简.爱 英文版 Jane Eyre
夏洛蒂.勃朗特 Charlotte Bronte
CHAPTER XXV Page 2
"Now, Jane, that is all. "
"All the preface, sir; the tale is yet to come. On waking, agleam dazzled my eyes; I thought -- Oh, it is daylight! But I wasmistaken; it was only candlelight. Sophie, I supposed, had comein. There was a light in the dressing-table, and the door of thecloset, where, before going to bed, I had hung my wedding-dressand veil, stood open; I heard a rustling there. I asked, 'Sophie,what are you doing?' No one answered; but a form emerged from thecloset; it took the light, held it aloft, and surveyed the garmentspendent from the portmanteau. 'Sophie! Sophie!' I again cried:and still it was silent. I had risen up in bed, I bent forward:first surprise, then bewilderment, came over me; and then my bloodcrept cold through my veins. Mr. Rochester, this was not Sophie,it was not Leah, it was not Mrs. Fairfax: it was not -- no, I wassure of it, and am still -- it was not even that strange woman,Grace Poole. "
"It must have been one of them, " interrupted my master.
"No, sir, I solemnly assure you to the contrary. The shapestanding before me had never crossed my eyes within the precinctsof Thornfield Hall before; the height, the contour were new to me. "
"Describe it, Jane. "
"It seemed, sir, a woman, tall and large, with thick and dark hairhanging long down her back. I know not what dress she had on:it was white and straight; but whether gown, sheet, or shroud, Icannot tell. "
"Did you see her face?"
"Not at first. But presently she took my veil from its place; sheheld it up, gazed at it long, and then she threw it over her ownhead, and turned to the mirror. At that moment I saw the reflectionof the visage and features quite distinctly in the dark oblongglass. "
"And how were they?"
"Fearful and ghastly to me -- oh, sir, I never saw a face like it!It was a discoloured face -- it was a savage face. I wish I couldforget the roll of the red eyes and the fearful blackened inflationof the lineaments!"
"Ghosts are usually pale, Jane. "
"This, sir, was purple: the lips were swelled and dark; the browfurrowed: the black eyebrows widely raised over the bloodshoteyes. Shall I tell you of what it reminded me?"
"You may. "
"Of the foul German spectre -- the Vampyre. "
"Ah! -- what did it do?"
"Sir, it removed my veil from its gaunt head, rent it in two parts,and flinging both on the floor, trampled on them. "
"Afterwards?"
"It drew aside the window-curtain and looked out; perhaps it sawdawn approaching, for, taking the candle, it retreated to the door.Just at my bedside, the figure stopped: the fiery eyes glared uponme -- she thrust up her candle close to my face, and extinguishedit under my eyes. I was aware her lurid visage flamed over mine,and I lost consciousness: for the second time in my life -- onlythe second time -- I became insensible from terror. "
"Who was with you when you revived?"
"No one, sir, but the broad day. I rose, bathed my head and facein water, drank a long draught; felt that though enfeebled I wasnot ill, and determined that to none but you would I impart thisvision. Now, sir, tell me who and what that woman was?"
"The creature of an over-stimulated brain; that is certain. I mustbe careful of you, my treasure: nerves like yours were not madefor rough handling. "
"Sir, depend on it, my nerves were not in fault; the thing wasreal: the transaction actually took place. "
"And your previous dreams, were they real too? Is ThornfieldHall a ruin? Am I severed from you by insuperable obstacles? AmI leaving you without a tear -- without a kiss -- without a word?"
yet. " time -- I became insensible.
"Not yet. "
"Am I about to do it? Why, the day is already commenced which isto bind us indissolubly; and when we are once united, there shallbe no recurrence of these mental terrors: I guarantee that. "
"Mental terrors, sir! I wish I could believe them to be only such:I wish it more now than ever; since even you cannot explain to methe mystery of that awful visitant. "
"And since I cannot do it, Jane, it must have been unreal. "
"But, sir, when I said so to myself on rising this morning, andwhen I looked round the room to gather courage and comfort from thecheerful aspect of each familiar object in full daylight, there --on the carpet -- I saw what gave the distinct lie to my hypothesis,-- the veil, torn from top to bottom in two halves!"
I felt Mr. Rochester start and shudder; he hastily flung his armsround me. "Thank God!" he exclaimed, "that if anything malignantdid come near you last night, it was only the veil that was harmed.Oh, to think what might have happened!"
He drew his breath short, and strained me so close to him, I couldscarcely pant. After some minutes' silence, he continued, cheerily -
"Now, Janet, I'll explain to you all about it. It was half dream,half reality. A woman did, I doubt not, enter your room: and thatwoman was -- must have been -- Grace Poole. You call her a strangebeing yourself: from all you know, you have reason so to callher -- what did she do to me? what to Mason? In a state betweensleeping and waking, you noticed her entrance and her actions;but feverish, almost delirious as you were, you ascribed to hera goblin appearance different from her own: the long dishevelledhair, the swelled black face, the exaggerated stature, were figmentsof imagination; results of nightmare: the spiteful tearing of theveil was real: and it is like her. I see you would ask why I keepsuch a woman in my house: when we have been married a year and aday, I will tell you; but not now. Are you satisfied, Jane? Doyou accept my solution of the mystery?"
I reflected, and in truth it appeared to me the only possible one:satisfied I was not, but to please him I endeavoured to appear so-- relieved, I certainly did feel; so I answered him with a contentedsmile. And now, as it was long past one, I prepared to leave him.
"Does not Sophie sleep with Adele in the nursery?" he asked, asI lit my candle.
"Yes, sir. "
"And there is room enough in Adele's little bed for you. You mustshare it with her to-night, Jane: it is no wonder that the incidentyou have related should make you nervous, and I would rather youdid not sleep alone: promise me to go to the nursery. "
"I shall be very glad to do so, sir. "
"And fasten the door securely on the inside. Wake Sophie when yougo upstairs, under pretence of requesting her to rouse you in goodtime to-morrow; for you must be dressed and have finished breakfastbefore eight. And now, no more sombre thoughts: chase dull careaway, Janet. Don't you hear to what soft whispers the wind hasfallen? and there is no more beating of rain against the window-panes:look here" (he lifted up the curtain) -- "it is a lovely night!"
It was. Half heaven was pure and stainless: the clouds, nowtrooping before the wind, which had shifted to the west, were filingoff eastward in long, silvered columns. The moon shone peacefully.
"Well, " said Mr. Rochester, gazing inquiringly into my eyes, "howis my Janet now?"
"The night is serene, sir; and so am I. "
"And you will not dream of separation and sorrow to-night; but ofhappy love and blissful union. "
This prediction was but half fulfilled: I did not indeed dream ofsorrow, but as little did I dream of joy; for I never slept at all.With little Adele in my arms, I watched the slumber of childhood-- so tranquil, so passionless, so innocent -- and waited for thecoming day: all my life was awake and astir in my frame: and assoon as the sun rose I rose too. I remember Adele clung to me as Ileft her: I remember I kissed her as I loosened her little handsfrom my neck; and I cried over her with strange emotion, and quittedher because I feared my sobs would break her still sound repose.She seemed the emblem of my past life; and he I was now to arraymyself to meet, the dread, but adored, type of my unknown futureday.