第118页
《简·爱(英文版)》章节:第118页,宠文网网友提供全文无弹窗免费在线阅读。!
'Then you are not in the habit of bolting your door every night
before you get into bed?'
'Fiend! she wants to know my habits, that she may lay her plans
accordingly!' Indignation again prevailed over prudence: I replied
sharply, 'Hitherto I have often omitted to fasten the bolt: I did
not think it necessary. I was not aware any danger or annoyance was to
be dreaded at Thornfield Hall: but in future' (and I laid marked
stress on the words) 'I shall take good care to make all secure before
I venture to lie down.'
'It will be wise so to do,' was her answer: 'this neighbourhood
is as quiet as any I know, and I never heard of the hall being
attempted by robbers since it was a house; though there are hundreds
of pounds' worth of plate in the plate-closet, as is well known. And
you see, for such a large house, there are very few servants,
because master has never lived here much; and when he does come, being
a bachelor, he needs little waiting on: but I always think it best
to err on the safe side; a door is soon fastened, and it is as well to
have a drawn bolt between one and any mischief that may be about. A
deal of people, Miss, are for trusting all to Providence; but I say
Providence will not dispense with the means, though He often blesses
them when they are used discreetly.' And here she closed her harangue:
a long one for her, and uttered with the demureness of a Quakeress.
I still stood absolutely dumfoundered at what appeared to me her
miraculous self-possession, and most inscrutable hypocrisy, when the
cook entered.
'Mrs. Poole,' said she, addressing Grace, 'the servants' dinner
will soon be ready: will you come down?'
'No; just put my pint of porter and bit of pudding on a tray, and
I'll carry it upstairs.'
'You'll have some meat?'
'Just a morsel, and a taste of cheese, that's all.'
'And the sago?'
'Never mind it at present: I shall be coming down before
tea-time: I'll make it myself.'
The cook here turned to me, saying that Mrs. Fairfax was waiting
for me: so I departed.
I hardly heard Mrs. Fairfax's account of the curtain
conflagration during dinner, so much was I occupied in puzzling my
brains over the enigmatical character of Grace Poole, and still more
in pondering the problem of her position at Thornfield and questioning
why she had not been given into custody that morning, or, at the
very least, dismissed from her master's service. He had almost as much
as declared his conviction of her criminality last night: what
mysterious cause withheld him from accusing her? Why had he enjoined
me, too, to secrecy? It was strange: a bold, vindictive, and haughty
gentleman seemed somehow in the power of one of the meanest of his
dependants; so much in her power, that even when she lifted her hand
against his life, he dared not openly charge her with the attempt,
much less punish her for it.
Had Grace been young and handsome, I should have been tempted to