第87部分(第2/7 页)

Thornfield。　“Was　it　known　how　it　originated？”　I　demanded。

“They　guessed；　ma’am：　they　guessed。　Indeed；　I　should　say　it　was　ascertained　beyond　a　doubt。　You　are　not　perhaps　aware；”　he　continued；　edging　his　chair　a　little　nearer　the　table；　and　speaking　low；　“that　there　was　a　lady—a—a　lunatic；　kept　in　the　house？”

“I　have　heard　something　of　it。”

“She　was　kept　in　very　close　confinement；　ma’am：　people　even　for　some　years　was　not　absolutely　certain　of　her　existence。　No　one　saw　her：　they　only　knew　by　rumour　that　such　a　person　was　at　the　Hall；　and　who　or　what　she　was　it　was　difficult　to　conjecture。　They　said　Mr。　Edward　had　brought　her　from　abroad；　and　some　believed　she　had　been　his　mistress。　But　a　queer　thing　happened　a　year　since—a　very　queer　thing。”

I　feared　now　to　hear　my　own　story。　I　endeavoured　to　recall　him　to　the　main　fact。

“And　this　lady？”

“This　lady；　ma’am；”　he　answered；　“turned　out　to　be　Mr。　Rochester’s　wife！　The　discovery　was　brought　about　in　the　strangest　way。　There　was　a　young　lady；　a　governess　at　the　Hall；　that　Mr。　Rochester　fell　in—”

“But　the　fire；”　I　suggested。

“I’m　ing　to　that；　ma’am—that　Mr。　Edward　fell　in　love　with。　The　servants　say　they　never　saw　anybody　so　much　in　love　as　he　was：　he　was　after　her　continually。　They　used　to　watch　him—servants　will；　you　know；　ma’am—and　he　set　store　on　her　past　everything：　for　all；　nobody　but　him　thought　her　so　very　handsome。　She　was　a　little　small　thing；　they　say；　almost　like　a　child。　I　never　saw　her　myself；　but　I’ve　heard　Leah；　the　house…maid；　tell　of　her。　Leah　liked　her　well　enough。　Mr。　Rochester　was　about　forty；　and　this　governess　not　twenty；　and　you　see；　when　gentlemen　of　his　age　fall　in　love　with　girls；　they　are　often　like　as　if　they　were　bewitched。　Well；　he　would　marry