第44部分(第4/8 頁)

　me　is　possible。　Now　you　look　puzzled；　and　I　will　puzzle　you　further。　You　are　my　little　friend；　are　you　not？”

“I　like　to　serve　you；　sir；　and　to　obey　you　in　all　that　is　right。”

“Precisely：　I　see　you　do。　I　see　genuine　contentment　in　your　gait　and　mien；　your　eye　and　face；　when　you　are　helping　me　and　pleasing　me—working　for　me；　and　with　me；　in；　as　you　characteristically　say；　‘all　that　is　right：’　for　if　I　bid　you　do　what　you　thought　wrong；　there　would　be　no　light…footed　running；　no　neat…handed　alacrity；　no　lively　glance　and　animated　plexion。　My　friend　would　then　turn　to　me；　quiet　and　pale；　and　would　say；　‘No；　sir；　that　is　impossible：　I　cannot　do　it；　because　it　is　wrong；’　and　would　bee　immutable　as　a　fixed　star。　Well；　you　too　have　power　over　me；　and　may　injure　me：　yet　I　dare　not　show　you　where　I　am　vulnerable；　lest；　faithful　and　friendly　as　you　are；　you　should　transfix　me　at　once。”

“If　you　have　no　more　to　fear　from　Mr。　Mason　than　you　have　from　me；　sir；　you　are　very　safe。”

“God　grant　it　may　be　so！　Here；　Jane；　is　an　arbour；　sit　down。”

The　arbour　was　an　arch　in　the　wall；　lined　with　ivy；　it　contained　a　rustic　seat。　Mr。　Rochester　took　it；　leaving　room；　however；　for　me：　but　I　stood　before　him。

“Sit；”　he　said；　“the　bench　is　long　enough　for　two。　You　don’t　hesitate　to　take　a　place　at　my　side；　do　you？　Is　that　wrong；　Jane？”

I　answered　him　by　assuming　it：　to　refuse　would；　I　felt；　have　been　unwise。

“Now；　my　little　friend；　while　the　sun　dri