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第27部分（第1页）

s；　and　very　fine　eyes；　too—not　without　a　certain　change　in　their　depths　sometimes；　which；　if　it　was　not　softness；　reminded　you；　at　least；　of　that　feeling。

He　had　been　looking　two　minutes　at　the　fire；　and　I　had　been　looking　the　same　length　of　time　at　him；　when；　turning　suddenly；　he　caught　my　gaze　fastened　on　his　physiognomy。

“You　examine　me；　Miss　Eyre；”　said　he：　“do　you　think　me　handsome？”

I　should；　if　I　had　deliberated；　have　replied　to　this　question　by　something　conventionally　vague　and　polite；　but　the　answer　somehow　slipped　from　my　tongue　before　I　was　aware—“No；　sir。”

“Ah！　By　my　word！　there　is　something　singular　about　you；”　said　he：　“you　have　the　air　of　a　little　nonte；　quaint；　quiet；　grave；　and　simple；　as　you　sit　with　your　hands　before　you；　and　your　eyes　generally　bent　on　the　carpet　（except；　by…the…bye；　when　they　are　directed　piercingly　to　my　face；　as　just　now；　for　instance）；　and　akes　a　remark　to　which　you　are　obliged　to　reply；　you　rap　out　a　round　rejoinder；　which；　if　not　blunt；　is　at　least　brusque。　What　do　you　mean　by　it？”

“Sir；　I　was　too　plain；　I　beg　your　pardon。　I　ought　to　have　replied　that　it　was　not　easy　to　give　an　impromptu　answer　to　a　question　about　appearances；　that　tastes　mostly　differ；　and　that　beauty　is　of　little　consequence；　or　something　of　that　sort。”

“You　ought　to　have　replied　no　such　thing。　Beauty　of　little　consequence；　indeed！　And　so；　under　pretence　of　softening　the　previous　outrage；　of　stroking　and　soothing　me　into　placidity；　you　stick　a　sly　penknife　under　my　ear！　Go　on：　what　fault　do　you　find　with　me；　pray？　I　suppose　I　have　all　my　limbs　and　all　my　features　like　any　other　man？”

“Mr。　Rochester；　allow　me　to　disown　my　first　answer：　I　intended　no　pointed　repartee：　it　was　only　a　blunder。”

“Just　so：　I　think　so：　and　you　shall　be　answerable　for　it。　Criticise　me：　does　my　forehead　not　please　you？”

He　lifted　up　the　sable　waves　of　hair　which　lay　horizontally　over　his　brow；　and　showed　a　solid　enough　mass　of　intellectual　organs；　but　an　abrupt　deficiency　where　the　suave　sign　of　benevolence　should　have　risen。

“Now；　ma’am；　am　I　a　fool？”

“Far　from　it；　sir。　You　would；　perhaps；　think　me　rude　if　I　inquired　in　return　whether　you　are　a　philanthropist？”

“There　again！　Another　stick　of　the　penknife；　when　she　pretended　to　pat　my　head：　and　that　is　because　I　said　I　did　not　like　the　society　of　children　and　old　women　（low　be　it　spoken！）。　No；　young　lady；　I　am　not　a　general　philanthropist；　but　I　bear　a　conscience；”　and　he　pointed　to　the　prominences　which　are　said　to　indicate　that　faculty；　and　which；　fortunately　for　him；　were　sufficiently　conspicuous；　giving；　indeed；　a　marked　breadth　to　the　upper　part　of　his　head：　“and；　besides；　I　once　had　a　kind　of　rude　tenderness　of　heart。　When　I　was　as　old　as　you；　I　was　a　feeling　fellow　enough；　partial　to　the　unfledged；　unfostered；　and　unlucky；　but　Fortune　has　knocked　me　about　since：　she　has　even　kneaded　me　with　her　knuckles；　and　now　I　flatter　myself　I　am　hard　and　tough　as　an　India…rubber　ball；　pervious；　though；　through　a　chink　or　two　still；　and　with　one　sentient　point　in　the　middle　of　the　lump。　Yes：　does　that　leave　hope　for　me？”

“Hope　of　what；　sir？”

“Of　my　final　re…transformation　from　India…rubber　back　to　flesh？”

“Decidedly　he　has　had　too　much　wine；”　I　thought；　and　I　did　not　know　what　answer　to　make　to　his　queer　question：　how　could　I　tell　whether　he　was　capable　of　being　re…transformed？

“You　looked　very　much　puzzled；　Miss　Eyre；　and　though　you　are　not　pretty　any　more　than　I　am　handsome；　yet　a　puzzled　air　bees　you；　besides；　it　is　convenient；　for　it　keeps　those　searching　eyes　of　yours　away　from　my　physiognomy；　and　busies　them　with　the　worsted　flowers　of　the　rug；　so　puzzle　on。　Young　lady；　I　am　disposed　to　be　gregarious　and　municative　to…night。”

With　this　announcement　he　rose　from　his　chair；　and　stood；　leaning　his　arm　on　the　marble　mantelpiece：　in　that　attitude　his　shape　was　seen　plainly　as　well　as　his　face；　his　unusual　breadth　of　chest；　disproportionate　almost　to　his　length　of　limb。　I　am　sure　most　people　would　have　thought　him　an　ugly　man；　yet　there　was　so　much　unconscious　pride　in　his　port；　so　much　ease　in　his　demeanour；　such　a　look　of　plete　indifference　to　his　own　external　appearance；　so　haughty　a　reliance　on　the　power　of　other　qualities；　intrinsic　or　adventitious；　to　atone　for　the　lack　of　mere　personal　attractiveness；　that；　in　looking　at　him；　one　inevitably　shared　the　indifference；　and；　even　in　a　blind；　imperfect　sense；　put　faith　in　the　confidence。

“I　am　disposed　to　be　gregarious　and　municative　to…night；”　he　repeated；　“and　that　is　why　I　sent　for　you：　the　fire　and　the　chandelier　were　not　sufficient　pany　for　me；　nor　would　Pilot　have　been；　for　none　of　these　can　talk。　Adèle　is　a　degree　better；　but　still　far　below　the　mark；　Mrs。　Fairfax　ditto；　you；　I　am　persuaded；　can　suit　me　if　you　will：　you　puzzled　me　the　first　evening　I　invited　you　down　here。　I　have　almost　forgotten　you　since：　other　ideas　have　driven　yours　from　my　head；　but　to…night　I　am　resolved　to　be　at　ease；　to　dismiss　what　importunes；　and　recall　what　pleases。　It　would　please　me　now　to　draw　you　out—to　learn　more　of　you—therefore　speak。”

Instead　of　speaking；　I　smiled；　and　not　a　very　placent　or　submissive　smile　either。

“Speak；”　he　urged。

“What　about；　sir？”

“Whatever　you　like。　I　leave　both　the　choice　of　subject　and　the　manner　of　treating　it　entirely　to　yourself。”

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