牛津书虫第6级6-01.Jane Eyre Chapter 26

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Chapter26

Sophiecameatseventodressme:shewasverylongindeedinaccomplishinghertask;solongthatMr.Rochester,grown,Isuppose,impatientofmydelay,sentuptoaskwhyIdidnotcome.Shewasjustfasteningmyveil(theplainsquareofblondafterall)tomyhairwithabrooch;IhurriedfromunderherhandsassoonasIcould.

“Stop!”shecriedinFrench.“Lookatyourselfinthemirror:youhavenottakenonepeep.”

SoIturnedatthedoor:Isawarobedandveiledfigure,sounlikemyusualselfthatitseemedalmosttheimageofastranger.“Jane!”calledavoice,andIhasteneddown.IwasreceivedatthefootofthestairsbyMr.Rochester.

“Lingerer!”hesaid,“mybrainisonfirewithimpatience,andyoutarrysolong!”

Hetookmeintothedining-room,surveyedmekeenlyallover,pronouncedme“fairasalily,andnotonlytheprideofhislife,butthedesireofhiseyes,”andthentellingmehewouldgivemebuttenminutestoeatsomebreakfast,herangthebell.Oneofhislatelyhired

servants,afootman,answeredit.

“IsJohngettingthecarriageready?”

“Yes,sir.”

“Istheluggagebroughtdown?”

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“Theyarebringingitdown,sir.”

“Goyoutothechurch:seeifMr.Wood(theclergyman)andtheclerkarethere:returnandtellme.”

Thechurch,asthereaderknows,wasbutjustbeyondthegates;thefootmansoonreturned.

“Mr.Woodisinthevestry,sir,puttingonhissurplice.”“Andthecarriage?”

“Thehorsesareharnessing.”

“Weshallnotwantittogotochurch;butitmustbereadythemomentwereturn:alltheboxesandluggagearrangedandstrappedon,andthecoachmaninhis

seat.”

“Yes,sir.”

“Jane,areyouready?”

Irose.Therewerenogroomsmen,nobridesmaids,norelativestowaitforormarshal:nonebutMr.RochesterandI.Mrs.Fairfaxstoodinthehallaswepassed.Iwouldfainhavespokentoher,butmyhandwasheldbyagraspofiron:IwashurriedalongbyastrideIcouldhardlyfollow;andtolookatMr.Rochester’sfacewastofeelthatnotasecondofdelaywouldbetoleratedforanypurpose.Iwonderwhatotherbridegroomeverlookedashedid—sobentuptoapurpose,sogrimlyresolute:orwho,undersuchsteadfastbrows,everrevealedsuchflamingandflashingeyes.

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Iknownotwhetherthedaywasfairorfoul;indescendingthedrive,Igazedneitheronskynorearth:myheartwaswithmyeyes;andbothseemedmigratedintoMr.Rochester’sframe.Iwantedtoseetheinvisiblethingonwhich,aswewentalong,heappearedtofastenaglancefierceandfell.Iwantedtofeelthethoughtswhoseforceheseemedbreastingandresisting.

Atthechurchyardwickethestopped:hediscoveredIwasquiteoutofbreath.“AmIcruelinmylove?”hesaid.“Delayaninstant:leanonme,Jane.”

AndnowIcanrecallthepictureofthegreyoldhouseofGodrisingcalmbeforeme,ofarookwheelingroundthesteeple,ofaruddymorningskybeyond.Iremembersomething,too,ofthegreengrave-mounds;andIhavenotforgotten,either,twofiguresofstrangersstrayingamongstthelowhillocksandreadingthemementoesgravenonthefewmossyhead-stones.Inoticedthem,because,astheysawus,theypassedroundtothebackofthechurch;andIdoubtednottheyweregoingtoenterbytheside-aisledoorandwitnesstheceremony.ByMr.Rochestertheywerenotobserved;hewasearnestlylookingatmyfacefromwhichthebloodhad,Idaresay,momentarilyfled:forIfeltmyforeheaddewy,andmycheeksandlipscold.WhenIrallied,whichIsoondid,hewalkedgentlywithmeupthepathtotheporch.

