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Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, CHAPTER XX

CHAPTER XX

I had forgotten to draw my curtain, which I usually did, and also to let down my window-blind. The consequence was, that when the moon, which was full and bright (for the night was fine), came in her course to that space in the sky opposite my casement, and looked in at me through the unveiled panes, her glorious gaze roused me. Awaking in the dead of night, I opened my eyes on her disk—silver-white and crystal clear. It was beautiful, but too solemn; I half rose, and stretched my arm to draw the curtain. Good God!

What a cry! The night—its silence—its rest, was rent in twain by a savage, a sharp, a shrilly sound that ran from end to end of Thornfield Hall. My pulse stopped: my heart stood still; my stretched arm was paralysed. The cry died, and was not renewed. Indeed, whatever being uttered that fearful shriek could not soon repeat it: not the widest-winged condor on the Andes could, twice in succession, send out such a yell from the cloud shrouding his eyrie. The thing delivering such utterance must rest ere it could repeat the effort. It came out of the third storey; for it passed overhead.

And overhead—yes, in the room just above my chamber-ceiling—I now heard a struggle: a deadly one it seemed from the noise; and a half-smothered voice shouted— “Help!

help! help!” three times rapidly. “Will no one come?” it cried; and then, while the staggering and stamping went on wildly, I distinguished through plank and plaster:— “Rochester!

Rochester!

for God's sake, come!” A chamber-door opened: some one ran, or rushed, along the gallery. Another step stamped on the flooring above and something fell; and there was silence. I had put on some clothes, though horror shook all my limbs; I issued from my apartment.

The sleepers were all aroused: ejaculations, terrified murmurs sounded in every room; door after door unclosed; one looked out and another looked out; the gallery filled. Gentlemen and ladies alike had quitted their beds; and “Oh! what is it?”—“Who is hurt?”—“What has happened?”—“Fetch a light!”—“Is it fire?”—“Are there robbers?”—“Where shall we run?” was demanded confusedly on all hands. But for the moonlight they would have been in complete darkness. They ran to and fro; they crowded together: some sobbed, some stumbled: the confusion was inextricable. “Where the devil is Rochester?” cried Colonel Dent. “I cannot find him in his bed.” “Here!

here!” was shouted in return. “Be composed, all of you: I'm coming.” And the door at the end of the gallery opened, and Mr. Rochester advanced with a candle: he had just descended from the upper storey. One of the ladies ran to him directly; she seized his arm: it was Miss Ingram. “What awful event has taken place?” said she. “Speak! let us know the worst at once!” “But don't pull me down or strangle me,” he replied: for the Misses Eshton were clinging about him now; and the two dowagers, in vast white wrappers, were bearing down on him like ships in full sail. “All's right!—all's right!” he cried. “It's a mere rehearsal of Much Ado about Nothing. Ladies, keep off, or I shall wax dangerous.” And dangerous he looked: his black eyes darted sparks.

Calming himself by an effort, he added— “A servant has had the nightmare; that is all.

She's an excitable, nervous person: she construed her dream into an apparition, or something of that sort, no doubt; and has taken a fit with fright. Now, then, I must see you all back into your rooms; for, till the house is settled, she cannot be looked after. Gentlemen, have the goodness to set the ladies the example. Miss Ingram, I am sure you will not fail in evincing superiority to idle terrors. Amy and Louisa, return to your nests like a pair of doves, as you are. Mesdames” (to the dowagers), “you will take cold to a dead certainty, if you stay in this chill gallery any longer.” And so, by dint of alternate coaxing and commanding, he contrived to get them all once more enclosed in their separate dormitories. I did not wait to be ordered back to mine, but retreated unnoticed, as unnoticed I had left it. Not, however, to go to bed: on the contrary, I began and dressed myself carefully. The sounds I had heard after the scream, and the words that had been uttered, had probably been heard only by me; for they had proceeded from the room above mine: but they assured me that it was not a servant's dream which had thus struck horror through the house; and that the explanation Mr. Rochester had given was merely an invention framed to pacify his guests. I dressed, then, to be ready for emergencies. When dressed, I sat a long time by the window looking out over the silent grounds and silvered fields and waiting for I knew not what. It seemed to me that some event must follow the strange cry, struggle, and call. No: stillness returned: each murmur and movement ceased gradually, and in about an hour Thornfield Hall was again as hushed as a desert. It seemed that sleep and night had resumed their empire. Meantime the moon declined: she was about to set. Not liking to sit in the cold and darkness, I thought I would lie down on my bed, dressed as I was. I left the window, and moved with little noise across the carpet; as I stooped to take off my shoes, a cautious hand tapped low at the door. “Am I wanted?” I asked.

“Are you up?” asked the voice I expected to hear, viz., my master's. “Yes, sir.”

“And dressed?”

“Yes.”

“Come out, then, quietly.”

I obeyed.

Mr. Rochester stood in the gallery holding a light. “I want you,” he said: “come this way: take your time, and make no noise.” My slippers were thin: I could walk the matted floor as softly as a cat.

He glided up the gallery and up the stairs, and stopped in the dark, low corridor of the fateful third storey: I had followed and stood at his side. “Have you a sponge in your room?” he asked in a whisper. “Yes, sir.”

“Have you any salts—volatile salts?”

“Yes.”

“Go back and fetch both.”

I returned, sought the sponge on the washstand, the salts in my drawer, and once more retraced my steps. He still waited; he held a key in his hand: approaching one of the small, black doors, he put it in the lock; he paused, and addressed me again. “You don't turn sick at the sight of blood?” “I think I shall not: I have never been tried yet.” I felt a thrill while I answered him; but no coldness, and no faintness. “Just give me your hand,” he said: “it will not do to risk a fainting fit.” I put my fingers into his.

“Warm and steady,” was his remark: he turned the key and opened the door. I saw a room I remembered to have seen before, the day Mrs. Fairfax showed me over the house: it was hung with tapestry; but the tapestry was now looped up in one part, and there was a door apparent, which had then been concealed. This door was open; a light shone out of the room within: I heard thence a snarling, snatching sound, almost like a dog quarrelling. Mr. Rochester, putting down his candle, said to me, “Wait a minute,” and he went forward to the inner apartment. A shout of laughter greeted his entrance; noisy at first, and terminating in Grace Poole's own goblin ha! ha! She then was there. He made some sort of arrangement without speaking, though I heard a low voice address him: he came out and closed the door behind him. “Here, Jane!” he said; and I walked round to the other side of a large bed, which with its drawn curtains concealed a considerable portion of the chamber. An easy-chair was near the bed-head: a man sat in it, dressed with the exception of his coat; he was still; his head leant back; his eyes were closed. Mr. Rochester held the candle over him; I recognised in his pale and seemingly lifeless face—the stranger, Mason: I saw too that his linen on one side, and one arm, was almost soaked in blood. “Hold the candle,” said Mr. Rochester, and I took it: he fetched a basin of water from the washstand: “Hold that,” said he. I obeyed.

