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Jane Eyre-第99章

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nce of these mental terrors: i guarantee that。”

“mental terrors; sir! i wish i could believe them to be only such: i wish it more now than ever; since even you cannot explain to me the mystery of that awful visitant。”

“and since i cannot do it; jane; it must have been unreal。”

“but; sir; when i said so to myself on rising this morning; and when i looked round the room to gather courage and fort from the cheerful aspect of each familiar object in full daylight; there—on the carpet—i saw what gave the distinct lie to my hypothesis;—the veil; torn from top to bottom in two halves!”

i felt mr。 rochester start and shudder; he hastily flung his arms round me。 “thank god!” he exclaimed; “that if anything malignant did e 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 adèle in the nursery?” he asked; as i lit my candle。

“yes; sir。”

“and there is room enough in adèle’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。 with little adèle in my arms; i watched the slumber of childhood—so tranquil; so passionless; so innocent—and waited for the ing day: all my life was awake and astir in my frame: and as soon as the sun rose i rose too。 i remember adèle clung to me as i left her: i remember i kissed her as i loosened her little hands from my neck; and i cried over her with strange emotion; and quitted her because i feared my sobs would break her still sound repose。 she seemed the emblem of my past life; and he i was now to array myself to meet; the dread; but adored; type of my unknown future day。

。。。!



Chapter 26


sophie came at seven to dress me: she was very long indeed in acplishing her task; so long that mr。 rochester; grown; i suppose; impatient of my delay; sent up to ask why i did not e。 she was just fastening my veil (the plain square of blond after all) to my hair with a brooch; i hurried from under her hands as soon as i could。

“stop!” she cried in french。 “look at yourself in the mirror: you have not taken one peep。”

so i turned at the door: i saw a robed and veiled figure; so unlike my usual self that it seemed almost the image of a stranger。 “jane!” called a voice; and i hastened down。 i was received at the foot of the stairs by mr。 rochester。

“lingerer!” he said; “my brain is on fire with impatience; and you tarry so long!”

he took me into the dining…room; surveyed me keenly all over; pronounced me “fair as a lily; and not only the pride of his life; but the desire of his eyes;” and then telling me he would give me but ten minutes to eat some breakfast; he rang the bell。 one of his lately hired servants; a footman; answered it。

“is john getting the carriage ready?”

“yes; sir。”

“is the luggage brought down?”

“they are bringing it down; sir。”

“go you to the church: see if mr。 wood (the clergyman) and the clerk are there: return and tell me。”

the church; as the reader knows; was but just beyond the gates; the footman soon returned。

“mr。 wood is in the vestry; sir; putting on his surplice。”

“and the carriage?”

“the horses are harnessing。”

“we shall not want it to go to church; but it must be ready the moment we return: all the boxes and luggage arranged and strapped on; and the coachman in his seat。”

“yes; sir。”

“jane; are you ready?”

i rose。 there were no groomsmen; no bridesmaids; no relatives to wait for or marshal: none but mr。 rochester and i。 mrs。 fairfatood in the hall as we passed。 i would fain have spoken to her; but my hand was held by a grasp of iron: i was hurried along by a stride i could
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