Weenteredthequietandhumbletemple;thepriestwaitedinhiswhitesurpliceatthelowlyaltar,theclerk

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besidehim.Allwasstill:twoshadowsonlymovedinaremotecorner.Myconjecturehadbeencorrect:thestrangershadslippedinbeforeus,andtheynowstoodbythevaultoftheRochesters,theirbackstowardsus,viewingthroughtherailstheoldtime-stainedmarbletomb,whereakneelingangelguardedtheremainsofDamerdeRochester,slainatMarstonMoorinthetimeofthecivilwars,andofElizabeth,hiswife.

Ourplacewastakenatthecommunionrails.Hearingacautiousstepbehindme,Iglancedovermyshoulder:oneofthestrangers—agentleman,evidently—wasadvancingupthechancel.Theservicebegan.Theexplanationoftheintentofmatrimonywasgonethrough;andthentheclergymancameastepfurtherforward,and,bendingslightlytowardsMr.Rochester,wenton.

“Irequireandchargeyouboth(asyewillansweratthedreadfuldayofjudgment,whenthesecretsofallheartsshallbedisclosed),thatifeitherofyouknowanyimpedimentwhyyemaynotlawfullybejoinedtogetherinmatrimony,yedonowconfessit;forbeyewellassuredthatsomanyasarecoupledtogetherotherwisethanGod’sWorddothallow,arenotjoinedtogetherbyGod,neitheristheirmatrimonylawful.”

Hepaused,asthecustomis.Whenisthepauseafterthatsentenceeverbrokenbyreply?Not,perhaps,onceinahundredyears.Andtheclergyman,whohadnotliftedhiseyesfromhisbook,andhadheldhisbreathbutforamoment,wasproceeding:hishandwas

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alreadystretchedtowardsMr.Rochester,ashislipsunclosedtoask,“Wiltthouhavethiswomanforthyweddedwife?”—whenadistinctandnearvoicesaid-

“Themarriagecannotgoon:Ideclaretheexistenceofanimpediment.”

Theclergymanlookedupatthespeakerandstoodmute;theclerkdidthesame;Mr.Rochestermovedslightly,asifanearthquakehadrolledunderhisfeet:takingafirmerfooting,andnotturninghisheadoreyes,hesaid,“Proceed.”

Profoundsilencefellwhenhehadutteredthatword,withdeepbutlowintonation.PresentlyMr.Woodsaid

-

“Icannotproceedwithoutsomeinvestigationintowhathasbeenasserted,andevidenceofitstruthorfalsehood.”

“Theceremonyisquitebrokenoff,”subjoinedthevoicebehindus.“Iaminaconditiontoprovemyallegation:aninsuperableimpedimenttothismarriageexists.”

Mr.Rochesterheard,butheedednot:hestoodstubbornandrigid,makingnomovementbuttopossesshimselfofmyhand.Whatahotandstronggrasphehad!andhowlikequarriedmarblewashispale,firm,massivefrontatthismoment!Howhiseyeshone,stillwatchful,andyetwildbeneath!

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Mr.Woodseemedataloss.“Whatisthenatureoftheimpediment?”heasked.“Perhapsitmaybegotover—explainedaway?”

“Hardly,”wastheanswer.“Ihavecalleditinsuperable,andIspeakadvisedly.”

Thespeakercameforwardandleanedontherails.Hecontinued,utteringeachworddistinctly,calmly,steadily,butnotloudly-

“Itsimplyconsistsintheexistenceofapreviousmarriage.Mr.Rochesterhasawifenowliving.”

