第44部分(第1/7 頁)

e　of　the　yard；　the　carriage　horses　stamped　from　time　to　time　in　their　closed　stables：　all　else　was　still。

The　gentlemen　now　appeared。　Mason；　supported　by　Mr。　Rochester　and　the　surgeon；　seemed　to　walk　with　tolerable　ease：　they　assisted　him　into　the　chaise；　Carter　followed。

“Take　care　of　him；”　said　Mr。　Rochester　to　the　latter；　“and　keep　him　at　your　house　till　he　is　quite　well：　I　shall　ride　over　in　a　day　or　two　to　see　how　he　gets　on。　Richard；　how　is　it　with　you？”

“The　fresh　air　revives　me；　Fairfax。”

“Leave　the　window　open　on　his　side；　Carter；　there　is　no　wind—good…　bye；　Dick。”

“Fairfax—”

“Well　what　is　it？”

“Let　her　be　taken　care　of；　let　her　be　treated　as　tenderly　as　may　be：　let　her—”　he　stopped　and　burst　into　tears。

“I　do　my　best；　and　have　done　it；　and　will　do　it；”　was　the　answer：　he　shut　up　the　chaise　door；　and　the　vehicle　drove　away。

“Yet　would　to　God　there　was　an　end　of　all　this！”　added　Mr。　Rochester；　as　he　closed　and　barred　the　heavy　yard…gates。

This　done；　he　moved　with　slow　step　and　abstracted　air　towards　a　door　in　the　wall　bordering　the　orchard。　I；　supposing　he　had　done　with　me；　prepared　to　return　to　the　house；　again；　however；　I　heard　him　call　“Jane！”　He　had　opened　feel　portal　and　stood　at　it；　waiting　for　me。

“e　where　there　is　some　freshness；　for　a　few　moments；”　he　said；　“that　house　is　a　mere　dungeon：　don’t　you　feel　it　so？”

“It　seems　to　me　a　splendid　mansion；　sir。”

“The　glamour　of　inexperience　is　over　your　eyes；”　he　answered；　“and　you　see　it　through　a　charmed　medium：　you　cannot　discern　that　the　gilding　is　slime　and　the　silk　draperies　cobwebs；　that　the　marble　is　sordid　slate；　and　the　polished　woods　mere　refuse　chips　and　scaly　bark。　Now　here”　（he　pointed　to　the　leafy　enclosur