第33部分(第3/7 页)

　wits；　and　recollecting　my　principles；　I　at　once　called　my　sensations　to　order；　and　it　was　wonderful　how　I　got　over　the　temporary　blunder—how　I　cleared　up　the　mistake　of　supposing　Mr。　Rochester’s　movements　a　matter　in　which　I　had　any　cause　to　take　a　vital　interest。　Not　that　I　humbled　myself　by　a　slavish　notion　of　inferiority：　on　the　contrary；　I　just　said—

“You　have　nothing　to　do　with　the　master　of　Thornfield；　further　than　to　receive　the　salary　he　gives　you　for　teaching　his　protégée；　and　to　be　grateful　for　such　respectful　and　kind　treatment　as；　if　you　do　your　duty；　you　have　a　right　to　expect　at　his　hands。　Be　sure　that　is　the　only　tie　he　seriously　acknowledges　between　you　and　him；　so　don’t　make　him　the　object　of　your　fine　feelings；　your　raptures；　agonies；　and　so　forth。　He　is　not　of　your　order：　keep　to　your　caste；　and　be　too　self…respecting　to　lavish　the　love　of　the　whole　heart；　soul；　and　strength；　where　such　a　gift　is　not　wanted　and　would　be　despised。”

I　went　on　with　my　day’s　business　tranquilly；　but　ever　and　anon　vague　suggestions　kept　wandering　across　my　brain　of　reasons　why　I　should　quit　Thornfield；　and　I　kept　involuntarily　framing　advertisements　and　pondering　conjectures　about　new　situations：　these　thoughts　I　did　not　think　check；　they　might　germinate　and　bear　fruit　if　they　could。

Mr。　Rochester　had　been　absent　upwards　of　a　fortnight；　when　the　post　brought　Mrs。　Fairfax　a　letter。

“It　is　from　the　master；”　said　she；　as　she　looked　at　the　direction。　“Now　I　suppose　we　shall　know　whether　we　are　to　expect　his　return　or　not。”

And　while　she　broke　the　seal　and　perused　the　document；　I　went　on　taking　my　coffee　（we　were　at　breakfast）：　it　was　hot；　and　I　attributed　to　that　circumstance　a　fiery　glow　which　suddenly　rose　to　my　face。　Why　my　hand　shook；　an