《Jane Eyre》第120章

e　portrait。
“she　is　lovely；”　he　murmured。　“she　is　well　named　the　rose　of　the　world；　indeed！”
“and　may　i　not　paint　one　like　it　for　you？”
“cui　bono？　no。”
he　drew　over　the　picture　the　sheet　of　thin　paper　on　which　i　was　accustomed　to　rest　my　hand　in　painting；　to　prevent　the　cardboard　from　being　sullied。　what　he　suddenly　saw　on　this　blank　paper；　it　was　impossible　for　me　to　tell；　but　something　had　caught　his　eye。　he　took　it　up　with　a　snatch；　he　looked　at　the　edge；　then　shot　a　glance　at　me；　inexpressibly　peculiar；　and　quite　inprehensible：　a　glance　that　seemed　to　take　and　make　note　of　every　point　in　my　shape；　face；　and　dress；　for　it　traversed　all；　quick；　keen　as　lightning。　his　lips　parted；　as　if　to　speak：　but　he　checked　the　ing　sentence；　whatever　it　was。
“what　is　the　matter？”　i　asked。
“nothing　in　the　world；”　was　the　reply；　and；　replacing　the　paper；　i　saw　him　dexterously　tear　a　narrow　slip　from　the　margin。　it　disappeared　in　his　glove；　and；　with　one　hasty　nod　and　“good…　afternoon；”　he　vanished。
“well！”　i　exclaimed；　using　an　expression　of　the　district；　“that　caps　the　globe；　however！”
i；　in　my　turn；　scrutinised　the　paper；　but　saw　nothing　on　it　save　a　few　dingy　stains　of　paint　where　i　had　tried　the　tint　in　my　pencil。　i　pondered　the　mystery　a　minute　or　two；　but　finding　it　insolvable；　and　being　certain　it　could　not　be　of　much　moment；　i　dismissed；　and　soon　forgot　it。
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Chapter　33
it　was　near　christmas　by　the　time　all　was　settled：　the　season　of　general　holiday　approached。　i　now　closed　morton　school；　taking　care　that　the　parting　should　not　be　barren　on　my　side。　good　fortune　opens　the　hand　as　well　as　the　heart　wonderfully；　and　to　give　somewhat　when　we　have　largely　received；　is　but　to　afford　a　vent　to　the　unusual　ebullition　of　the　sensations。　i　had　long　felt　with　pleasure　that　many　of　my　rustic　scholars　liked　me；　and　when　we　parted；　that　consciousness　was　confirmed：　they　manifested　their　affection　plainly　and　strongly。　deep　was　my　gratification　to　find　i　had　really　a　place　in　their　unsophisticated　hearts：　i　promised　them　that　never　a　week　should　pass　in　future　that　i　did　not　visit　them；　and　give　them　an　hour’s　teaching　in　their　school。
mr。　rivers　came　up　as；　having　seen　the　classes；　now　numbering　sixty　girls；　file　out　before　me；　and　locked　the　door；　i　stood　with　the　key　in　my　hand；　exchanging　a　few　words　of　special　farewell　with　some　half…dozen　of　my　best　scholars：　as　decent；　respectable；　modest；　and　well…informed　young　women　as　could　be　found　in　the　ranks　of　the　british　peasantry。　and　that　is　saying　a　great　deal；　for　after　all；　the　british　peasantry　are　the　best　taught；　best　mannered；　most　self…　respecting　of　any　in　europe：　since　those　days　i　have　seen　paysannes　and　bauerinnen；　and　the　best　of　them　seemed　to　me　ignorant；　coarse；　and　besotted；　pared　with　my　morton　girls。
“do　you　consider　you　have　got　your　reward　for　a　season　of　exertion？”　asked　mr。　rivers；　when　they　were　gone。　“does　not　the　consciousness　of　having　done　some　real　good　in　your　day　and　generation　give　pleasure？”
