第57部分(第5/8 頁)

hat　Thornfield　Hall　was　a　dreary　ruin；　the　retreat　of　bats　and　owls。　I　thought　that　of　all　the　stately　front　nothing　remained　but　a　shell…like　wall；　very　high　and　very　fragile…looking。　I　wandered；　on　a　moonlight　night；　through　the　grass…grown　enclosure　within：　here　I　stumbled　over　a　marble　hearth；　and　there　over　a　fallen　fragment　of　cornice。　Wrapped　up　in　a　shawl；　I　still　carried　the　unknown　little　child：　I　might　not　lay　it　down　anywhere；　however　tired　were　my　arms—however　much　its　weight　impeded　my　progress；　I　must　retain　it。　I　heard　the　gallop　of　a　horse　at　a　distance　on　the　road；　I　was　sure　it　was　you；　and　you　were　departing　for　many　years　and　for　a　distant　country。　I　climbed　the　thin　wall　with　frantic　perilous　haste；　eager　to　catch　one　glimpse　of　you　from　the　top：　the　stones　rolled　from　under　my　feet；　the　ivy　branches　I　grasped　gave　way；　the　child　clung　round　my　neck　in　terror；　and　almost　strangled　me；　at　last　I　gained　the　summit。　I　saw　you　like　a　speck　on　a　white　track；　lessening　every　moment。　The　blast　blew　so　strong　I　could　not　stand。　I　sat　down　on　the　narrow　ledge；　I　hushed　the　scared　infant　in　my　lap：　you　turned　an　angle　of　the　road：　I　bent　forward　to　take　a　last　look；　the　wall　crumbled；　I　was　shaken；　the　child　rolled　from　my　knee；　I　lost　my　balance；　fell；　and　woke。”

“Now；　Jane；　that　is　all。”

“All　the　preface；　sir；　the　tale　is　yet　to　e。　On　waking；　a　gleam　dazzled　my　eyes；　I　thought—Oh；　it　is　daylight！　But　I　was　mistaken；　it　was　only　candlelight。　Sophie；