第64部分(第5/7 页)

　tranquil。”

“Then　you　snatch　love　and　innocence　from　me？　You　fling　me　back　on　lust　for　a　passion—vice　for　an　occupation？”

“Mr。　Rochester；　I　no　more　assign　this　fate　to　you　than　I　grasp　at　it　for　myself。　We　were　born　to　strive　and　endure—you　as　well　as　I：　do　so。　You　will　forget　me　before　I　forget　you。”

“You　make　me　a　liar　by　such　language：　you　sully　my　honour。　I　declared　I　could　not　change：　you　tell　me　to　my　face　I　shall　change　soon。　And　what　a　distortion　in　your　judgment；　what　a　perversity　in　your　ideas；　is　proved　by　your　conduct！　Is　it　better　to　drive　a　fellow…creature　to　despair　than　to　transgress　a　mere　human　law；　no　man　being　injured　by　the　breach？　for　you　have　neither　relatives　nor　acquaintances　whom　you　need　fear　to　offend　by　living　with　me？”

This　was　true：　and　while　he　spoke　my　very　conscience　and　reason　turned　traitors　against　me；　and　charged　me　with　crime　in　resisting　him。　They　spoke　almost　as　loud　as　Feeling：　and　that　clamoured　wildly。　“Oh；　ply！”　it　said。　“Think　of　his　misery；　think　of　his　danger—look　at　his　state　when　left　alone；　remember　his　headlong　nature；　consider　the　recklessness　following　on　despair—soothe　him；　save　him；　love　him；　tell　him　you　love　him　and　will　be　his。　Who　in　the　world　cares　for　you？　or　who　will　be　injured　by　what　you　do？”

Still　indomitable　was　the　reply—“I　care　for　myself。　The　more　solitary；　the　more　friendless；　the　more　unsustained　I　am；　the　more　I　will　respect　myself。　I　will　keep　the　law　given　by　God；　sanctioned　by　man。　I　will　hold　to　the　principles　received　by　me　when　I　was　sane；　and　not　mad—as　I　am　now。　Laws　and　principles　are　not　for　the　times　when　there　is　no　temptation：　they　are　for　such　moments　as　this；　when　body　and　soul　rise　in　mutiny　against　their　rigour；　stringent　are　they；　inviolate　they