CHAPTER XVI CAPÍTULO XVI ГЛАВА XVI BÖLÜM XVI

I both wished and feared to see Mr. Rochester on the day which followed this sleepless night: I wanted to hear his voice again, yet feared to meet his eye. Je souhaitais et craignais à la fois de voir M. Rochester le jour qui suivit cette nuit d'insomnie : je voulais entendre à nouveau sa voix, mais je craignais de croiser son regard.

During the early part of the morning, I momentarily expected his coming; he was not in the frequent habit of entering the schoolroom, but he did step in for a few minutes sometimes, and I had the impression that he was sure to visit it that day.

But the morning passed just as usual: nothing happened to interrupt the quiet course of Adèle's studies; only soon after breakfast, I heard some bustle in the neighbourhood of Mr. Rochester's chamber, Mrs. Fairfax's voice, and Leah's, and the cook's—that is, John's wife—and even John's own gruff tones. There were exclamations of “What a mercy master was not burnt in his bed!”  “It is always dangerous to keep a candle lit at night.”  “How providential that he had presence of mind to think of the water-jug!”  “I wonder he waked nobody!”  “It is to be hoped he will not take cold with sleeping on the library sofa,” &c. On s'exclamait : "Quelle chance que le maître n'ait pas été brûlé dans son lit !". "Il est toujours dangereux de garder une bougie allumée la nuit." "Quelle providence qu'il ait eu la présence d'esprit de penser à la cruche d'eau !" "Je m'étonne qu'il n'ait réveillé personne !" "Il faut espérer qu'il ne prendra pas froid en dormant sur le canapé de la bibliothèque", etc. To much confabulation succeeded a sound of scrubbing and setting to rights; and when I passed the room, in going downstairs to dinner, I saw through the open door that all was again restored to complete order; only the bed was stripped of its hangings. À beaucoup de confabulation succéda un bruit de frottement et de remise en cause; et quand je passai dans la chambre, en descendant dîner, je vis par la porte ouverte que tout était de nouveau remis en ordre; seul le lit était dépouillé de ses tentures.

Leah stood up in the window-seat, rubbing the panes of glass dimmed with smoke. Leah se leva sur le siège de la fenêtre, frottant les vitres obscures de fumée. I was about to address her, for I wished to know what account had been given of the affair: but, on advancing, I saw a second person in the chamber—a woman sitting on a chair by the bedside, and sewing rings to new curtains. J'allais m'adresser à elle, car je désirais savoir quel récit avait été fait de l'affaire ; mais, en m'avançant, je vis une seconde personne dans la chambre - une femme assise sur une chaise au chevet du lit, et cousant des anneaux à de nouveaux rideaux. That woman was no other than Grace Poole.

There she sat, staid and taciturn-looking, as usual, in her brown stuff gown, her check apron, white handkerchief, and cap. Là, elle était assise, guindée et taciturne, comme d'habitude, dans sa robe marron, son tablier à carreaux, son mouchoir blanc et sa casquette.

She was intent on her work, in which her whole thoughts seemed absorbed: on her hard forehead, and in her commonplace features, was nothing either of the paleness or desperation one would have expected to see marking the countenance of a woman who had attempted murder, and whose intended victim had followed her last night to her lair, and (as I believed), charged her with the crime she wished to perpetrate. Elle était résolue à son travail, dans lequel toutes ses pensées semblaient absorbées: sur son front dur et dans ses traits banals, il n'y avait rien de la pâleur ou du désespoir que l'on aurait pu espérer voir marquer le visage d'une femme qui avait tenté de meurtre. , et dont la victime intentionnelle l'avait suivie la nuit dernière dans son repaire, et (comme je le croyais), l'accusait du crime qu'elle souhaitait commettre. I was amazed—confounded. J'ai été étonné - confus. She looked up, while I still gazed at her: no start, no increase or failure of colour betrayed emotion, consciousness of guilt, or fear of detection. Elle leva les yeux, tandis que je la regardais toujours: pas de sursaut, pas d'augmentation ou d'échec de la couleur trahissait l'émotion, la conscience de culpabilité ou la peur d'être détectée. She said “Good morning, Miss,” in her usual phlegmatic and brief manner; and taking up another ring and more tape, went on with her sewing. Elle a dit «Bonjour, mademoiselle», de sa manière flegmatique et brève habituelle; et prenant une autre bague et plus de ruban adhésif, a continué avec sa couture.

“I will put her to some test,” thought I: “such absolute impenetrability is past comprehension.” "Je vais la mettre à l'épreuve", pensais-je: "une telle impénétrabilité absolue est une compréhension passée."

“Good morning, Grace,” I said.

“Has anything happened here? I thought I heard the servants all talking together a while ago.”

“Only master had been reading in his bed last night; he fell asleep with his candle lit, and the curtains got on fire; but, fortunately, he awoke before the bed-clothes or the wood-work caught, and contrived to quench the flames with the water in the ewer.” «Seul le maître avait lu dans son lit la nuit dernière; il s'est endormi avec sa bougie allumée, et les rideaux ont pris feu; mais, heureusement, il s'est réveillé avant que les draps ou le bois ne se prennent, et s'est arrangé pour éteindre les flammes avec l'eau dans l'aiguière.

“A strange affair!” I said, in a low voice: then, looking at her fixedly—“Did Mr. Rochester wake nobody?

