第21部分(第2/8 頁)

t　say　it。　Well；　our　ship　stopped　in　the　morning；　before　it　was　quite　daylight；　at　a　great　city—a　huge　city；　with　very　dark　houses　and　all　smoky；　not　at　all　like　the　pretty　clean　town　I　came　from；　and　Mr。　Rochester　carried　me　in　his　arms　over　a　plank　to　the　land；　and　Sophie　came　after；　and　we　all　got　into　a　coach；　which　took　us　to　a　beautiful　large　house；　larger　than　this　and　finer；　called　an　hotel。　We　stayed　there　nearly　a　week：　I　and　Sophie　used　to　walk　every　day　in　a　great　green　place　full　of　trees；　called　the　Park；　and　there　were　many　children　there　besides　me；　and　a　pond　with　beautiful　birds　in　it；　that　I　fed　with　crumbs。”

“Can　you　understand　her　when　she　runs　on　so　fast？”　asked　Mrs。　Fairfax。

I　understood　her　very　well；　for　I　had　been　accustomed　to　the　fluent　tongue　of　Madame　Pierrot。

“I　wish；”　continued　the　good　lady；　“you　would　ask　her　a　question　or　two　about　her　parents：　I　wonder　if　she　remembers　them？”

“Adèle；”　I　inquired；　“with　whom　did　you　live　when　you　were　in　that　pretty　clean　town　you　spoke　of？”

“I　lived　long　ago　with　mama；　but　she　is　gone　to　the　Holy　Virgin。　Mama　used　to　teach　me　to　dance　and　sing；　and　to　say　verses。　A　great　many　gentlemen　and　ladies　came　to　see　mama；　and　I　used　to　dance　before　them；　or　to　sit　on　their　knees　and　sing　to　them：　I　liked　it。　Shall　I　let　you　hear　me　sing　now？”

She　had　finished　her　breakfast；　so　I　permitted　her　to　give　a　specimen　of　her　acplishments。　Descending　from　her　chair；　she　came　and　pla