never mind jewels! I don't like to hear them spoken
of. Jewels for Jane Eyre sounds unnatural and strange: I would
rather not have them.'
'I will myself put the diamond chain round your neck, and the
circlet on your forehead,- which it will become: for nature, at least,
has stamped her patent of nobility on this brow, Jane; and I will
clasp the bracelets on these fine wrists, and load these fairy-like
fingers with rings.'
'No, no, sir! think of other subjects, and speak of other things,
and in another strain. Don't address me as if I were a beauty; I am
your plain, Quakerish governess.'
'You are a beauty in my eyes, and a beauty just after the desire of
my heart,- delicate and aerial.'
'Puny and insignificant, you mean. You are dreaming, sir,- or you
are sneering. For God's sake, don't be ironical!'
'I will make the world acknowledge you a beauty, too,' he went
on, while I really became uneasy at the strain he had adopted, because
I felt he was either deluding himself or trying to delude me. 'I
will attire my Jane in satin and lace, and she shall have roses in her
hair; and I will cover the head I love best with a priceless veil.'