第24部分(第3/7 页)

The　hall　was　not　dark；　nor　yet　was　it　lit；　only　by　the　high…hung　bronze　lamp；　a　warm　glow　suffused　both　it　and　the　lower　steps　of　the　oak　staircase。　This　ruddy　shine　issued　from　the　great　dining…room；　whose　two…leaved　door　stood　open；　and　showed　a　genial　fire　in　the　grate；　glancing　on　marble　hearth　and　brass　fire…irons；　and　revealing　purple　draperies　and　polished　furniture；　in　the　most　pleasant　radiance。　It　revealed；　too；　a　group　near　the　mantelpiece：　I　had　scarcely　caught　it；　and　scarcely　bee　aware　of　a　cheerful　mingling　of　voices；　amongst　which　I　seemed　to　distinguish　the　tones　of　Adèle；　when　the　door　closed。

I　hastened　to　Mrs。　Fairfax’s　room；　there　was　a　fire　there　too；　but　no　candle；　and　no　Mrs。　Fairfax。　Instead；　all　alone；　sitting　upright　on　the　rug；　and　gazing　with　gravity　at　the　blaze；　I　beheld　a　great　black　and　white　long…haired　dog；　just　like　the　Gytrash　of　the　lane。　It　was　so　like　it　that　I　went　forward　and　said—“Pilot”　and　the　thing　got　up　and　came　to　me　and　snuffed　me。　I　caressed　him；　and　he　wagged　his　great　tail；　but　he　looked　an　eerie　creature　to　be　alone　with；　and　I　could　not　tell　whence　he　had　e。　I　rang　the　bell；　for　I　wanted　a　candle；　and　I　wanted；　too；　to　get　an　account　of　this　visitant。　Leah　entered。

“What　dog　is　this？”

“He　came　with　master。”

“With　whom？”

“With　master—Mr。　Rochester—he　is　just　arrived。”

“Indeed！　and　is　Mrs。　Fairfax　with　him？”

“Yes；　and　Miss　Adèle；　they　are　in　the　dining…room；　and　John　is　gone　for　a　surgeon；　for　master　has　had　an　accident；　his　horse　fell　and　his　ankle　is　sprained。”

“Did　the　horse　fall　in　Hay　Lane？”

“Yes；　ing　down…hill；　it　slipped　on　some　ice。”

“Ah！　Bring　me　a　candle　will　you　Leah？”

Leah　brought　it；　she　entered；　followed　by　Mrs。　Fairfax；