第35部分(第4/8 頁)

ple；　in　a　position　of　almost　preternatural　erectness。　She　had；　likewise；　a　fierce　and　a　hard　eye：　it　reminded　me　of　Mrs。　Reed’s；　she　mouthed　her　words　in　speaking；　her　voice　was　deep；　its　inflections　very　pompous；　very　dogmatical；—very　intolerable；　in　short。　A　crimson　velvet　robe；　and　a　shawl　turban　of　some　gold…wrought　Indian　fabric；　invested　her　（I　suppose　she　thought）　with　a　truly　imperial　dignity。

Blanche　and　Mary　were　of　equal　stature；—straight　and　tall　as　poplars。　Mary　was　too　slim　for　her　height；　but　Blanche　was　moulded　like　a　Dian。　I　regarded　her；　of　course；　with　special　interest。　First；　I　wished　to　see　whether　her　appearance　accorded　with　Mrs。　Fairfax’s　description；　secondly；　whether　it　at　all　resembled　the　fancy　miniature　I　had　painted　of　her；　and　thirdly—it　will　out！—　whether　it　were　such　as　I　should　fancy　likely　to　suit　Mr。　Rochester’s　taste。

As　far　as　person　went；　she　answered　point　for　point；　both　to　my　picture　and　Mrs。　Fairfax’s　description。　The　noble　bust；　the　sloping　shoulders；　the　graceful　neck；　the　dark　eyes　and　black　ringlets　were　all　there；—but　her　face？　Her　face　was　like　her　mother’s；　a　youthful　unfurrowed　likeness：　the　same　low　brow；　the　same　high　features；　the　same　pride。　It　was　not；　however；　so　saturnine　a　pride！　she　laughed　continually；　her　laugh　was　satirical；　and　so　was　the　habitual　expression　of　her　arched　and　haughty　lip。

Genius　is　said　to　be　self…conscious。　I　cannot　tell　whether　Miss　Ingram　was　a　genius；　but　she　was　self…con