第23部分(第5/8 頁)

must　just　stand　on　one　side；”　he　answered　as　he　rose；　first　to　his　knees；　and　then　to　his　feet。　I　did；　whereupon　began　a　heaving；　stamping；　clattering　process；　acpanied　by　a　barking　and　baying　which　removed　me　effectually　some　yards’　distance；　but　I　would　not　be　driven　quite　away　till　I　saw　the　event。　This　was　finally　fortunate；　the　horse　was　re…established；　and　the　dog　was　silenced　with　a　“Down；　Pilot！”　The　traveller　now；　stooping；　felt　his　foot　and　leg；　as　if　trying　whether　they　were　sound；　apparently　something　ailed　them；　for　he　halted　to　the　stile　whence　I　had　just　risen；　and　sat　down。

I　was　in　the　mood　for　being　useful；　or　at　least　officious；　I　think；　for　I　now　drew　near　him　again。

“If　you　are　hurt；　and　want　help；　sir；　I　can　fetch　some　one　either　from　Thornfield　Hall　or　from　Hay。”

“Thank　you：　I　shall　do：　I　have　no　broken　bones；—only　a　sprain；”　and　again　he　stood　up　and　tried　his　foot；　but　the　result　extorted　an　involuntary　“Ugh！”

Something　of　daylight　still　lingered；　and　the　moon　was　waxing　bright：　I　could　see　him　plainly。　His　figure　was　enveloped　in　a　riding　cloak；　fur　collared　and　steel　clasped；　its　details　were　not　apparent；　but　I　traced　the　general　points　of　middle　height　and　considerable　breadth　of　chest。　He　had　a　dark　face；　with　stern　features　and　a　heavy　brow；　his　eyes　and　gathered　eyebrows　looked　ireful　and　thwarted　just　now；　he　was　past　youth；　but　had　not　reached　middle…age；　perhaps　he　might　be　thirty…five。　I　felt　no　fear　of　him；　and