第58部分(第4/8 頁)

my　usual　self　that　it　seemed　almost　the　image　of　a　stranger。　“Jane！”　called　a　voice；　and　I　hastened　down。　I　was　received　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs　by　Mr。　Rochester。

“Lingerer！”　he　said；　“my　brain　is　on　fire　with　impatience；　and　you　tarry　so　long！”

He　took　me　into　the　dining…room；　surveyed　me　keenly　all　over；　pronounced　me　“fair　as　a　lily；　and　not　only　the　pride　of　his　life；　but　the　desire　of　his　eyes；”　and　then　telling　me　he　would　give　me　but　ten　minutes　to　eat　some　breakfast；　he　rang　the　bell。　One　of　his　lately　hired　servants；　a　footman；　answered　it。

“Is　John　getting　the　carriage　ready？”

“Yes；　sir。”

“Is　the　luggage　brought　down？”

“They　are　bringing　it　down；　sir。”

“Go　you　to　the　church：　see　if　Mr。　Wood　（the　clergyman）　and　the　clerk　are　there：　return　and　tell　me。”

The　church；　as　the　reader　knows；　was　but　just　beyond　the　gates；　the　footman　soon　returned。

“Mr。　Wood　is　in　the　vestry；　sir；　putting　on　his　surplice。”

“And　the　carriage？”

“The　horses　are　harnessing。”

“We　shall　not　want　it　to　go　to　church；　but　it　must　be　ready　the　moment　we　return：　all　the　boxes　and　luggage　arranged　and　strapped　on；　and　the　coachman　in　his　seat。”

“Yes；　sir。”

“Jane；　are　you　ready？”

I　rose。　There　were　no　groomsmen；　no　bridesmaids；　no　relatives　to　wait　for　or　marshal：　none　but　Mr。　Rochester　and　I。　Mrs。　Fairfax　stood　in　the　hall　as　we　passed。　I　would　fain　have　spoken　to　her；　but　my　hand　was　held　by　a　gr