Did no one hear him move?”

She again raised her eyes to me, and this time there was something of consciousness in their expression.

She seemed to examine me warily; then she answered— She seemed to examine me warily; then she answered—

“The servants sleep so far off, you know, Miss, they would not be likely to hear. “The servants sleep so far off, you know, Miss, they would not be likely to hear.

Mrs. Fairfax's room and yours are the nearest to master's; but Mrs. Fairfax said she heard nothing: when people get elderly, they often sleep heavy.”  She paused, and then added, with a sort of assumed indifference, but still in a marked and significant tone—“But you are young, Miss; and I should say a light sleeper: perhaps you may have heard a noise?” La chambre de Mme Fairfax et la vôtre sont les plus proches de celle du maître; mais Mme Fairfax a dit qu'elle n'avait rien entendu: quand les gens vieillissent, ils dorment souvent lourd. Elle s'arrêta, puis ajouta, avec une sorte d'indifférence assumée, mais toujours d'un ton marqué et significatif: «Mais vous êtes jeune, mademoiselle; et je devrais dire un dormeur léger: peut-être avez-vous entendu un bruit? “I did,” said I, dropping my voice, so that Leah, who was still polishing the panes, could not hear me, “and at first I thought it was Pilot: but Pilot cannot laugh; and I am certain I heard a laugh, and a strange one.” "Je l'ai fait", dis-je en baissant la voix, de sorte que Leah, qui polissait toujours les vitres, ne pouvait pas m'entendre, "et j'ai d'abord cru que c'était Pilote : mais Pilote ne peut pas rire ; et je suis certain que j'ai entendu un rire, et un rire étrange".

She took a new needleful of thread, waxed it carefully, threaded her needle with a steady hand, and then observed, with perfect composure— She took a new needleful of thread, waxed it carefully, threaded her needle with a steady hand, and then observed, with perfect composure— Elle prit une nouvelle aiguille de fil, la cira avec soin, enfila son aiguille d'une main ferme, puis observa, avec un calme parfait:

“It is hardly likely master would laugh, I should think, Miss, when he was in such danger: You must have been dreaming.” «Il est peu probable que le maître rie, je devrais penser, mademoiselle, quand il était en danger: vous avez dû rêver.

“I was not dreaming,” I said, with some warmth, for her brazen coolness provoked me. “I was not dreaming,” I said, with some warmth, for her brazen coolness provoked me. «Je ne rêvais pas», dis-je avec un peu de chaleur, car sa fraîcheur effrontée me provoquait.

Again she looked at me; and with the same scrutinising and conscious eye.

“Have you told master that you heard a laugh?” she inquired.

“I have not had the opportunity of speaking to him this morning.”

“You did not think of opening your door and looking out into the gallery?” she further asked.

She appeared to be cross-questioning me, attempting to draw from me information unawares. Elle semblait me questionner, essayant de tirer de moi des informations sans s'en rendre compte.

The idea struck me that if she discovered I knew or suspected her guilt, she would be playing of some of her malignant pranks on me; I thought it advisable to be on my guard. L'idée m'a frappé que si elle découvrait que je savais ou soupçonnais sa culpabilité, elle me jouerait certaines de ses farces malignes; J'ai pensé qu'il convenait d'être sur mes gardes.

“On the contrary,” said I, “I bolted my door.” «Au contraire, dis-je, j'ai verrouillé ma porte.

“Then you are not in the habit of bolting your door every night before you get into bed?”

“Fiend!

she wants to know my habits, that she may lay her plans accordingly!”  Indignation again prevailed over prudence: I replied sharply, “Hitherto I have often omitted to fasten the bolt: I did not think it necessary. elle veut connaître mes habitudes, afin de préparer ses plans en conséquence! L'indignation l'emporta de nouveau sur la prudence: je répondis brusquement: «Jusqu'à présent, j'ai souvent omis de serrer le verrou: je ne le croyais pas nécessaire. I was not aware any danger or annoyance was to be dreaded at Thornfield Hall: but in future” (and I laid marked stress on the words) “I shall take good care to make all secure before I venture to lie down.” Je ne savais pas qu'aucun danger ou ennui devait être redouté à Thornfield Hall: mais à l'avenir »(et j'ai mis l'accent sur les mots)« Je prendrai bien soin de tout sécuriser avant de m'aventurer à m'allonger.

“It will be wise so to do,” was her answer: “this neighbourhood is as quiet as any I know, and I never heard of the hall being attempted by robbers since it was a house; though there are hundreds of pounds' worth of plate in the plate-closet, as is well known. «Ce sera sage de le faire», fut-elle en réponse: «ce quartier est aussi calme que tout ce que je connais, et je n'ai jamais entendu parler de la salle tentée par des voleurs depuis que c'était une maison; bien qu'il y ait des centaines de livres d'assiette dans le placard à assiettes, comme on le sait. And you see, for such a large house, there are very few servants, because master has never lived here much; and when he does come, being a bachelor, he needs little waiting on: but I always think it best to err on the safe side; a door is soon fastened, and it is as well to have a drawn bolt between one and any mischief that may be about. Et vous voyez, pour une si grande maison, il y a très peu de serviteurs, parce que le maître n'y a jamais beaucoup vécu; et quand il vient, étant célibataire, il a besoin de peu d'attentes: mais je pense toujours qu'il vaut mieux se tromper du bon côté; une porte est bientôt fermée, et c'est aussi bien d'avoir un verrou tiré entre un et n'importe quel mal qui peut être. A deal of people, Miss, are for trusting all to Providence; but I say Providence will not dispense with the means, though He often blesses them when they are used discreetly.”  And here she closed her harangue: a long one for her, and uttered with the demureness of a Quakeress. Beaucoup de gens, mademoiselle, sont pour faire confiance à la Providence; mais je dis que la Providence ne se dispensera pas des moyens, bien qu'Il les bénisse souvent lorsqu'ils sont utilisés discrètement. Et ici elle ferma sa harangue: longue pour elle, et prononcée avec la modestie d'une quakeress.

