第88部分(第4/7 页)

ned　mantelpiece；　appeared　the　blind　tenant　of　the　room。　His　old　dog；　Pilot；　lay　on　one　side；　removed　out　of　the　way；　and　coiled　up　as　if　afraid　of　being　inadvertently　trodden　upon。　Pilot　pricked　up　his　ears　when　I　came　in：　then　he　jumped　up　with　a　yelp　and　a　whine；　and　bounded　towards　me：　he　almost　knocked　the　tray　from　my　hands。　I　set　it　on　the　table；　then　patted　him；　and　said　softly；　“Lie　down！”　Mr。　Rochester　turned　mechanically　to　see　what　the　motion　was：　but　as　he　saw　nothing；　he　returned　and　sighed。

“Give　me　the　water；　Mary；”　he　said。

I　approached　him　with　the　now　only　half…filled　glass；　Pilot　followed　me；　still　excited。

“What　is　the　matter？”　he　inquired。

“Down；　Pilot！”　I　again　said。　He　checked　the　water　on　its　way　to　his　lips；　and　seemed　to　listen：　he　drank；　and　put　the　glass　down。　“This　is　you；　Mary；　is　it　not？”

“Mary　is　in　the　kitchen；”　I　answered。

He　put　out　his　hand　with　a　quick　gesture；　but　not　seeing　where　I　stood；　he　did　not　touch　me。　“Who　is　this？　Who　is　this？”　he　demanded；　trying；　as　it　seemed；　to　SEE　with　those　sightless　eyes—　unavailing　and　distressing　attempt！　“Answer　me—speak　again！”　he　ordered；　imperiously　and　aloud。

“Will　you　have　a　little　more　water；　sir？　I　spilt　half　of　what　was　in　the　glass；”　I　said。

“Who　is　it？　What　is　it？　Who　speaks？”

“Pilot　knows　me；　and　John　and　Mary　know　I　am　here。　I　came　only　this　evening；”　I　answered。

“Great　God！—what　delusion　has　e　over　me？　What　sweet　madness　has　seized　me？”

“No　delusion—no　madness：　your　mind；　sir；　is　too　strong　for　delusion；　your　health　too　sound　for　frenzy。”

“And　where　is　the　speaker？　Is　it　only　a　voice？　Oh！　I　cannot　see；　but　I　must　feel；　or　my　heart　will　stop　and　my　brain　burst。　Whatever—whoever　you　are—be　perceptible　t