第42部分(第2/7 页)

ed　in　at　me　through　the　unveiled　panes；　her　glorious　gaze　roused　me。　Awaking　in　the　dead　of　night；　I　opened　my　eyes　on　her　disk—silver…　white　and　crystal　clear。　It　was　beautiful；　but　too　solemn；　I　half　rose；　and　stretched　my　arm　to　draw　the　curtain。

Good　God！　What　a　cry！

The　night—its　silence—its　rest；　was　rent　in　twain　by　a　savage；　a　sharp；　a　shrilly　sound　that　ran　from　end　to　end　of　Thornfield　Hall。

My　pulse　stopped：　my　heart　stood　still；　my　stretched　arm　was　paralysed。　The　cry　died；　and　was　not　renewed。　Indeed；　whatever　being　uttered　that　fearful　shriek　could　not　soon　repeat　it：　not　the　widest…winged　condor　on　the　Andes　could；　twice　in　succession；　send　out　such　a　yell　from　the　cloud　shrouding　his　eyrie。　The　thing　delivering　such　utterance　must　rest　ere　it　could　repeat　the　effort。

It　came　out　of　the　third　storey；　for　it　passed　overhead。　And　overhead—yes；　in　the　room　just　above　my　chamber…ceiling—I　now　heard　a　struggle：　a　deadly　one　it　seemed　from　the　noise；　and　a　half…smothered　voice　shouted—

“Help！　help！　help！”　three　times　rapidly。

“Will　no　one　e？”　it　cried；　and　then；　while　the　staggering　and　stamping　went　on　wildly；　I　distinguished　through　plank　and　plaster：—

“Rochester！　Rochester！　for　God’s　sake；　e！”

A　chamber…door　opened：　some　one　ran；　or　rushed；　along　the　gallery。　Another　step　stamped　on　the　flooring　above　and　something　fell；　and　there　was　silence。

I　had　put　on　some　clothes；　though　horror　shook　all　my　limbs；　I　issued　from　my　apartment。　The　sleepers　were　all　aroused：　ejaculations；　terrified　murmurs　sounded　in　every　room；　door　after　door　unclosed；　one　looked　out　and　another　looked　out；　the　gallery　filled。　Gentlemen　and　ladies　alike　had　quitted　their　beds；　and　“Oh！　what　is　it？”—“Who　is　hurt？”—“What　has　h