I still stood absolutely dumfoundered at what appeared to me her miraculous self-possession and most inscrutable hypocrisy, when the cook entered. Je restais absolument abasourdi de ce qui m'apparaissait comme son sang-froid miraculeux et l'hypocrisie la plus insondable, lorsque le cuisinier entra.

“Mrs.

Poole,” said she, addressing Grace, “the servants' dinner will soon be ready: will you come down?” “No; just put my pint of porter and bit of pudding on a tray, and I'll carry it upstairs.” "Non; il suffit de mettre ma pinte de porteur et un peu de pudding sur un plateau, et je le porterai à l'étage. “You'll have some meat?” “Just a morsel, and a taste of cheese, that's all.” “And the sago?” «Et le sagou?

“Never mind it at present: I shall be coming down before teatime: I'll make it myself.” "Ne vous en préoccupez pas pour l'instant : Je descendrai avant l'heure du thé : Je le ferai moi-même." The cook here turned to me, saying that Mrs. Fairfax was waiting for me: so I departed.

I hardly heard Mrs. Fairfax's account of the curtain conflagration during dinner, so much was I occupied in puzzling my brains over the enigmatical character of Grace Poole, and still more in pondering the problem of her position at Thornfield and questioning why she had not been given into custody that morning, or, at the very least, dismissed from her master's service. J'entendis à peine le récit de Mme Fairfax sur la conflagration du rideau pendant le dîner, tant j'étais occupé à intriguer mon cerveau sur le caractère énigmatique de Grace Poole, et plus encore à réfléchir au problème de sa position à Thornfield et à me demander pourquoi elle n'avait pas été. mis en garde à vue ce matin-là, ou, à tout le moins, renvoyé du service de son maître. He had almost as much as declared his conviction of her criminality last night: what mysterious cause withheld him from accusing her? Il avait presque autant déclaré sa conviction de sa criminalité la nuit dernière: quelle mystérieuse cause l'empêchait de l'accuser? Why had he enjoined me, too, to secrecy? It was strange: a bold, vindictive, and haughty gentleman seemed somehow in the power of one of the meanest of his dependants; so much in her power, that even when she lifted her hand against his life, he dared not openly charge her with the attempt, much less punish her for it. C'était étrange: un gentleman audacieux, vindicatif et hautain semblait en quelque sorte au pouvoir de l'un des plus méchants de ses dépendants; tellement en son pouvoir, que même lorsqu'elle leva la main contre sa vie, il n'osa pas la charger ouvertement de cette tentative, encore moins la punir pour cela.

Had Grace been young and handsome, I should have been tempted to think that tenderer feelings than prudence or fear influenced Mr. Rochester in her behalf; but, hard-favoured and matronly as she was, the idea could not be admitted. Si Grace avait été jeune et belle, j'aurais été tenté de penser que des sentiments plus tendres que la prudence ou la peur influençaient M. Rochester en son nom; mais, si favorisée et matrone qu'elle était, l'idée ne pouvait être admise.

“Yet,” I reflected, “she has been young once; her youth would be contemporary with her master's: Mrs. Fairfax told me once, she had lived here many years. “Yet,” I reflected, “she has been young once; her youth would be contemporary with her master's: Mrs. Fairfax told me once, she had lived here many years. «Pourtant,» j'ai réfléchi, «elle a été jeune une fois; sa jeunesse serait contemporaine de celle de son maître: Mme Fairfax me l'a dit une fois, elle avait vécu ici de nombreuses années. I don't think she can ever have been pretty; but, for aught I know, she may possess originality and strength of character to compensate for the want of personal advantages. Je ne pense pas qu'elle ait jamais pu être jolie; mais, pour autant que je sache, elle peut posséder une originalité et une force de caractère pour compenser le manque d'avantages personnels. Mr. Rochester is an amateur of the decided and eccentric: Grace is eccentric at least. M. Rochester est un amateur du décidé et de l'excentrique: Grace est au moins excentrique. What if a former caprice (a freak very possible to a nature so sudden and headstrong as his) has delivered him into her power, and she now exercises over his actions a secret influence, the result of his own indiscretion, which he cannot shake off, and dare not disregard?”  But, having reached this point of conjecture, Mrs. Poole's square, flat figure, and uncomely, dry, even coarse face, recurred so distinctly to my mind's eye, that I thought, “No; impossible! Et si un ancien caprice (un monstre tout à fait possible pour une nature aussi soudaine et entêtée que la sienne) l'avait livré en son pouvoir, et qu'elle exerce maintenant sur ses actions une influence secrète, le résultat de sa propre indiscrétion, qu'il ne peut pas secouer et n'ose pas ignorer? Mais, ayant atteint ce point de conjecture, la silhouette carrée et plate de Mme Poole, et le visage inconstant, sec, voire grossier, revinrent si distinctement à mon esprit, que je pensai: «Non; impossible! my supposition cannot be correct. Yet,” suggested the secret voice which talks to us in our own hearts, “you are not beautiful either, and perhaps Mr. Rochester approves you: at any rate, you have often felt as if he did; and last night—remember his words; remember his look; remember his voice!” Pourtant, »suggéra la voix secrète qui nous parle dans nos propres cœurs,« vous n'êtes pas non plus belle, et peut-être que M. Rochester vous approuve: en tout cas, vous vous êtes souvent senti comme s'il l'était; et hier soir, souvenez-vous de ses paroles; souvenez-vous de son regard; souviens-toi de sa voix!

