第50部分(第3/7 页)

　I　got　over　the　stile　without　a　word；　and　meant　to　leave　him　calmly。　An　impulse　held　me　fast—a　force　turned　me　round。　I　said—or　something　in　me　said　for　me；　and　in　spite　of　me—

“Thank　you；　Mr。　Rochester；　for　your　great　kindness。　I　am　strangely　glad　to　get　back　again　to　you：　and　wherever　you　are　is　my　home—my　only　home。”

I　walked　on　so　fast　that　even　he　could　hardly　have　overtaken　me　had　he　tried。　Little　Adèle　was　half　wild　with　delight　when　she　saw　me。　Mrs。　Fairfax　received　me　with　her　usual　plain　friendliness。　Leah　smiled；　and　even　Sophie　bid　me　“bon　soir”　with　glee。　This　was　very　pleasant；　there　is　no　happiness　like　that　of　being　loved　by　your　fellow…creatures；　and　feeling　that　your　presence　is　an　addition　to　their　fort。

I　that　evening　shut　my　eyes　resolutely　against　the　future：　I　stopped　my　cars　against　the　voice　that　kept　warning　me　of　near　separation　and　ing　grief。　When　tea　was　over　and　Mrs。　Fairfax　had　taken　her　knitting；　and　I　had　assumed　a　low　seat　near　her；　and　Adèle；　kneeling　on　the　carpet；　had　nestled　close　up　to　me；　and　a　sense　of　mutual　affection　seemed　to　surround　us　with　a　ring　of　golden　peace；　I　uttered　a　silent　prayer　that　we　might　not　be　parted　far　or　soon；　but　when；　as　we　thus　sat；　Mr。　Rochester　entered；　unannounced；　and　looking　at　us；　seemed　to　take　pleasure　in　the　spectacle　of　a　group　so　amicable—when　he　said　he　supposed　the　old　lady　was　all　right　now　that　she　had　got　her　adopted　daughter　back　again；　and　added　that　he　saw　Adèle　an　Anglaise”—I　half　ventured　to　hope　that　he　would；　even　after　his　marriage；　keep　us　together　somewhere　under　the　shelter　of　his　protection；　and　not　quite　exiled　from　the　sunshine　of　his　presence。

A　fortnight　of　dubious　calm　succeeded　my　return　to　Thornfield　Hall。　Nothing　was　said　of　the　master’s　m