第28部分(第4/7 页)

re　a　new　statute　to　legalise　them。”

“They　are；　Miss　Eyre；　though　they　absolutely　require　a　new　statute：　unheard…of　binations　of　circumstances　demand　unheard…of　rules。”

“That　sounds　a　dangerous　maxim；　sir；　because　one　can　see　at　once　that　it　is　liable　to　abuse。”

“Sententious　sage！　so　it　is：　but　I　swear　by　my　household　gods　not　to　abuse　it。”

“You　are　human　and　fallible。”

“I　am：　so　are　you—what　then？”

“The　human　and　fallible　should　not　arrogate　a　power　with　which　the　divine　and　perfect　alone　can　be　safely　intrusted。”

“What　power？”

“That　of　saying　of　any　strange；　unsanctioned　line　of　action；—‘Let　it　be　right。’”

“‘Let　it　be　right’—the　very　words：　you　have　pronounced　them。”

“May　it　be　right　then；”　I　said；　as　I　rose；　deeming　it　useless　to　continue　a　discourse　which　was　all　darkness　to　me；　and；　besides；　sensible　that　the　character　of　my　interlocutor　was　beyond　my　peration；　at　least；　beyond　its　present　reach；　and　feeling　the　uncertainty；　the　vague　sense　of　insecurity；　which　acpanies　a　conviction　of　ignorance。

“Where　are　you　going？”

“To　put　Adèle　to　bed：　it　is　past　her　bedtime。”

“You　are　afraid　of　me；　because　I　talk　like　a　Sphynx。”

“Your　language　is　enigmatical；　sir：　but　though　I　am　bewildered；　I　am　certainly　not　afraid。”

“You　are　afraid—your　self…love　dreads　a　blunder。”

“In　that　sense　I　do　feel　apprehensive—I　have　no　wish　to　talk　nonsense。”

“If　you　did；　it　would　be　in　such　a　grave；　quiet　manner；　I　should　mistake　it　for　sense。　Do　you　never　laugh；　Miss　Eyre？　Don’t　trouble　yourself　to　answer—I　see　you　laugh　rarely；　but　you　can　laugh　very　merrily：　believe　me；　you　are　not　naturally　austere；　any　more　than　I　am　naturally　vicious。　The　Lowood　constraint　still　clings　to　y