第23部分(第4/7 页)

ch　was　deep　in　proportion　to　his　magnitude。　He　snuffed　round　the　prostrate　group；　and　then　he　ran　up　to　me；　it　was　all　he　could　do；—there　was　no　other　help　at　hand　to　summon。　I　obeyed　him；　and　walked　down　to　the　traveller；　by　this　time　struggling　himself　free　of　his　steed。　His　efforts　were　so　vigorous；　I　thought　he　could　not　be　much　hurt；　but　I　asked　him　the　question—

“Are　you　injured；　sir？”

I　think　he　was　swearing；　but　am　not　certain；　however；　he　was　pronouncing　some　formula　which　prevented　him　from　replying　to　me　directly。

“Can　I　do　anything？”　I　asked　again。

“You　must　just　stand　on　one　side；”　he　answered　as　he　rose；　first　to　his　knees；　and　then　to　his　feet。　I　did；　whereupon　began　a　heaving；　stamping；　clattering　process；　acpanied　by　a　barking　and　baying　which　removed　me　effectually　some　yards’　distance；　but　I　would　not　be　driven　quite　away　till　I　saw　the　event。　This　was　finally　fortunate；　the　horse　was　re…established；　and　the　dog　was　silenced　with　a　“Down；　Pilot！”　The　traveller　now；　stooping；　felt　his　foot　and　leg；　as　if　trying　whether　they　were　sound；　apparently　something　ailed　them；　for　he　halted　to　the　stile　whence　I　had　just　risen；　and　sat　down。

I　was　in　the　mood　for　being　useful；　or　at　least　officious；　I　think；　for　I　now　drew　near　him　again。

“If　you　are　hurt；　and　want　help；　sir；　I　can　fetch　some　one　either　from　Thornfield　Hall　or　from　Hay。”

“Thank　you：　I　shall　do：　I　have　no　broken　bones；—only　a　sprain；”　and　again　he　stood　up　and　tried　his　foot；　but　the　result　extorted　an　involuntary　“Ugh！”

Something　of　daylight　still　lingered；　and　the　moon　was　waxing　bright：　I　could　see　him　plainly。　His　figure　was　enveloped　in　a　riding　cloak；　fur　collared　and　steel　clasped；　its　details　were　not　apparent；　but　I　traced　the　gene