第77部分(第1/7 页)

ndle；　took　down　“Marmion；”　and　beginning—

“Day　set　on　Norham’s　castled　steep；

And　Tweed’s　fair　river　broad　and　deep；

And　Cheviot’s　mountains　lone；

The　massive　towers；　the　donjon　keep；

The　flanking　walls　that　round　them　sweep；

In　yellow　lustre　shone”—

I　soon　forgot　storm　in　music。

I　heard　a　noise：　the　wind；　I　thought；　shook　the　door。　No；　it　was　St。　John　Rivers；　who；　lifting　the　latch；　came　in　out　of　the　frozen　hurricane—the　howling　darkness—and　stood　before　me：　the　cloak　that　covered　his　tall　figure　all　white　as　a　glacier。　I　was　almost　in　consternation；　so　little　had　I　expected　any　guest　from　the　blocked…up　vale　that　night。

“Any　ill　news？”　I　demanded。　“Has　anything　happened？”

“No。　How　very　easily　alarmed　you　are？”　he　answered；　removing　his　cloak　and　hanging　it　up　against　the　door；　towards　which　he　again　coolly　pushed　the　mat　which　his　entrance　had　deranged。　He　stamped　the　snow　from　his　boots。

“I　shall　sully　the　purity　of　your　floor；”　said　he；　“but　you　must　excuse　me　for　once。”　Then　he　approached　the　fire。　“I　have　had　hard　work　to　get　here；　I　assure　you；”　he　observed；　as　he　warmed　his　hands　over　the　flame。　“One　drift　took　me　up　to　the　waist；　happily　the　snow　is　quite　soft　yet。”

“But　why　are　you　e？”　I　could　not　forbear　saying。

“Rather　an　inhospitable　question　to　put　to　a　visitor；　but　since　you　ask　it；　I　answer　simply　to　have　a　little　talk　with　you；　I　got　tired　of　my　mute　books　and　empty　rooms。　Besides；　since　yesterday　I　have　experienced　the　excitement　of　a　person　to　whom　a　tale　has　been　half…　told；　and　who　is　impatient　to　hear　the　sequel。”

He　sat　down。　I　recalled　his　singular　conduct　of　yesterday；　and　really　I　began　to　fear　his　wits　were　touched。　If　he　were　insane；　however