第59部分(第5/7 页)

　some　strange　wild　animal：　but　it　was　covered　with　clothing；　and　a　quantity　of　dark；　grizzled　hair；　wild　as　a　mane；　hid　its　head　and　face。

“Good…morrow；　Mrs。　Poole！”　said　Mr。　Rochester。　“How　are　you？　and　how　is　your　charge　to…day？”

“We’re　tolerable；　sir；　I　thank　you；”　replied　Grace；　lifting　the　boiling　mess　carefully　on　to　the　hob：　“rather　snappish；　but　not　‘rageous。”

A　fierce　cry　seemed　to　give　the　lie　to　her　favourable　report：　the　clothed　hyena　rose　up；　and　stood　tall　on　its　hind…feet。

“Ah！　sir；　she　sees　you！”　exclaimed　Grace：　“you’d　better　not　stay。”

“Only　a　few　moments；　Grace：　you　must　allow　me　a　few　moments。”

“Take　care　then；　sir！—for　God’s　sake；　take　care！”

The　maniac　bellowed：　she　parted　her　shaggy　locks　from　her　visage；　and　gazed　wildly　at　her　visitors。　I　recognised　well　that　purple　face；—those　bloated　features。　Mrs。　Poole　advanced。

“Keep　out　of　the　way；”　said　Mr。　Rochester；　thrusting　her　aside：　“she　has　no　knife　now；　I　suppose；　and　I’m　on　my　guard。”

“One　never　knows　what　she　has；　sir：　she　is　so　cunning：　it　is　not　in　mortal　discretion　to　fathom　her　craft。”

“We　had　better　leave　her；”　whispered　Mason。

“Go　to　the　devil！”　was　his　brother…in…law’s　remendation。

“‘Ware！”　cried　Grace。　The　three　gentlemen　retreated　simultaneously。　Mr。　Rochester　flung　me　behind　him：　the　lunatic　sprang　and　grappled　his　throat　viciously；　and　laid　her　teeth　to　his　cheek：　they　struggled。　She　was　a　big　woman；　in　stature　almost　equalling　her　husband；　and　corpulent　besides：　she　showed　virile　force　in　the　contest—more　than　once　she　almost　throttled　him；　athletic　as　he　was。　He　could　have　settled　her　with　a　well…planted　blow；　but　he　would　not　strike：　he　would　only　wrestle。　At　last　he　mastered　her　arms；　Grace　Poole　g