Mynervesvibratedtothoselow-spokenwordsastheyhadnevervibratedtothunder—mybloodfelttheirsubtleviolenceasithadneverfeltfrostorfire;butIwascollected,andinnodangerofswooning.IlookedatMr.Rochester:Imadehimlookatme.Hiswholefacewascolourlessrock:hiseyewasbothsparkandflint.Hedisavowednothing:heseemedasifhewoulddefyallthings.Withoutspeaking,withoutsmiling,withoutseemingtorecogniseinmeahumanbeing,heonlytwinedmywaistwithhisarmandrivetedmetohisside.

“Whoareyou?”heaskedoftheintruder.“MynameisBriggs,asolicitorof—Street,London.”“Andyouwouldthrustonmeawife?”

“Iwouldremindyouofyourlady’sexistence,sir,whichthelawrecognises,ifyoudonot.”

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“Favourmewithanaccountofher—withhername,herparentage,herplaceofabode.”

“Certainly.”Mr.Briggscalmlytookapaperfromhispocket,andreadoutinasortofofficial,nasalvoice:-

“’Iaffirmandcanprovethatonthe20thofOctoberA.D.—(adateoffifteenyearsback),EdwardFairfaxRochester,ofThornfieldHall,inthecountyof-,andofFerndeanManor,in-shire,England,wasmarriedtomysister,BerthaAntoinettaMason,daughterofJonasMason,merchant,andofAntoinettahiswife,aCreole,at—church,SpanishTown,Jamaica.Therecordofthemarriagewillbefoundintheregisterofthatchurch—acopyofitisnowinmypossession.Signed,Richard

Mason.’”

“That—ifagenuinedocument—mayproveIhavebeenmarried,butitdoesnotprovethatthewomanmentionedthereinasmywifeisstillliving.”

“Shewaslivingthreemonthsago,”returnedthelawyer.“Howdoyouknow?”

“Ihaveawitnesstothefact,whosetestimonyeven

you,sir,willscarcelycontrovert.”

“Producehim—orgotohell.”

“Iwillproducehimfirst—heisonthespot.Mr.Mason,havethegoodnesstostepforward.”

Mr.Rochester,onhearingthename,sethisteeth;heexperienced,too,asortofstrongconvulsivequiver;

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neartohimasIwas,Ifeltthespasmodicmovementoffuryordespairrunthroughhisframe.Thesecondstranger,whohadhithertolingeredinthebackground,nowdrewnear;apalefacelookedoverthesolicitor’sshoulder—yes,itwasMasonhimself.Mr.Rochesterturnedandglaredathim.Hiseye,asIhaveoftensaid,wasablackeye:ithadnowatawny,nay,abloodylightinitsgloom;andhisfaceflushed—olivecheekandhuelessforeheadreceivedaglowasfromspreading,ascendingheart-fire:andhestirred,liftedhisstrongarm—hecouldhavestruckMason,dashedhimonthechurch-floor,shockedbyruthlessblowthebreathfromhisbody—butMasonshrankaway,andcriedfaintly,“GoodGod!”ContemptfellcoolonMr.Rochester—hispassiondiedasifablighthadshrivelleditup:he

onlyasked—“WhathaveYOUtosay?”AninaudiblereplyescapedMason’swhitelips.

“Thedevilisinitifyoucannotanswerdistinctly.Iagaindemand,whathaveyoutosay?”

“Sir—sir,”interruptedtheclergyman,“donotforgetyouareinasacredplace.”ThenaddressingMason,heinquiredgently,“Areyouaware,sir,whetherornotthis

gentleman’swifeisstillliving?”

“Courage,”urgedthelawyer,—“speakout.”

“SheisnowlivingatThornfieldHall,”saidMason,inmorearticulatetones:“IsawhertherelastApril.Iamherbrother.”

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“AtThornfieldHall!”ejaculatedtheclergyman.“Impossible!Iamanoldresidentinthisneighbourhood,sir,andIneverheardofaMrs.RochesteratThornfieldHall.”

