第42部分(第3/7 页)

appened？”—“Fetch　a　light！”—“Is　it　fire？”—“Are　there　robbers？”—“Where　shall　we　run？”　was　demanded　confusedly　on　all　hands。　But　for　the　moonlight　they　would　have　been　in　plete　darkness。　They　ran　to　and　fro；　they　crowded　together：　some　sobbed；　some　stumbled：　the　confusion　was　inextricable。

“Where　the　devil　is　Rochester？”　cried　Colonel　Dent。　“I　cannot　find　him　in　his　bed。”

“Here！　here！”　was　shouted　in　return。　“Be　posed；　all　of　you：　I’m　ing。”

And　the　door　at　the　end　of　the　gallery　opened；　and　Mr。　Rochester　advanced　with　a　candle：　he　had　just　descended　from　the　upper　storey。　One　of　the　ladies　ran　to　him　directly；　she　seized　his　arm：　it　was　Miss　Ingram。

“What　awful　event　has　taken　place？”　said　she。　“Speak！　let　us　know　the　worst　at　once！”

“But　don’t　pull　me　down　or　strangle　me；”　he　replied：　for　the　Misses　Eshton　were　clinging　about　him　now；　and　the　two　dowagers；　in　vast　white　wrappers；　were　bearing　down　on　him　like　ships　in　full　sail。

“All’s　right！—all’s　right！”　he　cried。　“It’s　a　mere　rehearsal　of　Much　Ado　about　Nothing。　Ladies；　keep　off；　or　I　shall　wax　dangerous。”

And　dangerous　he　looked：　his　black　eyes　darted　sparks。　Calming　himself　by　an　effort；　he　added—

“A　servant　has　had　the　nightmare；　that　is　all。　She’s　an　excitable；　nervous　person：　she　construed　her　dream　into　an　apparition；　or　something　of　that　sort；　no　doubt；　and　has　taken　a　fit　with　fright。　Now；　then；　I　must　see　you　all　back　into　your　rooms；　for；　till　the　house　is　settled；　she　cannot　be　looked　after。　Gentlemen；　have　the　goodness　to　set　the　ladies　the　example。　Miss　Ingram；　I　am　sure　you　will　not　fail　in　evincing　superiority　to　idle　terrors。　Amy　and　Louisa；　return　to　your　nests　like　a　pair　of　doves；　as　you　are。　Mesdames”　（to　the　dowagers）；　“you　will　take　cold　to　a