I well remembered all; language, glance, and tone seemed at the moment vividly renewed. Je me souvenais bien de tout; le langage, le regard et le ton semblaient à ce moment vivement renouvelés.

I was now in the schoolroom; Adèle was drawing; I bent over her and directed her pencil. She looked up with a sort of start.

“Qu' avez-vous, mademoiselle?” said she. “Vos doigts tremblent comme la feuille, et vos joues sont rouges: mais, rouges comme des cerises!”

“I am hot, Adèle, with stooping!”  She went on sketching; I went on thinking. “I am hot, Adèle, with stooping!” She went on sketching; I went on thinking. «J'ai chaud, Adèle, en se baissant! Elle a continué à dessiner; J'ai continué à réfléchir.

I hastened to drive from my mind the hateful notion I had been conceiving respecting Grace Poole; it disgusted me. Je m'empressai de chasser de mon esprit la notion odieuse que j'avais conçue concernant Grace Poole; ça me dégoûtait.

I compared myself with her, and found we were different. Bessie Leaven had said I was quite a lady; and she spoke truth—I was a lady. Bessie Leaven avait dit que j'étais une vraie dame ; et elle disait vrai - j'étais une dame. And now I looked much better than I did when Bessie saw me; I had more colour and more flesh, more life, more vivacity, because I had brighter hopes and keener enjoyments. And now I looked much better than I did when Bessie saw me; I had more colour and more flesh, more life, more vivacity, because I had brighter hopes and keener enjoyments. Et maintenant j'avais l'air bien mieux que lorsque Bessie m'a vu; J'avais plus de couleur et plus de chair, plus de vie, plus de vivacité, car j'avais des espoirs plus brillants et des jouissances plus vives.

“Evening approaches,” said I, as I looked towards the window.

“I have never heard Mr. Rochester's voice or step in the house to-day; but surely I shall see him before night: I feared the meeting in the morning; now I desire it, because expectation has been so long baffled that it is grown impatient.” «Je n'ai jamais entendu la voix ou le pas de M. Rochester dans la maison aujourd'hui; mais sûrement je le verrai avant la nuit: je craignais la réunion du matin; maintenant je le désire, car l'attente a été si longtemps déconcertée qu'elle s'impatiente. When dusk actually closed, and when Adèle left me to go and play in the nursery with Sophie, I did most keenly desire it. Quand le crépuscule s'est refermé, et quand Adèle m'a quitté pour aller jouer à la crèche avec Sophie, je le désirais le plus vivement.

I listened for the bell to ring below; I listened for Leah coming up with a message; I fancied sometimes I heard Mr. Rochester's own tread, and I turned to the door, expecting it to open and admit him. J'ai écouté la cloche sonner ci-dessous; J'ai écouté Leah venir avec un message; J'imaginais que parfois j'entendais le pas de M. Rochester et je me tournais vers la porte, m'attendant à ce qu'elle s'ouvre et l'admette. The door remained shut; darkness only came in through the window. Still it was not late; he often sent for me at seven and eight o'clock, and it was yet but six. Still it was not late; he often sent for me at seven and eight o'clock, and it was yet but six. Surely I should not be wholly disappointed to-night, when I had so many things to say to him! Je ne dois pas être totalement déçue ce soir, alors que j'ai tant de choses à lui dire ! I wanted again to introduce the subject of Grace Poole, and to hear what he would answer; I wanted to ask him plainly if he really believed it was she who had made last night's hideous attempt; and if so, why he kept her wickedness a secret. I wanted again to introduce the subject of Grace Poole, and to hear what he would answer; I wanted to ask him plainly if he really believed it was she who had made last night's hideous attempt; and if so, why he kept her wickedness a secret. Je voulais à nouveau présenter le sujet de Grace Poole, et entendre ce qu'il allait répondre; Je voulais lui demander clairement s'il croyait vraiment que c'était elle qui avait fait la tentative hideuse de la nuit dernière; et si oui, pourquoi il a gardé son méchanceté secrète. It little mattered whether my curiosity irritated him; I knew the pleasure of vexing and soothing him by turns; it was one I chiefly delighted in, and a sure instinct always prevented me from going too far; beyond the verge of provocation I never ventured; on the extreme brink I liked well to try my skill. It little mattered whether my curiosity irritated him; I knew the pleasure of vexing and soothing him by turns; it was one I chiefly delighted in, and a sure instinct always prevented me from going too far; beyond the verge of provocation I never ventured; on the extreme brink I liked well to try my skill. Peu importait que ma curiosité l'irrite; Je connaissais le plaisir de le vexer et de l'apaiser tour à tour; c'en était une qui me plaisait surtout, et un instinct sûr m'empêchait toujours d'aller trop loin; au-delà du bord de la provocation, je n'ai jamais osé; à l'extrême, j'aimais bien essayer mes compétences. Retaining every minute form of respect, every propriety of my station, I could still meet him in argument without fear or uneasy restraint; this suited both him and me. En conservant chaque forme de respect minutieux, chaque convenance de ma position, je pouvais encore le rencontrer dans une dispute sans crainte ni contrainte inquiète; cela lui convenait et moi.

