第59部分(第4/7 页)

sympathy　with　something　at　least　human。　This　girl；”　he　continued；　looking　at　me；　“knew　no　more　than　you；　Wood；　of　the　disgusting　secret：　she　thought　all　was　fair　and　legal　and　never　dreamt　she　was　going　to　be　entrapped　into　a　feigned　union　with　a　defrauded　wretch；　already　bound　to　a　bad；　mad；　and　embruted　partner！　e　all　of　you—follow！”

Still　holding　me　fast；　he　left　the　church：　the　three　gentlemen　came　after。　At　the　front　door　of　the　hall　we　found　the　carriage。

“Take　it　back　to　the　coach…house；　John；”　said　Mr。　Rochester　coolly；　“it　will　not　be　wanted　to…day。”

At　our　entrance；　Mrs。　Fairfax；　Adèle；　Sophie；　Leah；　advanced　to　meet　and　greet　us。

“To　the　right…about—every　soul！”　cried　the　master；　“away　with　your　congratulations！　Who　wants　them？　Not　I！—they　are　fifteen　years　too　late！”

He　passed　on　and　ascended　the　stairs；　still　holding　my　hand；　and　still　beckoning　the　gentlemen　to　follow　him；　which　they　did。　We　mounted　the　first　staircase；　passed　up　the　gallery；　proceeded　to　the　third　storey：　the　low；　black　door；　opened　by　Mr。　Rochester’s　master…key；　admitted　us　to　the　tapestried　room；　with　its　great　bed　and　its　pictorial　cabi。

“You　know　this　place；　Mason；”　said　our　guide；　“she　bit　and　stabbed　you　here。”

He　lifted　the　hangings　from　the　wall；　uncovering　the　second　door：　this；　too；　he　opened。　In　a　room　without　a　window；　there　burnt　a　fire　guarded　by　a　high　and　strong　fender；　and　a　lamp　suspended　from　the　ceiling　by　a　chain。　Grace　Poole　bent　over　the　fire；　apparently　cooking　something　in　a　saucepan。　In　the　deep　shade；　at　the　farther　end　of　the　room；　a　figure　ran　backwards　and　forwards。　What　it　was；　whether　beast　or　human　being；　one　could　not；　at　first　sight；　tell：　it　grovelled；　seemingly；　on　all　fours；　it　snatched　and　growled　like