IsawagrimsmilecontortMr.Rochester’slips,andhemuttered-

“No,byGod!Itookcarethatnoneshouldhearofit—orofherunderthatname.”Hemused—fortenminutesheheldcounselwithhimself:heformedhisresolve,andannouncedit-

“Enough!allshallboltoutatonce,likethebulletfromthebarrel.Wood,closeyourbookandtakeoffyoursurplice;JohnGreen(totheclerk),leavethechurch:therewillbenoweddingto-day.”Themanobeyed.

Mr.Rochestercontinued,hardilyandrecklessly:“Bigamyisanuglyword!—Imeant,however,tobeabigamist;butfatehasout-manoeuvredme,orProvidencehascheckedme,—perhapsthelast.Iamlittlebetterthanadevilatthismoment;and,asmypastortherewouldtellme,deservenodoubtthesternestjudgmentsofGod,eventothequenchlessfireanddeathlessworm.Gentlemen,myplanisbrokenup:-whatthislawyerandhisclientsayistrue:Ihavebeenmarried,andthewomantowhomIwasmarriedlives!YousayyouneverheardofaMrs.Rochesteratthehouseupyonder,Wood;butIdaresayyouhavemanyatimeinclinedyoureartogossipaboutthemysteriouslunatickeptthereunderwatchandward.Somehavewhisperedtoyouthatsheismybastard

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half-sister:some,mycast-offmistress.Inowinformyouthatsheismywife,whomImarriedfifteenyearsago,—BerthaMasonbyname;sisterofthisresolutepersonage,whoisnow,withhisquiveringlimbsandwhitecheeks,showingyouwhatastoutheartmenmaybear.Cheerup,Dick!—neverfearme!—I’dalmostassoonstrikeawomanasyou.BerthaMasonismad;andshecameofamadfamily;idiotsandmaniacsthroughthreegenerations!Hermother,theCreole,wasbothamadwomanandadrunkard!—asIfoundoutafterIhadwedthedaughter:fortheyweresilentonfamilysecretsbefore.Bertha,likeadutifulchild,copiedherparentinbothpoints.Ihadacharmingpartner—pure,wise,modest:youcanfancyIwasahappyman.Iwentthroughrichscenes!Oh!myexperiencehasbeenheavenly,ifyouonlyknewit!ButIoweyounofurtherexplanation.Briggs,Wood,Mason,IinviteyoualltocomeuptothehouseandvisitMrs.Poole’spatient,andMYWIFE!YoushallseewhatsortofabeingIwascheatedintoespousing,andjudgewhetherornotIhadarighttobreakthecompact,andseeksympathywithsomethingatleasthuman.Thisgirl,”hecontinued,lookingatme,“knewnomorethanyou,Wood,ofthedisgustingsecret:shethoughtallwasfairandlegalandneverdreamtshewasgoingtobeentrappedintoafeignedunionwithadefraudedwretch,alreadyboundtoabad,mad,andembrutedpartner!Comeallofyou—follow!”

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Stillholdingmefast,heleftthechurch:thethreegentlemencameafter.Atthefrontdoorofthehallwefoundthecarriage.

“Takeitbacktothecoach-house,John,”saidMr.Rochestercoolly;“itwillnotbewantedto-day.”

Atourentrance,Mrs.Fairfax,Adele,Sophie,Leah,advancedtomeetandgreetus.

“Totheright-about—everysoul!”criedthemaster;“awaywithyourcongratulations!Whowantsthem?NotI!—theyarefifteenyearstoolate!”

Hepassedonandascendedthestairs,stillholdingmyhand,andstillbeckoningthegentlementofollowhim,whichtheydid.Wemountedthefirststaircase,passedupthegallery,proceededtothethirdstorey:thelow,blackdoor,openedbyMr.Rochester’smaster-key,admittedustothetapestriedroom,withitsgreatbedanditspictorialcabinet.

“Youknowthisplace,Mason,”saidourguide;“shebitandstabbedyouhere.”