A tread creaked on the stairs at last. A tread creaked on the stairs at last. Une bande de roulement grinça enfin dans l'escalier.

Leah made her appearance; but it was only to intimate that tea was ready in Mrs. Fairfax's room. Leah made her appearance; but it was only to intimate that tea was ready in Mrs. Fairfax's room. Thither I repaired, glad at least to go downstairs; for that brought me, I imagined, nearer to Mr. Rochester's presence. Thither I repaired, glad at least to go downstairs; for that brought me, I imagined, nearer to Mr. Rochester's presence. J'y suis allé, heureux au moins de descendre; car cela m'a rapproché, je l'imaginais, de la présence de M. Rochester. “You must want your tea,” said the good lady, as I joined her; “you ate so little at dinner. “You must want your tea,” said the good lady, as I joined her; “you ate so little at dinner.

I am afraid,” she continued, “you are not well to-day: you look flushed and feverish.”

“Oh, quite well!

I never felt better.”

“Then you must prove it by evincing a good appetite; will you fill the teapot while I knit off this needle?”  Having completed her task, she rose to draw down the blind, which she had hitherto kept up, by way, I suppose, of making the most of daylight, though dusk was now fast deepening into total obscurity. “Then you must prove it by evincing a good appetite; will you fill the teapot while I knit off this needle?” Having completed her task, she rose to draw down the blind, which she had hitherto kept up, by way, I suppose, of making the most of daylight, though dusk was now fast deepening into total obscurity. «Alors vous devez le prouver en manifestant un bon appétit; allez-vous remplir la théière pendant que je tricoterai cette aiguille? Ayant accompli sa tâche, elle se leva pour abattre les aveugles, qu'elle avait jusqu'alors maintenus, pour profiter, je suppose, de la lumière du jour, alors que le crépuscule s'approfondissait rapidement dans l'obscurité totale.

“It is fair to-night,” said she, as she looked through the panes, “though not starlight; Mr. Rochester has, on the whole, had a favourable day for his journey.” “It is fair to-night,” said she, as she looked through the panes, “though not starlight; Mr. Rochester has, on the whole, had a favourable day for his journey.” «Il fait beau ce soir», dit-elle en regardant à travers les vitres, «mais pas à la lumière des étoiles; M. Rochester a, dans l'ensemble, eu une journée favorable pour son voyage.

“Journey!—Is Mr. Rochester gone anywhere?

I did not know he was out.”

“Oh, he set off the moment he had breakfasted!

He is gone to the Leas, Mr. Eshton's place, ten miles on the other side Millcote. Il est parti à The Leas, la propriété de M. Eshton, à dix miles de l'autre côté de Millcote. I believe there is quite a party assembled there; Lord Ingram, Sir George Lynn, Colonel Dent, and others.” Je crois qu'il y a tout un parti réuni là-bas; Lord Ingram, Sir George Lynn, le colonel Dent et d'autres. »

“Do you expect him back to-night?”

“No—nor to-morrow either; I should think he is very likely to stay a week or more: when these fine, fashionable people get together, they are so surrounded by elegance and gaiety, so well provided with all that can please and entertain, they are in no hurry to separate. “No—nor to-morrow either; I should think he is very likely to stay a week or more: when these fine, fashionable people get together, they are so surrounded by elegance and gaiety, so well provided with all that can please and entertain, they are in no hurry to separate. "Non, pas plus que demain ; je pense qu'il restera probablement une semaine ou plus : quand ces gens élégants et à la mode se réunissent, ils sont tellement entourés d'élégance et de gaieté, si bien pourvus de tout ce qui peut plaire et divertir, qu'ils ne sont pas pressés de se séparer.

Gentlemen especially are often in request on such occasions; and Mr. Rochester is so talented and so lively in society, that I believe he is a general favourite: the ladies are very fond of him; though you would not think his appearance calculated to recommend him particularly in their eyes: but I suppose his acquirements and abilities, perhaps his wealth and good blood, make amends for any little fault of look.” Gentlemen especially are often in request on such occasions; and Mr. Rochester is so talented and so lively in society, that I believe he is a general favourite: the ladies are very fond of him; though you would not think his appearance calculated to recommend him particularly in their eyes: but I suppose his acquirements and abilities, perhaps his wealth and good blood, make amends for any little fault of look.” Les messieurs en particulier sont souvent sollicités en de telles occasions; et M. Rochester est si talentueux et si vivant dans la société, que je crois qu'il est un favori général: les dames l'aiment beaucoup; bien que vous ne pensiez pas que son apparence était calculée pour le recommander particulièrement à leurs yeux: mais je suppose que ses acquis et ses capacités, peut-être sa richesse et son bon sang, compensent toute petite faute de regard.

“Are there ladies at the Leas?”

