第59部分(第3/7 页)

rdily　and　recklessly：　“Bigamy　is　an　ugly　word！—I　meant；　however；　to　be　a　bigamist；　but　fate　has　out…　manoeuvred　me；　or　Providence　has　checked　me；—perhaps　the　last。　I　am　little　better　than　a　devil　at　this　moment；　and；　as　my　pastor　there　would　tell　me；　deserve　no　doubt　the　sternest　judgments　of　God；　even　to　the　quenchless　fire　and　deathless　worm。　Gentlemen；　my　plan　is　broken　up：…　what　this　lawyer　and　his　client　say　is　true：　I　have　been　married；　and　the　woman　to　whom　I　was　married　lives！　You　say　you　never　heard　of　a　Mrs。　Rochester　at　the　house　up　yonder；　Wood；　but　I　daresay　you　have　many　a　time　inclined　your　ear　to　gossip　about　the　mysterious　lunatic　kept　there　under　watch　and　ward。　Some　have　whispered　to　you　that　she　is　my　bastard　half…sister：　some；　my　cast…　off　mistress。　I　now　inform　you　that　she　is　my　wife；　whom　I　married　fifteen　years　ago；—Bertha　Mason　by　name；　sister　of　this　resolute　personage；　bs　and　white　cheeks；　showing　you　what　a　stout　heart　men　may　bear。　Cheer　up；　Dick！—never　fear　me！—I’d　almost　as　soon　strike　a　woman　as　you。　Bertha　Mason　is　mad；　and　she　came　of　a　mad　family；　idiots　and　maniacs　through　three　generations？　Her　mother；　the　Creole；　was　both　a　madwoman　and　a　drunkard！—as　I　found　out　after　I　had　wed　the　daughter：　for　they　were　silent　on　family　secrets　before。　Bertha；　like　a　dutiful　child；　copied　her　parent　in　both　points。　I　had　a　charming　partner—pure；　wise；　modest：　you　can　fancy　I　was　a　happy　man。　I　went　through　rich　scenes！　Oh！　my　experience　has　been　heavenly；　if　you　only　knew　it！　But　I　owe　you　no　further　explanation。　Briggs；　Wood；　Mason；　I　invite　you　all　to　e　up　to　the　house　and　visit　Mrs。　Poole’s　patient；　and　my　wife！　You　shall　see　what　sort　of　a　being　I　was　cheated　into　espousing；　and　judge　whether　or　not　I　had　a　right　to　break　the　pact；　and　seek