Heliftedthehangingsfromthewall,uncoveringtheseconddoor:this,too,heopened.Inaroomwithoutawindow,thereburntafireguardedbyahighandstrongfender,andalampsuspendedfromtheceilingbyachain.GracePoolebentoverthefire,apparentlycookingsomethinginasaucepan.Inthedeepshade,atthefartherendoftheroom,afigureranbackwardsandforwards.Whatitwas,whetherbeastorhumanbeing,

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onecouldnot,atfirstsight,tell:itgrovelled,seemingly,onallfours;itsnatchedandgrowledlikesomestrangewildanimal:butitwascoveredwithclothing,andaquantityofdark,grizzledhair,wildasamane,hiditsheadandface.

“Good-morrow,Mrs.Poole!”saidMr.Rochester.“Howareyou?andhowisyourchargeto-day?”

“We’retolerable,sir,Ithankyou,”repliedGrace,liftingtheboilingmesscarefullyontothehob:“rathersnappish,butnot‘rageous.”

Afiercecryseemedtogivethelietoherfavourablereport:theclothedhyenaroseup,andstoodtallonitshind-feet.

“Ah!sir,sheseesyou!”exclaimedGrace:“you’dbetternotstay.”

“Onlyafewmoments,Grace:youmustallowmeafewmoments.”

“Takecarethen,sir!—forGod’ssake,takecare!”

Themaniacbellowed:shepartedhershaggylocksfromhervisage,andgazedwildlyathervisitors.Irecognisedwellthatpurpleface,—thosebloatedfeatures.Mrs.Pooleadvanced.

“Keepoutoftheway,”saidMr.Rochester,thrustingheraside:“shehasnoknifenow,Isuppose,andI’monmyguard.”

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“Oneneverknowswhatshehas,sir:sheissocunning:

itisnotinmortaldiscretiontofathomhercraft.”“Wehadbetterleaveher,”whisperedMason.

“Gotothedevil!”washisbrother-in-law’s

recommendation.

“’Ware!”criedGrace.Thethreegentlemenretreatedsimultaneously.Mr.Rochesterflungmebehindhim:thelunaticsprangandgrappledhisthroatviciously,andlaidherteethtohischeek:theystruggled.Shewasabigwoman,instaturealmostequallingherhusband,andcorpulentbesides:sheshowedvirileforceinthecontest—morethanonceshealmostthrottledhim,athleticashewas.Hecouldhavesettledherwithawell-plantedblow;buthewouldnotstrike:hewouldonlywrestle.Atlasthemasteredherarms;GracePoolegavehimacord,andhepinionedthembehindher:withmorerope,whichwasathand,heboundhertoachair.Theoperationwasperformedamidstthefiercestyellsandthemostconvulsiveplunges.Mr.Rochesterthenturnedtothespectators:helookedatthemwithasmilebothacridanddesolate.

“ThatisMYWIFE,”saidhe.“SuchisthesoleconjugalembraceIamevertoknow—sucharetheendearmentswhicharetosolacemyleisurehours!AndTHISiswhatIwishedtohave”(layinghishandonmyshoulder):“thisyounggirl,whostandssograveandquietatthemouthofhell,lookingcollectedlyatthegambolsofademon,Iwantedherjustasachangeafterthatfierceragout.WoodandBriggs,lookatthedifference!

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Comparethesecleareyeswiththeredballsyonder—thisfacewiththatmask—thisformwiththatbulk;thenjudgeme,priestofthegospelandmanofthelaw,andrememberwithwhatjudgmentyejudgeyeshallbejudged!Offwithyounow.Imustshutupmyprize.”

Weallwithdrew.Mr.Rochesterstayedamomentbehindus,togivesomefurtherordertoGracePoole.Thesolicitoraddressedmeashedescendedthestair.

“You,madam,”saidhe,“areclearedfromallblame:yourunclewillbegladtohearit—if,indeed,heshouldbestillliving—whenMr.MasonreturnstoMadeira.”

“Myuncle!Whatofhim?Doyouknowhim?”

