第24部分(第6/8 頁)

rai；　n’est…ce　pas；　mademoiselle？”

I　and　my　pupil　dined　as　usual　in　Mrs。　Fairfax’s　parlour；　the　afternoon　was　wild　and　snowy；　and　we　passed　it　in　the　schoolroom。　At　dark　I　allowed　Adèle　to　put　away　books　and　work；　and　to　run　downstairs；　for；　from　the　parative　silence　below；　and　from　the　cessation　of　appeals　to　the　door…bell；　I　conjectured　that　Mr。　Rochester　was　now　at　liberty。　Left　alone；　I　walked　to　the　window；　but　nothing　was　to　be　seen　thence：　twilight　and　snowflakes　together　thickened　the　air；　and　hid　the　very　shrubs　on　the　lawn。　I　let　down　the　curtain　and　went　back　to　the　fireside。

In　the　clear　embers　I　was　tracing　a　view；　not　unlike　a　picture　I　remembered　to　have　seen　of　the　castle　of　Heidelberg；　on　the　Rhine；　when　Mrs。　Fairfax　came　in；　breaking　up　by　her　entrance　the　fiery　mosaic　I　had　been　piercing　together；　and　scattering　too　some　heavy　unwele　thoughts　that　were　beginning　to　throng　on　my　solitude。

“Mr。　Rochester　would　be　glad　if　you　and　your　pupil　would　take　tea　with　him　in　the　drawing…room　this　evening；”　said　she：　“he　has　been　so　much　engaged　all　day　that　he　could　not　ask　to　see　you　before。”

“When　is　his　tea…time？”　I　inquired。

“Oh；　at　six　o’clock：　he　keeps　early　hours　in　the　country。　You　had　better　change　your　frock　now；　I　will　go　with　you　and　fasten　it。　Here　is　a　candle。”

“Is　it　necessary　to　change　my　frock？”

“Yes；　you　had　better：　I　always　dress　for　the　evening　when　Mr。　Rochester　is　here。”

This　additional　cerem