第19部分(第4/7 页)

l　I　was　alone。　I　bethought　myself　to　ring　the　bell。

“Is　there　a　place　in　this　neighbourhood　called　Thornfield？”　I　asked　of　the　waiter　who　answered　the　summons。

“Thornfield？　I　don’t　know；　ma’am；　I’ll　inquire　at　the　bar。”　He　vanished；　but　reappeared　instantly—

“Is　your　name　Eyre；　Miss？”

“Yes。”

“Person　here　waiting　for　you。”

I　jumped　up；　took　my　muff　and　umbrella；　and　hastened　into　the　inn…　passage：　a　man　was　standing　by　the　open　door；　and　in　the　lamp…lit　street　I　dimly　saw　a　one…horse　conveyance。

“This　will　be　your　luggage；　I　suppose？”　said　the　man　rather　abruptly　when　he　saw　me；　pointing　to　my　trunk　in　the　passage。

“Yes。”　He　hoisted　it　on　to　the　vehicle；　which　was　a　sort　of　car；　and　then　I　got　in；　before　he　shut　me　up；　I　asked　him　how　far　it　was　to　Thornfield。

“A　matter　of　six　miles。”

“How　long　shall　we　be　before　we　get　there？”

“Happen　an　hour　and　a　half。”

He　fastened　the　car　door；　climbed　to　his　own　seat　outside；　and　we　set　off。　Our　progress　was　leisurely；　and　gave　me　ample　time　to　reflect；　I　was　content　to　be　at　length　so　near　the　end　of　my　journey；　and　as　I　leaned　back　in　the　fortable　though　not　elegant　conveyance；　I　meditated　much　at　my　ease。

“I　suppose；”　thought　I；　“judging　from　the　plainness　of　the　servant　and　carriage；　Mrs。　Fairfax　is　not　a　very　dashing　person：　so　much　the　better；　I　never　lived　amongst　fine　people　but　once；　and　I　was　very　miserable　with　them。　I　wonder　if　she　lives　alone　except　this　little　girl；　if　so；　and　if　she　is　in　any　degree　amiable；　I　shall　surely　be　able　to　get　on　with　her；　I　will　do　my　best；　it　is　a　pity　that　doing　one’s　best　does　not　always　answer。　At　Lowood；　indeed；　I　took　that　resolution；　kept　it；　and　succeeded　in　pleasing；　but　with　Mrs。　Reed；　I　re