“There are Mrs. Eshton and her three daughters—very elegant young ladies indeed; and there are the Honourable Blanche and Mary Ingram, most beautiful women, I suppose: indeed I have seen Blanche, six or seven years since, when she was a girl of eighteen. “There are Mrs. Eshton and her three daughters—very elegant young ladies indeed; and there are the Honourable Blanche and Mary Ingram, most beautiful women, I suppose: indeed I have seen Blanche, six or seven years since, when she was a girl of eighteen. "Il y a Mme Eshton et ses trois filles - des jeunes femmes très élégantes en effet ; et il y a l'honorable Blanche et Mary Ingram, les plus belles femmes, je suppose : en effet, j'ai vu Blanche, il y a six ou sept ans, quand elle était une jeune fille de dix-huit ans.

She came here to a Christmas ball and party Mr. Rochester gave. She came here to a Christmas ball and party Mr. Rochester gave. You should have seen the dining-room that day—how richly it was decorated, how brilliantly lit up! You should have seen the dining-room that day—how richly it was decorated, how brilliantly lit up! I should think there were fifty ladies and gentlemen present—all of the first county families; and Miss Ingram was considered the belle of the evening.” Je pense qu'il y avait cinquante dames et messieurs présents, tous issus des premières familles du comté, et Miss Ingram était considérée comme la belle de la soirée".

“You saw her, you say, Mrs. Fairfax: what was she like?”

“Yes, I saw her.

The dining-room doors were thrown open; and, as it was Christmas-time, the servants were allowed to assemble in the hall, to hear some of the ladies sing and play. The dining-room doors were thrown open; and, as it was Christmas-time, the servants were allowed to assemble in the hall, to hear some of the ladies sing and play. Les portes de la salle à manger sont ouvertes et, comme c'est la période de Noël, les domestiques sont autorisés à se rassembler dans le hall pour écouter quelques dames chanter et jouer. Mr. Rochester would have me to come in, and I sat down in a quiet corner and watched them. Mr. Rochester would have me to come in, and I sat down in a quiet corner and watched them. M. Rochester me fit entrer, et je m'assis dans un coin tranquille pour les observer. I never saw a more splendid scene: the ladies were magnificently dressed; most of them—at least most of the younger ones—looked handsome; but Miss Ingram was certainly the queen.” Je n'ai jamais vu une scène aussi splendide : les dames étaient magnifiquement habillées ; la plupart d'entre elles - du moins la plupart des plus jeunes - étaient belles ; mais Miss Ingram était certainement la reine".

“And what was she like?”

“Tall, fine bust, sloping shoulders; long, graceful neck: olive complexion, dark and clear; noble features; eyes rather like Mr. Rochester's: large and black, and as brilliant as her jewels. «Grand buste fin, épaules inclinées; cou long et gracieux: teint olive, foncé et clair; traits nobles; des yeux un peu comme ceux de M. Rochester: grands et noirs, et aussi brillants que ses bijoux. And then she had such a fine head of hair; raven-black and so becomingly arranged: a crown of thick plaits behind, and in front the longest, the glossiest curls I ever saw. Et puis elle avait une chevelure si fine; noir corbeau et si convenablement arrangé: une couronne de tresses épaisses derrière, et devant les boucles les plus longues et les plus brillantes que j'aie jamais vues. She was dressed in pure white; an amber-coloured scarf was passed over her shoulder and across her breast, tied at the side, and descending in long, fringed ends below her knee. She was dressed in pure white; an amber-coloured scarf was passed over her shoulder and across her breast, tied at the side, and descending in long, fringed ends below her knee. Elle était vêtue d'un blanc pur; une écharpe ambrée était passée sur son épaule et sur sa poitrine, nouée sur le côté et descendant en longues extrémités frangées sous son genou. She wore an amber-coloured flower, too, in her hair: it contrasted well with the jetty mass of her curls.” She wore an amber-coloured flower, too, in her hair: it contrasted well with the jetty mass of her curls.” Elle portait aussi une fleur ambrée dans ses cheveux: elle contrastait bien avec la masse de jetée de ses boucles.

“She was greatly admired, of course?”

“Yes, indeed: and not only for her beauty, but for her accomplishments. «Oui, en effet: et pas seulement pour sa beauté, mais pour ses réalisations.

She was one of the ladies who sang: a gentleman accompanied her on the piano. She and Mr. Rochester sang a duet.”

“Mr.

Rochester?

I was not aware he could sing.”

“Oh!

he has a fine bass voice, and an excellent taste for music.”

“And Miss Ingram: what sort of a voice had she?”

“A very rich and powerful one: she sang delightfully; it was a treat to listen to her;—and she played afterwards. «Une très riche et puissante: elle chantait délicieusement; c'était un plaisir de l'écouter, et elle a joué après.

I am no judge of music, but Mr. Rochester is; and I heard him say her execution was remarkably good.” I am no judge of music, but Mr. Rochester is; and I heard him say her execution was remarkably good.”

“And this beautiful and accomplished lady, she is not yet married?”

“It appears not: I fancy neither she nor her sister have very large fortunes. «Il semble que non: je pense que ni elle ni sa sœur n'ont de très grandes fortunes.

