简爱(英文版)-第49章

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“It　must　have　been　one　of　them；”　interrupted　my　master。
“No；　sir；　I　solemnly　assure　you　to　the　contrary。　The　shape　standing　before　me　had　never　crossed　my　eyes　within　the　precincts　of　Thornfield　Hall　before；　the　height；　the　contour　were　new　to　me。”
“Describe　it；　Jane。”
“It　seemed；　sir；　a　woman；　tall　and　large；　with　thick　and　dark　hair　hanging　long　down　her　back。　I　know　not　what　dress　she　had　on：　it　was　white　and　straight；　but　whether　gown；　sheet；　or　shroud；　I　cannot　tell。”
“Did　you　see　her　face？”
“Not　at　first。　But　presently　she　took　my　veil　from　its　place；　she　held　it　up；　gazed　at　it　long；　and　then　she　threw　it　over　her　own　head；　and　turned　to　the　mirror。　At　that　moment　I　saw　the　reflection　of　the　visage　and　features　quite　distinctly　in　the　dark　oblong　glass。”
“And　how　were　they？”
“Fearful　and　ghastly　to　me—oh；　sir；　I　never　saw　a　face　like　it！　It　was　a　discoloured　face—it　was　a　savage　face。　I　wish　I　could　forget　the　roll　of　the　red　eyes　and　the　fearful　blackened　inflation　of　the　lineaments！”
“Ghosts　are　usually　pale；　Jane。”
“This；　sir；　was　purple：　the　lips　were　swelled　and　dark；　the　brow　furrowed：　the　black　eyebrows　widely　raised　over　the　bloodshot　eyes。　Shall　I　tell　you　of　what　it　reminded　me？”
“You　may。”
“Of　the　foul　German　spectre—the　Vampyre。”
“Ah！—what　did　it　do？”
“Sir；　it　removed　my　veil　from　its　gaunt　head；　rent　it　in　two　parts；　and　flinging　both　on　the　floor；　trampled　on　them。”
“Afterwards？”
“It　drew　aside　the　window…curtain　and　looked　out；　perhaps　it　saw　dawn　approaching；　for；　taking　the　candle；　it　retreated　to　the　door。　Just　at　my　bedside；　the　figure　stopped：　the　fiery　eyes　glared　upon　me—she　thrust　up　her　candle　close　to　my　face；　and　extinguished　it　under　my　eyes。　I　was　aware　her　lurid　visage　flamed　over　mine；　and　I　lost　consciousness：　for　the　second　time　in　my　life—only　the　second　time—I　became　insensible　from　terror。”
“Who　was　with　you　when　you　revived？”
“No　one；　sir；　but　the　broad　day。　I　rose；　bathed　my　head　and　face　in　water；　drank　a　long　draught；　felt　that　though　enfeebled　I　was　not　ill；　and　determined　that　to　none　but　you　would　I　impart　this　vision。　Now；　sir；　tell　me　who　and　what　that　woman　was？”
“The　creature　of　an　over…stimulated　brain；　that　is　certain。　I　must　be　careful　of　you；　my　treasure：　nerves　like　yours　were　not　made　for　rough　handling。”
“Sir；　depend　on　it；　my　nerves　were　not　in　fault；　the　thing　was　real：　the　transaction　actually　took　place。”
“And　your　previous　dreams；　were　they　real　too？　Is　Thornfield　Hall　a　ruin？　Am　I　severed　from　you　by　insuperable　obstacles？　Am　I　leaving　you　without　a　tear—without　a　kiss—without　a　word？”
“Not　yet。”
“Am　I　about　to　do　it？　Why；　the　day　is　already　menced　which　is　to　bind　us　indissolubly；　and　when　we　are　once　united；　there　shall　be　no　recurrence　of　these　mental　terrors：　I　guarantee　that。”
“Mental　terrors；　sir！　I　wish　I　could　believe　them　to　be　only　such：　I　wish　it　more　now　than　ever；　since　even　you　cannot　explain　to　me　the　mystery　of　that　awful　visitant。”
“And　since　I　cannot　do　it；　Jane；　it　must　have　been　unreal。”
“But；　sir；　when　I　said　so　to　myself　on　rising　this　morning；　and　when　I　looked　round　the　room　to　gather　courage　and　fort　from　the　cheerful　aspect　of　each　familiar　object　in　full　daylight；　there—on　the　carpet—I　saw　what　gave　the　distinct　lie　to　my　hypothesis；—the　veil；　torn　from　top　to　bottom　in　two　halves！”
