第220页
《简·爱(英文版)》章节:第220页,宠文网网友提供全文无弹窗免费在线阅读。!
I felt Mr. Rochester start and shudder; he hastily flung his arms
round me. 'Thank God!' he exclaimed, 'that if anything malignant did
come near you last night, it was only the veil that was harmed. Oh, to
think what might have happened!'
He drew his breath short, and strained me so close to him, I
could scarcely pant. After some minutes' silence, he continued,
cheerily-
'Now, Janet, I'll explain to you all about it. It was half dream,
half reality. A woman did, I doubt not, enter your room: and that
woman was- must have been- Grace Poole. You call her a strange being
yourself: from all you know, you have reason so to call her- what
did she do to me? what to Mason? In a state between sleeping and
waking, you noticed her entrance and her actions; but feverish, almost
delirious as you were, you ascribed to her a goblin appearance
different from her own: the long dishevelled hair, the swelled black
face, the exaggerated stature, were figments of imagination; results
of nightmare: the spiteful tearing of the veil was real: and it is
like her. I see you would ask why I keep such a woman in my house:
when we have been married a year and a day, I will tell you; but not
now. Are you satisfied, Jane? Do you accept my solution of the
mystery?'
I reflected, and in truth it appeared to me the only possible
one: satisfied I was not, but to please him I endeavoured to appear
so- relieved, I certainly did feel; so I answered him with a contented
smile. And now, as it was long past one, I prepared to leave him.
'Does not Sophie sleep with Adele in the nursery?' he asked, as I
lit my candle.
'Yes, sir.'
'And there is room enough in Adele's little bed for you. You must
share it with her to-night, Jane: it is no wonder that the incident
you have related should make you nervous, and I would rather you did
not sleep alone: promise me to go to the nursery.'
'I shall be very glad to do so, sir.'
'And fasten the door securely on the inside. Wake Sophie when you
go upstairs, under pretence of requesting her to rouse you in good
time to-morrow; for you must be dressed and have finished breakfast
before eight. And now, no more sombre thoughts: chase dull care
away, Janet. Don't you hear to what soft whispers the wind has fallen?
and there is no more beating of rain against the window-panes: look
here' (he lifted up the curtain)- 'it is a lovely night!'
It was. Half heaven was pure and stainless: the clouds, now
trooping before the wind, which had shifted to the west, were filing
off eastward in long, silvered columns. The moon shone peacefully.
'Well,' said Mr. Rochester, gazing inquiringly into my eyes, 'how
is my Janet now?'
'The night is serene, sir; and so am I.'
'And you will not dream of separation and sorrow to-night; but of
happy love and blissful union.'
This prediction was but half fulfilled: I did not indeed dream of
sorrow, but as little did I dream of joy; for I never slept at all.