第197页
《简·爱(英文版)》章节:第197页,宠文网网友提供全文无弹窗免费在线阅读。!
quickly. Say, Edward- give me my name- Edward- I will marry you.'
'Are you in earnest? Do you truly love me? Do you sincerely wish me
to be your wife?'
'I do; and if an oath is necessary to satisfy you, I swear it.'
'Then, sir, I will marry you.'
'Edward- my little wife!'
'Dear Edward!'
'Come to me- come to me entirely now,' said he; and added, in his
deepest tone, speaking in my ear as his cheek was laid on mine,
'Make my happiness- I will make yours.'
'God pardon me!' he subjoined ere long; 'and man meddle not with
me: I have her, and will hold her.'
'There is no one to meddle, sir. I have no kindred to interfere.'
'No- that is the best of it,' he said. And if I had loved him
less I should have thought his accent and look of exultation savage;
but, sitting by him, roused from the nightmare of parting- called to
the paradise of union- I thought only of the bliss given me to drink
in so abundant a flow. Again and again he said, 'Are you happy, Jane?'
And again and again I answered, 'Yes,' After which he murmured, 'It
will atone- it will atone. Have I not found her friendless, and
cold, and comfortless? Will I not guard, and cherish, and solace
her? Is there not love in my heart, and constancy in my resolves? It
will expiate at God's tribunal. I know my Maker sanctions what I do.
For the world's judgment- I wash my hands thereof. For man's
opinion- I defy it.'
But what had befallen the night? The moon was not yet set, and we
were all in shadow: I could scarcely see my master's face, near as I
was. And what ailed the chestnut tree? it writhed and groaned; while
wind roared in the laurel walk, and came sweeping over us.
'We must go in,' said Mr. Rochester: 'the weather changes. I
could have sat with thee till morning, Jane.'
'And so,' thought I, 'could I with you.' I should have said so,
perhaps, but a livid, vivid spark leapt out of a cloud at which I
was looking, and there was a crack, a crash, and a close rattling
peal; and I thought only of hiding my dazzled eyes against Mr.
Rochester's shoulder.
The rain rushed down. He hurried me up the walk, through the
grounds, and into the house; but we were quite wet before we could
pass the threshold. He was taking off my shawl in the hall, and
shaking the water out of my loosened hair, when Mrs. Fairfax emerged
from her room. I did not observe her at first, nor did Mr.
Rochester. The lamp was lit. The dock was on the stroke of twelve.
'Hasten to take off your wet things,' said he; 'and before you
go, good-night- good-night, my darling!'
He kissed me repeatedly. When I looked up, on leaving his arms,
there stood the widow, pale, grave, and amazed. I only smiled at
her, and ran upstairs. 'Explanation will do for another time,' thought
I. Still, when I reached my chamber, I felt a pang at the idea she
should even temporarily misconstrue what she had seen. But joy soon