He took the sponge, dipped it in, and moistened the corpse-like face; he asked for my smelling-bottle, and applied it to the nostrils. Mr. Mason shortly unclosed his eyes; he groaned. Mr. Rochester opened the shirt of the wounded man, whose arm and shoulder were bandaged: he sponged away blood, trickling fast down. “Is there immediate danger?” murmured Mr. Mason. “Pooh!

No—a mere scratch. Don't be so overcome, man: bear up! I'll fetch a surgeon for you now, myself: you'll be able to be removed by morning, I hope. Jane,” he continued. “Sir?”

“I shall have to leave you in this room with this gentleman, for an hour, or perhaps two hours: you will sponge the blood as I do when it returns: if he feels faint, you will put the glass of water on that stand to his lips, and your salts to his nose. You will not speak to him on any pretext—and—Richard, it will be at the peril of your life if you speak to her: open your lips—agitate yourself—and I'll not answer for the consequences.” Again the poor man groaned; he looked as if he dared not move; fear, either of death or of something else, appeared almost to paralyse him. Mr. Rochester put the now bloody sponge into my hand, and I proceeded to use it as he had done. He watched me a second, then saying, “Remember!—No conversation,” he left the room. I experienced a strange feeling as the key grated in the lock, and the sound of his retreating step ceased to be heard. Here then I was in the third storey, fastened into one of its mystic cells; night around me; a pale and bloody spectacle under my eyes and hands; a murderess hardly separated from me by a single door: yes—that was appalling—the rest I could bear; but I shuddered at the thought of Grace Poole bursting out upon me. I must keep to my post, however.

I must watch this ghastly countenance—these blue, still lips forbidden to unclose—these eyes now shut, now opening, now wandering through the room, now fixing on me, and ever glazed with the dulness of horror. I must dip my hand again and again in the basin of blood and water, and wipe away the trickling gore. I must see the light of the unsnuffed candle wane on my employment; the shadows darken on the wrought, antique tapestry round me, and grow black under the hangings of the vast old bed, and quiver strangely over the doors of a great cabinet opposite—whose front, divided into twelve panels, bore, in grim design, the heads of the twelve apostles, each enclosed in its separate panel as in a frame; while above them at the top rose an ebon crucifix and a dying Christ. According as the shifting obscurity and flickering gleam hovered here or glanced there, it was now the bearded physician, Luke, that bent his brow; now St. John's long hair that waved; and anon the devilish face of Judas, that grew out of the panel, and seemed gathering life and threatening a revelation of the arch-traitor—of Satan himself—in his subordinate's form. Amidst all this, I had to listen as well as watch: to listen for the movements of the wild beast or the fiend in yonder side den. But since Mr. Rochester's visit it seemed spellbound: all the night I heard but three sounds at three long intervals,—a step creak, a momentary renewal of the snarling, canine noise, and a deep human groan. Then my own thoughts worried me.

What crime was this that lived incarnate in this sequestered mansion, and could neither be expelled nor subdued by the owner?—what mystery, that broke out now in fire and now in blood, at the deadest hours of night? What creature was it, that, masked in an ordinary woman's face and shape, uttered the voice, now of a mocking demon, and anon of a carrion-seeking bird of prey? And this man I bent over—this commonplace, quiet stranger—how had he become involved in the web of horror? and why had the Fury flown at him? What made him seek this quarter of the house at an untimely season, when he should have been asleep in bed? I had heard Mr. Rochester assign him an apartment below—what brought him here! And why, now, was he so tame under the violence or treachery done him? Why did he so quietly submit to the concealment Mr. Rochester enforced? Why did Mr. Rochester enforce this concealment? His guest had been outraged, his own life on a former occasion had been hideously plotted against; and both attempts he smothered in secrecy and sank in oblivion! Lastly, I saw Mr. Mason was submissive to Mr. Rochester; that the impetuous will of the latter held complete sway over the inertness of the former: the few words which had passed between them assured me of this. It was evident that in their former intercourse, the passive disposition of the one had been habitually influenced by the active energy of the other: whence then had arisen Mr. Rochester's dismay when he heard of Mr. Mason's arrival? Why had the mere name of this unresisting individual—whom his word now sufficed to control like a child—fallen on him, a few hours since, as a thunderbolt might fall on an oak? Oh!

I could not forget his look and his paleness when he whispered: “Jane, I have got a blow—I have got a blow, Jane.” I could not forget how the arm had trembled which he rested on my shoulder: and it was no light matter which could thus bow the resolute spirit and thrill the vigorous frame of Fairfax Rochester. “When will he come?

When will he come?” I cried inwardly, as the night lingered and lingered—as my bleeding patient drooped, moaned, sickened: and neither day nor aid arrived. I had, again and again, held the water to Mason's white lips; again and again offered him the stimulating salts: my efforts seemed ineffectual: either bodily or mental suffering, or loss of blood, or all three combined, were fast prostrating his strength. He moaned so, and looked so weak, wild, and lost, I feared he was dying; and I might not even speak to him. The candle, wasted at last, went out; as it expired, I perceived streaks of grey light edging the window curtains: dawn was then approaching. Presently I heard Pilot bark far below, out of his distant kennel in the courtyard: hope revived. Nor was it unwarranted: in five minutes more the grating key, the yielding lock, warned me my watch was relieved. It could not have lasted more than two hours: many a week has seemed shorter. Mr.

Rochester entered, and with him the surgeon he had been to fetch. “Now, Carter, be on the alert,” he said to this last: “I give you but half-an-hour for dressing the wound, fastening the bandages, getting the patient downstairs and all.” “But is he fit to move, sir?”

“No doubt of it; it is nothing serious; he is nervous, his spirits must be kept up. Come, set to work.” Mr.