“Mr.Masondoes.Mr.EyrehasbeentheFunchalcorrespondentofhishouseforsomeyears.WhenyourunclereceivedyourletterintimatingthecontemplatedunionbetweenyourselfandMr.Rochester,Mr.Mason,whowasstayingatMadeiratorecruithishealth,onhiswaybacktoJamaica,happenedtobewithhim.Mr.Eyrementionedtheintelligence;forheknewthatmyclientherewasacquaintedwithagentlemanofthenameofRochester.Mr.Mason,astonishedanddistressedasyoumaysuppose,revealedtherealstateofmatters.Youruncle,Iamsorrytosay,isnowonasickbed;fromwhich,consideringthenatureofhisdisease—decline—andthestageithasreached,itisunlikelyhewilleverrise.HecouldnotthenhastentoEnglandhimself,toextricateyoufromthesnareintowhichyouhadfallen,butheimploredMr.Masontolosenotime

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intakingstepstopreventthefalsemarriage.Hereferredhimtomeforassistance.Iusedalldespatch,andamthankfulIwasnottoolate:asyou,doubtless,mustbealso.WereInotmorallycertainthatyourunclewillbedeadereyoureachMadeira,IwouldadviseyoutoaccompanyMr.Masonback;butasitis,IthinkyouhadbetterremaininEnglandtillyoucanhearfurther,eitherfromorofMr.Eyre.Haveweanythingelsetostayfor?”heinquiredofMr.Mason.

“No,no—letusbegone,”wastheanxiousreply;andwithoutwaitingtotakeleaveofMr.Rochester,theymadetheirexitatthehalldoor.Theclergymanstayedtoexchangeafewsentences,eitherofadmonitionorreproof,withhishaughtyparishioner;thisdutydone,hetoodeparted.

IheardhimgoasIstoodatthehalf-opendoorofmyownroom,towhichIhadnowwithdrawn.Thehousecleared,Ishutmyselfin,fastenedtheboltthatnonemightintrude,andproceeded—nottoweep,nottomourn,Iwasyettoocalmforthat,but—mechanicallytotakeofftheweddingdress,andreplaceitbythestuffgownIhadwornyesterday,asIthought,forthelasttime.Ithensatdown:Ifeltweakandtired.Ileanedmyarmsonatable,andmyheaddroppedonthem.AndnowIthought:tillnowIhadonlyheard,seen,moved—followedupanddownwhereIwasledordragged—watchedeventrushonevent,disclosureopenbeyonddisclosure:butNOW,ITHOUGHT.

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Themorninghadbeenaquietmorningenough—allexceptthebriefscenewiththelunatic:thetransactioninthechurchhadnotbeennoisy;therewasnoexplosionofpassion,noloudaltercation,nodispute,nodefianceorchallenge,notears,nosobs:afewwordshadbeenspoken,acalmlypronouncedobjectiontothemarriagemade;somestern,shortquestionsputbyMr.Rochester;answers,explanationsgiven,evidenceadduced;anopenadmissionofthetruthhadbeenutteredbymymaster;thenthelivingproofhadbeenseen;theintrudersweregone,andallwasover.

Iwasinmyownroomasusual—justmyself,withoutobviouschange:nothinghadsmittenme,orscathedme,ormaimedme.AndyetwherewastheJaneEyreofyesterday?—wherewasherlife?—wherewereherprospects?

JaneEyre,whohadbeenanardent,expectantwoman—almostabride,wasacold,solitarygirlagain:herlifewaspale;herprospectsweredesolate.AChristmasfrosthadcomeatmidsummer;awhiteDecemberstormhadwhirledoverJune;iceglazedtheripeapples,driftscrushedtheblowingroses;onhayfieldandcornfieldlayafrozenshroud:laneswhichlastnightblushedfullofflowers,to-daywerepathlesswithuntroddensnow;andthewoods,whichtwelvehourssincewavedleafyandflagrantasgrovesbetweenthetropics,nowspread,waste,wild,andwhiteaspine-forestsinwintryNorway.Myhopeswerealldead—struckwithasubtledoom,suchas,inonenight,fellonallthefirst-borninthelandofEgypt.Ilookedonmy