第26部分(第3/8 頁)

　a　frigid　bow　in　return；　and　so　withdrew。

“You　said　Mr。　Rochester　was　not　strikingly　peculiar；　Mrs。　Fairfax；”　I　observed；　when　I　rejoined　her　in　her　room；　after　putting　Adèle　to　bed。

“Well；　is　he？”

“I　think　so：　he　is　very　changeful　and　abrupt。”

“True：　no　doubt　he　may　appear　so　to　a　stranger；　but　I　am　so　accustomed　to　his　manner；　I　never　think　of　it；　and　then；　if　he　has　peculiarities　of　temper；　allowance　should　be　made。”

“Why？”

“Partly　because　it　is　his　nature—and　we　can　none　of　us　help　our　nature；　and　partly　because　he　has　painful　thoughts；　no　doubt；　to　harass　him；　and　make　his　spirits　unequal。”

“What　about？”

“Family　troubles；　for　one　thing。”

“But　he　has　no　family。”

“Not　now；　but　he　has　had—or；　at　least；　relatives。　He　lost　his　elder　brother　a　few　years　since。”

“His　elder　brother？”

“Yes。　The　present　Mr。　Rochester　has　not　been　very　long　in　possession　of　the　property；　only　about　nine　years。”

“Nine　years　is　a　tolerable　time。　Was　he　so　very　fond　of　his　brother　as　to　be　still　inconsolable　for　his　loss？”

“Why；　no—perhaps　not。　I　believe　there　were　some　misunderstandings　between　them。　Mr。　Rowland　Rochester　r。　Edward；　and　perhaps　he　prejudiced　his　father　against　him。　The　old　gentleman　was　fond　of　money；　and　anxious　to　keep　the　family　estate　together。　He　did　not　like　to　diminish　the　property　by　division；　and　yet　he　was　anxious　that　Mr。　Edward　should　have　wealth；　too；　to　keep　up　the　conseque