第26部分(第5/7 页)

ded；　to　admit　of　disarrangement—we　descended；　Adèle　wondering　whether　the　petit　coffre　was　at　length　e；　for；　owing　to　some　mistake；　its　arrival　had　hitherto　been　delayed。　She　was　gratified：　there　it　stood；　a　little　carton；　on　the　table　when　we　entered　the　dining…room。　She　appeared　to　know　it　by　instinct。

“Ma　boite！　ma　boite！”　exclaimed　she；　running　towards　it。

“Yes；　there　is　your　‘boite’　at　last：　take　it　into　a　corner；　you　genuine　daughter　of　Paris；　and　amuse　yourself　with　disembowelling　it；”　said　the　deep　and　rather　sarcastic　voice　of　Mr。　Rochester；　proceeding　from　the　depths　of　an　immense　easy…chair　at　the　fireside。　“And　mind；”　he　continued；　“don’t　bother　me　with　any　details　of　the　anatomical　process；　or　any　notice　of　the　condition　of　the　entrails：　let　your　operation　be　conducted　in　silence：　tiens…toi　tranquille；　enfant；　prends…tu？”

Adèle　seemed　scarcely　to　need　the　warning—she　had　already　retired　to　a　sofa　with　her　treasure；　and　was　busy　untying　the　cord　which　secured　the　lid。　Having　removed　this　impediment；　and　lifted　certain　silvery　envelopes　of　tissue　paper；　she　merely　exclaimed—

“Oh　ciel！　Que　c’est　beau！”　and　then　remained　absorbed　in　ecstatic　contemplation。

“Is　Miss　Eyre　there？”　now　demanded　the　master；　half　rising　from　his　seat　to　look　round　to　the　door；　near　which　I　still　stood。

“Ah！　well；　e　forward；　be　seated　here。”　He　drew　a　chair　near　his　own。　“I　am　not　fond　of　the　prattle　of　children；”　he　continued；　“for；　old　bachelor　as　I　am；　I　have　no　pleasant　associations　connected　with　their　lisp。　It　would　be　intolerable　to　me　to　pass　a　whole　evening　tête…à…tête　with　a　brat。　Don’t　draw　that　chair　farther　off；　Miss　Eyre；　sit　down　exactly　where　I　placed　it—if　you　please；　that　is。　Confound　these　civilities！　I　continually　forget　th