第203页
《简·爱(英文版)》章节:第203页,宠文网网友提供全文无弹窗免费在线阅读。!
bitter pain I myself felt a while ago?'
'That you may, my good little girl: there is not another being in
the world has the same pure love for me as yourself- for I lay that
pleasant unction to my soul, Jane, a belief in your affection.'
I turned my lips to the hand that lay on my shoulder. I loved him
very much- more than I could trust myself to say- more than words
had power to express.
'Ask something more,' he said presently; 'it is my delight to be
entreated, and to yield.'
I was again ready with my request. 'Communicate your intentions
to Mrs. Fairfax, sir: she saw me with you last night in the hall,
and she was shocked. Give her some explanation before I see her again.
It pains me to be misjudged by so good a woman.'
'Go to your room, and put on your bonnet,' he replied. 'I mean
you to accompany me to Millcote this morning; and while you prepare
for the drive, I will enlighten the old lady's understanding. Did
she think, Janet, you had given the world for love, and considered
it well lost?'
'I believe she thought I had forgotten my station, and yours, sir.'
'Station! station!- your station is in my heart, and on the necks
of those who would insult you, now or hereafter.- Go.'
I was soon dressed; and when I heard Mr. Rochester quit Mrs.
Fairfax's parlour, I hurried down to it. The old lady had been reading
her morning portion of Scripture- the Lesson for the day; her Bible
lay open before her, and her spectacles were upon it. Her
occupation, suspended by Mr. Rochester's announcement, seemed now
forgotten: her eyes, fixed on the blank wall opposite, expressed the
surprise of a quiet mind stirred by unwonted tidings. Seeing me, she
roused herself: she made a sort of effort to smile, and framed a few
words of congratulation; but the smile expired, and the sentence was
abandoned unfinished. She put up her spectacles, shut the Bible, and
pushed her chair back from the table.
'I feel so astonished,' she began, 'I hardly know what to say to
you, Miss Eyre. I have surely not been dreaming, have I? Sometimes I
half fall asleep when I am sitting alone and fancy things that have
never happened. It has seemed to me more than once when I have been in
a doze, that my dear husband, who died fifteen years since, has come
in and sat down beside me; and that I have even heard him call me by
my name, Alice, as he used to do. Now, can you tell me whether it is
actually true that Mr. Rochester has asked you to marry him? Don't
laugh at me. But I really thought he came in here five minutes ago,
and said that in a month you would be his wife.'
'He has said the same thing to me,' I replied.
'He has! Do you believe him? Have you accepted him?'
'Yes.'
She looked at me bewildered.
'I could never have thought it. He is a proud man: all the
Rochesters were proud: and his father, at least, liked money. He, too,
has always been called careful. He means to marry you?'