第42部分(第2/8 頁)

soon　asleep。

Chapter　20

I　had　forgotten　to　draw　my　curtain；　which　I　usually　did；　and　also　to　let　down　my　window…blind。　The　consequence　was；　that　when　the　moon；　which　was　full　and　bright　（for　the　night　was　fine）；　came　in　her　course　to　that　space　in　the　sky　opposite　my　casement；　and　looked　in　at　me　through　the　unveiled　panes；　her　glorious　gaze　roused　me。　Awaking　in　the　dead　of　night；　I　opened　my　eyes　on　her　disk—silver…　white　and　crystal　clear。　It　was　beautiful；　but　too　solemn；　I　half　rose；　and　stretched　my　arm　to　draw　the　curtain。

Good　God！　What　a　cry！

The　night—its　silence—its　rest；　was　rent　in　twain　by　a　savage；　a　sharp；　a　shrilly　sound　that　ran　from　end　to　end　of　Thornfield　Hall。

My　pulse　stopped：　my　heart　stood　still；　my　stretched　arm　was　paralysed。　The　cry　died；　and　was　not　renewed。　Indeed；　whatever　being　uttered　that　fearful　shriek　could　not　soon　repeat　it：　not　the　widest…winged　condor　on　the　Andes　could；　twice　in　succession；　send　out　such　a　yell　from　the　cloud　shrouding　his　eyrie。　The　thing　delivering　such　utterance　must　rest　ere　it　could　repeat　the　effort。

It　came　out　of　the　third　storey；　for　it　passed　overhead。　And　overhead—yes；　in　the　room　just　above　my　chamber…ceiling—I　now　heard　a　struggle：　a　deadly　one　it　seemed　from　the　noise；　and　a　half…smothered　voice　shouted—

“Help！　help！　help！”　three　times　rapidly。

“Will　no　one　e？”　it　cried；　and　then；　while　the　staggering　and　stamping　went　on　wildly；　I　distinguished　thro