第42部分(第4/7 页)

　dead　certainty；　if　you　stay　in　this　chill　gallery　any　longer。”

And　so；　by　dint　of　alternate　coaxing　and　manding；　he　contrived　to　get　them　all　once　more　enclosed　in　their　separate　dormitories。　I　did　not　wait　to　be　ordered　back　to　mine；　but　retreated　unnoticed；　as　unnoticed　I　had　left　it。

Not；　however；　to　go　to　bed：　on　the　contrary；　I　began　and　dressed　myself　carefully。　The　sounds　I　had　heard　after　the　scream；　and　the　words　that　had　been　uttered；　had　probably　been　heard　only　by　me；　for　they　had　proceeded　from　the　room　above　mine：　but　they　assured　me　that　it　was　not　a　servant’s　dream　which　had　thus　struck　horror　through　the　house；　and　that　the　explanation　Mr。　Rochester　had　given　was　merely　an　invention　framed　to　pacify　his　guests。　I　dressed；　then；　to　be　ready　for　emergencies。　When　dressed；　I　sat　a　long　time　by　the　window　looking　out　over　the　silent　grounds　and　silvered　fields　and　waiting　for　I　knew　not　what。　It　seemed　to　me　that　some　event　must　follow　the　strange　cry；　struggle；　and　call。

No：　stillness　returned：　each　murmur　and　movement　ceased　gradually；　and　in　about　an　hour　Thornfield　Hall　was　again　as　hushed　as　a　desert。　It　seemed　that　sleep　and　night　had　resumed　their　empire。　Meantime　the　moon　declined：　she　was　about　to　set。　Not　liking　to　sit　in　the　cold　and　darkness；　I　thought　I　would　lie　down　on　my　bed；　dressed　as　I　was。　I　left　the　window；　and　moved　with　little　noise　across　the　carpet；　as　I　stooped　to　take　off　my　shoes；　a　cautious　hand　tapped　low　at　the　door。

“Am　I　wanted？”　I　asked。

“Are　you　up？”　asked　the　voice　I　expected　to　hear；　viz。；　my　master’s。

“Yes；　sir。”

“And　dressed？”

“Yes。”

“e　out；　then；　quietly。”

I　obeyed。　Mr。　Rochester　stood　in　the　gallery　holding　a　light。

“I　want　you；”　he　said：　“