第44部分(第5/8 頁)

nks　the　dew—while　all　the　flowers　in　this　old　garden　awake　and　expand；　and　the　birds　fetch　their　young　ones’　breakfast　out　of　the　Thornfield；　and　the　early　bees　do　their　first　spell　of　work—I’ll　put　a　case　to　you；　which　you　must　endeavour　to　suppose　your　own：　but　first；　look　at　me；　and　tell　me　you　are　at　ease；　and　not　fearing　that　I　err　in　detaining　you；　or　that　you　err　in　staying。”

“No；　sir；　I　am　content。”

“Well　then；　Jane；　call　to　aid　your　fancy：…　suppose　you　were　no　longer　a　girl　well　reared　and　disciplined；　but　a　wild　boy　indulged　from　childhood　upwards；　imagine　yourself　in　a　remote　foreign　land；　conceive　that　you　there　mit　a　capital　error；　no　matter　of　what　nature　or　from　what　motives；　but　one　ust　follow　you　through　life　and　taint　all　your　existence。　Mind；　I　don’t　say　a　crime；　I　am　not　speaking　of　shedding　of　blood　or　any　other　guilty　act；　which　might　make　the　perpetrator　amenable　to　the　law：　my　word　is　error。　The　results　of　what　you　have　done　bee　in　time　to　you　utterly　insupportable；　you　take　measures　to　obtain　relief：　unusual　measures；　but　neither　unlawful　nor　culpable。　Still　you　are　miserable；　for　hope　has　quitted　you　on　the　very　confines　of　life：　your　sun　at　noon　darkens　in　an　eclipse；　which　you　feel　will　not　leave　it　till　the　time　of　setting。　Bitter　and　base　associations　have　bee　the　sole　food　of　your　memory：　you　wander　here　and　there；　seeking　rest　in　exile：　happiness　in　pleasure—I　mean　in　heartless；　sensual　pleasure—such　as　dulls　intellect　and　blights