第8部分(第6/7 页)

ting　very　far　indeed　from　Gateshead：　we　ceased　to　pass　through　towns；　the　country　changed；　great　grey　hills　heaved　up　round　the　horizon：　as　twilight　deepened；　we　descended　a　valley；　dark　with　wood；　and　long　after　night　had　overclouded　the　prospect；　I　heard　a　wild　wind　rushing　amongst　trees。

Lulled　by　the　sound；　I　at　last　dropped　asleep；　I　had　not　long　slumbered　when　the　sudden　cessation　of　motion　awoke　me；　the　coach…　door　was　open；　and　a　person　like　a　servant　was　standing　at　it：　I　saw　her　face　and　dress　by　the　light　of　the　lamps。

“Is　there　a　little　girl　called　Jane　Eyre　here？”　she　asked。　I　answered　“Yes；”　and　was　then　lifted　out；　my　trunk　was　handed　down；　and　the　coach　instantly　drove　away。

I　was　stiff　with　long　sitting；　and　bewildered　with　the　noise　and　motion　of　the　coach：　Gathering　my　faculties；　I　looked　about　me。　Rain；　wind；　and　darkness　filled　the　air；　nevertheless；　I　dimly　discerned　a　wall　before　me　and　a　door　open　in　it；　through　this　door　I　passed　with　my　new　guide：　she　shut　and　locked　it　behind　her。　There　was　now　visible　a　house　or　houses—for　the　building　spread　far—with　many　windows；　and　lights　burning　in　some；　we　went　up　a　broad　pebbly　path；　splashing　wet；　and　were　admitted　at　a　door；　then　the　servant　led　me　through　a　passage　into　a　room　with　a　fire；　where　she　left　me　alone。

I　stood　and　warmed　my　numbed　fingers　over　the　blaze；　then　I　looked　round；　there　was　no　candle；　but　the　uncertain　light　from　the　hearth　showed；　by　intervals；　papered　walls；　carpet；　curtains；　shining　mahogany　furniture：　it　was　a　parlour；　not　so　spacious　or　splendid　as　the　drawing…room　at　Gateshead；　but　fortable　enough。　I　was　puzzling　to　make　out　the　subject　of　a　picture　on　the　wall；　when　the　door　opened；　and　an　individual　carrying　a　light　entered；　another　followed