第44部分(第5/7 页)

noon　darkens　in　an　eclipse；　which　you　feel　will　not　leave　it　till　the　time　of　setting。　Bitter　and　base　associations　have　bee　the　sole　food　of　your　memory：　you　wander　here　and　there；　seeking　rest　in　exile：　happiness　in　pleasure—I　mean　in　heartless；　sensual　pleasure—such　as　dulls　intellect　and　blights　feeling。　Heart…weary　and　soul…withered；　you　e　home　after　years　of　voluntary　banishment：　you　make　a　new　acquaintance—how　or　where　no　matter：　you　find　in　this　stranger　much　of　the　good　and　bright　qualities　which　you　have　sought　for　twenty　years；　and　never　before　encountered；　and　they　are　all　fresh；　healthy；　without　soil　and　without　taint。　Such　society　revives；　regenerates：　you　feel　better　days　e　back—higher　wishes；　purer　feelings；　you　desire　to　remence　your　life；　and　to　spend　what　remains　to　you　of　days　in　a　way　more　worthy　of　an　immortal　being。　To　attain　this　end；　are　you　justified　in　overleaping　an　obstacle　of　custom—a　mere　conventional　impediment　which　neither　your　conscience　sanctifies　nor　your　judgment　approves？”

He　paused　for　an　answer：　and　what　was　I　to　say？　Oh；　for　some　good　spirit　to　suggest　a　judicious　and　satisfactory　response！　Vain　aspiration！　The　west　wind　whispered　in　the　ivy　round　me；　but　no　gentle　Ariel　borrowed　its　breath　as　a　medium　of　speech：　the　birds　sang　in　the　tree…tops；　but　their　song；　however　sweet；　was　inarticulate。

Again　Mr。　Rochester　propounded　his　query：

“Is　the　wandering　and　sinful；　but　now　rest…seeking　and　repentant；　man　justified　in　daring　the　world’s　opinion；　in　order　to　attach　to　him　for　ever　this　gentle；　gracious；　genial　stranger；　thereby　securing　his　own　peace　of　mind　and　regeneration　of　life？”

“Sir；”　I　answered；　“a　wanderer’s　repose　or　a　sinner’s　reformation　should　never　depend　on　a　fellow…creature。　Men　and　women