第35部分(第3/7 页)

r　pearl　ornaments；　pleased　me　better　than　the　rainbow　radiance　of　the　titled　dame。

But　the　three　most　distinguished—partly；　perhaps；　because　the　tallest　figures　of　the　band—were　the　Dowager　Lady　Ingram　and　her　daughters；　Blanche　and　Mary。　They　were　all　three　of　the　loftiest　stature　of　women。　The　Dowager　might　be　between　forty　and　fifty：　her　shape　was　still　fine；　her　hair　（by　candle…light　at　least）　still　black；　her　teeth；　too；　were　still　apparently　perfect。　Most　people　would　have　termed　her　a　splendid　woman　of　her　age：　and　so　she　was；　no　doubt；　physically　speaking；　but　then　there　was　an　expression　of　almost　insupportable　haughtiness　in　her　bearing　and　countenance。　She　had　Roman　features　and　a　double　chin；　disappearing　into　a　throat　like　a　pillar：　these　features　appeared　to　me　not　only　inflated　and　darkened；　but　even　furrowed　with　pride；　and　the　chin　was　sustained　by　the　same　principle；　in　a　position　of　almost　preternatural　erectness。　She　had；　likewise；　a　fierce　and　a　hard　eye：　it　reminded　me　of　Mrs。　Reed’s；　she　mouthed　her　words　in　speaking；　her　voice　was　deep；　its　inflections　very　pompous；　very　dogmatical；—very　intolerable；　in　short。　A　crimson　velvet　robe；　and　a　shawl　turban　of　some　gold…wrought　Indian　fabric；　invested　her　（I　suppose　she　thought）　with　a　truly　imperial　dignity。

Blanche　and　Mary　were　of　equal　stature；—straight　and　tall　as　poplars。　Mary　was　too　slim　for　her　height；　but　Blanche　was　moulded　like　a　Dian。　I　regarded　her；　of　course；　with　special　interest。　First；　I　wished　to　see　whether　her　appearance　accorded　with　Mrs。　Fairfax’s　description；　secondly；　whether　it　at　all　resembled　the　fancy　miniature　I　had　painted　of　her；　and　thirdly—it　will　out！—　whether　it　were　such　as　I　should　fancy　likely　to　suit　Mr。　Rochester’s　taste。

As　far　as　person　we