第21部分(第6/7 页)

m？　Is　he　liked　for　himself？”

“I　have　no　cause　to　do　otherwise　than　like　him；　and　I　believe　he　is　considered　a　just　and　liberal　landlord　by　his　tenants：　but　he　has　never　lived　much　amongst　them。”

“But　has　he　no　peculiarities？　What；　in　short；　is　his　character？”

“Oh！　his　character　is　unimpeachable；　I　suppose。　He　is　rather　peculiar；　perhaps：　he　has　travelled　a　great　deal；　and　seen　a　great　deal　of　the　world；　I　should　think。　I　dare　say　he　is　clever；　but　I　never　had　much　conversation　with　him。”

“In　what　way　is　he　peculiar？”

“I　don’t　know—it　is　not　easy　to　describe—nothing　striking；　but　you　feel　it　when　he　speaks　to　you；　you　cannot　be　always　sure　whether　he　is　in　jest　or　earnest；　whether　he　is　pleased　or　the　contrary；　you　don’t　thoroughly　understand　him；　in　short—at　least；　I　don’t：　but　it　is　of　no　consequence；　he　is　a　very　good　master。”

This　was　all　the　account　I　got　from　Mrs。　Fairfax　of　her　employer　and　mine。　There　are　people　who　seem　to　have　no　notion　of　sketching　a　character；　or　observing　and　describing　salient　points；　either　in　persons　or　things：　the　good　lady　evidently　belonged　to　this　class；　my　queries　puzzled；　but　did　not　draw　her　out。　Mr。　Rochester　was　Mr。　Rochester　in　her　eyes；　a　gentleman；　a　landed　proprietor—nothing　more：　she　inquired　and　searched　no　further；　and　evidently　wondered　at　my　wish　to　gain　a　more　definite　notion　of　his　identity。

When　we　left　the　dining…room；　she　proposed　to　show　me　over　the　rest　of　the　house；　and　I　followed　her　upstairs　and　downstairs；　admiring　as　I　went；　for　all　was　well　arranged　and　handsome。　The　large　front　chambers　I　thought　especially　grand：　and　some　of　the　third…storey　rooms；　though　dark　and　low；　were　interesting　from　their　air　of　antiquity。　The　furniture　once　appropriated　to　the　lower