第27部分(第8/8 頁)

r　rather　（for　like　other　defaulters；　I　like　to　lay　half　the　blame　on　ill　fortune　and　adverse　circumstances）　was　thrust　on　to　a　wrong　tack　at　the　age　of　one…and…　twenty；　and　have　never　recovered　the　right　course　since：　but　I　might　have　been　very　different；　I　might　have　been　as　good　as　you—　wiser—almost　as　stainless。　I　envy　you　your　peace　of　mind；　your　clean　conscience；　your　unpolluted　memory。　Little　girl；　a　memory　without　blot　or　contamination　must　be　an　exquisite　treasure—an　inexhaustible　source　of　pure　refreshment：　is　it　not？”

“How　was　your　memory　when　you　were　eighteen；　sir？”

“All　right　then；　limpid；　salubrious：　no　gush　of　bilge　water　had　turned　it　to　fetid　puddle。　I　was　your　equal　at　eighteen—quite　your　equal。　Nature　meant　me　to　be；　on　the　whole；　a　good　man；　Miss　Eyre；　one　of　the　better　kind；　and　you　see　I　am　not　so。　You　would　say　you　don’t　see　it；　at　least　I　flatter　myself　I　read　as　much　in　your　eye　（beware；　by…the…bye；　what　you　express　with　that　organ；　I　am　quick　at　interpreting　its　lan