Rochester drew back the thick curtain, drew up the holland blind, let in all the daylight he could; and I was surprised and cheered to see how far dawn was advanced: what rosy streaks were beginning to brighten the east. Then he approached Mason, whom the surgeon was already handling. “Now, my good fellow, how are you?” he asked.

“She's done for me, I fear,” was the faint reply. “Not a whit!—courage!

This day fortnight you'll hardly be a pin the worse of it: you've lost a little blood; that's all. Carter, assure him there's no danger.” “I can do that conscientiously,” said Carter, who had now undone the bandages; “only I wish I could have got here sooner: he would not have bled so much—but how is this? The flesh on the shoulder is torn as well as cut. This wound was not done with a knife: there have been teeth here!” “She bit me,” he murmured.

“She worried me like a tigress, when Rochester got the knife from her.” “You should not have yielded: you should have grappled with her at once,” said Mr. Rochester. “But under such circumstances, what could one do?” returned Mason.

“Oh, it was frightful!” he added, shuddering. “And I did not expect it: she looked so quiet at first.” “I warned you,” was his friend's answer; “I said—be on your guard when you go near her. Besides, you might have waited till to-morrow, and had me with you: it was mere folly to attempt the interview to-night, and alone.” “I thought I could have done some good.”

“You thought!

you thought! Yes, it makes me impatient to hear you: but, however, you have suffered, and are likely to suffer enough for not taking my advice; so I'll say no more. Carter—hurry!—hurry! The sun will soon rise, and I must have him off.” “Directly, sir; the shoulder is just bandaged.

I must look to this other wound in the arm: she has had her teeth here too, I think.” “She sucked the blood: she said she'd drain my heart,” said Mason. I saw Mr. Rochester shudder: a singularly marked expression of disgust, horror, hatred, warped his countenance almost to distortion; but he only said— “Come, be silent, Richard, and never mind her gibberish: don't repeat it.”

“I wish I could forget it,” was the answer.

“You will when you are out of the country: when you get back to Spanish Town, you may think of her as dead and buried—or rather, you need not think of her at all.” “Impossible to forget this night!”

“It is not impossible: have some energy, man.

You thought you were as dead as a herring two hours since, and you are all alive and talking now. There!—Carter has done with you or nearly so; I'll make you decent in a trice. Jane” (he turned to me for the first time since his re-entrance), “take this key: go down into my bedroom, and walk straight forward into my dressing-room: open the top drawer of the wardrobe and take out a clean shirt and neck-handkerchief: bring them here; and be nimble.” I went; sought the repository he had mentioned, found the articles named, and returned with them. “Now,” said he, “go to the other side of the bed while I order his toilet; but don't leave the room: you may be wanted again.”

I retired as directed.

“Was anybody stirring below when you went down, Jane?” inquired Mr. Rochester presently. “No, sir; all was very still.”

“We shall get you off cannily, Dick: and it will be better, both for your sake, and for that of the poor creature in yonder. I have striven long to avoid exposure, and I should not like it to come at last. Here, Carter, help him on with his waist-coat. Where did you leave your furred cloak? You can't travel a mile without that, I know, in this damned cold climate. In your room?—Jane, run down to Mr. Mason's room,—the one next mine,—and fetch a cloak you will see there.” Again I ran, and again returned, bearing an immense mantle lined and edged with fur. “Now, I've another errand for you,” said my untiring master; “you must away to my room again. What a mercy you are shod with velvet, Jane!—a clod-hopping messenger would never do at this juncture. You must open the middle drawer of my toilet-table and take out a little phial and a little glass you will find there,—quick!” I flew thither and back, bringing the desired vessels.

“That's well!

Now, doctor, I shall take the liberty of administering a dose myself, on my own responsibility. I got this cordial at Rome, of an Italian charlatan—a fellow you would have kicked, Carter. It is not a thing to be used indiscriminately, but it is good upon occasion: as now, for instance. Jane, a little water.” He held out the tiny glass, and I half filled it from the water-bottle on the washstand. “That will do;—now wet the lip of the phial.” I did so; he measured twelve drops of a crimson liquid, and presented it to Mason. “Drink, Richard: it will give you the heart you lack, for an hour or so.” “But will it hurt me?—is it inflammatory?” “Drink!

drink! drink!” Mr.

Mason obeyed, because it was evidently useless to resist. He was dressed now: he still looked pale, but he was no longer gory and sullied. Mr. Rochester let him sit three minutes after he had swallowed the liquid; he then took his arm— “Now I am sure you can get on your feet,” he said—“try.” The patient rose.

“Carter, take him under the other shoulder.

Be of good cheer, Richard; step out—that's it!” “I do feel better,” remarked Mr. Mason.

“I am sure you do.

Now, Jane, trip on before us away to the backstairs; unbolt the side-passage door, and tell the driver of the post-chaise you will see in the yard—or just outside, for I told him not to drive his rattling wheels over the pavement—to be ready; we are coming: and, Jane, if any one is about, come to the foot of the stairs and hem.” It was by this time half-past five, and the sun was on the point of rising; but I found the kitchen still dark and silent. The side-passage door was fastened; I opened it with as little noise as possible: all the yard was quiet; but the gates stood wide open, and there was a post-chaise, with horses ready harnessed, and driver seated on the box, stationed outside. I approached him, and said the gentlemen were coming; he nodded: then I looked carefully round and listened. The stillness of early morning slumbered everywhere; the curtains were yet drawn over the servants' chamber windows; little birds were just twittering in the blossom-blanched orchard trees, whose boughs drooped like white garlands over the wall enclosing one side of the yard; the carriage horses stamped from time to time in their closed stables: all else was still. The gentlemen now appeared.

Mason, supported by Mr. Rochester and the surgeon, seemed to walk with tolerable ease: they assisted him into the chaise; Carter followed. “Take care of him,” said Mr. Rochester to the latter, “and keep him at your house till he is quite well: I shall ride over in a day or two to see how he gets on. Richard, how is it with you?” “The fresh air revives me, Fairfax.”

“Leave the window open on his side, Carter; there is no wind—good-bye, Dick.” “Fairfax—”

“Well what is it?”

“Let her be taken care of; let her be treated as tenderly as may be: let her—” he stopped and burst into tears. “I do my best; and have done it, and will do it,” was the answer: he shut up the chaise door, and the vehicle drove away. “Yet would to God there was an end of all this!” added Mr. Rochester, as he closed and barred the heavy yard-gates. This done, he moved with slow step and abstracted air towards a door in the wall bordering the orchard. I, supposing he had done with me, prepared to return to the house; again, however, I heard him call “Jane!” He had opened feel portal and stood at it, waiting for me. “Come where there is some freshness, for a few moments,” he said; “that house is a mere dungeon: don't you feel it so?” “It seems to me a splendid mansion, sir.”

