第52部分(第7/8 頁)

de。”

“It　can　never　be；　sir；　it　does　not　sound　likely。　Human　beings　never　enjoy　plete　happiness　in　this　world。　I　was　not　born　for　a　different　destiny　to　the　rest　of　my　species：　to　imagine　such　a　lot　befalling　me　is　a　fairy　tale—a　day…dream。”

“Which　I　can　and　will　realise。　I　shall　begin　to…day。　This　morning　I　wrote　to　my　banker　in　London　to　send　me　certain　jewels　he　has　in　his　keeping；—heirlooms　for　the　ladies　of　Thornfield。　In　a　day　or　two　I　hope　to　pour　them　into　your　lap：　for　every　privilege；　every　attention　shall　be　yours　that　I　would　accord　a　peer’s　daughter；　if　about　to　marry　her。”

“Oh；　sir！—never　rain　jewels！　I　don’t　like　to　hear　them　spoken　of。　Jewels　for　Jane　Eyre　sounds　unnatural　and　strange：　I　would　rather　not　have　them。”

“I　will　myself　put　the　diamond　chain　round　your　neck；　and　the　circlet　on　your　forehead；—which　it　will　bee：　for　nature；　at　least；　has　stamped　her　patent　of　nobility　on　this　brow；　Jane；　and　I　will　clasp　the　bracelets　on　these　fine　wrists；　and　load　these　fairy…　like　fingers　with　rings。”

“No；　no；　sir！　think　of　other　subjects；　and　speak　of　other　things；　and　in　another　strain。　Don’t　address　me　as　if　I　were　a　beauty；　I　am　your　plain；　Quakerish　governess。”

“You　are　a　beauty　in　my　eyes；　and　a　beauty　just　after　the　desire　of　my　heart；—delicate　and　aerial。”

“Puny　and　insignificant；　you　mean。　You　are　dreaming；　sir；—or　you　are　sneering。　For　God’s　sake　don’t　be　ironical！”

“I　will　make　the　world　acknowledge　y