第39部分(第1/7 页)

“Voile；　Monsieur　Rochester；　qui　revient！”

I　turned；　and　Miss　Ingram　darted　forwards　from　her　sofa：　the　others；　too；　looked　up　from　their　several　occupations；　for　at　the　same　time　a　crunching　of　wheels　and　a　splashing　tramp　of　horse…hoofs　became　audible　on　the　wet　gravel。　A　post…chaise　was　approaching。

“What　can　possess　him　to　e　home　in　that　style？”　said　Miss　Ingram。　“He　rode　Mesrour　（the　black　horse）；　did　he　not；　when　he　went　out？　and　Pilot　was　with　him：…　what　has　he　done　with　the　animals？”

As　she　said　this；　she　approached　her　tall　person　and　ample　garments　so　near　the　window；　that　I　was　obliged　to　bend　back　almost　to　the　breaking　of　my　spine：　in　her　eagerness　she　did　not　observe　me　at　first；　but　when　she　did；　she　curled　her　lip　and　moved　to　another　casement。　The　post…chaise　stopped；　the　driver　rang　the　door…bell；　and　a　gentleman　alighted　attired　in　travelling　garb；　but　it　was　not　Mr。　Rochester；　it　was　a　tall；　fashionable…looking　man；　a　stranger。

“How　provoking！”　exclaimed　Miss　Ingram：　“you　tiresome　monkey！”　（apostrophising　Adèle）；　“who　perched　you　up　in　the　window　to　give　false　intelligence？”　and　she　cast　on　me　an　angry　glance；　as　if　I　were　in　fault。

Some　parleying　was　audible　in　the　hall；　and　soon　the　new…er　entered。　He　bowed　to　Lady　Ingram；　as　deeming　her　the　eldest　lady　present。

“It　appears　I　e　at　an　inopportune　time；　madam；”　said　he；　“when　my　friend；　Mr。　Rochester；　is　from　home；　but　I　arrive　from　a　very　long　journey；　and　I　think　I　may　presume　so　far　on　old　and　intimate　acquaintance　as　to　instal　myself　here　till　he　returns。”

His　manner　was　polite；　his　accent；　in　speaking；　struck　me　as　being　somewhat　unusual；—not　precisely　foreign；　but　still　not　altogether　English：　his　age　might　be　about　Mr。　Rochester’s；—between　th