第74部分(第6/7 頁)

r　kinds　of　needlework。　I　found　estimable　characters　amongst　them—characters　desirous　of　information　and　disposed　for　improvement—with　whom　I　passed　many　a　pleasant　evening　hour　in　their　own　homes。　Their　parents　then　（the　farmer　and　his　wife）　loaded　me　with　attentions。　There　was　an　enjoyment　in　accepting　their　simple　kindness；　and　in　repaying　it　by　a　consideration—a　scrupulous　regard　to　their　feelings—to　which　they　were　not；　perhaps；　at　all　times　accustomed；　and　which　both　charmed　and　benefited　them；　because；　while　it　elevated　them　in　their　own　eyes；　it　made　them　emulous　to　merit　the　deferential　treatment　they　received。

I　felt　I　became　a　favourite　in　the　neighbourhood。　Whenever　I　went　out；　I　heard　on　all　sides　cordial　salutations；　and　was　weled　with　friendly　smiles。　To　live　amidst　general　regard；　though　it　be　but　the　regard　of　working　people；　is　like　“sitting　in　sunshine；　calm　and　sweet；”　serene　inward　feelings　bud　and　bloom　under　the　ray。　At　this　period　of　my　life；　my　heart　far　oftener　swelled　with　thankfulness　than　sank　with　dejection：　and　yet；　reader；　to　tell　you　all；　in　the　midst　of　this　calm；　this　useful　existence—after　a　day　passed　in　honourable　exertion　amongst　my　scholars；　an　evening　spent　in　drawing　or　reading　contentedly　alone—I　used　to　rush　into　strange　dreams　at　night：　dreams　many…coloured；　agitated；　full　of　the　ideal；　the　stirring；　the　stormy—dreams　where；　amidst　unusual　scenes；　charged　with　adventure；　with　agitating　risk　and　romantic　chance；　I　still　again　and　again　met　Mr。　Rochester；　always　at　some　exciting　crisis；　and　then　the　sense　of　being　in　his　arms；　hearing　his　voice；　meeting　his　eye；　touching　his　hand　and　cheek；　loving　him；　being　loved　by　him—the　hope　of　passing　a　lifetime　at　his　side；　would　be　renewed；　with　all　its　first　force　and　fire。　Then