第45部分(第7/8 頁)

t　travel　a　hundred　miles　alone。”

“No；　sir；　she　has　sent　her　coachman。”

“A　person　to　be　trusted？”

“Yes；　sir；　he　has　lived　ten　years　in　the　family。”

Mr。　Rochester　meditated。　“When　do　you　wish　to　go？”

“Early　to…morrow　morning；　sir。”

“Well；　you　must　have　some　money；　you　can’t　travel　without　money；　and　I　daresay　you　have　not　much：　I　have　given　you　no　salary　yet。　How　much　have　you　in　the　world；　Jane？”　he　asked；　smiling。

I　drew　out　my　purse；　a　meagre　thing　it　was。　“Five　shillings；　sir。”　He　took　the　purse；　poured　the　hoard　into　his　palm；　and　chuckled　over　it　as　if　its　scantiness　amused　him。　Soon　he　produced　his　pocket…　book：　“Here；”　said　he；　offering　me　a　note；　it　was　fifty　pounds；　and　he　owed　me　but　fifteen。　I　told　him　I　had　no　change。

“I　don’t　want　change；　you　know　that。　Take　your　wages。”

I　declined　accepting　more　than　was　my　due。　He　scowled　at　first；　then；　as　if　recollecting　something；　he　said—

“Right；　right！　Better　not　give　you　all　now：　you　would；　perhaps；　stay　away　three　months　if　you　had　fifty　pounds。　There　are　ten；　is　it　not　plenty？”

“Yes；　sir；　but　now　you　owe　me　five。”

“e　back　for　it；　then；　I　am　your　banker　for　forty　pounds。”

“Mr。　Rochester；　I　may　as　well　mention　another　matter　of　business　to　you　while　I　have　the　opportunity。”

“Matter　of　business？　I　am　curious　to　hear　it。”

“You　have　as　good　as　informed　me；　sir；　that　you　are　going　shortly　to　be　married？”

“Yes；　what　t