第37部分(第2/7 页)

。　I　heard　the　dining…room　door　unclose；　a　gentleman　came　out；　rising　hastily；　I　stood　face　to　face　with　him：　it　was　Mr。　Rochester。

“How　do　you　do？”　he　asked。

“I　am　very　well；　sir。”

“Why　did　you　not　e　and　speak　to　me　in　the　room？”

I　thought　I　might　have　retorted　the　question　on　him　who　put　it：　but　I　would　not　take　that　freedom。　I　answered—

“I　did　not　wish　to　disturb　you；　as　you　seemed　engaged；　sir。”

“What　have　you　been　doing　during　my　absence？”

“Nothing　particular；　teaching　Adèle　as　usual。”

“And　getting　a　good　deal　paler　than　you　were—as　I　saw　at　first　sight。　What　is　the　matter？”

“Nothing　at　all；　sir。”

“Did　you　take　any　cold　that　night　you　half　drowned　me？”

“Not　she　least。”

“Return　to　the　drawing…room：　you　are　deserting　too　early。”

“I　am　tired；　sir。”

He　looked　at　me　for　a　minute。

“And　a　little　depressed；”　he　said。　“What　about？　Tell　me。”

“Nothing—nothing；　sir。　I　am　not　depressed。”

“But　I　affirm　that　you　are：　so　much　depressed　that　a　few　more　words　would　bring　tears　to　your　eyes—indeed；　they　are　there　now；　shining　and　swimming；　and　a　bead　has　slipped　from　the　lash　and　fallen　on　to　the　flag。　If　I　had　time；　and　was　not　in　mortal　dread　of　some　prating　prig　of　a　servant　passing；　I　would　know　what　all　this　means。　Well；　to…night　I　excuse　you；　but　understand　that　so　long　as　my　visitors　stay；　I　expect　you　to　appear　in　the　drawing…room　every　evening；　it　is　my　wish；　don’t　neglect　it。　Now　go；　and　send　Sophie　for　Adèle。　Good…night；　my—”　He　stopped；　bit　his　lip；　and　abruptly　left　me。

Chapter　18

Merry　days　were　these　at　Thornfield　Hall；　and　busy　days　too：　how　different　from　the　first　three　months　of　stillness；　monotony；　and　solitude　I　had　passed　beneath　it