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Jane Eyre-第131章

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“no; that does not satisfy me!” i exclaimed: and indeed there was something in the hasty and unexplanatory reply which; instead of allaying; piqued my curiosity more than ever。

“it is a very strange piece of business;” i added; “i must know more about it。”

“another time。”

“no; to…night!—to…night!” and as he turned from the door; i placed myself between it and him。 he looked rather embarrassed。

“you certainly shall not go till you have told me all;” i said。

“i would rather not just now。”

“you shall!—you must!”

“i would rather diana or mary informed you。”

of course these objections wrought my eagerness to a climax: gratified it must be; and that without delay; and i told him so。

“but i apprised you that i was a hard man;” said he; “difficult to persuade。”

“and i am a hard woman;—impossible to put off。”

“and then;” he pursued; “i am cold: no fervour infects me。”

“whereas i am hot; and fire dissolves ice。 the blaze there has thawed all the snow from your cloak; by the same token; it has streamed on to my floor; and made it like a trampled street。 as you hope ever to be forgiven; mr。 rivers; the high crime and misdemeanour of spoiling a sanded kitchen; tell me what i wish to know。”

“well; then;” he said; “i yield; if not to your earnestness; to your perseverance: as stone is worn by continual dropping。 besides; you must know some day;—as well now as later。 your name is jane eyre?”

“of course: that was all settled before。”

“you are not; perhaps; aware that i am your namesake?—that i was christened st。 john eyre rivers?”

“no; indeed! i remember now seeing the letter e。 prised in your initials written in books you have at different times lent me; but i never asked for what name it stood。 but what then? surely—”

i stopped: i could not trust myself to entertain; much less to express; the thought that rushed upon me—that embodied itself;— that; in a second; stood out a strong; solid probability。 circumstances knit themselves; fitted themselves; shot into order: the chain that had been lying hitherto a formless lump of links was drawn out straight;—every ring was perfect; the connection plete。 i knew; by instinct; how the matter stood; before st。 john had said another word; but i cannot expect the reader to have the same intuitive perception; so i must repeat his explanation。

“my mother’s name was eyre; she had two brothers; one a clergyman; who married miss jane reed; of gateshead; the other; john eyre; esq。; merchant; late of funchal; madeira。 mr。 briggs; being mr。 eyre’s solicitor; wrote to us last august to inform us of our uncle’s death; and to say that he had left his property to his brother the clergyman’s orphan daughter; overlooking us; in consequence of a quarrel; never forgiven; between him and my father。 he wrote again a few weeks since; to intimate that the heiress was lost; and asking if we knew anything of her。 a name casually written on a slip of paper has enabled me to find her out。 you know the rest。” again he was going; but i set my back against the door。

“do let me speak;” i said; “let me have one moment to draw breath and reflect。” i paused—he stood before me; hat in hand; looking posed enough。 i resumed—

“your mother was my father’s sister?”

“yes。”

“my aunt; consequently?”

he bowed。

“my uncle john was your uncle john? you; diana; and mary are his sister’s children; as i am his brother’s child?”

“undeniably。”

“you three; then; are my cousins; half our blood on each side flows from the same source?”

“we are cousins; yes。”

i surveyed him。 it seemed i had found a brother: one i could be proud of;—one i could love; and two sisters; whose qualities were such; that; when i knew them but as mere strangers; they had inspired me with genuine affection and admiration。 the two girls; on whom; kneeling down on the wet ground; and looking through the low; latticed window of moor house kitchen; i had gazed with so bitter a mixture of interest and despair; were my near kinswomen; and the young and stately gentleman who had found me almost dying at his threshold was my blood relation。 glorious discovery to a lonely wretch! this was wealth indeed!—wealth to the heart!—a mine of pure; genial affections。 this was a blessing; bright; vivid; and exhilarating;—not like the ponderous gift of gold: rich and wele enough in its way; but sobering from its weight。 i now clapped my hands in sudden joy—my pulse bounded; my veins thrilled。

“oh; i am glad!—i am glad!” i exclaimed。

st。 john smiled。 “did i not say you neglected essential points to pursue trifles?” he asked。 “you were serious when i told you you had got a fortune; and now; for a matter of no moment; you are excited。”

“what can you mean? it may be of no moment to you; you have sisters and don’t care for a cousin; but i had nobody; and now three relations;—or two; if you don’t choose to be counted;—are born into my world full…grown。 i say again; i am glad!”

i walked fast through the room: i stopped; half suffocated with the thoughts that rose faster than i could receive; prehend; settle them:… thoughts of what might; could; would; and should be; and that ere long。 i looked at the blank wall: it seemed a sky thick with ascending stars;—every one lit me to a purpose or delight。 those who had saved my life; whom; till this hour; i had loved barrenly; i could now benefit。 they were under a yoke;—i could free them: they were scattered;—i could reunite them: the independence; the affluence which was mine; might be theirs too。 were we not four? twenty thousand pounds shared equally would be five thousand each; justice—enough and to spare: justice would be done;—mutual happiness secured。 now the wealth did not weigh on me: now it was not a mere bequest of coin;—it was a legacy of life; hope; enjoyment。

how i looked while these ideas were taking my spirit by storm; i cannot tell; but i perceived soon that mr。 rivers had placed a chair behind me; and was gently attempting to make me sit down on it。 he also advised me to be posed; i scorned the insinuation of helplessness and distraction; shook off 
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