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e heavy troubles。 what is to be done? how is the money to be had?”
bessie now endeavoured to persuade her to take a sedative draught: she succeeded with difficulty。 soon after; mrs。 reed grew more posed; and sank into a dozing state。 i then left her。
more than ten days elapsed before i had again any conversation with her。 she continued either delirious or lethargic; and the doctor forbade everything which could painfully excite her。 meantime; i got on as well as i could with georgiana and eliza。 they were very cold; indeed; at first。 eliza would sit half the day sewing; reading; or writing; and scarcely utter a word either to me or her sister。 georgiana would chatter nonsense to her canary bird by the hour; and take no notice of me。 but i was determined not to seem at a loss for occupation or amusement: i had brought my drawing materials with me; and they served me for both。
provided with a case of pencils; and some sheets of paper; i used to take a seat apart from them; near the window; and busy myself in sketching fancy vignettes; representing any scene that happened momentarily to shape itself in the ever…shifting kaleidoscope of imagination: a glimpse of sea between two rocks; the rising moon; and a ship crossing its disk; a group of reeds and water…flags; and a naiad’s head; crowned with lotus…flowers; rising out of them; an elf sitting in a hedge…sparrow’s nest; under a wreath of hawthorn… bloom
one morning i fell to sketching a face: what sort of a face it was to be; i did not care or know。 i took a soft black pencil; gave it a broad point; and worked away。 soon i had traced on the paper a broad and prominent forehead and a square lower outline of visage: that contour gave me pleasure; my fingers proceeded actively to fill it with features。 strongly…marked horizontal eyebrows must be traced under that brow; then followed; naturally; a well…defined nose; with a straight ridge and full nostrils; then a flexible… looking mouth; by no means narrow; then a firm chin; with a decided cleft down the middle of it: of course; some black whiskers were wanted; and some jetty hair; tufted on the temples; and waved above the forehead。 now for the eyes: i had left them to the last; because they required the most careful working。 i drew them large; i shaped them well: the eyelashes i traced long and sombre; the irids lustrous and large。 “good! but not quite the thing;” i thought; as i surveyed the effect: “they want more force and spirit;” and i wrought the shades blacker; that the lights might flash more brilliantly—a happy touch or two secured success。 there; i had a friend’s face under my gaze; and what did it signify that those young ladies turned their backs on me? i looked at it; i smiled at the speaking likeness: i was absorbed and content。
“is that a portrait of some one you know?” asked eliza; who had approached me unnoticed。 i responded that it was merely a fancy head; and hurried it beneath the other sheets。 of course; i lied: it was; in fact; a very faithful representation of mr。 rochester。 but what was that to her; or to any one but myself? georgiana also advanced to look。 the other drawings pleased her much; but she called that “an ugly man。” they both seemed surprised at my skill。 i offered to sketch their portraits; and each; in turn; sat for a pencil outline。 then georgiana produced her album。 i promised to contribute a water…colour drawing: this put her at once into good humour。 she proposed a walk in the grounds。 before we had been out two hours; we were deep in a confidential conversation: she had favoured me with a description of the brilliant winter she had spent in london two seasons ago—of the admiration she had there excited— the attention she had received; and i even got hints of the titled conquest she had made。 in the course of the afternoon and evening these hints were enlarged on: various soft conversations were reported; and sentimental scenes represented; and; in short; a volume of a novel of fashionable life was that day improvised by her for my benefit。 the munications were renewed from day to day: they always ran on the same theme—herself; her loves; and woes。 it was strange she never once adverted either to her mother’s illness; or her brother’s death; or the present gloomy state of the family prospects。 her mind seemed wholly taken up with reminiscences of past gaiety; and aspirations after dissipations to e。 she passed about five minutes each day in her mother’s sick…room; and no more。
eliza still spoke little: she had evidently no time to talk。 i never saw a busier person than she seemed to be; yet it was difficult to say what she did: or rather; to discover any result of her diligence。 she had an alarm to call her up early。 i know not how she occupied herself before breakfast; but after that meal she divided her time into regular portions; and each hour had its allotted task。 three times a day she studied a little book; which i found; on inspection; was a mon prayer book。 i asked her once what was the great attraction of that volume; and she said; “the rubric。” three hours she gave to stitching; with gold thread; the border of a square crimson cloth; almost large enough for a carpet。 in answer to my inquiries after the use of this article; she informed me it was a covering for the altar of a new church lately erected near gateshead。 two hours she devoted to her diary; two to working by herself in the kitchen…garden; and one to the regulation of her accounts。 she seemed to want no pany; no conversation。 i believe she was happy in her way: this routine sufficed for her; and nothing annoyed her so much as the occurrence of any incident which forced her to vary its clockwork regularity。
she told me one evening; when more disposed to be municative than usual; that john’s conduct; and the threatened ruin of the family; had been a source of profound affliction to her: but she had now; she said; settled her mind; and formed her resolution。 her own fortune she had taken care to secure; and when her mother died—and it was wholly improbable; she tranquilly remarked; that she should either recover or linger long—she would execute a long…cherished project: seek a r