第61部分(第4/7 页)

itude！　solitude！”　he　reiterated　with　irritation。　“I　see　I　must　e　to　an　explanation。　I　don’t　know　what　sphynx…like　expression　is　forming　in　your　countenance。　You　are　to　share　my　solitude。　Do　you　understand？”

I　shook　my　head：　it　required　a　degree　of　courage；　excited　as　he　was　being；　even　to　risk　that　mute　sign　of　dissent。　He　had　been　walking　fast　about　the　room；　and　he　stopped；　as　if　suddenly　rooted　to　one　spot。　He　looked　at　me　long　and　hard：　I　turned　my　eyes　from　him；　fixed　them　on　the　fire；　and　tried　to　assume　and　maintain　a　quiet；　collected　aspect。

“Now　for　the　hitch　in　Jane’s　character；”　he　said　at　last；　speaking　more　calmly　than　from　his　look　I　had　expected　him　to　speak。　“The　reel　of　silk　has　run　smoothly　enough　so　far；　but　I　always　knew　there　would　e　a　knot　and　a　puzzle：　here　it　is。　Now　for　vexation；　and　exasperation；　and　endless　trouble！　By　God！　I　long　to　exert　a　fraction　of　Samson’s　strength；　and　break　the　entanglement　like　tow！”

He　remenced　his　walk；　but　soon　again　stopped；　and　this　time　just　before　me。

“Jane！　will　you　hear　reason？”　（he　stooped　and　approached　his　lips　to　my　ear）；　“because；　if　you　won’t；　I’ll　try　violence。”　His　voice　was　hoarse；　his　look　that　of　a　man　who　is　just　about　to　burst　an　insufferable　bond　and　plunge　headlong　into　wild　license。　I　saw　that　in　another　moment；　and　with　one　impetus　of　frenzy　more；　I　should　be　able　to　do　nothing　with　him。　The　present—the　passing　second　of　time—was　all　I　had　in　which　to　control　and　restrain　him—a　movement　of　repulsion；　flight；　fear　would　have　sealed　my　doom；—and　his。　But　I　was　not　afraid：　not　in　the　least。　I　felt　an　inward　power；　a　sense　of　influence；　which　supported　me。　The　crisis　was　perilous；　but　not　without　its　charm：　such　as　the　Indian；　perhaps；　feels　when　he　slips　over　the　rapi