第53部分(第7/8 頁)

e；　I　will　enlighten　the　old　lady’s　understanding。　Did　she　think；　Ja；　you　had　given　the　world　for　love；　and　considered　it　well　lost？”

“I　believe　she　thought　I　had　forgotten　my　station；　and　yours；　sir。”

“Station！　station！—your　station　is　in　my　heart；　and　on　the　necks　of　those　who　would　insult　you；　now　or　hereafter。—Go。”

I　was　soon　dressed；　and　when　I　heard　Mr。　Rochester　quit　Mrs。　Fairfax’s　parlour；　I　hurried　down　to　it。　The　old　lady；　had　been　reading　her　morning　portion　of　Scripture—the　Lesson　for　the　day；　her　Bible　lay　open　before　her；　and　her　spectacles　were　upon　it。　Her　occupation；　suspended　by　Mr。　Rochester’s　announcement；　seemed　now　forgotten：　her　eyes；　fixed　on　the　blank　wall　opposite；　expressed　the　surprise　of　a　quiet　mind　stirred　by　unwonted　tidings。　Seeing　me；　she　roused　herself：　she　made　a　sort　of　effort　to　smile；　and　framed　a　few　words　of　congratulation；　but　the　smile　expired；　and　the　sentence　was　abandoned　unfinished。　She　put　up　her　spectacles；　shut　the　Bible；　and　pushed　her　chair　back　from　the　table。

“I　feel　so　astonished；”　she　began；　“I　hardly　know　what　to　say　to　you；　Miss　Eyre。　I　have　surely　not　been　dreaming；　have　I？　Sometimes　I　half　fall　asleep　when　I　am　sitting　alone　and　fancy　things　that　have　never　happened。　It　has　seemed　to　me　more　than　once　when　I　have　been　in　a　doze；　that　my　dear　husband；　who　died　fifteen　years　since；　has　e　in　and　sat　down　beside　me；　and　that　I　have　even　heard　him　call　me　by　my　name；　Alice；　as　he　used　to　do。　Now