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第26部分（第1页）

The　third　showed　the　pinnacle　of　an　iceberg　piercing　a　polar　winter　sky：　a　muster　of　northern　lights　reared　their　dim　lances；　close　serried；　along　the　horizon。　Throwing　these　into　distance；　rose；　in　the　foreground；　a　head；—a　colossal　head；　inclined　towards　the　iceberg；　and　resting　against　it。　Two　thin　hands；　joined　under　the　forehead；　and　supporting　it；　drew　up　before　the　lower　features　a　sable　veil；　a　brow　quite　bloodless；　white　as　bone；　and　an　eye　hollow　and　fixed；　blank　of　meaning　but　for　the　glassiness　of　despair；　alone　were　visible。　Above　the　temples；　amidst　wreathed　turban　folds　of　black　drapery；　vague　in　its　character　and　consistency　as　cloud；　gleamed　a　ring　of　white　flame；　gemmed　with　sparkles　of　a　more　lurid　tinge。　This　pale　crescent　was　“the　likeness　of　a　kingly　crown；”　what　it　diademed　was　“the　shape　which　shape　had　none。”

“Were　you　happy　when　you　painted　these　pictures？”　asked　Mr。　Rochester　presently。

“I　was　absorbed；　sir：　yes；　and　I　was　happy。　To　paint　them；　in　short；　was　to　enjoy　one　of　the　keenest　pleasures　I　have　ever　known。”

“That　is　not　saying　much。　Your　pleasures；　by　your　own　account；　have　been　few；　but　I　daresay　you　did　exist　in　a　kind　of　artist’s　dreamland　while　you　blent　and　arranged　these　strange　tints。　Did　you　sit　at　them　long　each　day？”

“I　had　nothing　else　to　do；　because　it　was　the　vacation；　and　I　sat　at　them　from　morning　till　noon；　and　from　noon　till　night：　the　length　of　the　midsummer　days　favoured　my　inclination　to　apply。”

“And　you　felt　self…satisfied　with　the　result　of　your　ardent　labours？”

“Far　from　it。　I　was　tormented　by　the　contrast　between　my　idea　and　my　handiwork：　in　each　case　I　had　imagined　something　which　I　was　quite　powerless　to　realise。”

“Not　quite：　you　have　secured　the　shadow　of　your　thought；　but　no　more；　probably。　You　had　not　enough　of　the　artist’s　skill　and　science　to　give　it　full　being：　yet　the　drawings　are；　for　a　school…　girl；　peculiar。　As　to　the　thoughts；　they　are　elfish。　These　eyes　in　the　Evening　Star　you　must　have　seen　in　a　dream。　How　could　you　make　them　look　so　clear；　and　yet　not　at　all　brilliant？　for　the　pla　above　quells　their　rays。　And　what　meaning　is　that　in　their　solemn　depth？　And　who　taught　you　to　paint　wind。　There　is　a　high　gale　in　that　sky；　and　on　this　hill…top。　Where　did　you　see　Latmos？　For　that　is　Latmos。　There！　put　the　drawings　away！”

I　had　scarce　tied　the　strings　of　the　portfolio；　when；　looking　at　his　watch；　he　said　abruptly—

“It　is　nine　o’clock：　what　are　you　about；　Miss　Eyre；　to　let　Adèle　sit　up　so　long？　Take　her　to　bed。”

Adèle　went　to　kiss　him　before　quitting　the　room：　he　endured　the　caress；　but　scarcely　seemed　to　relish　it　more　than　Pilot　would　have　done；　nor　so　much。

“I　wish　you　all　good…night；　now；”　said　he；　making　a　movement　of　the　hand　towards　the　door；　in　token　that　he　was　tired　of　our　pany；　and　wished　to　dismiss　us。　Mrs。　Fairfax　folded　up　her　knitting：　I　took　my　portfolio：　we　curtseyed　to　him；　received　a　frigid　bow　in　return；　and　so　withdrew。

“You　said　Mr。　Rochester　was　not　strikingly　peculiar；　Mrs。　Fairfax；”　I　observed；　when　I　rejoined　her　in　her　room；　after　putting　Adèle　to　bed。

“Well；　is　he？”

“I　think　so：　he　is　very　changeful　and　abrupt。”

“True：　no　doubt　he　may　appear　so　to　a　stranger；　but　I　am　so　accustomed　to　his　manner；　I　never　think　of　it；　and　then；　if　he　has　peculiarities　of　temper；　allowance　should　be　made。”

“Why？”

“Partly　because　it　is　his　nature—and　we　can　none　of　us　help　our　nature；　and　partly　because　he　has　painful　thoughts；　no　doubt；　to　harass　him；　and　make　his　spirits　unequal。”

“What　about？”

“Family　troubles；　for　one　thing。”

“But　he　has　no　family。”

“Not　now；　but　he　has　had—or；　at　least；　relatives。　He　lost　his　elder　brother　a　few　years　since。”

“His　elder　brother？”

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