第43部分(第3/8 頁)

ke　a　child—fallen　on　him；　a　few　hours　since；　as　a　thunderbolt　might　fall　on　an　oak？

Oh！　I　could　not　forget　his　look　and　his　paleness　when　he　whispered：　“Jane；　I　have　got　a　blow—I　have　got　a　blow；　Jane。”　I　could　not　forget　how　the　arm　had　trembled　which　he　rested　on　my　shoulder：　and　it　was　no　light　matter　which　could　thus　bow　the　resolute　spirit　and　thrill　the　vigorous　frame　of　Fairfax　Rochester。

“When　will　he　e？　When　will　he　e？”　I　cried　inwardly；　as　the　night　lingered　and　lingered—as　my　bleeding　patient　drooped；　moaned；　sickened：　and　neither　day　nor　aid　arrived。　I　had；　again　and　again；　held　the　water　to　Mason’s　white　lips；　again　and　again　offered　him　the　stimulating　salts：　my　efforts　seemed　ineffectual：　either　bodily　or　mental　suffering；　or　loss　of　blood；　or　all　three　bined；　were　fast　prostrating　his　strength。　He　moaned　so；　and　looked　so　weak；　wild；　and　lost；　I　feared　he　was　dying；　ant　I　might　not　even　speak　to　him。

The　candle；　wasted　at　last；　went　out；　as　it　expired；　I　perceived　streaks　of　grey　light　edging　the　window　curtains：　dawn　was　then　approaching。　Presently　I　heard　Pilot　bark　far　below；　out　of　his　distant　kennel　in　the　courtyard：　hope　revived。　Nor　was　it　unwarranted：　in　five　minutes　more　the　grating　key；　the　yielding　lock；　warned　me　my　watch　was　relieved。　It　could　not　have　lasted　more　than　two　hours：　many　a　week　has　seemed　shorter。

Mr。　Rochester　entered；　and　with　him　the　surgeon　he　had　been　to　fetch。

“Now；　Carter；　be　on　the　alert；”　h