第157页
《简·爱(英文版)》章节:第157页,宠文网网友提供全文无弹窗免费在线阅读。!
it.'
'Fetch me now, Jane, a glass of wine from the dining-room: they
will be at supper there; and tell me if Mason is with them, and what
he is doing.'
I went. I found all the party in the dining-room at supper, as
Mr. Rochester had said; they were not seated at table,- the supper was
arranged on the sideboard; each had taken what he chose, and they
stood about here and there in groups, their plates and glasses in
their hands. Every one seemed in high glee; laughter and
conversation were general and animated. Mr. Mason stood near the fire,
talking to Colonel and Mrs. Dent, and appeared as merry as any of
them. I filled a wine-glass (I saw Miss Ingram watch me frowningly
as I did so: she thought I was taking a liberty, I daresay), and I
returned to the library.
Mr. Rochester's extreme pallor had disappeared, and he looked
once more firm and stern. He took the glass from my hand.
'Here is to your health, ministrant spirit!' he said. He
swallowed the contents and returned it to me. 'What are they doing,
Jane?'
'Laughing and talking, sir.'
'They don't look grave and mysterious, as if they had heard
something strange?'
'Not at all: they are full of jests and gaiety.'
'And Mason?'
'He was laughing too.'
'If all these people came in a body and spat at me, what would
you do, Jane?'
'Turn them out of the room, sir, if I could.'
He half smiled. 'But if I were to go to them, and they only
looked at me coldly, and whispered sneeringly amongst each other,
and then dropped off and left me one by one, what then? Would you go
with them?'
'I rather think not, sir: I should have more pleasure in staying
with you.'
'To comfort me?'
'Yes, sir, to comfort you, as well as I could.'
'And if they laid you under a ban for adhering to me?'
'I, probably, should know nothing about their ban; and if I did,
I should care nothing about it.'
'Then, you could dare censure for my sake?'
'I could dare it for the sake of any friend who deserved my
adherence; as you, I am sure, do.'
'Go back now into the room; step quietly up to Mason, and whisper
in his ear that Mr. Rochester is come and wishes to see him: show
him in here and then leave me.'
'Yes, sir.'
I did his behest. The company all stared at me as I passed straight
among them. I sought Mr. Mason, delivered the message, and preceded
him from the room: I ushered him into the library, and then I went
upstairs.
At a late hour, after I had been in bed some time, I heard the
visitors repair to their chambers: I distinguished Mr. Rochester's
voice, and heard him say, 'This way, Mason; this is your room.'
He spoke cheerfully: the gay tones set my heart at ease. I was soon
asleep.
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CHAPTER XX
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