第23部分(第1/7 頁)

of　sitting　still　in　the　library　through　a　whole　long　morning：　Mrs。　Fairfax　had　just　written　a　letter　which　was　waiting　to　be　posted；　so　I　put　on　my　bon　and　cloak　and　volunteered　to　carry　it　to　Hay；　the　distance；　two　miles；　would　be　a　pleasant　winter　afternoon　walk。　Having　seen　Adèle　fortably　seated　in　her　little　chair　by　Mrs。　Fairfax’s　parlour　fireside；　and　given　her　her　best　wax　doll　（which　I　usually　kept　enveloped　in　silver　paper　in　a　drawer）　to　play　with；　and　a　story…book　for　change　of　amusement；　and　having　replied　to　her　“Revenez　bient？t；　ma　bonne　amie；　ma　chère　Mdlle。　Jeante；”　with　a　kiss　I　set　out。

The　ground　was　hard；　the　air　was　still；　my　road　was　lonely；　I　walked　fast　till　I　got　warm；　and　then　I　walked　slowly　to　enjoy　and　analyse　the　species　of　pleasure　brooding　for　me　in　the　hour　and　situation。　It　was　three　o’clock；　the　church　bell　tolled　as　I　passed　under　the　belfry：　the　charm　of　the　hour　lay　in　its　approaching　dimness；　in　the　low…gliding　and　pale…beaming　sun。　I　was　a　mile　from　Thornfield；　in　a　lane　noted　for　wild　roses　in　summer；　for　nuts　and　blackberries　in　autumn；　and　even　now　possessing　a　few　coral　treasures　in　hips　and　haws；　but　whose　best　winter　delight　lay　in　its　utter　solitude　and　leafless　repose。　If　a　breath　of　air　stirred；　it　made　no　sound　here；　for　there　was　not　a　holly；　not　an　evergreen　to　rustle；　and　the　stripped　hawthorn　and　hazel　bushes　were　as　still　as　the　white；　worn　stones　which　causewayed　the　middle　of　the　path。　Far　and　wide；　on　each　side；　there　were　only　fields；　where　no　cattle　now　browsed；　and　the　little　brown　birds；　which　stirred　occasionally　in　the　hedge；　looked　like　single　russet　leaves　that　had　forgotten　to　drop。

This　lane　inclined　up…hill　all　the　way　to　Hay；　having　reached　the　middle；　I　sat　down　on　a　stile　which　led