Old Lord Ingram's estates were chiefly entailed, and the eldest son came in for everything almost.” Les domaines du vieux Lord Ingram étaient principalement concernés, et le fils aîné est venu presque pour tout. “But I wonder no wealthy nobleman or gentleman has taken a fancy to her: Mr. Rochester, for instance. «Mais je me demande qu'aucun noble ou gentilhomme riche n'a pris goût à elle: M. Rochester, par exemple.

He is rich, is he not?”

“Oh!

yes. But you see there is a considerable difference in age: Mr. Rochester is nearly forty; she is but twenty-five.”

“What of that?

More unequal matches are made every day.” Des matchs plus inégaux sont faits chaque jour. »

“True: yet I should scarcely fancy Mr. Rochester would entertain an idea of the sort. «C'est vrai: pourtant, je n'aurais guère pensé que M. Rochester aurait une idée de ce genre.

But you eat nothing: you have scarcely tasted since you began tea.” Mais tu ne manges rien : tu n'as guère goûté depuis que tu as commencé le thé."

“No: I am too thirsty to eat.

Will you let me have another cup?”

I was about again to revert to the probability of a union between Mr. Rochester and the beautiful Blanche; but Adèle came in, and the conversation was turned into another channel. J'allais revenir sur la probabilité d'une union entre M. Rochester et la belle Blanche; mais Adèle est entrée, et la conversation a été transformée en un autre canal.

When once more alone, I reviewed the information I had got; looked into my heart, examined its thoughts and feelings, and endeavoured to bring back with a strict hand such as had been straying through imagination's boundless and trackless waste, into the safe fold of common sense. Une fois de plus seul, j'ai examiné les informations que j'avais obtenues; regarda dans mon cœur, examina ses pensées et ses sentiments, et s'efforça de ramener avec une main stricte telle que celle qui s'était égarée à travers les déchets illimités et sans trace de l'imagination, dans le repli sûr du bon sens. Arraigned at my own bar, Memory having given her evidence of the hopes, wishes, sentiments I had been cherishing since last night—of the general state of mind in which I had indulged for nearly a fortnight past; Reason having come forward and told, in her own quiet way a plain, unvarnished tale, showing how I had rejected the real, and rabidly devoured the ideal;—I pronounced judgment to this effect:— Arraigned at my own bar, Memory having given her evidence of the hopes, wishes, sentiments I had been cherishing since last night—of the general state of mind in which I had indulged for nearly a fortnight past; Reason having come forward and told, in her own quiet way a plain, unvarnished tale, showing how I had rejected the real, and rabidly devoured the ideal;—I pronounced judgment to this effect:— Interpellé à mon propre bar, Memory ayant témoigné des espérances, des souhaits, des sentiments que je chérissais depuis la nuit dernière, de l'état d'esprit général dans lequel je m'étais adonné depuis près de quinze jours; La raison s'étant manifestée et racontant, à sa manière tranquille, un récit simple et sans vernis, montrant comment j'avais rejeté le réel et dévoré avec fureur l'idéal; - J'ai prononcé un jugement à cet effet: -

That a greater fool than Jane Eyre had never breathed the breath of life; that a more fantastic idiot had never surfeited herself on sweet lies, and swallowed poison as if it were nectar. Qu'un plus fou que Jane Eyre n'avait jamais respiré le souffle de la vie; qu'une idiote plus fantastique ne s'était jamais surfaite de doux mensonges, et avalé du poison comme si c'était du nectar.

“ You ,” I said, “a favourite with Mr. Rochester? “ You ,” I said, “a favourite with Mr. Rochester?

You gifted with the power of pleasing him? Vous avez le pouvoir de lui plaire? You of importance to him in any way? Go! your folly sickens me. ta folie me rend malade. And you have derived pleasure from occasional tokens of preference—equivocal tokens shown by a gentleman of family and a man of the world to a dependent and a novice. Et vous avez tiré du plaisir des marques de préférence occasionnelles - des marques équivoques montrées par un monsieur de famille et un homme du monde à une personne à charge et à un novice. How dared you? Poor stupid dupe!—Could not even self-interest make you wiser? Poor stupid dupe!—Could not even self-interest make you wiser? Pauvre dupe stupide! - Même l'intérêt personnel ne pourrait-il pas vous rendre plus sage? You repeated to yourself this morning the brief scene of last night?—Cover your face and be ashamed! You repeated to yourself this morning the brief scene of last night?—Cover your face and be ashamed! Vous vous êtes répété ce matin la brève scène de la nuit dernière? - Couvrez-vous le visage et ayez honte! He said something in praise of your eyes, did he? He said something in praise of your eyes, did he? Il a dit quelque chose pour féliciter vos yeux, n'est-ce pas? Blind puppy! Chiot aveugle! Open their bleared lids and look on your own accursed senselessness! Open their bleared lids and look on your own accursed senselessness! Ouvrez leurs paupières brisées et regardez votre propre insensé maudite! It does good to no woman to be flattered by her superior, who cannot possibly intend to marry her; and it is madness in all women to let a secret love kindle within them, which, if unreturned and unknown, must devour the life that feeds it; and, if discovered and responded to, must lead, ignis-fatus -like, into miry wilds whence there is no extrication. Il ne fait bon à aucune femme d'être flattée par son supérieur, qui ne peut pas avoir l'intention de l'épouser; et c'est de la folie chez toutes les femmes de laisser s'enflammer en elles un amour secret qui, s'il n'est pas retourné et inconnu, doit dévorer la vie qui la nourrit; et, s'il est découvert et traité, doit conduire, semblable à l'ignis-fatus, dans des régions sauvages miry d'où il n'y a pas de dégagement.

