第25部分(第1/7 頁)

rt；　but　harsh　caprice　laid　me　under　no　obligation；　on　the　contrary；　a　decent　quiescence；　under　the　freak　of　manner；　gave　me　the　advantage。　Besides；　the　eccentricity　of　the　proceeding　was　piquant：　I　felt　interested　to　see　how　he　would　go　on。

He　went　on　as　a　statue　would；　that　is；　he　neither　spoke　nor　moved。　Mrs。　Fairfax　seemed　to　think　it　necessary　that　some　one　should　be　amiable；　and　she　began　to　talk。　Kindly；　as　usual—and；　as　usual；　rather　trite—she　condoled　with　him　on　the　pressure　of　business　he　had　had　all　day；　on　the　annoyance　it　must　have　been　to　him　with　that　painful　sprain：　then　she　mended　his　patience　and　perseverance　in　going　through　with　it。

“Madam；　I　should　like　some　tea；”　was　the　sole　rejoinder　she　got。　She　hastened　to　ring　the　bell；　and　when　the　tray　came；　she　proceeded　to　arrange　the　cups；　spoons；　&c。；　with　assiduous　celerity。　I　and　Adèle　went　to　the　table；　but　the　master　did　not　leave　his　couch。

“Will　you　hand　Mr。　Rochester’s　cup？”　said　Mrs。　Fairfax　to　me；　“Adèle　might　perhaps　spill　it。”

I　did　as　requested。　As　he　took　the　cup　from　my　hand；　Adèle；　thinking　the　moment　propitious　for　making　a　request　in　my　favour；　cried　out—

“N’est…ce　pas；　monsieur；　qu’il　y　a　un　cadeau　pour　Mademoiselle　Eyre　dans　votre　petit　coffre？”

“Who　talks　of　cadeaux？”　said　he　gruffly。　“Did　you　expect　a　present；　Miss　Eyre？　Are　you　fond　of　presents？”　and　he　searched　my　face　with　eyes　that　I　saw　were　dark；　irate；　and　piercing。

“I　hardly　know；　sir；　I　have　little　experience　of　them：　they　are　generally　thought　pleasant　things。”

“Generally　thought？　But　what　do　you　think？”

“I　should　be　obliged　to　take　time；　sir；　before　I　could　give　you　an　answer　worthy　of　your　acceptance：　a　present　has　many　faces　to　it；　has　it　not？　and　one　sho