第65部分(第3/8 頁)

es。　I　knew　where　to　find　in　my　drawers　some　linen；　a　locket；　a　ring。　In　seeking　these　articles；　I　encountered　the　beads　of　a　pearl　necklace　Mr。　Rochester　had　forced　me　to　accept　a　few　days　ago。　I　left　that；　it　was　not　mine：　it　was　the　visionary　bride’s　who　had　melted　in　air。　The　other　articles　I　made　up　in　a　parcel；　my　purse；　containing　twenty　shillings　（it　was　all　I　had）；　I　put　in　my　pocket：　I　tied　on　my　straw　bon；　pinned　my　shawl；　took　the　parcel　and　my　slippers；　which　I　would　not　put　on　yet；　and　stole　from　my　room。

“Farewell；　kind　Mrs。　Fairfax！”　I　whispered；　as　I　glided　past　her　door。　“Farewell；　my　darling　Adèle！”　I　said；　as　I　glanced　towards　the　nursery。　No　thought　could　be　admitted　of　entering　to　embrace　her。　I　had　to　deceive　a　fine　ear：　for　aught　I　knew　it　might　now　be　listening。

I　would　have　got　past　Mr。　Rochester’s　chamber　without　a　pause；　but　my　heart　momentarily　stopping　its　beat　at　that　threshold；　my　foot　was　forced　to　stop　also。　No　sleep　was　there：　the　inmate　was　walking　restlessly　from　wall　to　wall；　and　again　and　again　he　sighed　while　I　listened。　There　was　a　heaven—a　temporary　heaven—in　this　room　for　me；　if　I　chose：　I　had　but　to　go　in　and　to　say—

“Mr。　Rochester；　I　will　love　you　and　live　with　you　through　life　till　death；”　and　a　fount　of　rapture　would　spring　to　my　lips。　I　thought　of　this。

That　kind　master；　who　could　not　sleep　now；　was　waiting　with　impatience　for　day。　He　would　send　for　me　in　the　morning；　I　should　be　gone。　He　would　have　me