第87部分(第5/7 页)

“Dead！　Ay；　dead　as　the　stones　on　which　her　brains　and　blood　were　scattered。”

“Good　God！”

“You　may　well　say　so；　ma’am：　it　was　frightful！”

He　shuddered。

“And　afterwards？”　I　urged。

“Well；　ma’am；　afterwards　the　house　was　burnt　to　the　ground：　there　are　only　some　bits　of　walls　standing　now。”

“Were　any　other　lives　lost？”

“No—perhaps　it　would　have　been　better　if　there　had。”

“What　do　you　mean？”

“Poor　Mr。　Edward！”　he　ejaculated；　“I　little　thought　ever　to　have　seen　it！　Some　say　it　was　a　just　judgment　on　him　for　keeping　his　first　marriage　secret；　and　wanting　to　take　another　wife　while　he　had　one　living：　but　I　pity　him；　for　my　part。”

“You　said　he　was　alive？”　I　exclaimed。

“Yes；　yes：　he　is　alive；　but　many　think　he　had　better　he　dead。”

“Why？　How？”　My　blood　was　again　running　cold。　“Where　is　he？”　I　demanded。　“Is　he　in　England？”

“Ay—ay—he’s　in　England；　he　can’t　get　out　of　England；　I　fancy—he’s　a　fixture　now。”

What　agony　was　this！　And　the　man　seemed　resolved　to　protract　it。

“He　is　stone…blind；”　he　said　at　last。　“Yes；　he　is　stone…blind；　is　Mr。　Edward。”

I　had　dreaded　worse。　I　had　dreaded　he　was　mad。　I　summoned　strength　to　ask　what　had　caused　this　calamity。

“It　was　all　his　own　courage；　and　a　body　may　say；　his　kindness；　in　a　way；　ma’am：　he　wouldn’t　leave　the　house　till　every　one　else　was　out　before　him。　As　he　came　down　the　great　staircase　at　last；　after　Mrs。　Rochester　had　flung　herself　from　the　battlements；　there　was　a　great　crash—all　fell。　He　was　taken　out　from　under　the　ruins；　alive；　but　sadly　hurt：　a　beam　had　fallen　in　such　a　way　as　to　protect　him　partly；　but　one　eye　was　knocked　out；　and　one　hand　so　crushed　that　Mr。　Carter；　the　surgeon；　had　to　amputate　it　directly。　The