第90部分(第2/7 页)

　me　that　before。”

I　perceived；　of　course；　the　drift　of　my　interlocutor。　Jealousy　had　got　hold　of　him：　she　stung　him；　but　the　sting　was　salutary：　it　gave　him　respite　from　the　gnawing　fang　of　melancholy。　I　would　not；　therefore；　immediately　charm　the　snake。

“Perhaps　you　would　rather　not　sit　any　longer　on　my　knee；　Miss　Eyre？”　was　the　next　somewhat　unexpected　observation。

“Why　not；　Mr。　Rochester？”

“The　picture　you　have　just　drawn　is　suggestive　of　a　rather　too　overwhelming　contrast。　Your　words　have　delineated　very　prettily　a　graceful　Apollo：　he　is　present　to　your　imagination；—tall；　fair；　blue…eyed；　and　with　a　Grecian　profile。　Your　eyes　dwell　on　a　Vulcan；—a　real　blacksmith；　brown；　broad…shouldered：　and　blind　and　lame　into　the　bargain。”

“I　never　thought　of　it；　before；　but　you　certainly　are　rather　like　Vulcan；　sir。”

“Well；　you　can　leave　me；　ma’am：　but　before　you　go”　（and　he　retained　me　by　a　firmer　grasp　than　ever）；　“you　will　be　pleased　just　to　answer　me　a　question　or　two。”　He　paused。

“r。　Rochester？”

Then　followed　this　cross…examination。

“St。　John　made　you　schoolmistress　of　Morton　before　he　knew　you　were　his　cousin？”

“Yes。”

“You　would　often　see　him？　He　would　visit　the　school　sometimes？”

“Daily。”

“He　would　approve　of　your　plans；　Jane？　I　know　they　would　be　clever；　for　you　are　a　talented　creature！”

“He　approved　of　them—yes。”

“He　would　discover　many　things　in　you　he　could　not　have　expected　to　find？　Some　of　your　acplishments　are　not　ordinary。”

“I　don’t　know　about　that。”

“You　had　a　little　cottage　near　the　school；　you　say：　did　he　ever　e　there　to　see　you？”

“Now　and　then？”

“Of　an　evening？”

“Once　or　twice。”

A　pause。

“How　long　did　you　resi