第77章

第77章“whowouldnotbetherizzioofsodivineamary？”

“afigforrizzio！”criedshe，tossingherheadwithallitscurls，asshemovedtothepiano.“itismyopinionthefiddlerdavidmusthavebeenaninsipidsortoffellow；ilikeblackbothwellbetter：tomymindamanisnothingwithoutaspiceofthedevilinhim；andhistorymaysaywhatitwillofjameshepburn，butihaveanotion，hewasjustthesortofwild，fierce，banditherowhomicouldhaveconsentedtogiftwithmyhand.”

“gentlemen，youhear！nowwhichofyoumostresemblesbothwell？”criedmr.rochester.

“ishouldsaythepreferencelieswithyou，”respondedcoloneldent.

“onmyhonour，iammuchobligedtoyou，”wasthereply.

missingram，whohadnowseatedherselfwithproudgraceatthepiano，spreadingouthersnowyrobesinqueenlyamplitude，commencedabrilliantprelude；talkingmeantime.sheappearedtobeonherhighhorseto-night；bothherwordsandherairseemedintendedtoexcitenotonlytheadmiration，buttheamazementofherauditors：shewasevidentlybentonstrikingthemassomethingverydashinganddaringindeed.

“oh，iamsosickoftheyoungmenofthepresentday！”exclaimedshe，rattlingawayattheinstrument.“poor，punythings，notfittostirastepbeyondpapa’sparkgates：nortogoevensofarwithoutmama’spermissionandguardianship！creaturessoabsorbedincareabouttheirprettyfaces，andtheirwhitehands，andtheirsmallfeet；asifamanhadanythingtodowithbeauty！asiflovelinesswerenotthespecialprerogativeofwoman—herlegitimateappanageandheritage！igrantanuglywomanisablotonthefairfaceofcreation；butastothegentlemen，letthembesolicitoustopossessonlystrengthandvalour：lettheirmottobe：—hunt，shoot，andfight：therestisnotworthafillip.suchshouldbemydevice，wereiaman.”

“wheneverimarry，”shecontinuedafterapausewhichnoneinterrupted，“iamresolvedmyhusbandshallnotbearival，butafoiltome.iwillsuffernocompetitornearthethrone；ishallexactanundividedhomage：hisdevotionsshallnotbesharedbetweenmeandtheshapeheseesinhismirror.mr.rochester，nowsing，andiwillplayforyou.”

“iamallobedience，”wastheresponse.

“herethenisacorsair-song.knowthatidoatoncorsairs；andforthatreason，singitconspirito.”

“commandsfrommissingram’slipswouldputspiritintoamugofmilkandwater.”

“takecare，then：ifyoudon’tpleaseme，iwillshameyoubyshowinghowsuchthingsshouldbedone.”

“thatisofferingapremiumonincapacity：ishallnowendeavourtofail.”

“gardez-vousenbien！ifyouerrwilfully，ishalldeviseaproportionatepunishment.”

“missingramoughttobeclement，forshehasitinherpowertoinflictachastisementbeyondmortalendurance.”

“ha！explain！”commandedthelady.

“pardonme，madam：noneedofexplanation；yourownfinesensemustinformyouthatoneofyourfrownswouldbeasufficientsubstituteforcapitalpunishment.”

“sing！”saidshe，andagaintouchingthepiano，shecommencedanaccompanimentinspiritedstyle.

“nowismytimetoslipaway，”thoughti：butthetonesthatthenseveredtheairarrestedme.mrs.fairfaxhadsaidmr.rochesterpossessedafinevoice：hedid—amellow，powerfulbass，intowhichhethrewhisownfeeling，hisownforce；findingawaythroughtheeartotheheart，andtherewakingsensationstrangely.iwaitedtillthelastdeepandfullvibrationhadexpired—tillthetideoftalk，checkedaninstant，hadresumeditsflow；ithenquittedmyshelteredcornerandmademyexitbytheside-door，whichwasfortunatelynear.thenceanarrowpassageledintothehall：incrossingit，iperceivedmysandalwasloose；istoppedtotieit，kneelingdownforthatpurposeonthematatthefootofthestaircase.iheardthedining-roomdoorunclose；agentlemancameout；risinghastily，istoodfacetofacewithhim：itwasmr.rochester.

“howdoyoudo？”heasked.

“iamverywell，sir.”

“whydidyounotcomeandspeaktomeintheroom？”

ithoughtimighthaveretortedthequestiononhimwhoputit：butiwouldnottakethatfreedom.ianswered—

“ididnotwishtodisturbyou，asyouseemedengaged，sir.”

“whathaveyoubeendoingduringmyabsence？”

“nothingparticular；teachingadèleasusual.”

“andgettingagooddealpalerthanyouwere—asisawatfirstsight.whatisthematter？”

“nothingatall，sir.”

“didyoutakeanycoldthatnightyouhalfdrownedme？”

“notsheleast.”

“returntothedrawing-room：youaredesertingtooearly.”

“iamtired，sir.”

无一错一首一发一内一容一在一6一9一书一吧一看！

helookedatmeforaminute.

“andalittledepressed，”hesaid.“whatabout？tellme.”

“nothing—nothing，sir.iamnotdepressed.”

“butiaffirmthatyouare：somuchdepressedthatafewmorewordswouldbringtearstoyoureyes—indeed，theyaretherenow，shiningandswimming；andabeadhasslippedfromthelashandfallenontotheflag.ifihadtime，andwasnotinmortaldreadofsomepratingprigofaservantpassing，iwouldknowwhatallthismeans.well，to-nightiexcuseyou；butunderstandthatsolongasmyvisitorsstay，iexpectyoutoappearinthedrawing-roomeveryevening；itismywish；don’tneglectit.nowgo，andsendsophieforadèle.good-night，my—”hestopped，bithislip，andabruptlyleftme.