第124章

第124章mr.rochestercontinued，hardilyandrecklessly：“bigamyisanuglyword！—imeant，however，tobeabigamist；butfatehasout-manoeuvredme，orprovidencehascheckedme，—perhapsthelast.iamlittlebetterthanadevilatthismoment；and，asmypastortherewouldtellme，deservenodoubtthesternestjudgmentsofgod，eventothequenchlessfireanddeathlessworm.gentlemen，myplanisbrokenup：—whatthislawyerandhisclientsayistrue：ihavebeenmarried，andthewomantowhomiwasmarriedlives！yousayyouneverheardofamrs.rochesteratthehouseupyonder，wood；butidaresayyouhavemanyatimeinclinedyoureartogossipaboutthemysteriouslunatickeptthereunderwatchandward.somehavewhisperedtoyouthatsheismybastardhalf-sister：some，mycast-offmistress.inowinformyouthatsheismywife，whomimarriedfifteenyearsago，—berthamasonbyname；sisterofthisresolutepersonage，whoisnow，withhisquiveringlimbsandwhitecheeks，showingyouwhatastoutheartmenmaybear.cheerup，dick！—neverfearme！—i’dalmostassoonstrikeawomanasyou.berthamasonismad；andshecameofamadfamily；idiotsandmaniacsthroughthreegenerations？hermother，thecreole，wasbothamadwomanandadrunkard！—asifoundoutafterihadwedthedaughter：fortheyweresilentonfamilysecretsbefore.bertha，likeadutifulchild，copiedherparentinbothpoints.ihadacharmingpartner—pure，wise，modest：youcanfancyiwasahappyman.iwentthroughrichscenes！oh！myexperiencehasbeenheavenly，ifyouonlyknewit！butioweyounofurtherexplanation.s，wood，mason，iinviteyoualltocomeuptothehouseandvisitmrs.poole’spatient，andmywife！youshallseewhatsortofabeingiwascheatedintoespousing，andjudgewhetherornotihadarighttobreakthecompact，andseeksympathywithsomethingatleasthuman.thisgirl，”hecontinued，lookingatme，“knewnomorethanyou，wood，ofthedisgustingsecret：shethoughtallwasfairandlegalandneverdreamtshewasgoingtobeentrappedintoafeignedunionwithadefraudedwretch，alreadyboundtoabad，mad，andembrutedpartner！comeallofyou—follow！”

stillholdingmefast，heleftthechurch：thethreegentlemencameafter.atthefrontdoorofthehallwefoundthecarriage.

“takeitbacktothecoach-house，john，”saidmr.rochestercoolly；“itwillnotbewantedto-day.”

atourentrance，mrs.fairfax，adèle，sophie，leah，advancedtomeetandgreetus.

“totherightabout—everysoul！”criedthemaster；“awaywithyourcongratulations！whowantsthem？noti！—theyarefifteenyearstoolate！”

hepassedonandascendedthestairs，stillholdingmyhand，andstillbeckoningthegentlementofollowhim，whichtheydid.wemountedthefirststaircase，passedupthegallery，proceededtothethirdstorey：thelow，blackdoor，openedbymr.rochester’smaster-key，admittedustothetapestriedroom，withitsgreatbedanditspictorialcabinet.

“youknowthisplace，mason，”saidourguide；“shebitandstabbedyouhere.”

heliftedthehangingsfromthewall，uncoveringtheseconddoor：this，too，heopened.inaroomwithoutawindow，thereburntafireguardedbyahighandstrongfender，andalampsuspendedfromtheceilingbyachain.gracepoolebentoverthefire，apparentlycookingsomethinginasaucepan.inthedeepshade，atthefartherendoftheroom，afigureranbackwardsandforwards.whatitwas，whetherbeastorhumanbeing，onecouldnot，atfirstsight，tell：itgrovelled，seemingly，onallfours；itsnatchedandgrowledlikesomestrangewildanimal：butitwascoveredwithclothing，andaquantityofdark，grizzledhair，wildasamane，hiditsheadandface.

“good-morrow，mrs.poole！”saidmr.rochester.“howareyou？andhowisyourchargeto-day？”

“we’retolerable，sir，ithankyou，”repliedgrace，liftingtheboilingmesscarefullyontothehob：“rathersnappish，butnot’rageous.”

afiercecryseemedtogivethelietoherfavourablereport：theclothedhyenaroseup，andstoodtallonitshind-feet.

“ah！sir，sheseesyou！”exclaimedgrace：“you’dbetternotstay.”

“onlyafewmoments，grace：youmustallowmeafewmoments.”

“takecarethen，sir！—forgod’ssake，takecare！”

themaniacbellowed：shepartedherylocksfromhervisage，andgazedwildlyathervisitors.irecognisedwellthatpurpleface，—thosebloatedfeatures.mrs.pooleadvanced.

“keepoutoftheway，”saidmr.rochester，thrustingheraside：“shehasnoknifenow，isuppose，andi’monmyguard.”

“oneneverknowswhatshehas，sir：sheissocunning：itisnotinmortaldiscretiontofathomhercraft.”

“wehadbetterleaveher，”whisperedmason.

“gotothedevil！”washisbrother-in-law’srecommendation.

“’ware！”criedgrace.thethreegentlemenretreatedsimultaneously.mr.rochesterflungmebehindhim：thelunaticsprangandgrappledhisthroatviciously，andlaidherteethtohischeek：theyled.shewasabigwoman，instaturealmostequallingherhusband，andcorpulentbesides：sheshowedvirileforceinthecontest—morethanonceshealmostthrottledhim，athleticashewas.hecouldhavesettledherwithawell-plantedblow；buthewouldnotstrike：hewouldonlywrestle.atlasthemasteredherarms；gracepoolegavehimacord，andhepinionedthembehindher：withmorerope，whichwasathand，heboundhertoachair.theoperationwasperformedamidstthefiercestyellsandthemostconvulsiveplunges.mr.rochesterthenturnedtothespectators：helookedatthemwithasmilebothacridanddesolate.