第37部分(第3/7 页)

s　roof！　All　sad　feelings　seemed　now　driven　from　the　house；　all　gloomy　associations　forgotten：　there　was　life　everywhere；　movement　all　day　long。　You　could　not　now　traverse　the　gallery；　once　so　hushed；　nor　enter　the　front　chambers；　once　so　tenantless；　without　encountering　a　smart　lady’s…maid　or　a　dandy　valet。

The　kitchen；　the　butler’s　pantry；　the　servants’　hall；　the　entrance　hall；　were　equally　alive；　and　the　saloons　were　only　left　void　and　still　when　the　blue　sky　and　halcyon　sunshine　of　the　genial　spring　weather　called　their　occupants　out　into　the　grounds。　Even　when　that　weather　was　broken；　and　continuous　rain　set　in　for　some　days；　no　damp　seemed　cast　over　enjoyment：　indoor　amusements　only　became　more　lively　and　varied；　in　consequence　of　the　stop　put　to　outdoor　gaiety。

I　wondered　what　they　were　going　to　do　the　first　evening　a　change　of　entertainment　was　proposed：　they　spoke　of　“playing　charades；”　but　in　my　ignorance　I　did　not　understand　the　term。　The　servants　were　called　in；　the　dining…room　tables　wheeled　away；　the　lights　otherwise　disposed；　the　chairs　placed　in　a　semicircle　opposite　the　arch。　While　Mr。　Rochester　and　the　other　gentlemen　directed　these　alterations；　the　ladies　were　running　up　and　down　stairs　ringing　for　their　maids。　Mrs。　Fairfax　was　summoned　to　give　information　respecting　the　resources　of　the　house　in　shawls；　dresses；　draperies　of　any　kind；　and　certain　wardrobes　of　the　third　storey　were　ransacked；　and　their　contents；　in　the　shape　of　brocaded　and　hooped　petticoats；　satin　sacques；　black　modes；　lace　lappets；　&c。；　were　brought　down　in　armfuls　by　the　abigails；　then　a　selection　was　made；　and　such　things　as　were　chosen　were　carried　to　the　boudoir　within　the　drawing…room。

Meantime；　Mr。　Rochester　had　again　summoned　the　ladies　round　him；　and　was