第51部分(第6/7 页)

nk　wrong！—I　have　as　much　soul　as　you；—and　full　as　much　heart！　And　if　God　had　gifted　me　with　some　beauty　and　much　wealth；　I　should　have　made　it　as　hard　for　you　to　leave　me；　as　it　is　now　for　me　to　leave　you。　I　am　not　talking　to　you　now　through　the　medium　of　custom；　conventionalities；　nor　even　of　mortal　flesh；—it　is　my　spirit　that　addresses　your　spirit；　just　as　if　both　had　passed　through　the　grave；　and　we　stood　at　God’s　feet；　equal；—as　we　are！”

“As　we　are！”　repeated　Mr。　Rochester—“so；”　he　added；　enclosing　me　in　his　arms。　Gathering　me　to　his　breast；　pressing　his　lips　on　my　lips：　“so；　Jane！”

“Yes；　so；　sir；”　I　rejoined：　“and　yet　not　so；　for　you　are　a　married　man—or　as　good　as　a　married　man；　and　wed　to　one　inferior　to　you—to　one　with　whom　you　have　no　sympathy—whom　I　do　not　believe　you　truly　love；　for　I　have　seen　and　heard　you　sneer　at　her。　I　would　scorn　such　a　union：　therefore　I　am　better　than　you—let　me　go！”

“Where；　Jane？　To　Ireland？”

“Yes—to　Ireland。　I　have　spoken　my　mind；　and　can　go　anywhere　now。”

“Jane；　be　still；　don’t　struggle　so；　like　a　wild　frantic　bird　that　is　rending　its　own　plumage　in　its　desperation。”

“I　am　no　bird；　and　no ensnares　me；　I　am　a　free　human　being　with　an　independent　will；　which　I　now　exert　to　leave　you。”

Another　effort　set　me　at　liberty；　and　I　stood　erect　before　him。

“And　your　will　shall　decide　your　destiny；”　he　said：　“I　offer　you　my　hand；　my　heart；　and　a　share　of　all　my　possessions。”

“You　play　a　farce；　which　I　merely　laugh　at。”

“I　ask　you　to　pass　through　life　at　my　side—to　be　my　second　self；　and　best　earthly　panion。”

“For　that　fate　you　have　already　made　your　choice；　and　must　abide　by　it。”

“Jane；　be　still　a　few　moments：　you　are　over…excited：　I　will　be　still　too。”