第43部分(第3/7 页)

again；　held　the　water　to　Mason’s　white　lips；　again　and　again　offered　him　the　stimulating　salts：　my　efforts　seemed　ineffectual：　either　bodily　or　mental　suffering；　or　loss　of　blood；　or　all　three　bined；　were　fast　prostrating　his　strength。　He　moaned　so；　and　looked　so　weak；　wild；　and　lost；　I　feared　he　was　dying；　ant　I　might　not　even　speak　to　him。

The　candle；　wasted　at　last；　went　out；　as　it　expired；　I　perceived　streaks　of　grey　light　edging　the　window　curtains：　dawn　was　then　approaching。　Presently　I　heard　Pilot　bark　far　below；　out　of　his　distant　kennel　in　the　courtyard：　hope　revived。　Nor　was　it　unwarranted：　in　five　minutes　more　the　grating　key；　the　yielding　lock；　warned　me　my　watch　was　relieved。　It　could　not　have　lasted　more　than　two　hours：　many　a　week　has　seemed　shorter。

Mr。　Rochester　entered；　and　with　him　the　surgeon　he　had　been　to　fetch。

“Now；　Carter；　be　on　the　alert；”　he　said　to　this　last：　“I　give　you　but　half…an…hour　for　dressing　the　wound；　fastening　the　bandages；　getting　the　patient　downstairs　and　all。”

“But　is　he　fit　to　move；　sir？”

“No　doubt　of　it；　it　is　nothing　serious；　he　is　nervous；　his　spirits　must　be　kept　up。　e；　set　to　work。”

Mr。　Rochester　drew　back　the　thick　curtain；　drew　up　the　holland　blind；　let　in　all　the　daylight　he　could；　and　I　was　surprised　and　cheered　to　see　how　far　dawn　was　advanced：　what　rosy　streaks　were　beginning　to　brighten　the　east。　Then　he　approached　Mason；　whom　the　surgeon　was　already　handling。

“Now；　my　good　fellow；　how　are　you？”　he　asked。

“She’s　done　for　me；　I　fear；”　was　the　faint　reply。

“Not　a　whit！—courage！　This　day　fortnight　you’ll　hardly　be　a　pin　the　worse　of　it：　you’ve　lost　a　little　blood；　that’s　all　Carter；　assure　him　there’s　no　danger。”

“I　can　do　that　conscientiously；”　sai