I　felt　Mr。　Rochester　start　and　shudder；　he　hastily　flung　his　arms　round　me。　“Thank　God！”　he　exclaimed；　“that　if　anything　malignant　did　e　near　you　last　night；　it　was　only　the　veil　that　was　harmed。　Oh；　to　think　what　might　have　happened！”
He　drew　his　breath　short；　and　strained　me　so　close　to　him；　I　could　scarcely　pant。　After　some　minutes’　silence；　he　continued；　cheerily—
“Now；　Ja；　I’ll　explain　to　you　all　about　it。　It　was　half　dream；　half　reality。　A　woman　did；　I　doubt　not；　enter　your　room：　and　that　woman　was—must　have　been—Grace　Poole。　You　call　her　a　strange　being　yourself：　from　all　you　know；　you　have　reason　so　to　call　her—　what　did　she　do　to　me？　what　to　Mason？　In　a　state　between　sleeping　and　waking；　you　noticed　her　entrance　and　her　actions；　but　feverish；　almost　delirious　as　you　were；　you　ascribed　to　her　a　goblin　appearance　different　from　her　own：　the　long　dishevelled　hair；　the　swelled　black　face；　the　exaggerated　stature；　were　figments　of　imagination；　results　of　nightmare：　the　spiteful　tearing　of　the　veil　was　real：　and　it　is　like　her。　I　see　you　would　ask　why　I　keep　such　a　woman　in　my　house：　when　we　have　been　married　a　year　and　a　day；　I　will　tell　you；　but　not　now。　Are　you　satisfied；　Jane？　Do　you　accept　my　solution　of　the　mystery？”
I　reflected；　and　in　truth　it　appeared　to　me　the　only　possible　one：　satisfied　I　was　not；　but　to　please　him　I　endeavoured　to　appear　so—　relieved；　I　certainly　did　feel；　so　I　answered　him　with　a　contented　smile。　And　now；　as　it　was　long　past　one；　I　prepared　to　leave　him。
“Does　not　Sophie　sleep　with　Adèle　in　the　nursery？”　he　asked；　as　I　lit　my　candle。
“Yes；　sir。”
“And　there　is　room　enough　in　Adèle’s　little　bed　for　you。　You　must　share　it　with　her　to…night；　Jane：　it　is　no　wonder　that　the　incident　you　have　related　should　make　you　nervous；　and　I　would　rather　you　did　not　sleep　alone：　promise　me　to　go　to　the　nursery。”
“I　shall　be　very　glad　to　do　so；　sir。”
“And　fasten　the　door　securely　on　the　inside。　Wake　Sophie　when　you　go　upstairs；　under　pretence　of　requesting　her　to　rouse　you　in　good　time　to…morrow；　for　you　must　be　dressed　and　have　finished　breakfast　before　eight。　And　now；　no　more　sombre　thoughts：　chase　dull　care　away；　Ja。　Don’t　you　hear　to　what　soft　whispers　the　wind　has　fallen？　and　there　is　no　more　beating　of　rain　against　the　window…　panes：　look　here”　（he　lifted　up　the　curtain）—“it　is　a　lovely　night！”
It　was。　Half　heaven　was　pure　and　stainless：　the　clouds；　now　trooping　before　the　wind；　which　had　shifted　to　the　west；　were　filing　off　eastward　in　long；　silvered　columns。　The　moon　shone　peacefully。
“Well；”　said　Mr。　Rochester；　gazing　inquiringly　into　my　eyes；　“how　is　my　Ja　now？”
“The　night　is　serene；　sir；　and　so　am　I。”
“And　you　will　not　dream　of　separation　and　sorrow　to…night；　but　of　happy　love　and　blissful　union。”
This　prediction　was　but　half　fulfilled：　I　did　not　indeed　dream　of　sorrow；　but　as　little　did　I　dream　of　joy；　for　I　never　slept　at　all。　With　little　Adèle　in　my　arms；　I　watched　the　slumber　of　childhood—so　tranquil；　so　passionless；　so　innocent—and　waited　for　the　ing　day：　all　my　life　was　awake　and　astir　in　my　frame：　and　as　soon　as　the　sun　rose　I　rose　too。　I　remember　Adèle　clung　to　me　as　I　left　her：　I　remember　I　kissed　her　as　I　loosened　her　little　hands　from　my　neck；　and　I　cried　over　her　with　strange　emotion；　and　quitted　her　because　I　feared　my　sobs　would　break　her　still　sound　repose。　She　seemed　the　emblem　of　my　past　life；　and　he　I　was　now　to　array　myself　to　meet；　the　dread；　but　adored；　type　of　my　unknown　future　day。