“doubtless。”
“and　you　have　only　toiled　a　few　months！　would　not　a　life　devoted　to　the　task　of　regenerating　your　race　be　well　spent？”
“yes；”　i　said；　“but　i　could　not　go　on　for　ever　so：　i　want　to　enjoy　my　own　faculties　as　well　as　to　cultivate　those　of　other　people。　i　must　enjoy　them　now；　don’t　recall　either　my　mind　or　body　to　the　school；　i　am　out　of　it　and　disposed　for　full　holiday。”
he　looked　grave。　“what　now？　what　sudden　eagerness　is　this　you　evince？　what　are　you　going　to　do？”
“to　be　active：　as　active　as　i　can。　and　first　i　must　beg　you　to　set　hannah　at　liberty；　and　get　somebody　else　to　wait　on　you。”
“do　you　want　her？”
“yes；　to　go　with　me　to　moor　house。　diana　and　mary　will　be　at　home　in　a　week；　and　i　want　to　have　everything　in　order　against　their　arrival。”
“i　understand。　i　thought　you　were　for　flying　off　on　some　excursion。　it　is　better　so：　hannah　shall　go　with　you。”
“tell　her　to　be　ready　by　to…morrow　then；　and　here　is　the　schoolroom　key：　i　will　give　you　the　key　of　my　cottage　in　the　morning。”
he　took　it。　“you　give　it　up　very　gleefully；”　said　he；　“i　don’t　quite　understand　your　light…heartedness；　because　i　cannot　tell　what　employment　you　propose　to　yourself　as　a　substitute　for　the　one　you　are　relinquishing。　what　aim；　what　purpose；　what　ambition　in　life　have　you　now？”
“my　first　aim　will　be　to　clean　down　（do　you　prehend　the　full　force　of　the　expression？）—to　clean　down　moor　house　from　chamber　to　cellar；　my　next　to　rub　it　up　with　bees…wax；　oil；　and　an　indefinite　number　of　cloths；　till　it　glitters　again；　my　third；　to　arrange　every　chair；　table；　bed；　carpet；　with　mathematical　precision；　afterwards　i　shall　go　near　to　ruin　you　in　coals　and　peat　to　keep　up　good　fires　in　every　room；　and　lastly；　the　two　days　preceding　that　on　which　your　sisters　are　expected　will　be　devoted　by　hannah　and　me　to　such　a　beating　of　eggs；　sorting　of　currants；　grating　of　spices；　pounding　of　christmas　cakes；　chopping　up　of　materials　for　mince…pies；　and　solemnising　of　other　culinary　rites；　as　words　can　convey　but　an　inadequate　notion　of　to　the　uninitiated　like　you。　my　purpose；　in　short；　is　to　have　all　things　in　an　absolutely　perfect　state　of　readiness　for　diana　and　mary　before　next　thursday；　and　my　ambition　is　to　give　them　a　beau…ideal　of　a　wele　when　they　e。”
st。　john　smiled　slightly：　still　he　was　dissatisfied。
“it　is　all　very　well　for　the　present；”　said　he；　“but　seriously；　i　trust　that　when　the　first　flush　of　vivacity　is　over；　you　will　look　a　little　higher　than　domestic　endearments　and　household　joys。”
“the　best　things　the　world　has！”　i　interrupted。
“no；　jane；　no：　this　world　is　not　the　scene　of　fruition；　do　not　attempt　to　make　it　so：　nor　of　rest；　do　not　turn　slothful。”
“i　mean；　on　the　contrary；　to　be　busy。”
“jane；　i　excuse　you　for　the　present：　two　months’　grace　i　allow　you　for　the　full　enjoyment　of　your　new　position；　and　for　pleasing　yourself　with　this　late…found　charm　of　relationship；　but　then；　i　hope　you　will　begin　to　look　beyond　moor　house　and　morton；　and　sisterly　society；　and　the　selfish　calm　and　sensual　fort　of　civilised　affluence。　i　hope　your　energies