第57部分(第2/7 页)

r　princely　extravagance；　you　sent　for　from　London：　resolved；　I　suppose；　since　I　would　not　have　jewels；　to　cheat　me　into　accepting　something　as　costly。　I　smiled　as　I　unfolded　it；　and　devised　how　I　would　tease　you　about　your　aristocratic　tastes；　and　your　efforts　to　masque　your　plebeian　bride　in　the　attributes　of　a　peeress。　I　though　how　I　would　carry　dobroidered　blond　I　had　myself　prepared　as　a　covering　for　my　low…born　head；　and　ask　if　that　was　not　good　enough　for　a　woman　who　could　bring　her　husband　neither　fortune；　beauty；　nor　connections。　I　saw　plainly　how　you　would　look；　and　heard　your　impetuous　republican　answers；　and　your　haughty　disavowal　of　any　necessity　on　your　part　to　augment　your　wealth；　or　elevate　your　standing；　by　marrying　either　a　purse　or　a　coro。”

“How　well　you　read　me；　you　witch！”　interposed　Mr。　Rochester：　“but　what　did　you　find　in　the　veil　besides　its　embroidery？　Did　you　find　poison；　or　a　dagger；　that　you　look　so　mournful　now？”

“No；　no；　sir；　besides　the　delicacy　and　richness　of　the　fabric；　I　found　nothing　save　Fairfax　Rochester’s　pride；　and　that　did　not　scare　me；　because　I　am　used　to　the　sight　of　the　demon。　But；　sir；　as　it　grew　dark；　the　wind　rose：　it　blew　yesterday　evening；　not　as　it　blows　now—wild　and　high—but　‘with　a　sullen；　moaning　sound’　far　more　eerie。　I　wished　you　were　at　home。　I　came　into　this　room；　and　the　sight　of　the　empty　chair　and　fireless　hearth　chilled　me。　For　some　time　after　I　went　to　bed；　I　could　not　sleep—a　sense　of　anxious　excitement　distressed　me。　The　gale　still　rising；　seemed　to　my　ear　to　muffle　a　mournful　under…sound；　whether　in　the　house　or　abroad　I　could　not　at　first　tell；　but　it　recurred；　doubtful　yet　doleful　at　every　lull；　at　last　I　made　out　it　must　be　some　dog　howling　at　a　distance。　I　was　glad　when　it　ceased。　On　slee