第57部分(第3/8 頁)

w　yesterday　evening；　not　as　it　blows　now—wild　and　high—but　‘with　a　sullen；　moaning　sound’　far　more　eerie。　I　wished　you　were　at　home。　I　came　into　this　room；　and　the　sight　of　the　empty　chair　and　fireless　hearth　chilled　me。　For　some　time　after　I　went　to　bed；　I　could　not　sleep—a　sense　of　anxious　excitement　distressed　me。　The　gale　still　rising；　seemed　to　my　ear　to　muffle　a　mournful　under…sound；　whether　in　the　house　or　abroad　I　could　not　at　first　tell；　but　it　recurred；　doubtful　yet　doleful　at　every　lull；　at　last　I　made　out　it　must　be　some　dog　howling　at　a　distance。　I　was　glad　when　it　ceased。　On　sleeping；　I　continued　in　dreams　the　idea　of　a　dark　and　gusty　night。　I　continued　also　the　wish　to　be　with　you；　and　experienced　a　strange；　regretful　consciousness　of　some　barrier　dividing　us。　During　all　my　first　sleep；　I　was　following　the　windings　of　an　unknown　road；　total　obscurity　environed　me；　rain　pelted　me；　I　was　burdened　with　the　charge　of　a　little　child：　a　very　small　creature；　too　young　and　feeble　to　walk；　and　which　shivered　in　my　cold　arms；　and　wailed　piteously　in　my　ear。　I　thought；　sir；　that　you　were　on　the　road　a　long　way　before　me；　and　I　strained　every　nerve　to　overtake　you；　and　made　effort　on　effort　to　utter　your　name　and　entreat　you　to　stop—　but　my　movements　were　fettered；　and　my　voice　still　died　away　inarticulate；　while　you；　I　felt；　withdrew　farther　and　farther　every　moment。”

“And　these　dreams　weigh　on　your　spirits　now；　Jane；　when　I　am　close　to　you？　Little　nervous　subject！