第59部分(第5/8 頁)

ce；　Mrs。　Fairfax；　Adèle；　Sophie；　Leah；　advanced　to　meet　and　greet　us。

“To　the　right…about—every　soul！”　cried　the　master；　“away　with　your　congratulations！　Who　wants　them？　Not　I！—they　are　fifteen　years　too　late！”

He　passed　on　and　ascended　the　stairs；　still　holding　my　hand；　and　still　beckoning　the　gentlemen　to　follow　him；　which　they　did。　We　mounted　the　first　staircase；　passed　up　the　gallery；　proceeded　to　the　third　storey：　the　low；　black　door；　opened　by　Mr。　Rochester’s　master…key；　admitted　us　to　the　tapestried　room；　with　its　great　bed　and　its　pictorial　cabi。

“You　know　this　place；　Mason；”　said　our　guide；　“she　bit　and　stabbed　you　here。”

He　lifted　the　hangings　from　the　wall；　uncovering　the　second　door：　this；　too；　he　opened。　In　a　room　without　a　window；　there　burnt　a　fire　guarded　by　a　high　and　strong　fender；　and　a　lamp　suspended　from　the　ceiling　by　a　chain。　Grace　Poole　bent　over　the　fire；　apparently　cooking　something　in　a　saucepan。　In　the　deep　shade；　at　the　farther　end　of　the　room；　a　figure　ran　backwards　and　forwards。　What　it　was；　whether　beast　or　human　being；　one　could　not；　at　first　sight；　tell：　it　grovelled；　seemingly；　on　all　fours；　it　snatched　and　growled　like　some　strange　wild　animal：　but　it　was　covered　with　clothing；　and　a　quantity　of　dark；　grizzled　hair；　wild　as　a　mane；　hid　its　head　and　face。

“Good…morrow；　Mrs。　Poole！”　said　Mr。　Rochester。　“How　are　you？　and　how　is　your　charge　to…day？”

“We’re　tolerable；　sir；　I　thank　you；”　replied　Grace；　li