第47部分(第2/7 页)

s　unchanged　and　unchangeable。　I　knew　by　her　stony　eye—opaque　to　tenderness；　indissoluble　to　tears—that　she　was　resolved　to　consider　me　bad　to　the　last；　because　to　believe　me　good　would　give　her　no　generous　pleasure：　only　a　sense　of　mortification。

I　felt　pain；　and　then　I　felt　ire；　and　then　I　felt　a　determination　to　subdue　her—to　be　her　mistress　in　spite　both　of　her　nature　and　her　will。　My　tears　had　risen；　just　as　in　childhood：　I　ordered　them　back　to　their　source。　I　brought　a　chair　to　the　bed…head：　I　sat　down　and　leaned　over　the　pillow。

“You　sent　for　me；”　I　said；　“and　I　am　here；　and　it　is　my　intention　to　stay　till　I　see　how　you　get　on。”

“Oh；　of　course！　You　have　seen　my　daughters？”

“Yes。”

“Well；　you　may　tell　them　I　wish　you　to　stay　till　I　can　talk　some　things　over　with　you　I　have　on　my　mind：　to…night　it　is　too　late；　and　I　have　a　difficulty　in　recalling　them。　But　there　was　something　I　wished　to　say—let　me　see—”

The　wandering　look　and　changed　utterance　told　what　wreck　had　taken　place　in　her　once　vigorous　frame。　Turning　restlessly；　she　drew　the　bedclothes　round　her；　my　elbow；　resting　on　a　corner　of　the　quilt；　fixed　it　down：　she　was　at　once　irritated。

“Sit　up！”　said　she；　“don’t　annoy　me　with　holding　the　clothes　fast。　Are　you　Jane　Eyre？”

“I　am　Jane　Eyre。”

“I　have　had　more　trouble　with　that　child　than　any　one　would　believe。　Such　a　burden　to　be　left　on　my　hands—and　so　much　annoyance　as　she　caused　me；　daily　and　hourly；　with　her　inprehensible　disposition；　and　her　sudden　starts　of　temper；　and　her　continual；　unnatural　watchings　of　one’s　movements！　I　declare　she　talked　to　me　once　like　something　mad；　or　like　a　fiend—no　child　ever　spoke　or　looked　as　she　did；　I　was　glad　to　get　her　away　from　the　house。　What　did　they　do　with　he