“Listen, then, Jane Eyre, to your sentence: to-morrow, place the glass before you, and draw in chalk your own picture, faithfully, without softening one defect; omit no harsh line, smooth away no displeasing irregularity; write under it, ‘Portrait of a Governess, disconnected, poor, and plain. «Écoutez donc, Jane Eyre, votre phrase: demain, placez le verre devant vous, et dessinez à la craie votre propre image, fidèlement, sans ramollir un défaut; omettre aucune ligne dure, lisser aucune irrégularité déplaisante; écrivez en dessous: «Portrait d'une gouvernante, déconnectée, pauvre et simple.

“Afterwards, take a piece of smooth ivory—you have one prepared in your drawing-box: take your palette, mix your freshest, finest, clearest tints; choose your most delicate camel-hair pencils; delineate carefully the loveliest face you can imagine; paint it in your softest shades and sweetest lines, according to the description given by Mrs. Fairfax of Blanche Ingram; remember the raven ringlets, the oriental eye;—What! «Ensuite, prenez un morceau d'ivoire lisse - vous en avez un préparé dans votre boîte à dessin: prenez votre palette, mélangez vos teintes les plus fraîches, les plus fines, les plus claires; choisissez vos crayons en poil de chameau les plus délicats; délimitez soigneusement le plus beau visage que vous puissiez imaginer; peignez-le dans vos teintes les plus douces et les lignes les plus douces, selon la description donnée par Mme Fairfax de Blanche Ingram; rappelez-vous les boucles de corbeau, l'œil oriental;

you revert to Mr. Rochester as a model! vous revenez à M. Rochester comme modèle! Order! No snivel!—no sentiment!—no regret! Pas de ricanement! - pas de sentiment! - pas de regret! I will endure only sense and resolution. Je n'endurerai que le sens et la résolution. Recall the august yet harmonious lineaments, the Grecian neck and bust; let the round and dazzling arm be visible, and the delicate hand; omit neither diamond ring nor gold bracelet; portray faithfully the attire, aërial lace and glistening satin, graceful scarf and golden rose; call it ‘Blanche, an accomplished lady of rank. ' Rappelez-vous les linéaments auguste mais harmonieux, le cou et le buste grecs; que le bras rond et éblouissant soit visible, et la main délicate; omettre ni la bague en diamant ni le bracelet en or; dépeignez fidèlement la tenue, la dentelle aérienne et le satin brillant, l'écharpe gracieuse et la rose d'or; appelez-le «Blanche, une dame accomplie de rang. ' “Whenever, in future, you should chance to fancy Mr. Rochester thinks well of you, take out these two pictures and compare them: say, ‘Mr. «Chaque fois que, à l'avenir, vous aurez la chance de croire que M. Rochester pense bien à vous, sortez ces deux photos et comparez-les: dites:« M.

Rochester might probably win that noble lady's love, if he chose to strive for it; is it likely he would waste a serious thought on this indigent and insignificant plebeian? Rochester pourrait probablement gagner l'amour de cette noble dame, s'il choisissait de lutter pour cela; est-il probable qu'il gaspillerait une pensée sérieuse sur ce plébéien indigent et insignifiant? '” “I'll do it,” I resolved: and having framed this determination, I grew calm, and fell asleep. «Je vais le faire», résolus-je: et après avoir encadré cette détermination, je me suis calmé et je m'endormais. I kept my word.

An hour or two sufficed to sketch my own portrait in crayons; and in less than a fortnight I had completed an ivory miniature of an imaginary Blanche Ingram. Une heure ou deux suffirent pour esquisser mon propre portrait aux crayons de couleur et, en moins de quinze jours, j'avais terminé une miniature sur ivoire d'une Blanche Ingram imaginaire. It looked a lovely face enough, and when compared with the real head in chalk, the contrast was as great as self-control could desire. Son visage était assez charmant, et comparé à la vraie tête à la craie, le contraste était aussi grand que la maîtrise de soi pouvait le souhaiter. I derived benefit from the task: it had kept my head and hands employed, and had given force and fixedness to the new impressions I wished to stamp indelibly on my heart. I derived benefit from the task: it had kept my head and hands employed, and had given force and fixedness to the new impressions I wished to stamp indelibly on my heart. J'ai tiré profit de cette tâche: elle avait gardé la tête et les mains employées, et avait donné force et fermeté aux nouvelles impressions que je voulais imprimer de manière indélébile sur mon cœur.

Ere long, I had reason to congratulate myself on the course of wholesome discipline to which I had thus forced my feelings to submit. Bientôt, j'ai eu raison de me féliciter du cours d'une saine discipline à laquelle j'avais ainsi forcé mes sentiments à se soumettre.

Thanks to it, I was able to meet subsequent occurrences with a decent calm, which, had they found me unprepared, I should probably have been unequal to maintain, even externally. Thanks to it, I was able to meet subsequent occurrences with a decent calm, which, had they found me unprepared, I should probably have been unequal to maintain, even externally. Grâce à elle, j'ai pu affronter les événements ultérieurs avec un calme décent, ce que, s'ils m'avaient trouvé mal préparé, j'aurais probablement été inégal à maintenir, même extérieurement.