“The glamour of inexperience is over your eyes,” he answered; “and you see it through a charmed medium: you cannot discern that the gilding is slime and the silk draperies cobwebs; that the marble is sordid slate, and the polished woods mere refuse chips and scaly bark. Now here ” (he pointed to the leafy enclosure we had entered) “all is real, sweet, and pure.” He strayed down a walk edged with box, with apple trees, pear trees, and cherry trees on one side, and a border on the other full of all sorts of old-fashioned flowers, stocks, sweet-williams, primroses, pansies, mingled with southernwood, sweet-briar, and various fragrant herbs. They were fresh now as a succession of April showers and gleams, followed by a lovely spring morning, could make them: the sun was just entering the dappled east, and his light illumined the wreathed and dewy orchard trees and shone down the quiet walks under them. “Jane, will you have a flower?”

He gathered a half-blown rose, the first on the bush, and offered it to me. “Thank you, sir.”

“Do you like this sunrise, Jane?

That sky with its high and light clouds which are sure to melt away as the day waxes warm—this placid and balmly atmosphere?” “I do, very much.”

“You have passed a strange night, Jane.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And it has made you look pale—were you afraid when I left you alone with Mason?” “I was afraid of some one coming out of the inner room.” “But I had fastened the door—I had the key in my pocket: I should have been a careless shepherd if I had left a lamb—my pet lamb—so near a wolf's den, unguarded: you were safe.” “Will Grace Poole live here still, sir?”

“Oh yes!

don't trouble your head about her—put the thing out of your thoughts.” “Yet it seems to me your life is hardly secure while she stays.”

“Never fear—I will take care of myself.”

“Is the danger you apprehended last night gone by now, sir?” “I cannot vouch for that till Mason is out of England: nor even then. To live, for me, Jane, is to stand on a crater-crust which may crack and spue fire any day.” “But Mr. Mason seems a man easily led.

Your influence, sir, is evidently potent with him: he will never set you at defiance or wilfully injure you.” “Oh, no!

Mason will not defy me; nor, knowing it, will he hurt me—but, unintentionally, he might in a moment, by one careless word, deprive me, if not of life, yet for ever of happiness.” “Tell him to be cautious, sir: let him know what you fear, and show him how to avert the danger.” He laughed sardonically, hastily took my hand, and as hastily threw it from him. “If I could do that, simpleton, where would the danger be? Annihilated in a moment. Ever since I have known Mason, I have only had to say to him ‘Do that,' and the thing has been done. But I cannot give him orders in this case: I cannot say ‘Beware of harming me, Richard;' for it is imperative that I should keep him ignorant that harm to me is possible. Now you look puzzled; and I will puzzle you further. You are my little friend, are you not?” “I like to serve you, sir, and to obey you in all that is right.” “Precisely: I see you do.

I see genuine contentment in your gait and mien, your eye and face, when you are helping me and pleasing me—working for me, and with me, in, as you characteristically say, ‘ all that is right :' for if I bid you do what you thought wrong, there would be no light-footed running, no neat-handed alacrity, no lively glance and animated complexion. My friend would then turn to me, quiet and pale, and would say, ‘No, sir; that is impossible: I cannot do it, because it is wrong;' and would become immutable as a fixed star. Well, you too have power over me, and may injure me: yet I dare not show you where I am vulnerable, lest, faithful and friendly as you are, you should transfix me at once.” “If you have no more to fear from Mr. Mason than you have from me, sir, you are very safe.” “God grant it may be so!

Here, Jane, is an arbour; sit down.” The arbour was an arch in the wall, lined with ivy; it contained a rustic seat. Mr. Rochester took it, leaving room, however, for me: but I stood before him. “Sit,” he said; “the bench is long enough for two. You don't hesitate to take a place at my side, do you? Is that wrong, Jane?” I answered him by assuming it: to refuse would, I felt, have been unwise. “Now, my little friend, while the sun drinks the dew—while all the flowers in this old garden awake and expand, and the birds fetch their young ones' breakfast out of the Thornfield, and the early bees do their first spell of work—I'll put a case to you, which you must endeavour to suppose your own: but first, look at me, and tell me you are at ease, and not fearing that I err in detaining you, or that you err in staying.” “No, sir; I am content.”

“Well then, Jane, call to aid your fancy:—suppose you were no longer a girl well reared and disciplined, but a wild boy indulged from childhood upwards; imagine yourself in a remote foreign land; conceive that you there commit a capital error, no matter of what nature or from what motives, but one whose consequences must follow you through life and taint all your existence. Mind, I don't say a crime ; I am not speaking of shedding of blood or any other guilty act, which might make the perpetrator amenable to the law: my word is error . The results of what you have done become in time to you utterly insupportable; you take measures to obtain relief: unusual measures, but neither unlawful nor culpable. Still you are miserable; for hope has quitted you on the very confines of life: your sun at noon darkens in an eclipse, which you feel will not leave it till the time of setting. Bitter and base associations have become the sole food of your memory: you wander here and there, seeking rest in exile: happiness in pleasure—I mean in heartless, sensual pleasure—such as dulls intellect and blights feeling. Heart-weary and soul-withered, you come home after years of voluntary banishment: you make a new acquaintance—how or where no matter: you find in this stranger much of the good and bright qualities which you have sought for twenty years, and never before encountered; and they are all fresh, healthy, without soil and without taint. Such society revives, regenerates: you feel better days come back—higher wishes, purer feelings; you desire to recommence your life, and to spend what remains to you of days in a way more worthy of an immortal being. To attain this end, are you justified in overleaping an obstacle of custom—a mere conventional impediment which neither your conscience sanctifies nor your judgment approves?” He paused for an answer: and what was I to say?

