第56部分(第3/7 页)

u　has　a　rade　to　sympathise　with　him　in　his　decay。”　As　I　looked　up　at　them；　the　moon　appeared　momentarily　in　that　part　of　the　sky　which　filled　their　fissure；　her　disk　was　blood…　red　and　half　overcast；　she　seemed　to　throw　on　me　one　bewildered；　dreary　glance；　and　buried　herself　again　instantly　in　the　deep　drift　of　cloud。　The　wind　fell；　for　a　second；　round　Thornfield；　but　far　away　over　wood　and　water；　poured　a　wild；　melancholy　wail：　it　was　sad　to　listen　to；　and　I　ran　off　again。

Here　and　there　I　strayed　through　the　orchard；　gathered　up　the　apples　with　which　the　grass　round　the　tree　roots　was　thickly　strewn；　then　I　employed　myself　in　dividing　the　ripe　from　the　unripe；　I　carried　them　into　the　house　and　put　them　away　in　the　store…room。　Then　I　repaired　to　the　library　to　ascertain　whether　the　fire　was　lit；　for；　though　summer；　I　knew　on　such　a　gloomy　evening　Mr。　Rochester　would　like　to　see　a　cheerful　hearth　when　he　came　in：　yes；　the　fire　had　been　kindled　some　time；　and　burnt　well。　I　placed　his　arm…chair　by　the　chimney…corner：　I　wheeled　the　table　near　it：　I　let　down　the　curtain；　and　had　the　candles　brought　in　ready　for　lighting。　More　restless　than　ever；　when　I　had　pleted　these　arrangements　I　could　not　sit　still；　nor　even　remain　in　the　house：　a　little　time…piece　in　the　room　and　the　old　clock　in　the　hall　simultaneously　struck　ten。

“How　late　it　grows！”　I　said。　“I　will　run　down　to　the　gates：　it　is　moonlight　at　intervals；　I　can　see　a　good　way　on　the　road。　He　may　be　ing　now；　and　to　meet　him　will　save　some　minutes　of　suspense。”

The　wind　roared　high　in　the　great　trees　which　embowered　the　gates；　but　the　road　as　far　as　I　could　see；　to　the　right　hand　and　the　left；　was　all　still　and　solitary：　save　for　the　shadows　of　clouds　crossing　it　at　intervals　as　the　moon　looked　out；　i