第91部分(第4/7 页)

ousekeeper　and　her　husband　were　both　of　that　decent　phlegmatic　order　of　people；　to　whom　one　may　at　any　time　safely　municate　a　remarkable　piece　of　news　without　incurring　the　danger　of　having　one’s　ears　pierced　by　some　shrill　ejaculation；　and　subsequently　stunned　by　a　torrent　of　wordy　wonderment。　Mary　did　look　up；　and　she　did　stare　at　me：　the　ladle　with　which　she　was　basting　a　pair　of　chickens　roasting　at　the　fire；　did　for　some　three　minutes　hang　suspended　in　air；　and　for　the　same　space　of　time　John’s　knives　also　had　rest　from　the　polishing　process：　but　Mary；　bending　again　over　the　roast；　said　only—

“Have　you；　Miss？　Well；　for　sure！”

A　short　time　after　she　pursued—“I　seed　you　go　out　with　the　master；　but　I　didn’t　know　you　were　gone　to　church　to　be　wed；”　and　she　basted　away。　John；　when　I　turned　to　him；　was　grinning　from　ear　to　ear。

“I　telled　Mary　how　it　would　be；”　he　said：　“I　knew　what　Mr。　Edward”　（John　was　an　old　servant；　and　had　known　his　master　when　he　was　the　cadet　of　the　house；　therefore；　he　often　gave　him　his　Christian　name）—“I　knew　what　Mr。　Edward　would　do；　and　I　was　certain　he　would　not　wait　long　neither：　and　he’s　done　right；　for　aught　I　know。　I　wish　you　joy；　Miss！”　and　he　politely　pulled　his　forelock。

“Thank　you；　John。　Mr。　Rochester　told　me　to　give　you　and　Mary　this。”　I　put　into　his　hand　a　five…pound　note。　Without　waiting　to　hear　more；　I　left　the　kitchen。　In　passing　the　door　of　that　sanctum　some　time　after；　I　caught　the　words—

“She’ll　happen　do　better　for　him　nor　ony　o’t’　grand　ladies。”　And　again；　“If　she　ben’t　one　o’　th’　handsomest；　she’s　noan　faal　and　varry　good…natured；　and　i’　his　een　she’s　fair　beautiful；　onybody　may　see　that。”

I　wrote　to　Moor　House　and　to　Cambridge　immediately；　to　say　what　I　had　done：　fully　explaining　a