第41部分(第2/7 页)

oint　about　an　hour　ago　which　made　her　look　wondrous　grave：　the　corners　of　her　mouth　fell　half　an　inch。　I　would　advise　her　blackaviced　suitor　to　look　out：　if　another　es；　with　a　longer　or　clearer　rent…roll；—he’s　dished—”

“But；　mother；　I　did　not　e　to　hear　Mr。　Rochester’s　fortune：　I　came　to　hear　my　own；　and　you　have　told　me　nothing　of　it。”

“Your　fortune　is　yet　doubtful：　when　I　examined　your　face；　one　trait　contradicted　another。　Chance　has　meted　you　a　measure　of　happiness：　that　I　know。　I　knew　it　before　I　came　here　this　evening。　She　has　laid　it　carefully　on　one　side　for　you。　I　saw　her　do　it。　It　depends　on　yourself　to　stretch　out　your　hand；　and　take　it　up：　but　whether　you　will　do　so；　is　the　problem　I　study。　Kneel　again　on　the　rug。”

“Don’t　keep　me　long；　the　fire　scorches　me。”

I　knelt。　She　did　not　stoop　towards　me；　but　only　gazed；　leaning　back　in　her　chair。　She　began　muttering；—

“The　flame　flickers　in　the　eye；　the　eye　shines　like　dew；　it　looks　soft　and　full　of　feeling；　it　smiles　at　my　jargon：　it　is　susceptible；　impression　follows　impression　through　its　clear　sphere；　where　it　ceases　to　smile；　it　is　sad；　an　unconscious　lassitude　weighs　on　the　lid：　that　signifies　melancholy　resulting　from　loneliness。　It　turns　from　me；　it　will　not　suffer　further　scrutiny；　it　seems　to　deny；　by　a　mocking　glance；　the　truth　of　the　discoveries　I　have　already　made；—to　disown　the　charge　both　of　sensibility　and　chagrin：　its　pride　and　reserve　only　confirm　me　in　my　opinion。　The　eye　is　favourable。

“As　to　the　mouth；　it　delights　at　times　in　laughter；　it　is　disposed　to　impart　all　that　the　brain　conceives；　though　I　daresay　it　would　be　silent　on　much　the　heart　experiences。　Mobile　and　flexible；　it　was　never　intended　to　be　pressed　in　the　eternal　silence　of　solitude：　it　is　a　m