第22部分(第3/7 页)

he　sews　in　one　of　these　rooms。　Sometimes　Leah　is　with　her；　they　are　frequently　noisy　together。”

The　laugh　was　repeated　in　its　low；　syllabic　tone；　and　terminated　in　an　odd　murmur。

“Grace！”　exclaimed　Mrs。　Fairfax。

I　really　did　not　expect　any　Grace　to　answer；　for　the　laugh　was　as　tragic；　as　preternatural　a　laugh　as　any　I　ever　heard；　and；　but　that　it　was　high　noon；　and　that　no　circumstance　of　ghostliness　acpanied　the　curious　cachinnation；　but　that　neither　scene　nor　season　favoured　fear；　I　should　have　been　superstitiously　afraid。　However；　the　event　showed　me　I　was　a　fool　for　entertaining　a　sense　even　of　surprise。

The　door　nearest　me　opened；　and　a　servant　came　out；—a　woman　of　between　thirty　and　forty；　a　set；　square…made　figure；　red…haired；　and　with　a　hard；　plain　face：　any　apparition　less　romantic　or　less　ghostly　could　scarcely　be　conceived。

“Too　much　noise；　Grace；”　said　Mrs。　Fairfax。　“Remember　directions！”　Grace　curtseyed　silently　and　went　in。

“She　is　a　person　we　have　to　sew　and　assist　Leah　in　her　housemaid’s　work；”　continued　the　widow；　“not　altogether　unobjectionable　in　some　points；　but　she　does　well　enough。　By…the…bye；　how　have　you　got　on　with　your　new　pupil　this　morning？”

The　conversation；　thus　turned　on　Adèle；　continued　till　we　reached　the　light　and　cheerful　region　below。　Adèle　came　running　to　meet　us　in　the　hall；　exclaiming—

“Mesdames；　vous　etes　servies！”　adding；　“J’ai　bien　faim；　moi！”

We　found　dinner　ready；　and　waiting　for　us　in　Mrs。　Fairfax’s　room。

Chapter　12

The　promise　of　a　smooth　career；　which　my　first　calm　introduction　to　Thornfield　Hall　seemed　to　pledge；　was　not　belied　on　a　longer　acquaintance　with　the　place　and　its　inmates。　Mrs。　Fairfax　turned　out　to　be　what　she　appeared；　a　placid…temper