第3部分(第6/7 页)

m　another　world。　My　heart　beat　thick；　my　head　grew　hot；　a　sound　filled　my　ears；　which　I　deemed　the　rushing　of　wings；　something　seemed　near　me；　I　was　oppressed；　suffocated：　endurance　broke　down；　I　rushed　to　the　door　and　shook　the　lock　in　desperate　effort。　Steps　came　running　along　the　outer　passage；　the　key　turned；　Bessie　and　Abbot　entered。

“Miss　Eyre；　are　you　ill？”　said　Bessie。

“What　a　dreadful　noise！　it　e！”　exclaimed　Abbot。

“Take　me　out！　Let　me　go　into　the　nursery！”　was　my　cry。

“What　for？　Are　you　hurt？　Have　you　seen　something？”　again　demanded　Bessie。

“Oh！　I　saw　a　light；　and　I　thought　a　ghost　would　e。”　I　had　now　got　hold　of　Bessie’s　hand；　and　she　did　not　snatch　it　from　me。

“She　has　screamed　out　on　purpose；”　declared　Abbot；　in　some　disgust。　“And　what　a　scream！　If　she　had　been　in　great　pain　one　would　have　excused　it；　but　she　only　wanted　to　bring　us　all　here：　I　know　her　naughty　tricks。”

“What　is　all　this？”　demanded　another　voice　peremptorily；　and　Mrs。　Reed　came　along　the　corridor；　her　cap　flying　wide；　her　gown　rustling　stormily。　“Abbot　and　Bessie；　I　believe　I　gave　orders　that　Jane　Eyre　should　be　left　in　the　red…room　till　I　came　to　her　myself。”

“Miss　Jane　screamed　so　loud；　ma’am；”　pleaded　Bessie。

“Let　her　go；”　was　the　only　answer。　“Loose　Bessie’s　hand；　child：　you　cannot　succeed　in　getting　out　by　these　means；　be　assured。　I　abhor　artifice；　particularly　in　children；　it　is　my　duty　to　show　you　that　tricks　will　not　answer：　you　will　now　stay　here　an　hour　longer；　and　it　is　only　on　condition　of　perfect　submission　and　stillness　that　I　shall　liberate　you　then。”

“O　aunt！　have　pity！　Forgive　me！　I　cannot　endure　it—let　me　be　punished　some　other　way！　I　shall　be　killed　if—”

“Silence！　This　violence　is　all　most　repuls