第24部分(第6/7 页)

ony　seemed　somewhat　stately；　however；　I　repaired　to　my　room；　and；　with　Mrs。　Fairfax’s　aid；　replaced　my　black　stuff　dress　by　one　of　black　silk；　the　best　and　the　only　additional　one　I　had；　except　one　of　light　grey；　which；　in　my　Lowood　notions　of　the　toilette；　I　thought　too　fine　to　be　worn；　except　on　first…rate　occasions。

“You　want　a　brooch；”　said　Mrs。　Fairfax。　I　had　a　single　little　pearl　ornament　which　Miss　Temple　gave　me　as　a　parting　keepsake：　I　put　it　on；　and　then　we　went　downstairs。　Unused　as　I　was　to　strangers；　it　was　rather　a　trial　to　appear　thus　formally　summoned　in　Mr。　Rochester’s　presence。　I　let　Mrs。　Fairfax　precede　me　into　the　dining…room；　and　kept　in　her　shade　as　we　crossed　that　apartment；　and；　passing　the　arch；　whose　curtain　was　now　dropped；　entered　the　elegant　recess　beyond。

Two　wax　candles　stood　lighted　on　the　table；　and　two　on　the　mantelpiece；　basking　in　the　light　and　heat　of　a　superb　fire；　lay　Pilot—Adèle　knelt　near　him。　Half　reclined　on　a　couch　appeared　Mr。　Rochester；　his　foot　supported　by　the　cushion；　he　was　looking　at　Adèle　and　the　dog：　the　fire　shone　full　on　his　face。　I　knew　my　traveller　with　his　broad　and　jetty　eyebroade　squarer　by　the　horizontal　sweep　of　his　black　hair。　I　recognised　his　decisive　nose；　more　remarkable　for　character　than　beauty；　his　full　nostrils；　denoting；　I　thought；　choler；　his　grim　mouth；　chin；　and　jaw—yes；　all　three　were　very　grim；　and　no　mistake。　His　shape；　now　divested　of　cloak；　I　perceived　harmonised　in　squareness　with　his　physiognomy：　I　suppose　it　was　a　good　figure　in　the　athletic　sense　of　the　term—broad　chested　and　thin　flanked；　though　neither　tall　nor　graceful。

Mr。　Rochester　must　have　been　aware　of　the　entrance　of　Mrs。　Fairfax　and　myself；　but　it　appeared　he　was　not　in　the　mood　to　notice　us；　for　he　never　li