第54部分(第3/7 页)

r　side　of　him。　She　then　peeped　round　to　where　I　sat；　so　stern　a　neighbour　was　too　restrictive　to　him；　in　his　present　fractious　mood；　she　dared　whisper　no　observations；　nor　ask　of　him　any　information。

“Let　her　e　to　me；”　I　entreated：　“she　will；　perhaps；　trouble　you；　sir：　there　is　plenty　of　room　on　this　side。”

He　handed　her　over　as　if　she　had　been　a　lapdog。　“I’ll　send　her　to　school　yet；”　he　said；　but　now　he　was　smiling。

Adèle　heard　him；　and　asked　if　she　was　to　go　to　school　“sans　mademoiselle？”

“Yes；”　he　replied；　“absolutely　sans　mademoiselle；　for　I　am　to　take　mademoiselle　to　the　moon；　and　there　I　shall　seek　a　cave　in　one　of　the　white　valleys　among　the　volcano…tops；　and　mademoiselle　shall　live　with　me　there；　and　only　me。”

“She　will　have　nothing　to　eat：　you　will　starve　her；”　observed　Adèle。

“I　shall　gather　manna　for　her　morning　and　night：　the　plains　and　hillsides　in　the　moon　are　bleached　with　manna；　Adèle。”

“She　will　want　to　warm　herself：　what　will　she　do　for　a　fire？”

“Fire　rises　out　of　the　lunar　mountains：　when　she　is　cold；　I’ll　carry　her　up　to　a　peak；　and　lay　her　down　on　the　edge　of　a　crater。”

“Oh；　qu’　elle　y　sera　mal—peu　fortable！　And　her　clothes；　they　will　wear　out：　how　can　she　get　new　ones？”

Mr。　Rochester　professed　to　be　puzzled。　“Hem！”　said　he。　“What　would　you　do；　Adèle？　Cudgel　your　brains　for　an　expedient。　How　would　a　white　or　a　pink　cloud　answer　for　a　gown；　do　you　think？　And　one　could　cut　a　pretty　enough　scarf　out　of　a　rainbow。”

“She　is　far　better　as　she　is；”　concluded　Adèle；　after　musing　some　time：　“besides；　she　would　get　tired　of　living　with　only　you　in　the　moon。　If　I　were　mademoiselle；　I　would　never　consent　to　go　with　you。”

“She　has　consented：　she　has　pledged　her　word。”

“But