第87部分(第4/8 頁)

me　into　her　head。　They　say　she　had　nearly　burnt　her　husband　in　his　bed　once：　but　I　don’t　know　about　that。　However；　on　this　night；　she　set　fire　first　to　the　hangings　of　the　room　next　her　own；　and　then　she　got　down　to　a　lower　storey；　and　made　her　way　to　the　chamber　that　had　been　the　governess’s—（she　was　like　as　if　she　knew　somehow　how　matters　had　gone　on；　and　had　a　spite　at　her）—and　she　kindled　the　bed　there；　but　there　was　nobody　sleeping　in　it；　fortunately。　The　governess　had　run　away　two　months　before；　and　for　all　Mr。　Rochester　sought　her　as　if　she　had　been　the　most　precious　thing　he　had　in　the　world；　he　never　could　hear　a　word　of　her；　and　he　grew　savage—quite　savage　on　his　disappointment：　he　never　was　a　wild　man；　but　he　got　dangerous　after　he　lost　her。　He　would　be　alone；　too。　He　sent　Mrs。　Fairfax；　the　housekeeper；　away　to　her　friends　at　a　distance；　but　he　did　it　handsomely；　for　he　settled　an　annuity　on　her　for　life：　and　she　deserved　it—she　was　a　very　good　woman。　Miss　Adèle；　a　ward　he　had；　was　put　to　school。　He　broke　off　acquaintance　with　all　the　gentry；　and　shut　himself　up　like　a　hermit　at　the　Hall。”

“What！　did　he　not　leave　England？”

“Leave　England？　Bless　you；　no！　He　would　not　cross　the　door…stones　of　the　house；　except　at　night；　when　he　walked　just　like　a　ghost　about　the　grounds　and　in　the　orchard　as　if　he　had　lost　his　senses—　which　it　is　my　opinion　he　had；　for　a　more　spirited；　bolder；　keener　gentleman　than　he　was　before　that　midge　of　a　governess　crossed　him；　yo