第64部分(第6/7 页)

shall　be。　If　at　my　individual　convenience　I　might　break　them；　what　would　be　their　worth？　They　have　a　worth—so　I　have　always　believed；　and　if　I　cannot　believe　it　now；　it　is　because　I　am　insane—quite　insane：　with　my　veins　running　fire；　and　my　heart　beating　faster　than　I　can　count　its　throbs。　Preconceived　opinions；　foregone　determinations；　are　all　I　have　at　this　hour　to　stand　by：　there　I　plant　my　foot。”

I　did。　Mr。　Rochester；　reading　my　countenance；　saw　I　had　done　so。　His　fury　was　wrought　to　the　highest：　he　must　yield　to　it　for　a　moment；　whatever　followed；　he　crossed　the　floor　and　seized　my　arm　and　grasped　my　waist。　He　seemed　to　devour　me　with　his　flaming　glance：　physically；　I　felt；　at　the　moment；　powerless　as　stubble　exposed　to　the　draught　and　glow　of　a　furnace：　mentally；　I　still　possessed　my　soul；　and　with　it　the　certainty　of　ultimate　safety。　The　soul；　fortunately；　has　an　interpreter—often　an　unconscious；　but　still　a　truthful　interpreter—in　the　eye。　My　eye　rose　to　his；　and　while　I　looked　in　his　fierce　face　I　gave　an　involuntary　sigh；　his　gripe　was　painful；　and　my　over…taxed　strength　almost　exhausted。

“Never；”　said　he；　as　he　ground　his　teeth；　“never　was　anything　at　once　so　frail　and　so　indomitable。　A　mere　reed　she　feels　in　my　hand！”　（And　he　shook　me　with　the　force　of　his　hold。）　“I　could　bend　her　with　my　finger　and　thumb：　and　what　good　would　it　do　if　I　bent；　if　I　uptore；　if　I　crushed　her？　Consider　that　eye：　consider　the　resolute；　wild；　free　thing　looking　out　of　it；　defying　me；　with　more　than　courage—with　a　stern　triumph。　Whatever　I　do　with　its　cage；　I　cannot　get　at　it—the　savage；　beautiful　creature！　If　I　tear；　if　I　rend　the　slight　prison；　my　outrage　will　only　let　the　captive　loose。　Conqueror　I　might　be　of　the　house；　but　the　inmate　would　escape　to　heaven　before