第19部分(第3/7 页)

Millcote；　with　such　large　figured　papering　on　the　walls　as　inn　rooms　have；　such　a　carpet；　such　furniture；　such　ornaments　on　the　mantelpiece；　such　prints；　including　a　portrait　of　George　the　Third；　and　another　of　the　Prince　of　Wales；　and　a　representation　of　the　death　of　Wolfe。　All　this　is　visible　to　you　by　the　light　of　an　oil　lamp　hanging　from　the　ceiling；　and　by　that　of　an　excellent　fire；　near　which　I　sit　in　my　cloak　and　bon；　my　muff　and　umbrella　lie　on　the　table；　and　I　am　warming　away　the　numbness　and　chill　contracted　by　sixteen　hours’　exposure　to　the　rawness　of　an　October　day：　I　left　Lowton　at　four　o’clock　a。m。；　and　the　Millcote　town　clock　is　now　just　striking　eight。

Reader；　though　I　look　fortably　acmodated；　I　am　not　very　tranquil　in　my　mind。　I　thought　when　the　coach　stopped　here　there　would　be　some　one　to　meet　me；　I　looked　anxiously　round　as　I　descended　the　wooden　steps　the　“boots”　placed　for　my　convenience；　expecting　to　hear　my　name　pronounced；　and　to　see　some　description　of　carriage　waiting　to　convey　me　to　Thornfield。　Nothing　of　the　sort　was　visible；　and　when　I　asked　a　waiter　if　any　one　had　been　to　inquire　after　a　Miss　Eyre；　I　was　answered　in　the　negative：　so　I　had　no　resource　but　to　request　to　be　shown　into　a　private　room：　and　here　I　am　waiting；　while　all　sorts　of　doubts　and　fears　are　troubling　my　thoughts。

It　is　a　very　strange　sensation　to　inexperienced　youth　to　feel　itself　quite　alone　in　the　world；　cut　adrift　from　every　connection；　uncertain　whether　the　port　to　which　it　is　bound　can　be　reached；　and　prevented　by　many　impediments　from　returning　to　that　it　has　quitted。　The　charm　of　adventure　sweetens　that　sensation；　the　glow　of　pride　warms　it；　but　then　the　throb　of　fear　disturbs　it；　and　fear　with　me　became　predominant　when　half…an…hour　elapsed　and　stil