第14部分(第5/8 頁)

as　an　alloy　of　inexpressible　sadness。　I　felt　the　impression　of　woe　as　she　spoke；　but　I　could　not　tell　whence　it　came；　and　when；　having　done　speaking；　she　breathed　a　little　fast　and　coughed　a　short　cough；　I　momentarily　forgot　my　own　sorrows　to　yield　to　a　vague　concern　for　her。

Resting　my　head　on　Helen’s　shoulder；　I　put　my　arms　round　her　waist；　she　drew　me　to　her；　and　we　reposed　in　silence。　We　had　not　sat　long　thus；　when　another　person　came　in。　Some　heavy　clouds；　swept　from　the　sky　by　a　rising　wind；　had　left　the　moon　bare；　and　her　light；　streaming　in　through　a　window　near；　shone　full　both　on　us　and　on　the　approaching　figure；　which　we　at　once　recognised　as　Miss　Temple。

“I　came　on　purpose　to　find　you；　Jane　Eyre；”　said　she；　“I　want　you　in　my　room；　and　as　Helen　Burns　is　with　you；　she　may　e　too。”

We　went；　following　the　superintendent’s　guidance；　we　had　to　thread　some　intricate　passages；　and　mount　a　staircase　before　we　reached　her　apartment；　it　contained　a　good　fire；　and　looked　cheerful。　Miss　Temple　told　Helen　Burns　to　be　seated　in　a　low　arm…chair　on　one　side　of　the　hearth；　and　herself　taking　another；　she　called　me　to　her　side。

“Is　it　all　over？”　she　asked；　looking　down　at　my　face。　“Have　you　cried　your　grief　away？”

“I　am　afraid　I　never　shall　do　that。”

“Why？”

“Because　I　have　been　wrongly　accused；　and　you；　ma’am；　and　everybody　else；　will　now　think　me　wicked。”

“We　shall　think　you　what　you　prove　yourself　to　be；　my　child。　Continue　to