第51章

第51章ididnotlikere-enteringthornfield.topassitsthresholdwastoreturntostagnation；tocrossthesilenthall，toascendthedarksomestaircase，toseekmyownlonelylittleroom，andthentomeettranquilmrs.fairfax，andspendthelongwintereveningwithher，andheronly，wastoquellwhollythefaintexcitementwakenedbymywalk，—toslipagainovermyfacultiestheviewlessfettersofanuniformandtoostillexistence；ofanexistencewhoseveryprivilegesofsecurityandeaseiwasbecomingincapableofappreciating.whatgooditwouldhavedonemeatthattimetohavebeentossedinthestormsofanuncertainlinglife，andtohavebeentaughtbyroughandbitterexperiencetolongforthecalmamidstwhichinowrepined！yes，justasmuchgoodasitwoulddoamantiredofsittingstillina“tooeasychair”totakealongwalk：andjustasnaturalwasthewishtostir，undermycircumstances，asitwouldbeunderhis.

ilingeredatthegates；ilingeredonthelawn；ipacedbackwardsandforwardsonthepavement；theshuttersoftheglassdoorwereclosed；icouldnotseeintotheinterior；andbothmyeyesandspiritseemeddrawnfromthegloomyhouse—fromthegrey-hollowfilledwithraylesscells，asitappearedtome—tothatskyexpandedbeforeme，—ablueseaabsolvedfromtaintofcloud；themoonascendingitinsolemnmarch；herorbseemingtolookupassheleftthehill-tops，frombehindwhichshehadcome，farandfartherbelowher，andaspiredtothezenith，midnightdarkinitsfathomlessdepthandmeasurelessdistance；andforthosetremblingstarsthatfollowedhercourse；theymademyhearttremble，myveinsglowwheniviewedthem.littlethingsrecallustoearth；theclockstruckinthehall；thatsufficed；iturnedfrommoonandstars，openedaside-door，andwentin.

thehallwasnotdark，noryetwasitlit，onlybythehigh-hungbronzelamp；awarmglowsuffusedbothitandthelowerstepsoftheoakstaircase.thisruddyshineissuedfromthegreatdining-room，whosetwo-leaveddoorstoodopen，andshowedagenialfireinthegrate，glancingonmarblehearthandbrassfire-irons，andrevealingpurpledraperiesandpolishedfurniture，inthemostpleasantradiance.itrevealed，too，agroupnearthemantelpiece：ihadscarcelycaughtit，andscarcelybecomeawareofacheerfulminglingofvoices，amongstwhichiseemedtodistinguishthetonesofadèle，whenthedoorclosed.

ihastenedtomrs.fairfax’sroom；therewasafiretheretoo，butnocandle，andnomrs.fairfax.instead，allalone，sittinguprightontherug，andgazingwithgravityattheblaze，ibeheldagreatblackandwhitelong-haireddog，justlikethegytrashofthelane.itwassolikeitthatiwentforwardandsaid—“pilot”andthethinggotupandcametomeandsnuffedme.icaressedhim，andheedhisgreattail；buthelookedaneeriecreaturetobealonewith，andicouldnottellwhencehehadcome.irangthebell，foriwantedacandle；andiwanted，too，togetanaccountofthisvisitant.leahentered.

“whatdogisthis？”

“hecamewithmaster.”

“withwhom？”

“withmaster—mr.rochester—heisjustarrived.”

“indeed！andismrs.fairfaxwithhim？”

“yes，andmissadèle；theyareinthedining-room，andjohnisgoneforasurgeon；formasterhashadanaccident；hishorsefellandhisankleissprained.”

“didthehorsefallinhaylane？”

“yes，comingdown-hill；itslippedonsomeice.”

“ah！bringmeacandle，willyou，leah？”

leahbroughtit；sheentered，followedbymrs.fairfax，whorepeatedthenews；addingthatmr.carterthesurgeonwascome，andwasnowwithmr.rochester：thenshehurriedouttogiveordersabouttea，andiwentupstairstotakeoffmythings.