Oh, for some good spirit to suggest a judicious and satisfactory response! Vain aspiration! The west wind whispered in the ivy round me; but no gentle Ariel borrowed its breath as a medium of speech: the birds sang in the tree-tops; but their song, however sweet, was inarticulate. Again Mr. Rochester propounded his query:

“Is the wandering and sinful, but now rest-seeking and repentant, man justified in daring the world's opinion, in order to attach to him for ever this gentle, gracious, genial stranger, thereby securing his own peace of mind and regeneration of life?” “Sir,” I answered, “a wanderer's repose or a sinner's reformation should never depend on a fellow-creature. Men and women die; philosophers falter in wisdom, and Christians in goodness: if any one you know has suffered and erred, let him look higher than his equals for strength to amend and solace to heal.” “But the instrument—the instrument!

God, who does the work, ordains the instrument. I have myself—I tell it you without parable—been a worldly, dissipated, restless man; and I believe I have found the instrument for my cure in—” He paused: the birds went on carolling, the leaves lightly rustling. I almost wondered they did not check their songs and whispers to catch the suspended revelation; but they would have had to wait many minutes—so long was the silence protracted. At last I looked up at the tardy speaker: he was looking eagerly at me. “Little friend,” said he, in quite a changed tone—while his face changed too, losing all its softness and gravity, and becoming harsh and sarcastic—“you have noticed my tender penchant for Miss Ingram: don't you think if I married her she would regenerate me with a vengeance?” He got up instantly, went quite to the other end of the walk, and when he came back he was humming a tune. “Jane, Jane,” said he, stopping before me, “you are quite pale with your vigils: don't you curse me for disturbing your rest?” “Curse you?

No, sir.” “Shake hands in confirmation of the word.

What cold fingers! They were warmer last night when I touched them at the door of the mysterious chamber. Jane, when will you watch with me again?” “Whenever I can be useful, sir.”

“For instance, the night before I am married!

I am sure I shall not be able to sleep. Will you promise to sit up with me to bear me company? To you I can talk of my lovely one: for now you have seen her and know her.” “Yes, sir.”

“She's a rare one, is she not, Jane?”

“Yes, sir.”

“A strapper—a real strapper, Jane: big, brown, and buxom; with hair just such as the ladies of Carthage must have had. Bless me! there's Dent and Lynn in the stables! Go in by the shrubbery, through that wicket.” As I went one way, he went another, and I heard him in the yard, saying cheerfully— “Mason got the start of you all this morning; he was gone before sunrise: I rose at four to see him off.”

CHAPTER XX ГЛАВА XX

I had forgotten to draw my curtain, which I usually did, and also to let down my window-blind. J'avais oublié de tirer mon rideau, ce que je fais habituellement, et de baisser mon store. The consequence was, that when the moon, which was full and bright (for the night was fine), came in her course to that space in the sky opposite my casement, and looked in at me through the unveiled panes, her glorious gaze roused me. La conséquence fut, que lorsque la lune, qui était pleine et brillante (car la nuit était belle), vint dans son cours vers cet espace dans le ciel en face de ma fenêtre, et me regarda à travers les vitres dévoilées, son regard glorieux s'éveilla moi. Awaking in the dead of night, I opened my eyes on her disk—silver-white and crystal clear. Me réveillant en pleine nuit, j'ouvris les yeux sur son disque - blanc argenté et limpide. It was beautiful, but too solemn; I half rose, and stretched my arm to draw the curtain. C'était beau, mais trop solennel; Je me levai à moitié et étirai mon bras pour tirer le rideau. Good God!

What a cry! The night—its silence—its rest, was rent in twain by a savage, a sharp, a shrilly sound that ran from end to end of Thornfield Hall. La nuit - son silence - son repos, fut déchirée en deux par un son sauvage, aigu, aigu qui courait de bout en bout de Thornfield Hall. My pulse stopped: my heart stood still; my stretched arm was paralysed. Mon pouls s'est arrêté: mon cœur s'est arrêté; mon bras tendu était paralysé. The cry died, and was not renewed. Le cri mourut et ne fut pas renouvelé. Indeed, whatever being uttered that fearful shriek could not soon repeat it: not the widest-winged condor on the Andes could, twice in succession, send out such a yell from the cloud shrouding his eyrie. En effet, tout ce qui était poussé ce cri effrayant ne pouvait pas le répéter de sitôt: pas le condor le plus large des Andes ne pouvait, deux fois de suite, envoyer un tel cri depuis le nuage enveloppant son nid d'oeil. The thing delivering such utterance must rest ere it could repeat the effort. La chose qui prononce un tel énoncé doit reposer avant de pouvoir répéter l'effort. It came out of the third storey; for it passed overhead. Il est sorti du troisième étage; car il passait au-dessus.

And overhead—yes, in the room just above my chamber-ceiling—I now heard a struggle: a deadly one it seemed from the noise; and a half-smothered voice shouted— And overhead—yes, in the room just above my chamber-ceiling—I now heard a struggle: a deadly one it seemed from the noise; and a half-smothered voice shouted— Et au-dessus de ma tête - oui, dans la pièce juste au-dessus du plafond de ma chambre - j'entendais maintenant un combat: un combat mortel semblait-il dû au bruit; et une voix à moitié étouffée cria - “Help!

help! help!” three times rapidly. “Will no one come?” it cried; and then, while the staggering and stamping went on wildly, I distinguished through plank and plaster:— "Personne ne viendra?" il a pleuré; et puis, tandis que le titubage et l'estampage se déroulaient à toute vitesse, je distinguai par la planche et le plâtre: “Rochester!

Rochester!

for God’s sake, come!” A chamber-door opened: some one ran, or rushed, along the gallery. Une porte de chambre s'ouvrit: quelqu'un courut ou se précipita le long de la galerie. Another step stamped on the flooring above and something fell; and there was silence. Un autre pas est gravé sur le plancher au-dessus et quelque chose est tombé; et il y eut un silence. I had put on some clothes, though horror shook all my limbs; I issued from my apartment. J'avais mis des vêtements, bien que l'horreur ait secoué tous mes membres; Je suis sorti de mon appartement.

