第43部分(第4/7 页)

d　Carter；　who　had　now　undone　the　bandages；　“only　I　wish　I　could　have　got　here　sooner：　he　would　not　have　bled　so　much—but　how　is　this？　The　flesh　on　the　shoulder　is　torn　as　well　as　cut。　This　wound　was　not　done　with　a　knife：　there　have　been　teeth　here！”

“She　bit　me；”　he　murmured。　“She　worried　me　like　a　tigress；　when　Rochester　got　the　knife　from　her。”

“You　should　not　have　yielded：　you　should　have　grappled　with　her　at　once；”　said　Mr。　Rochester。

“But　under　such　circumstances；　what　could　one　do？”　returned　Mason。　“Oh；　it　was　frightful！”　he　added；　shuddering。　“And　I　did　not　expect　it：　she　looked　so　quiet　at　first。”

“I　warned　you；”　was　his　friend’s　answer；　“I　said—be　on　your　guard　when　you　go　near　her。　Besides；　you　might　have　waited　till　to…　morrow；　and　had　me　with　you：　it　was　mere　folly　to　attempt　the　interview　to…night；　and　alone。”

“I　thought　I　could　have　done　some　good。”

“You　thought！　you　thought！　Yes；　it　makes　me　impatient　to　hear　you：　but；　however；　you　have　suffered；　and　are　likely　to　suffer　enough　for　not　taking　my　advice；　so　I’ll　say　no　more。　Carter—hurry！—hurry！　The　sun　will　soon　rise；　and　I　must　have　him　off。”

“Directly；　sir；　the　shoulder　is　just　bandaged。　I　must　look　to　this　other　wound　in　the　arm：　she　has　had　her　teeth　here　too；　I　think。”

“She　sucked　the　blood：　she　said　she’d　drain　my　heart；”　said　Mason。

I　saw　Mr。　Rochester　shudder：　a　singularly　marked　expression　of　disgust；　horror；　hatred；　warped　his　countenance　almost　to　distortion；　but　he　only　said—

“e；　be　silent；　Richard；　and　never　mind　her　gibberish：　don’t　repeat　it。”

“I　wish　I　could　forget　it；”　was　the　answer。

“You　will　when　you　are　out　of　the　country：　when　you　get　back　to　Spanish　Town；　you　may　think　of　her　as　dead　and　buried—or　r