第34部分(第6/7 页)

“Yes；　he　said　that　from　mere　politeness：　I　need　not　go；　I　am　sure；”　I　answered。

“Well；　I　observed　to　him　that　as　you　were　unused　to　pany；　I　did　not　think　you　would　like　appearing　before　so　gay　a　party—all　strangers；　and　he　replied；　in　his　quick　way—‘Nonsense！　If　she　objects；　tell　her　it　is　my　particular　wish；　and　if　she　resists；　say　I　shall　e　and　fetch　her　in　case　of　contumacy。’”

“I　will　not　give　him　that　trouble；”　I　answered。　“I　will　go；　if　no　better　may　be；　but　I　don’t　like　it。　Shall　you　be　there；　Mrs。　Fairfax？”

“No；　I　pleaded　off；　and　he　admitted　my　plea。　I’ll　tell　you　how　to　manage　so　as　to　avoid　the　embarrassment　of　making　a　formal　entrance；　which　is　the　most　disagreeable　part　of　the　business。　You　must　go　into　the　drawing…room　while　it　is　empty；　before　the　ladies　leave　the　dinner…table；　choose　your　seat　in　any　quiet　nook　you　like；　you　need　not　stay　long　after　the　gentlemen　e　in；　unless　you　please：　just　let　Mr。　Rochester　see　you　are　there　and　then　slip　away—nobody　will　notice　you。”

“Will　these　people　remain　long；　do　you　think？”

“Perhaps　two　or　three　weeks；　certainly　not　more。　After　the　Easter　recess；　Sir　George　Lynn；　who　was　lately　elected　member　for　Millcote；　will　have　to　go　up　to　town　and　take　his　seat；　I　daresay　Mr。　Rochester　will　acpany　him：　it　surprises　me　that　he　has　already　made　so　protracted　a　stay　at　Thornfield。”

It　was　with　some　trepidation　that　I　perceived　the　hour　approach　when　I　was　to　repair　with　my　charge　to　the　drawing…room。　Adèle　had　been　in　a　state　of　ecstasy　all　day；　after　hearing　she　was　to　be　presented　to　the　ladies　in　the　evening；　and　it　was　not　till　Sophie　menced　the　operation　of　dressing　her　that　she　sobered　down。　Then　the　importance　of　the　process　quickly　steadied　her；　and　by　the　time　she　had　h