第26部分(第4/7 页)

　information　of　the　origin　and　nature　of　Mr。　Rochester’s　trials。　She　averred　they　were　a　mystery　to　herself；　and　that　what　she　knew　was　chiefly　from　conjecture。　It　was　evident；　indeed；　that　she　wished　me　to　drop　the　subject；　which　I　did　accordingly。

Chapter　14

For　several　subsequent　days　I　saw　little　of　Mr。　Rochester。　In　the　mornings　he　seemed　much　engaged　with　business；　and；　in　the　afternoon；　gentlemen　from　Millcote　or　the　neighbourhood　called；　and　sometimes　stayed　to　dine　with　him。　When　his　sprain　was　well　enough　to　admit　of　horse　exercise；　he　rode　out　a　good　deal；　probably　to　return　these　visits；　as　he　generally　did　not　e　back　till　late　at　night。

During　this　interval；　even　Adèle　was　seldom　sent　for　to　his　presence；　and　all　my　acquaintance　with　him　was　confined　to　an　occasional　rencontre　in　the　hall；　on　the　stairs；　or　in　the　gallery；　when　he　would　sometimes　pass　me　haughtily　and　coldly；　just　acknowledging　my　presence　by　a　distant　nod　or　a　cool　glance；　and　sometimes　bow　and　smile　with　gentlemanlike　affability。　His　changes　of　mood　did　not　offend　me；　because　I　saw　that　I　had　nothing　to　do　with　their　alternation；　the　ebb　and　flow　depended　on　causes　quite　disconnected　with　me。

One　day　he　had　had　pany　to　dinner；　and　had　sent　for　my　portfolio；　in　order；　doubtless；　to　exhibit　its　contents：　the　gentlemen　went　away　early；　to　attend　a　public　meeting　at　Millcote；　as　Mrs。　Fairfax　informed　me；　but　the　night　being　wet　and　inclement；　Mr。　Rochester　did　not　acpany　them。　Soon　after　they　were　gone　he　rang　the　bell：　a　message　came　that　I　and　Adèle　were　to　go　downstairs。　I　brushed　Adèle’s　hair　and　made　her　neat；　and　having　ascertained　that　I　was　myself　in　my　usual　Quaker　trim；　where　there　was　nothing　to　retouch—　all　being　too　close　and　plain；　braided　locks　inclu