第34部分(第5/7 页)

a　duet　followed；　and　then　a　glee：　a　joyous　conversational　murmur　filled　up　the　intervals。　I　listened　long：　suddenly　I　discovered　that　my　ear　was　wholly　intent　on　analysing　the　mingled　sounds；　and　trying　to　discriminate　amidst　the　confusion　of　accents　those　of　Mr。　Rochester；　and　when　it　caught　them；　which　it　soon　did；　it　found　a　further　task　in　framing　the　tones；　rendered　by　distance　inarticulate；　into　words。

The　clock　struck　eleven。　I　looked　at　Adèle；　whose　head　leant　against　my　shoulder；　her　eyes　were　waxing　heavy；　so　I　took　her　up　in　my　arms　and　carried　her　off　to　bed。　It　was　near　one　before　the　gentlemen　and　ladies　sought　their　chambers。

The　next　day　was　as　fine　as　its　predecessor：　it　was　devoted　by　the　party　to　an　excursion　to　some　site　in　the　neighbourhood。　They　set　out　early　in　the　forenoon；　some　on　horseback；　the　rest　in　carriages；　I　witnessed　both　the　departure　and　the　return。　Miss　Ingram；　as　before；　was　the　only　lady　equestrian；　and；　as　before；　Mr。　Rochester　galloped　at　her　side；　the　two　rode　a　little　apart　from　the　rest。　I　pointed　out　this　circumstance　to　Mrs。　Fairfax；　who　was　standing　at　the　window　with　me—

“You　said　it　was　not　likely　they　should　think　of　being　married；”　said　I；　“but　you　see　Mr。　Rochester　evidently　prefers　her　to　any　of　the　other　ladies。”

“Yes；　I　daresay：　no　doubt　he　admires　her。”

“And　she　him；”　I　added；　“look　how　she　leans　her　head　towards　him　as　if　she　were　conversing　confidentially；　I　wish　I　could　see　her　face；　I　have　never　had　a　glimpse　of　it　yet。”

“You　will　see　her　this　evening；”　answered　Mrs。　Fairfax。　“I　happened　to　remark　to　Mr。　Rochester　how　much　Adèle　wished　to　be　introduced　to　the　ladies；　and　he　said：　‘Oh！　let　her　e　into　the　drawing…room　after　dinner；　and　request　Miss　Eyre　to　acpany　her。’”