第55部分(第2/8 頁)

？”

“Your　regard；　and　if　I　give　you　mine　in　return；　that　debt　will　be　quit。”

“Well；　for　cool　native　impudence　and　pure　innate　pride；　you　haven’t　your　equal；”　said　he。　We　were　now　approaching　Thornfield。　“Will　it　please　you　to　dine　with　me　to…day？”　he　asked；　as　we　re…entered　the　gates。

“No；　thank　you；　sir。”

“And　what　for；　‘no；　thank　you？’　if　one　may　inquire。”

“I　never　have　dined　with　you；　sir：　and　I　see　no　reason　why　I　should　now：　till—”

“Till　what？　You　delight　in　half…phrases。”

“Till　I　can’t　help　it。”

“Do　you　suppose　I　eat　like　an　ogre　or　a　ghoul；　that　you　dread　being　the　panion　of　my　repast？”

“I　have　formed　no　supposition　on　the　subject；　sir；　but　I　want　to　go　on　as　usual　for　another　month。”

“You　will　give　up　your　governessing　slavery　at　once。”

“Indeed；　begging　your　pardon；　sir；　I　shall　not。　I　shall　just　go　on　with　it　as　usual。　I　shall　keep　out　of　your　way　all　day；　as　I　have　been　accustomed　to　do：　you　may　send　for　me　in　the　evening；　when　you　feel　disposed　to　see　me；　and　I’ll　e　then；　but　at　no　other　time。”

“I　want　a　smoke；　Jane；　or　a　pinch　of　snuff；　to　fort　me　under　all　this；　‘pour　me　donner　une　contenance；’　as　Adèle　would　say；　and　unfortunately　I　have　neither　my　cigar…case；　nor　my　snuff…box。　But　listen—whisper。　It　is　your　time　now；　little　tyrant；　but　it　will　be　mine　presently；　and　when　once　I　have　fairly　seized　you；　to　have　and　to　hold；　I’ll　just—figuratively　speaking—attach　you　to　a　chain　like