第50部分(第4/8 頁)

ef。　When　tea　was　over　and　Mrs。　Fairfax　had　taken　her　knitting；　and　I　had　assumed　a　low　seat　near　her；　and　Adèle；　kneeling　on　the　carpet；　had　nestled　close　up　to　me；　and　a　sense　of　mutual　affection　seemed　to　surround　us　with　a　ring　of　golden　peace；　I　uttered　a　silent　prayer　that　we　might　not　be　parted　far　or　soon；　but　when；　as　we　thus　sat；　Mr。　Rochester　entered；　unannounced；　and　looking　at　us；　seemed　to　take　pleasure　in　the　spectacle　of　a　group　so　amicable—when　he　said　he　supposed　the　old　lady　was　all　right　now　that　she　had　got　her　adopted　daughter　back　again；　and　added　that　he　saw　Adèle　an　Anglaise”—I　half　ventured　to　hope　that　he　would；　even　after　his　marriage；　keep　us　together　somewhere　under　the　shelter　of　his　protection；　and　not　quite　exiled　from　the　sunshine　of　his　presence。

A　fortnight　of　dubious　calm　succeeded　my　return　to　Thornfield　Hall。　Nothing　was　said　of　the　master’s　marriage；　and　I　saw　no　preparation　going　on　for　such　an　event。　Almost　every　day　I　asked　Mrs。　Fairfax　if　she　had　yet　heard　anything　decided：　her　answer　was　always　in　the　negative。　Once　she　said　she　had　actually　put　the　question　to　Mr。　Rochester　as　to　when　he　was　going　to　bring　his　bride　home；　but　he　had　answered　her　only　by　a　joke　and　one　of　his　queer　looks；　and　she　could　not　tell　what　to　make　of　him。

One　thing　specially　surprised　me；　and　that　was；　there　were　no　journeyings　backward　and　forward；　no　visits　to　Ingram　Park：　to　be　sure　it　was　twenty　miles　off；　on　the　borders　of　another　county