第89部分(第5/7 页)

d　and　made　my　escape；　still　laughing　as　I　ran　upstairs。　“A　good　idea！”　I　thought　with　glee。　“I　see　I　have　the　means　of　fretting　him　out　of　his　melancholy　for　some　time　to　e。”

Very　early　the　next　morning　I　heard　him　up　and　astir；　wandering　from　one　room　to　another。　As　soon　as　Mary　came　doiss　Eyre　here？”　Then：　“Which　room　did　you　put　her　into？　Was　it　dry？　Is　she　up？　Go　and　ask　if　she　wants　anything；　and　when　she　will　e　down。”

I　came　down　as　soon　as　I　thought　there　was　a　prospect　of　breakfast。　Entering　the　room　very　softly；　I　had　a　view　of　him　before　he　discovered　my　presence。　It　was　mournful；　indeed；　to　witness　the　subjugation　of　that　vigorous　spirit　to　a　corporeal　infirmity。　He　sat　in　his　chair—still；　but　not　at　rest：　expectant　evidently；　the　lines　of　now　habitual　sadness　marking　his　strong　features。　His　countenance　reminded　one　of　a　lamp　quenched；　waiting　to　be　re…lit—　and　alas！　it　was　not　himself　that　could　now　kindle　the　lustre　of　animated　expression：　he　was　dependent　on　another　for　that　office！　I　had　meant　to　be　gay　and　careless；　but　the　powerlessness　of　the　strong　man　touched　my　heart　to　the　quick：　still　I　accosted　him　with　what　vivacity　I　could。

“It　is　a　bright；　sunny　morning；　sir；”　I　said。　“The　rain　is　over　and　gone；　and　there　is　a　tender　shining　after　it：　you　shall　have　a　walk　soon。”

I　had　wakened　the　glow：　his　features　beamed。

“Oh；　you　are　indeed　there；　my　skylark！　e　to　me。　You　are　not　gone：　not　vanished？　I　heard　one　of　your　kind　an　hour　ago；　singing　high　over　the　wood：　but　its　song　had　no　music　for　me；　any　more　than　the　rising　sun　had　rays。　All　the　melody　on　earth　is　concentrated　in　my　Jane’s　tongue　to　my　ear　（I　am　glad　it　is　not　naturally　a　silent　one）：　all　the　sunshine　I　can　feel　is　in　her　presence。”

The　water　stood　i