第45部分(第4/7 页)

　care　of　John’s　wife；　and　the　attentions　of　John　himself；　I　went　in　search　of　Mr。　Rochester。

He　was　not　in　any　of　the　lower　rooms；　he　was　not　in　the　yard；　the　stables；　or　the　grounds。　I　asked　Mrs。　Fairfax　if　she　had　seen　him；—yes：　she　believed　he　was　playing　billiards　with　Miss　Ingram。　To　the　billiard…room　I　hastened：　the　click　of　balls　and　the　hum　of　voices　resounded　thence；　Mr。　Rochester；　Miss　Ingram；　the　two　Misses　Eshton；　and　their　admirers；　were　all　busied　in　the　game。　It　required　some　courage　to　disturb　so　interesting　a　party；　my　errand；　however；　was　one　I　could　not　defer；　so　I　approached　the　master　where　he　stood　at　Miss　Ingram’s　side。　She　turned　as　I　drew　near；　and　looked　at　me　haughtily：　her　eyes　seemed　to　demand；　“What　can　the　creeping　creature　want　now？”　and　when　I　said；　in　a　low　voice；　“Mr。　Rochester；”　she　made　a　movement　as　if　tempted　to　order　me　away。　I　remember　her　appearance　at　the　moment—it　was　very　graceful　and　very　striking：　she　wore　a　morning　robe　of　sky…blue　crape；　a　gauzy　azure　scarf　was　twisted　in　her　hair。　She　had　been　all　animation　with　the　game；　and　irritated　pride　did　not　lower　the　expression　of　her　haughty　lineaments。

“Does　that　person　r。　Rochester；　and　Mr。　Rochester　turned　to　see　who　the　“person”　was。　He　made　a　curious　grimace—one　of　his　strange　and　equivocal　demonstrations—threw　down　his　cue　and　followed　me　from　the　room。

“Well；　Jane？”　he　said；　as　he　rested　his　back　against　the　schoolroom　door；　which　he　had　shut。

“If　you　please；　sir；　I　want　leave　of　absence　for　a　week　or　two。”

“What　to　do？—where　to　go？”

“To　see　a　sick　lady　who　has　sent　for　me。”

“What　sick　lady？—where　does　she　live？”

“At　Gateshead；　in—shire。”

“…shire？　That　is　a　hundred　miles　off！　Who　may　she　be　that　sends　for　peo