第39部分(第4/8 頁)

ed　that　he　was　but　just　arrived　in　England；　and　that　he　came　from　some　hot　country：　which　was　the　reason；　doubtless；　his　face　was　so　sallow；　and　that　he　sat　so　near　the　hearth；　and　wore　a　surtout　in　the　house。　Presently　the　words　Jamaica；　Kingston；　Spanish　Town；　indicated　the　West　Indies　as　his　residence；　and　it　was　with　no　little　surprise　I　gathered；　ere　long；　that　he　had　there　first　seen　and　bee　acquainted　with　Mr。　Rochester。　He　spoke　of　his　friend’s　dislike　of　the　burning　heats；　the　hurricanes；　and　rainy　seasons　of　that　region。　I　knew　Mr。　Rochester　had　been　a　traveller：　Mrs。　Fairfax　had　said　so；　but　I　thought　the　continent　of　Europe　had　bounded　his　wanderings；　till　now　I　had　never　heard　a　hint　given　of　visits　to　more　distant　shores。

I　was　pondering　these　things；　when　an　incident；　and　a　somewhat　unexpected　one；　broke　the　thread　of　my　musings。　Mr。　Mason；　shivering　as　some　one　chanced　to　open　the　door；　asked　for　more　coal　to　be　put　on　the　fire；　which　had　burnt　out　its　flame；　though　its　mass　of　cinder　still　shone　hot　and　red。　The　footman　who　brought　the　coal；　in　going　out；　stopped　near　Mr。　Eshton’s　chair；　and　said　something　to　him　in　a　low　voice；　of　which　I　heard　only　the　words；　“old　e。”

“Tell　her　she　shall　be　put　in　the　stocks　if　she　does　not　take　herself　off；”　replied　the　magistrate。

“No—stop！”　interrupted　Colonel　Dent。　“Don’t　send　her　away；　Eshton；　we　might　turn　the　thing　to　account；　better　consult　the　ladies。”　And　speaking　aloud；　he　continued—“Ladies；