第51部分(第2/7 页)

nfield？”

“I　believe　you　must；　Jane。　I　am　sorry；　Ja；　but　I　believe　indeed　you　must。”

This　was　a　blow：　but　I　did　not　let　it　prostrate　me。

“Well；　sir；　I　shall　be　ready　when　the　order　to　march　es。”

“It　is　e　now—I　must　give　it　to…night。”

“Then　you　are　going　to　be　married；　sir？”

“Ex…act…ly—pre…cise…ly：　with　your　usual　acuteness；　you　have　hit　the　nail　straight　on　the　head。”

“Soon；　sir？”

“Very　soon；　my—that　is；　Miss　Eyre：　and　you’ll　remember；　Jane；　the　first　time　I；　or　Rumour；　plainly　intimated　to　you　that　it　was　my　intention　to　put　my　old　bachelor’s　neck　into　the　sacred　noose；　to　enter　into　the　holy　estate　of　matrimony—to　take　Miss　Ingram　to　my　bosom；　in　short　（she’s　an　extensive　armful：　but　that’s　not　to　the　point—one　can’t　have　too　much　of　such　a　very　excellent　thing　as　my　beautiful　Blanche）：　well；　as　I　was　saying—listen　to　me；　Jane！　You’re　not　turning　your　head　to　look　after　more　moths；　are　you？　That　was　only　a　lady…clock；　child；　‘flying　away　home。’　I　wish　to　remind　you　that　it　was　you　who　first　said　to　me；　with　that　discretion　I　respect　in　you—with　that　foresight；　prudence；　and　humility　which　befit　your　responsible　and　dependent　position—that　in　case　I　married　Miss　Ingram；　both　you　and　little　Adèle　had　better　trot　forthwith。　I　pass　over　the　sort　of　slur　conveyed　in　this　suggestion　on　the　character　of　my　beloved；　indeed；　when　you　are　far　away；　Ja；　I’ll　try　to　forget　it：　I　shall　notice　only　its　wisdom；　which　is　such　that　I　have　made　it　my　law　of　action。　Adèle　must　go　to　school；　and　you；　Miss　Eyre；　must　get　a　new　situation。”

“Yes；　sir；　I　will　advertise　immediately：　and　meantime；　I　suppose—”　I　was　going　to　say；　“I　suppose　I　may　stay　here；　till　I　find　another　shelter　to　betake　myself　to：”　but　I　stopped；　feeling　it　w