The sleepers were all aroused: ejaculations, terrified murmurs sounded in every room; door after door unclosed; one looked out and another looked out; the gallery filled. The sleepers were all aroused: ejaculations, terrified murmurs sounded in every room; door after door unclosed; one looked out and another looked out; the gallery filled. Les dormeurs étaient tous excités: des éjaculations, des murmures terrifiés résonnaient dans chaque pièce; porte après porte non fermée; l'un regardait dehors et un autre regardait dehors; la galerie s'est remplie. Gentlemen and ladies alike had quitted their beds; and “Oh! Gentlemen and ladies alike had quitted their beds; and “Oh! Les messieurs et les dames avaient quitté leur lit, et "Oh ! what is it?”—“Who is hurt?”—“What has happened?”—“Fetch a light!”—“Is it fire?”—“Are there robbers?”—“Where shall we run?” was demanded confusedly on all hands. qu'est-ce que c'est? »-« Qui est blessé? »-« Que s'est-il passé? »-« Va chercher une lumière! »-« Est-ce du feu? »-« Y a-t-il des voleurs? »-« Où allons-nous courir? » a été demandé confusément de toutes les mains. But for the moonlight they would have been in complete darkness. Sans le clair de lune, ils auraient été dans l'obscurité totale. They ran to and fro; they crowded together: some sobbed, some stumbled: the confusion was inextricable. They ran to and fro; they crowded together: some sobbed, some stumbled: the confusion was inextricable. Ils allaient et venaient; ils s'entassaient: certains sanglotaient, certains trébuchaient: la confusion était inextricable. “Where the devil is Rochester?” cried Colonel Dent. "Où diable est Rochester?" s'écria le colonel Dent. “I cannot find him in his bed.” “Here!

here!” was shouted in return. “Be composed, all of you: I’m coming.” "Soyez calme, vous tous: je viens." And the door at the end of the gallery opened, and Mr. Rochester advanced with a candle: he had just descended from the upper storey. And the door at the end of the gallery opened, and Mr. Rochester advanced with a candle: he had just descended from the upper storey. One of the ladies ran to him directly; she seized his arm: it was Miss Ingram. “What awful event has taken place?” said she. «Quel événement horrible a eu lieu?» dit-elle. “Speak! let us know the worst at once!” faites-nous savoir le pire à la fois! “But don’t pull me down or strangle me,” he replied: for the Misses Eshton were clinging about him now; and the two dowagers, in vast white wrappers, were bearing down on him like ships in full sail. «Mais ne me tirez pas vers le bas ou ne m'étranglez pas,» répondit-il: car les Misses Eshton s'accrochaient à lui maintenant; et les deux douairières, vêtues de vastes enveloppes blanches, se précipitaient sur lui comme des navires en pleine mer. “All’s right!—all’s right!” he cried. “It’s a mere rehearsal of Much Ado about Nothing. «C'est une simple répétition de Much Ado about Nothing. Ladies, keep off, or I shall wax dangerous.” Ladies, keep off, or I shall wax dangerous.” Mesdames, éloignez-vous, ou je deviendrai dangereux. And dangerous he looked: his black eyes darted sparks. Et il avait l'air dangereux: ses yeux noirs lançaient des étincelles.

Calming himself by an effort, he added— “A servant has had the nightmare; that is all. «Un serviteur a fait le cauchemar; c'est tout.

She’s an excitable, nervous person: she construed her dream into an apparition, or something of that sort, no doubt; and has taken a fit with fright. C'est une personne excitante et nerveuse: elle a interprété son rêve comme une apparition, ou quelque chose de ce genre, sans aucun doute; et a pris une crise de peur. Now, then, I must see you all back into your rooms; for, till the house is settled, she cannot be looked after. Now, then, I must see you all back into your rooms; for, till the house is settled, she cannot be looked after. Maintenant, alors, je dois vous revoir tous dans vos appartements; car, tant que la maison n'est pas réglée, elle ne peut pas être soignée. Gentlemen, have the goodness to set the ladies the example. Miss Ingram, I am sure you will not fail in evincing superiority to idle terrors. Mlle Ingram, je suis sûr que vous ne manquerez pas de montrer votre supériorité sur les vaines terreurs. Amy and Louisa, return to your nests like a pair of doves, as you are. Amy et Louisa, retournez à vos nids comme des colombes, comme vous l'êtes. Mesdames” (to the dowagers), “you will take cold to a dead certainty, if you stay in this chill gallery any longer.” Mesdames” (to the dowagers), “you will take cold to a dead certainty, if you stay in this chill gallery any longer.” Mesdames »(aux douairières),« vous prendrez froid à une certitude morte, si vous restez plus longtemps dans cette galerie froide. » And so, by dint of alternate coaxing and commanding, he contrived to get them all once more enclosed in their separate dormitories. And so, by dint of alternate coaxing and commanding, he contrived to get them all once more enclosed in their separate dormitories. Et ainsi, à force de cajoler et de commander alternativement, il réussit à les enfermer tous une fois de plus dans leurs dortoirs séparés. I did not wait to be ordered back to mine, but retreated unnoticed, as unnoticed I had left it. I did not wait to be ordered back to mine, but retreated unnoticed, as unnoticed I had left it. Je n'ai pas attendu d'être renvoyé chez moi, mais je me suis retiré inaperçu, car je l'avais laissé inaperçu. Not, however, to go to bed: on the contrary, I began and dressed myself carefully. Not, however, to go to bed: on the contrary, I began and dressed myself carefully. Pas, cependant, d'aller au lit: au contraire, j'ai commencé et m'habillais soigneusement. The sounds I had heard after the scream, and the words that had been uttered, had probably been heard only by me; for they had proceeded from the room above mine: but they assured me that it was not a servant’s dream which had thus struck horror through the house; and that the explanation Mr. Rochester had given was merely an invention framed to pacify his guests. Les sons que j'avais entendus après le cri, et les mots qui avaient été prononcés, n'avaient probablement été entendus que par moi; car ils étaient sortis de la chambre au-dessus de la mienne; mais ils m'assurèrent que ce n'était pas le rêve d'un serviteur qui avait ainsi frappé l'horreur dans la maison; et que l'explication que M. Rochester avait donnée n'était qu'une invention conçue pour apaiser ses invités. I dressed, then, to be ready for emergencies. I dressed, then, to be ready for emergencies. Je m'habillai donc pour être prêt pour les urgences. When dressed, I sat a long time by the window looking out over the silent grounds and silvered fields and waiting for I knew not what. When dressed, I sat a long time by the window looking out over the silent grounds and silvered fields and waiting for I knew not what. Une fois habillé, je me suis assis longtemps près de la fenêtre, regardant dehors les jardins silencieux et les champs argentés et attendant je ne savais quoi. It seemed to me that some event must follow the strange cry, struggle, and call. Il me semblait qu'un événement devait suivre l'étrange cri, lutte et appel. No: stillness returned: each murmur and movement ceased gradually, and in about an hour Thornfield Hall was again as hushed as a desert. No: stillness returned: each murmur and movement ceased gradually, and in about an hour Thornfield Hall was again as hushed as a desert. Non: l'immobilité est revenue: chaque murmure et chaque mouvement ont cessé progressivement, et au bout d'une heure environ, Thornfield Hall était de nouveau aussi silencieux qu'un désert. It seemed that sleep and night had resumed their empire. It seemed that sleep and night had resumed their empire. Il semblait que le sommeil et la nuit avaient repris leur empire. Meantime the moon declined: she was about to set. Pendant ce temps, la lune déclina: elle était sur le point de se coucher. Not liking to sit in the cold and darkness, I thought I would lie down on my bed, dressed as I was. N'aimant pas m'asseoir dans le froid et l'obscurité, j'ai pensé que je m'allongerais sur mon lit, habillée comme j'étais. I left the window, and moved with little noise across the carpet; as I stooped to take off my shoes, a cautious hand tapped low at the door. I left the window, and moved with little noise across the carpet; as I stooped to take off my shoes, a cautious hand tapped low at the door. J'ai quitté la fenêtre et je me suis déplacé sans bruit sur le tapis; alors que je me penchais pour enlever mes chaussures, une main prudente tapa sur la porte. “Am I wanted?” I asked. «Suis-je recherché?» J'ai demandé.

