第23部分(第2/7 頁)

　thence　into　a　field。　Gathering　my　mantle　about　me；　and　sheltering　my　hands　in　my　muff；　I　did　not　feel　the　cold；　though　it　froze　keenly；　as　was　attested　by　a　sheet　of　ice　covering　the　causeway；　where　a　little　brooklet；　now　congealed；　had　overflowed　after　a　rapid　thaw　some　days　since。　From　my　seat　I　could　look　down　on　Thornfield：　the　grey　and　battlemented　hall　was　the　principal　object　in　the　vale　below　me；　its　woods　and　dark　rookery　rose　against　the　west。　I　lingered　till　the　sun　went　down　amongst　the　trees；　and　sank　crimson　and　clear　behind　them。　I　then　turned　eastward。

On　the　hill…top　above　me　sat　the　rising　moon；　pale　yet　as　a　cloud；　but　brightening　momentarily；　she　looked　over　Hay；　which；　half　lost　in　trees；　sent　up　a　blue　smoke　from　its　few　chimneys：　it　was　yet　a　mile　distant；　but　in　the　absolute　hush　I　could　hear　plainly　its　thin　murmurs　of　life。　My　ear；　too；　felt　the　flow　of　currents；　in　what　dales　and　depths　I　could　not　tell：　but　there　were　many　hills　beyond　Hay；　and　doubtless　many　becks　threading　their　passes。　That　evening　calm　betrayed　alike　the　tinkle　of　the　nearest　streams；　the　sough　of　the　most　remote。

A　rude　noise　broke　on　these　fine　ripplings　and　whisperings；　at　once　so　far　away　and　so　clear：　a　positive　tramp；　tramp；　a　metallic　clatter；　which　effaced　the　soft　wave…wanderings；　as；　in　a　picture；　the　solid　mass　of　a　crag；　or　the　rough　boles　of　a　great　oak；　drawn　in　dark　and　strong　on　the　foreground；　efface　the　aerial　distance　of　azure　hill；　sunny　horizon；　and　blended　clouds　where　tint　melts　into　tint。

The　din　was　on　the　causeway：　a　horse　was　ing；　the　windings　of　the　lane　yet　hid　it；　but　it　approached。　I　was　just　leaving　the　stile；　yet；　as　the　path　was　narrow；　I　sat　still　to　let　it　go　by。　In　those　days　I　was　young；　and　all　sorts　of　fancies