Chapter　26
Sophie　came　at　seven　to　dress　me：　she　was　very　long　indeed　in　acplishing　her　task；　so　long　that　Mr。　Rochester；　grown；　I　suppose；　impatient　of　my　delay；　sent　up　to　ask　why　I　did　not　e。　She　was　just　fastening　my　veil　（the　plain　square　of　blond　after　all）　to　my　hair　with　a　brooch；　I　hurried　from　under　her　hands　as　soon　as　I　could。
“Stop！”　she　cried　in　French。　“Look　at　yourself　in　the　mirror：　you　have　not　taken　one　peep。”
So　I　turned　at　the　door：　I　saw　a　robed　and　veiled　figure；　so　unlike　my　usual　self　that　it　seemed　almost　the　image　of　a　stranger。　“Jane！”　called　a　voice；　and　I　hastened　down。　I　was　received　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs　by　Mr。　Rochester。
“Lingerer！”　he　said；　“my　brain　is　on　fire　with　impatience；　and　you　tarry　so　long！”
He　took　me　into　the　dining…room；　surveyed　me　keenly　all　over；　pronounced　me　“fair　as　a　lily；　and　not　only　the　pride　of　his　life；　but　the　desire　of　his　eyes；”　and　then　telling　me　he　would　give　me　but　ten　minutes　to　eat　some　breakfast；　he　rang　the　bell。　One　of　his　lately　hired　servants；　a　footman；　answered　it。
“Is　John　getting　the　carriage　ready？”
“Yes；　sir。”
“Is　the　luggage　brought　down？”
“They　are　bringing　it　down；　sir。”
“Go　you　to　the　church：　see　if　Mr。　Wood　（the　clergyman）　and　the　clerk　are　there：　return　and　tell　me。”
The　church；　as　the　reader　knows；　was　but　just　beyond　the　gates；　the　footman　soon　returned。
“Mr。　Wood　is　in　the　vestry；　sir；　putting　on　his　surplice。”
“And　the　carriage？”
“The　horses　are　harnessing。”
“We　shall　not　want　it　to　go　to　church；　but　it　must　be　ready　the　moment　we　return：　all　the　boxes　and　luggage　arranged　and　strapped　on；　and　the　coachman　in　his　seat。”
“Yes；　sir。”
“Jane；　are　you　ready？”
I　rose。　There　were　no　groomsmen；　no　bridesmaids；　no　relatives　to　wait　for　or　marshal：　none　but　Mr。　Rochester　and　I。　Mrs。　Fairfax　stood　in　the　hall　as　we　passed。　I　would　fain　have　spoken　to　her；　but　my　hand　was　held　by　a　grasp　of　iron：　I　was　hurried　along　by　a　stride　I　could　hardly　follow；　and　to　look　at　Mr。　Rochester’s　face　was　to　feel　that　not　a　second　of　delay　would　be　tolerated　for　any　purpose。　I　wonder　what　other　bridegroom　ever　looked　as　he　did—so　bent　up　to　a　purpose；　so　grimly　resolute：　or　who；　under　such　steadfast　brows；　ever　revealed　such　flaming　and　flashing　eyes。
I　know　not　whether　the　day　was　fair　or　foul；　in　descending　the　drive；　I　gazed　neither　on　sky　nor　earth：　my　heart　was　with　my　eyes；　and　both　seemed　migrated　into　Mr。　Rochester’s　frame。　I　wanted　to　see　the　invisible　thing　on　which；　as　we　went　along；　he　appeared　to　fasten　a　glance　fierce　and　fell。　I　wanted　to　feel　the　thoughts　whose　force　he　seemed　breasting　and　resisting。
At　the　churchyard　wicket　he　stopped：　he　discovered　I　was　quite　out　of　breath。　“Am　I　cruel　in　my　love？”　he　said。　“Delay　an　instant：　lean　on　me；　Jane。”