“Are you up?” asked the voice I expected to hear, viz., my master’s. «Êtes-vous debout?» demanda la voix que je m'attendais à entendre, à savoir celle de mon maître. “Yes, sir.”

“And dressed?”

“Yes.”

“Come out, then, quietly.”

I obeyed.

Mr. Rochester stood in the gallery holding a light. “I want you,” he said: “come this way: take your time, and make no noise.” «Je te veux», dit-il: «viens par ici: prends ton temps et ne fais pas de bruit.» My slippers were thin: I could walk the matted floor as softly as a cat. Mes pantoufles étaient fines: je pouvais marcher sur le sol feutré aussi doucement qu'un chat.

He glided up the gallery and up the stairs, and stopped in the dark, low corridor of the fateful third storey: I had followed and stood at his side. He glided up the gallery and up the stairs, and stopped in the dark, low corridor of the fateful third storey: I had followed and stood at his side. Il remonta la galerie et monta les escaliers, et s'arrêta dans le couloir sombre et bas du fatidique troisième étage: j'avais suivi et me tenais à ses côtés. “Have you a sponge in your room?” he asked in a whisper. «Avez-vous une éponge dans votre chambre?» »il a demandé dans un murmure. “Yes, sir.”

“Have you any salts—volatile salts?” «Avez-vous des sels, des sels volatils?»

“Yes.”

“Go back and fetch both.”

I returned, sought the sponge on the washstand, the salts in my drawer, and once more retraced my steps. Je suis revenu, j'ai cherché l'éponge sur le lavabo, les sels dans mon tiroir, et je suis de nouveau revenu sur mes pas. He still waited; he held a key in his hand: approaching one of the small, black doors, he put it in the lock; he paused, and addressed me again. “You don’t turn sick at the sight of blood?” “I think I shall not: I have never been tried yet.” "Je pense que je ne le ferai pas: je n'ai encore jamais été jugé." I felt a thrill while I answered him; but no coldness, and no faintness. J'ai ressenti un frisson en lui répondant, mais pas de froideur, ni d'évanouissement. “Just give me your hand,” he said: “it will not do to risk a fainting fit.” «Donnez-moi simplement votre main», a-t-il dit: «il ne suffira pas de risquer un évanouissement.» I put my fingers into his.

“Warm and steady,” was his remark: he turned the key and opened the door. «Chaleureux et régulier», fut sa remarque: il tourna la clé et ouvrit la porte. I saw a room I remembered to have seen before, the day Mrs. Fairfax showed me over the house: it was hung with tapestry; but the tapestry was now looped up in one part, and there was a door apparent, which had then been concealed. I saw a room I remembered to have seen before, the day Mrs. Fairfax showed me over the house: it was hung with tapestry; but the tapestry was now looped up in one part, and there was a door apparent, which had then been concealed. J'ai vu une pièce dont je me souvenais avoir déjà vue, le jour où Mme Fairfax m'a montré la maison: elle était tapissée de tapisserie; mais la tapisserie était maintenant bouclée en une partie, et il y avait une porte apparente, qui avait alors été dissimulée. This door was open; a light shone out of the room within: I heard thence a snarling, snatching sound, almost like a dog quarrelling. This door was open; a light shone out of the room within: I heard thence a snarling, snatching sound, almost like a dog quarrelling. Cette porte était ouverte; une lumière brillait hors de la pièce à l'intérieur: j'entendis de là un grondement, un bruit d'arrachement, presque comme un chien se querellant. Mr. Rochester, putting down his candle, said to me, “Wait a minute,” and he went forward to the inner apartment. Mr. Rochester, putting down his candle, said to me, “Wait a minute,” and he went forward to the inner apartment. A shout of laughter greeted his entrance; noisy at first, and terminating in Grace Poole’s own goblin ha! A shout of laughter greeted his entrance; noisy at first, and terminating in Grace Poole's own goblin ha! Un éclat de rire salua son entrée; bruyant au début, et se terminant par le propre gobelin de Grace Poole, ha! ha! She then was there. Elle était alors là. He made some sort of arrangement without speaking, though I heard a low voice address him: he came out and closed the door behind him. He made some sort of arrangement without speaking, though I heard a low voice address him: he came out and closed the door behind him. Il fit une sorte d'arrangement sans parler, même si j'entendis une voix basse s'adresser à lui: il sortit et ferma la porte derrière lui. “Here, Jane!” he said; and I walked round to the other side of a large bed, which with its drawn curtains concealed a considerable portion of the chamber. «Ici, Jane!» il a dit; et je fis le tour de l'autre côté d'un grand lit qui, avec ses rideaux tirés, cachait une partie considérable de la chambre. An easy-chair was near the bed-head: a man sat in it, dressed with the exception of his coat; he was still; his head leant back; his eyes were closed. An easy-chair was near the bed-head: a man sat in it, dressed with the exception of his coat; he was still; his head leant back; his eyes were closed. Un fauteuil était près de la tête de lit: un homme y était assis, habillé à l'exception de son manteau; il était encore; sa tête se pencha en arrière; ses yeux étaient fermés. Mr. Rochester held the candle over him; I recognised in his pale and seemingly lifeless face—the stranger, Mason: I saw too that his linen on one side, and one arm, was almost soaked in blood. M. Rochester tenait la bougie sur lui; Je reconnus sur son visage pâle et apparemment sans vie - l'étranger, Mason: je vis aussi que son linge d'un côté et d'un bras était presque trempé de sang. “Hold the candle,” said Mr. Rochester, and I took it: he fetched a basin of water from the washstand: “Hold that,” said he. “Hold the candle,” said Mr. Rochester, and I took it: he fetched a basin of water from the washstand: “Hold that,” said he. "Tenez la chandelle", dit M. Rochester, et je la pris ; il alla chercher une cuvette d'eau sur le lavabo : "Tenez-la", dit-il. I obeyed.

