简.爱 英文版 Jane Eyre
夏洛蒂.勃朗特 Charlotte Bronte
CHAPTER XV Page 2
"Was that Grace Poole? and is she possessed with a devil?" thoughtI. Impossible now to remain longer by myself: I must go to Mrs.Fairfax. I hurried on my frock and a shawl; I withdrew the boltand opened the door with a trembling hand. There was a candleburning just outside, and on the matting in the gallery. I wassurprised at this circumstance: but still more was I amazed toperceive the air quite dim, as if filled with smoke; and, whilelooking to the right hand and left, to find whence these bluewreaths issued, I became further aware of a strong smell of burning.
Something creaked: it was a door ajar; and that door was Mr.Rochester's, and the smoke rushed in a cloud from thence. I thoughtno more of Mrs. Fairfax; I thought no more of Grace Poole, or thelaugh: in an instant, I was within the chamber. Tongues of flamedarted round the bed: the curtains were on fire. In the midst ofblaze and vapour, Mr. Rochester lay stretched motionless, in deepsleep.
"Wake! wake!" I cried. I shook him, but he only murmured andturned: the smoke had stupefied him. Not a moment could be lost:the very sheets were kindling, I rushed to his basin and ewer;fortunately, one was wide and the other deep, and both were filledwith water. I heaved them up, deluged the bed and its occupant,flew back to my own room, brought my own water-jug, baptized thecouch afresh, and, by God's aid, succeeded in extinguishing theflames which were devouring it.
The hiss of the quenched element, the breakage of a pitcher whichI flung from my hand when I had emptied it, and, above all, thesplash of the shower-bath I had liberally bestowed, roused Mr.Rochester at last. Though it was now dark, I knew he was awake;because I heard him fulminating strange anathemas at finding himselflying in a pool of water.
"Is there a flood?" he cried.
"No, sir, " I answered; "but there has been a fire: get up, do;you are quenched now; I will fetch you a candle. "
"In the name of all the elves in Christendom, is that Jane Eyre?"he demanded. "What have you done with me, witch, sorceress? Whois in the room besides you? Have you plotted to drown me?"
"I will fetch you a candle, sir; and, in Heaven's name, get up.Somebody has plotted something: you cannot too soon find out whoand what it is. "
"There! I am up now; but at your peril you fetch a candle yet:wait two minutes till I get into some dry garments, if any drythere be -- yes, here is my dressing-gown. Now run!"
I did run; I brought the candle which still remained in thegallery. He took it from my hand, held it up, and surveyed thebed, all blackened and scorched, the sheets drenched, the carpetround swimming in water.
"What is it? and who did it?" he asked. I briefly related to himwhat had transpired: the strange laugh I had heard in the gallery:the step ascending to the third storey; the smoke, -- the smell offire which had conducted me to his room; in what state I had foundmatters there, and how I had deluged him with all the water I couldlay hands on.
He listened very gravely; his face, as I went on, expressed moreconcern than astonishment; he did not immediately speak when I hadconcluded.
"Shall I call Mrs. Fairfax?" I asked.
"Mrs. Fairfax? No; what the deuce would you call her for? Whatcan she do? Let her sleep unmolested. "
"Then I will fetch Leah, and wake John and his wife. "
"Not at all: just be still. You have a shawl on. If you are notwarm enough, you may take my cloak yonder; wrap it about you, andsit down in the arm-chair: there, -- I will put it on. Now placeyour feet on the stool, to keep them out of the wet. I am goingto leave you a few minutes. I shall take the candle. Remain whereyou are till I return; be as still as a mouse. I must pay a visitto the second storey. Don't move, remember, or call any one. "
He went: I watched the light withdraw. He passed up the galleryvery softly, unclosed the staircase door with as little noise aspossible, shut it after him, and the last ray vanished. I was leftin total darkness. I listened for some noise, but heard nothing.A very long time elapsed. I grew weary: it was cold, in spite ofthe cloak; and then I did not see the use of staying, as I was notto rouse the house. I was on the point of risking Mr. Rochester'sdispleasure by disobeying his orders, when the light once moregleamed dimly on the gallery wall, and I heard his unshod feettread the matting. "I hope it is he, " thought I, "and not somethingworse. "
He re-entered, pale and very gloomy. "I have found it all out, "said he, setting his candle down on the washstand; "it is as Ithought. "
"How, sir?"
He made no reply, but stood with his arms folded, looking on theground. At the end of a few minutes he inquired in rathera peculiar tone -
"I forget whether you said you saw anything when you opened yourchamber door. "
"No, sir, only the candlestick on the ground. "
"But you heard an odd laugh? You have heard that laugh before, Ishould think, or something like it?"
"Yes, sir: there is a woman who sews here, called Grace Poole, --she laughs in that way. She is a singular person. "
"Just so. Grace Poole -- you have guessed it. She is, as you say,singular -- very. Well, I shall reflect on the subject. Meantime,I am glad that you are the only person, besides myself, acquaintedwith the precise details of to-night's incident. You are no talkingfool: say nothing about it. I will account for this state ofaffairs" (pointing to the bed): "and now return to your own room.I shall do very well on the sofa in the library for the rest of thenight. It is near four:- in two hours the servants will be up. "
"Good-night, then, sir, " said I, departing.
He seemed surprised -- very inconsistently so, as he had just toldme to go.
"What!" he exclaimed, "are you quitting me already, and in thatway?"
"You said I might go, sir. "
"But not without taking leave; not without a word or two ofacknowledgment and good-will: not, in short, in that brief, dryfashion. Why, you have saved my life! -- snatched me from a horribleand excruciating death! and you walk past me as if we were mutualstrangers! At least shake hands. "
He held out his hand; I gave him mine: he took it first in one,them in both his own.
"You have saved my life: I have a pleasure in owing you so immense adebt. I cannot say more. Nothing else that has being would havebeen tolerable to me in the character of creditor for such anobligation: but you: it is different; -- I feel your benefits noburden, Jane. "
He paused; gazed at me: words almost visible trembled on his lips, --but his voice was checked.
"Good-night again, sir. There is no debt, benefit, burden,obligation, in the case. "
"I knew, " he continued, "you would do me good in some way, at sometime; -- I saw it in your eyes when I first beheld you: theirexpression and smile did not" -- (again he stopped) -- "did not"(he proceeded hastily) "strike delight to my very inmost heart sofor nothing. People talk of natural sympathies; I have heard ofgood genii: there are grains of truth in the wildest fable. Mycherished preserver, goodnight!"
Strange energy was in his voice, strange fire in his look.
"I am glad I happened to be awake, " I said: and then I was going.
"What! you WILL go?"
"I am cold, sir. "
"Cold? Yes, -- and standing in a pool! Go, then, Jane; go!" Buthe still retained my hand, and I could not free it. I bethoughtmyself of an expedient.
"I think I hear Mrs. Fairfax move, sir, " said I.
"Well, leave me:" he relaxed his fingers, and I was gone.
I regained my couch, but never thought of sleep. Till morningdawned I was tossed on a buoyant but unquiet sea, where billowsof trouble rolled under surges of joy. I thought sometimes I sawbeyond its wild waters a shore, sweet as the hills of Beulah; andnow and then a freshening gale, wakened by hope, bore my spirittriumphantly towards the bourne: but I could not reach it, evenin fancy -- a counteracting breeze blew off land, and continuallydrove me back. Sense would resist delirium: judgment would warnpassion. Too feverish to rest, I rose as soon as day dawned.