第43部分(第6/7 页)

out　a　little　phial　and　a　little　glass　you　will　find　there；—quick！”

I　flew　thither　and　back；　bringing　the　desired　vessels。

“That’s　well！　Now；　doctor；　I　shall　take　the　liberty　of　administering　a　dose　myself；　on　my　own　responsibility。　I　got　this　cordial　at　Rome；　of　an　Italian　charlatan—a　fellow　you　would　have　kicked；　Carter。　It　is　not　a　thing　to　be　used　indiscriminately；　but　it　is　good　upon　occasion：　as　now；　for　instance。　Jane；　a　little　water。”

He　held　out　the　tiny　glass；　and　I　half　filled　it　from　the　water…　bottle　on　the　washstand。

“That　will　do；—now　wet　the　lip　of　the　phial。”

I　did　so；　he　measured　twelve　drops　of　a　crimson　liquid；　and　presented　it　to　Mason。

“Drink；　Richard：　it　will　give　you　the　heart　you　lack；　for　an　hour　or　so。”

“But　will　it　hurt　me？—is　it　inflammatory？”

“Drink！　drink！　drink！”

Mr。　Mason　obeyed；　because　it　was　evidently　useless　to　resist。　He　was　dressed　now：　he　still　looked　pale；　but　he　was　no　longer　gory　and　sullied。　Mr。　Rochester　let　him　sit　three　minutes　after　he　had　swallowed　the　liquid；　he　then　took　his　arm—

“Now　I　am　sure　you　can　get　on　your　feet；”　he　said—“try。”

The　patient　rose。

“Carter；　take　him　under　the　other　shoulder。　Be　of　good　cheer；　Richard；　step　out—that’s　it！”

“I　do　feel　better；”　remarked　Mr。　Mason。

“I　am　sure　you　do。　Now；　Jane；　trip　on　before　us　away　to　the　backstairs；　unbolt　the　side…passage　door；　and　tell　the　driver　of　the　post…chaise　you　will　see　in　the　yard—or　just　outside；　for　I　told　him　not　to　drive　his　rattling　wheels　over　the　pavement—to　be　ready；　we　are　ing：　and；　Jane；　if　any　one　is　about；　e　to　the　foot　of　the　stairs　and　hem。”

It　was　by　this　time　half…past　five；　and　the　sun　was　on　the　point　of　rising；　but　I　found　the　kitchen