第37部分(第5/7 頁)

rs　for　two　minutes；　then　the　Colonel　called　out—

“Bride！”　Mr。　Rochester　bowed；　and　the　curtain　fell。

A　considerable　interval　elapsed　before　it　again　rose。　Its　second　rising　displayed　a　more　elaborately　prepared　scene　than　the　last。　The　drawing…room；　as　I　have　before　observed；　was　raised　two　steps　above　the　dining…room；　and　on　the　top　of　the　upper　step；　placed　a　yard　or　two　back　within　the　room；　appeared　a　large　marble　basin—　which　I　recognised　as　an　ornament　of　the　conservatory—where　it　usually　stood；　surrounded　by　exotics；　and　tenanted　by　gold　fish—and　whence　it　must　have　been　transported　with　some　trouble；　on　account　of　its　size　and　weight。

Seated　on　the　carpet；　by　the　side　of　this　basin；　was　seen　Mr。　Rochester；　costumed　in　shawls；　with　a　turban　on　his　head。　His　dark　eyes　and　swarthy　skin　and　Paynim　features　suited　the　costume　exactly：　he　looked　the　very　model　of　an　Eastern　emir；　an　agent　or　a　victim　of　the　bowstring。　Presently　advanced　into　view　Miss　Ingram。　She；　too；　was　attired　in　oriental　fashion：　a　crimson　scarf　tied　sash…like　round　the　waist：　an　embroidered　handkerchief　knotted　about　her　temples；　her　beautifully…moulded　arms　bare；　one　of　them　upraised　in　the　act　of　supporting　a　pitcher；　poised　gracefully　on　her　head。　Both　her　cast　of　form　and　feature；　her　plexion　and　her　general　air；　suggested　the　idea　of　some　Israelitish　princess　of　the　patriarchal　days；　and　such　was　doubtless　the　character　she　intended　to　represent。

She　approached　the　basin；　and　bent　over　it　as　if　to　fill　her　pitcher；　she　again　lifted　it　to　her　head。　The　personage　on　the　well…brink　now　seemed　to　accost　her；　to　make　some　request：…　“She　hasted；　let　down　her　pitcher　on　her　hand；　and　gave　him　to　drink。”　From　the　bosom　of　his　robe　he　then　produced　a　casket；　opened　it　and