And　now　I　can　recall　the　picture　of　the　grey　old　house　of　God　rising　calm　before　me；　of　a　rook　wheeling　round　the　steeple；　of　a　ruddy　morning　sky　beyond。　I　remember　something；　too；　of　the　green　grave…　mounds；　and　I　have　not　forgotten；　either；　two　figures　of　strangers　straying　amongst　the　low　hillocks　and　reading　the　mementoes　graven　on　the　few　mossy　head…stones。　I　noticed　them；　because；　as　they　saw　us；　they　passed　round　to　the　back　of　the　church；　and　I　doubted　not　they　were　going　to　enter　by　the　side…aisle　door　and　witness　the　ceremony。　By　Mr。　Rochester　they　were　not　observed；　he　was　earnestly　looking　at　my　face　from　which　the　blood　had；　I　daresay；　momentarily　fled：　for　I　felt　my　forehead　dewy；　and　my　cheeks　and　lips　cold。　When　I　rallied；　which　I　soon　did；　he　walked　gently　with　me　up　the　path　to　the　porch。
ple；　the　priest　waited　in　his　white　surplice　at　the　lowly　altar；　the　clerk　beside　him。　All　was　still：　two　shadows　only　moved　in　a　remote　corner。　My　conjecture　had　been　correct：　the　strangers　had　slipped　in　before　us；　and　they　now　stood　by　the　vault　of　the　Rochesters；　their　backs　towards　us；　viewing　through　the　rails　the　old　time…stained　marble　tomb；　where　a　kneeling　angel　guarded　the　remains　of　Damer　de　Rochester；　slain　at　Marston　Moor　in　the　time　of　the　civil　wars；　and　of　Elizabeth；　his　wife。
Our　place　was　taken　at　the　munion　rails。　Hearing　a　cautious　step　behind　me；　I　glanced　over　my　shoulder：　one　of　the　strangers—a　gentleman；　evidently—was　advancing　up　the　chancel。　The　service　began。　The　explanation　of　the　intent　of　matrimony　was　gone　through；　and　then　the　clergyman　came　a　step　further　forward；　and；　bending　slightly　towards　Mr。　Rochester；　went　on。
“I　require　and　charge　you　both　（as　ye　will　answer　at　the　dreadful　day　of　judgment；　when　the　secrets　of　all　hearts　shall　be　disclosed）；　that　if　either　of　you　know　any　impediment　why　ye　may　not　lawfully　be　joined　together　in　matrimony；　ye　do　now　confess　it；　for　be　ye　well　assured　that　so　many　as　are　coupled　together　otherwise　than　God’s　Word　doth　allow；　are　not　joined　together　by　God；　neither　is　their　matrimony　lawful。”
He　paused；　as　the　custom　is。　When　is　the　pause　after　that　sentence　ever　broken　by　reply？　Not；　perhaps；　once　in　a　hundred　years。　And　the　clergyman；　who　had　not　lifted　his　eyes　from　his　book；　and　had　held　his　breath　but　for　a　moment；　was　proceeding：　his　hand　was　already　stretched　towards　Mr。　Rochester；　as　his　lips　unclosed　to　ask；　“Wilt　thou　have　this　woman　for　thy　wedded　wife？”—when　a　distinct　and　near　voice　said—
“The　marriage　cannot　go　on：　I　declare　the　existence　of　an　impediment。”
The　clergyman　looked　up　at　the　speaker　and　stood　mute；　the　clerk　did　the　same；　Mr。　Rochester　moved　slightly；　as　if　an　earthquake　had　rolled　under　his　feet：　taking　a　firmer　footing；　and　not　turning　his　head　or　eyes；　he　said；　“Proceed。”
Profound　silence　fell　when　he　had　uttered　that　word；　with　deep　but　low　intonation。　Presently　Mr。　Wood　said—
“I　cannot　proceed　without　some　investigation　into　what　has　been　asserted；　and　evidence　of　its　truth　or　falsehood。”
“The　ceremony　is　quite　broken　off；”　subjoined　the　voice　behind　us。　“I　am　in　a　condition　to　prove　my　allegation：　an　insuperable　impediment　to　this　marriage　exists。”
Mr。　Rochester　heard；　but　heeded　not：　he　stood　stubborn　and　rigid；　making　no　movement　but　to　possess　himself　of　my　hand。　What　a　hot　and　strong　grasp　he　had！　and　hoarble　was　his　pale；　firm；　massive　front　at　this　moment！　How　his　eye　shone；　still　watchful；　and　yet　wild　beneath！
Mr。　Wood　seemed　at　a　loss。　“What　is　the　nature　of　the　impediment？”　he　asked。