第120章

第120章“idreamtanotherdream,sir:thatthornfieldhallwasadrearyruin,theretreatofbatsandowls.ithoughtthatofallthestatelyfrontnothingremainedbutashell-likewall,veryhighandveryfragile-looking.iwandered,onamoonlightnight,throughthegrass-grownenclosurewithin:hereistumbledoveramarblehearth,andthereoverafallenfragmentofcornice.wrappedupinashawl,istillcarriedtheunknownlittlechild:imightnotlayitdownanywhere,howevertiredweremyarms—howevermuchitsweightimpededmyprogress,imustretainit.iheardthegallopofahorseatadistanceontheroad;iwassureitwasyou;andyouweredepartingformanyyearsandforadistantcountry.iclimbedthethinwallwithfranticperiloushaste,eagertocatchoneglimpseofyoufromthetop:thestonesrolledfromundermyfeet,theivybranchesigraspedgaveway,thechildclungroundmyneckinterror,andalmoststrangledme;atlastigainedthesummit.isawyoulikeaspeckonawhitetrack,lesseningeverymoment.theblastblewsostrongicouldnotstand.isatdownonthenarrowledge;ihushedthescaredinfantinmylap:youturnedanangleoftheroad:ibentforwardtotakealastlook;thewallcrumbled;iwasshaken;thechildrolledfrommyknee,ilostmybalance,fell,andwoke.”

“now,jane,thatisall.”

“allthepreface,sir;thetaleisyettocome.onwaking,agleamdazzledmyeyes;ithought—oh,itisdaylight!butiwasmistaken;itwasonlycandlelight.sophie,isupposed,hadcomein.therewasalightinthedressing-table,andthedoorofthecloset,where,beforegoingtobed,ihadhungmywedding-dressandveil,stoodopen;iheardarustlingthere.iasked,‘sophie,whatareyoudoing?’nooneanswered;butaformemergedfromthecloset;ittookthelight,helditaloft,andsurveyedthegarmentspendentfromtheportmanteau.‘sophie!sophie!’iagaincried:andstillitwassilent.ihadrisenupinbed,ibentforward:firstsurprise,thenbewilderment,cameoverme;andthenmybloodcreptcoldthroughmyveins.mr.rochester,thiswasnotsophie,itwasnotleah,itwasnotmrs.fairfax:itwasnot—no,iwassureofit,andamstill—itwasnoteventhatstrangewoman,gracepoole.”

“itmusthavebeenoneofthem,”interruptedmymaster.

“no,sir,isolemnlyassureyoutothecontrary.theshapestandingbeforemehadnevercrossedmyeyeswithintheprecinctsofthornfieldhallbefore;theheight,thecontourwerenewtome.”

“describeit,jane.”

“itseemed,sir,awoman,tallandlarge,withthickanddarkhairhanginglongdownherback.iknownotwhatdressshehadon:itwaswhiteandstraight;butwhethergown,sheet,orshroud,icannottell.”

“didyouseeherface?”

“notatfirst.butpresentlyshetookmyveilfromitsplace;shehelditup,gazedatitlong,andthenshethrewitoverherownhead,andturnedtothemirror.atthatmomentisawthereflectionofthevisageandfeaturesquitedistinctlyinthedarkoblongglass.”

“andhowwerethey?”

“fearfulandghastlytome—oh,sir,ineversawafacelikeit!itwasadiscolouredface—itwasasavageface.iwishicouldforgettherolloftheredeyesandthefearfulblackenedinflationofthelineaments!”

“ghostsareusuallypale,jane.”

“this,sir,waspurple:thelipswereswelledanddark;thebrowfurrowed:theblackeyebrowswidelyraisedoverthebloodshoteyes.shallitellyouofwhatitremindedme?”

“youmay.”

“ofthefoulgermanspectre—thevampyre.”

“ah!—whatdiditdo?”

“sir,itremovedmyveilfromitsgaunthead,rentitintwoparts,andflingingbothonthefloor,trampledonthem.”

“afterwards?”

“itdrewasidethewindow-curtainandlookedout;perhapsitsawdawnapproaching,for,takingthecandle,itretreatedtothedoor.justatmybedside,thefigurestopped:thefieryeyesglareduponme—shethrustuphercandleclosetomyface,andextinguisheditundermyeyes.iwasawareherluridvisageflamedovermine,andilostconsciousness:forthesecondtimeinmylife—onlythesecondtime—ibecameinsensiblefromterror.”

“whowaswithyouwhenyourevived?”

“noone,sir,butthebroadday.irose,bathedmyheadandfaceinwater,drankalongdraught;feltthatthoughenfeeblediwasnotill,anddeterminedthattononebutyouwouldiimpartthisvision.now,sir,tellmewhoandwhatthatwomanwas?”