第38部分(第4/8 頁)

superiority；　the　deeper　would　have　been　my　admiration—the　more　truly　tranquil　my　quiescence。　But　as　matters　really　stood；　to　watch　Miss　Ingram’s　efforts　at　fascinating　Mr。　Rochester；　to　witness　their　repeated　failure—herself　unconscious　that　they　did　fail；　vainly　fancying　that　each　shaft　launched　hit　the　mark；　and　infatuatedly　pluming　herself　on　success；　when　her　pride　and　self…placency　repelled　further　and　further　what　she　wished　to　allure—to　witness　this；　was　to　be　at　once　under　ceaseless　excitation　and　ruthless　restraint。

Because；　when　she　failed；　I　saw　how　she　might　have　succeeded。　Arrows　that　continually　glanced　off　from　Mr。　Rochester’s　breast　and　fell　harmless　at　his　feet；　might；　I　knew；　if　shot　by　a　surer　hand；　have　quivered　keen　in　his　proud　heart—have　called　love　into　his　stern　eye；　and　softness　into　his　sardonic　face；　or；　better　still；　without　ight　have　been　won。

“Why　can　she　not　influence　him　more；　when　she　is　privileged　to　draw　so　near　to　him？”　I　asked　myself。　“Surely　she　cannot　truly　like　him；　or　not　like　him　with　true　affection！　If　she　did；　she　need　not　coin　her　smiles　so　lavishly；　flash　her　glances　so　unremittingly；　manufacture　airs　so　elaborate；　graces　so　multitudinous。　It　seems　to　me　that　she　might；　by　merely　sitting　quietly　at　his　side；　saying　little　and　looking　less；　get　nigher　his　heart。　I　have　seen　in　his　face　a　far　different　expression　from　that　which　hardens　it　now　while　she　is　so　vivaciously　accosting　him；　but　then　it　came　of　itself：　it　w