第34部分(第1/7 頁)

drawing…room　and　boudoir；　vases　of　exotics　bloomed　on　all　sides。

Afternoon　arrived：　Mrs。　Fairfax　assumed　her　best　black　satin　gown；　her　gloves；　and　her　gold　watch；　for　it　was　her　part　to　receive　the　pany；—to　conduct　the　ladies　to　their　rooms；　&c。　Adèle；　too；　would　be　dressed：　though　I　thought　she　had　little　chance　of　being　introduced　to　the　party　that　day　at　least。　However；　to　please　her；　I　allowed　Sophie　to　apparel　her　in　one　of　her　short；　full　muslin　frocks。　For　myself；　I　had　no　need　to　make　any　change；　I　should　not　be　called　upon　to　quit　my　sanctum　of　the　schoolroom；　for　a　sanctum　it　was　now　bee　to　me；—“a　very　pleasant　refuge　in　time　of　trouble。”

It　had　been　a　mild；　serene　spring　day—one　of　those　days　which；　towards　the　end　of　March　or　the　beginning　of　April；　rise　shining　over　the　earth　as　heralds　of　summer。　It　was　drawing　to　an　end　now；　but　the　evening　was　even　warm；　and　I　sat　at　work　in　the　schoolroom　with　the　window　open。

“It　gets　late；”　said　Mrs。　Fairfax；　entering　in　rustling　state。　“I　am　glad　I　ordered　dinner　an　hour　after　the　time　Mr。　Rochester　mentioned；　for　it　is　past　six　now。　I　have　sent　John　down　to　the　gates　to　see　if　there　is　anything　on　the　road：　one　can　see　a　long　way　from　thence　in　the　direction　of　Millcote。”　She　went　to　the　window。　“Here　he　is！”　said　she。　“Well；　John”　（leaning　out）；　“any　news？”

“They’re　ing；　ma’am；”　was　the　answer。　“They’ll　be　here　in　ten　minutes。”

Adèle　flew　to　the　window。　I　followed；　taking　care　to　stand　on　one　side；　so　that；　screened　by　the　curtain；　I　could　see　without　being　seen。

The　ten　minutes　John　had　given　seemed　very　long；　but　at　last　wheels　were　heard；　four　equestrians　galloped　up　the　drive；　and　after　them　came　two　open　carriages。　Fluttering　veils　and　waving　plumes　filled　the　veh