第33部分(第4/7 页)

d　why　I　involuntarily　spilt　half　the　contents　of　my　cup　into　my　saucer；　I　did　not　choose　to　consider。

“Well；　I　sometimes　think　we　are　too　quiet；　but　we　run　a　chance　of　being　busy　enough　now：　for　a　little　while　at　least；”　said　Mrs。　Fairfax；　still　holding　the　note　before　her　spectacles。

Ere　I　permitted　myself　to　request　an　explanation；　I　tied　the　string　of　Adèle’s　pinafore；　which　happened　to　be　loose：　having　helped　her　also　to　another　bun　and　refilled　her　mug　with　milk；　I　said；　nonchalantly—

“Mr。　Rochester　is　not　likely　to　return　soon；　I　suppose？”

“Indeed　he　is—in　three　days；　he　says：　that　will　be　next　Thursday；　and　not　alone　either。　I　don’t　know　how　many　of　the　fine　people　at　the　Leas　are　ing　with　him：　he　sends　directions　for　all　the　best　bedrooms　to　be　prepared；　and　the　library　and　drawing…rooms　are　to　be　cleaned　out；　I　am　to　get　more　kitchen　hands　from　the　George　Inn；　at　Millcote；　and　from　wherever　else　I　can；　and　the　ladies　will　bring　their　maids　and　the　gentlemen　their　valets：　so　we　shall　have　a　full　house　of　it。”　And　Mrs。　Fairfax　swallowed　her　breakfast　and　hastened　away　to　mence　operations。

The　three　days　were；　as　she　had　foretold；　busy　enough。　I　had　thought　all　the　rooms　at　Thornfield　beautifully　clean　and　well　arranged；　but　it　appears　I　was　mistaken。　Three　women　were　got　to　help；　and　such　scrubbing；　such　brushing；　such　washing　of　paint　and　beating　of　carpets；　such　taking　down　and　putting　up　of　pictures；　such　polishing　of　mirrors　and　lustres；　such　lighting　of　fires　in　bedrooms；　such　airing　of　sheets　and　feather…beds　on　hearths；　I　never　beheld；　either　before　or　since。　Adèle　ran　quite　wild　in　the　midst　of　it：　the　preparations　for　pany　and　the　prospect　of　their　arrival；　seemed　to　throw　her　into　ecstasies。　She　would　have　Sophie　to　lo