第19部分(第6/8 頁)

llcote　was　behind　us；　judging　by　the　number　of　its　lights；　it　seemed　a　place　of　considerable　magnitude；　much　larger　than　Lowton。　We　were　now；　as　far　as　I　could　see；　on　a　sort　of　mon；　but　there　were　houses　scattered　all　over　the　district；　I　felt　we　were　in　a　different　region　to　Lowood；　more　populous；　less　picturesque；　more　stirring；　less　romantic。

The　roads　were　heavy；　the　night　misty；　my　conductor　let　his　horse　walk　all　the　way；　and　the　hour　and　a　half　extended；　I　verify　believe；　to　two　hours；　at　last　he　turned　in　his　seat　and　said—

“You’re　noan　so　far　fro’　Thornfield　now。”

Again　I　looked　out：　we　were　passing　a　church；　I　saw　its　low　broad　tower　against　the　sky；　and　its　bell　was　tolling　a　quarter；　I　saw　a　narrow　galaxy　of　lights　too；　on　a　hillside；　marking　a　village　or　hamlet。　About　ten　minutes　after；　the　driver　got　down　and　opened　a　pair　of　gates：　we　passed　through；　and　they　clashed　to　behind　us。　We　now　slowly　ascended　a　drive；　and　came　upon　the　long　front　of　a　house：　candlelight　gleamed　from　one　curtained　bow…window；　all　the　rest　were　dark。　The　car　stopped　at　the　front　door；　it　was　opened　by　a　maid…servant；　I　alighted　and　went　in。

“Will　you　walk　this　way；　ma’am？”　said　the　girl；　and　I　followed　her　across　a　square　hall　with　high　doors　all　round：　she　ushered　me　into　a　room　whose　double　illumination　of　fire　and　candle　at　first　dazzled　me；　contrasting　as　it　did　with　the　darkness　to　which　my　eyes　had　been　for　two　hours　inured；　when　I　could　see；　however；