He took the sponge, dipped it in, and moistened the corpse-like face; he asked for my smelling-bottle, and applied it to the nostrils. Il prit l'éponge, la trempa dedans et humidifia le visage semblable à un cadavre; il a demandé mon flacon odorant et l'a appliqué sur les narines. Mr. Mason shortly unclosed his eyes; he groaned. Mr. Rochester opened the shirt of the wounded man, whose arm and shoulder were bandaged: he sponged away blood, trickling fast down. Mr. Rochester opened the shirt of the wounded man, whose arm and shoulder were bandaged: he sponged away blood, trickling fast down. M. Rochester a ouvert la chemise du blessé, dont le bras et l'épaule étaient bandés: il a épongé du sang, coulant rapidement. “Is there immediate danger?” murmured Mr. Mason. “Pooh!

No—a mere scratch. Non, une simple égratignure. Don’t be so overcome, man: bear up! Ne sois pas si accablé, mec: tiens bon! I’ll fetch a surgeon for you now, myself: you’ll be able to be removed by morning, I hope. Je vais aller chercher un chirurgien pour vous maintenant, moi-même: vous pourrez être enlevé le matin, j'espère. Jane,” he continued. “Sir?”

“I shall have to leave you in this room with this gentleman, for an hour, or perhaps two hours: you will sponge the blood as I do when it returns: if he feels faint, you will put the glass of water on that stand to his lips, and your salts to his nose. «Je vais devoir vous laisser dans cette pièce avec ce monsieur, pendant une heure, ou peut-être deux heures: vous épongerez le sang comme moi quand il reviendra: s'il se sent faible, vous poserez le verre d'eau sur ce support à ses lèvres, et vos sels à son nez. You will not speak to him on any pretext—and—Richard, it will be at the peril of your life if you speak to her: open your lips—agitate yourself—and I’ll not answer for the consequences.” You will not speak to him on any pretext—and—Richard, it will be at the peril of your life if you speak to her: open your lips—agitate yourself—and I'll not answer for the consequences.” Vous ne lui parlerez sous aucun prétexte - et - Richard, ce sera au péril de votre vie si vous lui parlez: ouvrez les lèvres - agitez-vous - et je ne répondrai pas des conséquences. Again the poor man groaned; he looked as if he dared not move; fear, either of death or of something else, appeared almost to paralyse him. De nouveau, le pauvre gémit; il avait l'air d'oser bouger; la peur, soit de la mort, soit d'autre chose, semblait presque le paralyser. Mr. Rochester put the now bloody sponge into my hand, and I proceeded to use it as he had done. Mr. Rochester put the now bloody sponge into my hand, and I proceeded to use it as he had done. M. Rochester a mis l'éponge maintenant ensanglantée dans ma main, et j'ai commencé à l'utiliser comme il l'avait fait. He watched me a second, then saying, “Remember!—No conversation,” he left the room. He watched me a second, then saying, “Remember!—No conversation,” he left the room. I experienced a strange feeling as the key grated in the lock, and the sound of his retreating step ceased to be heard. J'ai ressenti une sensation étrange lorsque la clé a râpé dans la serrure, et le bruit de son pas de retraite a cessé d'être entendu. Here then I was in the third storey, fastened into one of its mystic cells; night around me; a pale and bloody spectacle under my eyes and hands; a murderess hardly separated from me by a single door: yes—that was appalling—the rest I could bear; but I shuddered at the thought of Grace Poole bursting out upon me. Me voici donc au troisième étage, attaché à l'une de ses cellules mystiques; nuit autour de moi; un spectacle pâle et sanglant sous mes yeux et mes mains; une meurtrière à peine séparée de moi par une seule porte: oui - c'était épouvantable - je pouvais supporter le reste; mais je frissonnai à la pensée de Grace Poole qui jaillissait sur moi. I must keep to my post, however. Je dois cependant m'en tenir à mon poste.

I must watch this ghastly countenance—these blue, still lips forbidden to unclose—these eyes now shut, now opening, now wandering through the room, now fixing on me, and ever glazed with the dulness of horror. Je dois regarder ce visage effrayant - ces lèvres bleues et immobiles qu'il est interdit de fermer - ces yeux maintenant fermés, maintenant ouverts, maintenant errants dans la pièce, maintenant fixés sur moi, et toujours vitrés de la morosité de l'horreur. I must dip my hand again and again in the basin of blood and water, and wipe away the trickling gore. Je dois plonger ma main encore et encore dans le bassin de sang et d'eau, et essuyer le sang qui coule. I must see the light of the unsnuffed candle wane on my employment; the shadows darken on the wrought, antique tapestry round me, and grow black under the hangings of the vast old bed, and quiver strangely over the doors of a great cabinet opposite—whose front, divided into twelve panels, bore, in grim design, the heads of the twelve apostles, each enclosed in its separate panel as in a frame; while above them at the top rose an ebon crucifix and a dying Christ. Je dois voir la lumière de la bougie non soufflée décroître sur mon emploi; les ombres s'obscurcissent sur la tapisserie antique forgée qui m'entoure, et noircissent sous les tentures du vaste lit ancien, et tremblent étrangement sur les portes d'un grand cabinet d'en face - dont la façade, divisée en douze panneaux, portait d'un dessin sinistre les têtes des douze apôtres, chacune enfermée dans son panneau séparé comme dans un cadre; tandis qu'au-dessus d'eux, au sommet, s'élevaient un crucifix d'ébène et un Christ mourant. According as the shifting obscurity and flickering gleam hovered here or glanced there, it was now the bearded physician, Luke, that bent his brow; now St. According as the shifting obscurity and flickering gleam hovered here or glanced there, it was now the bearded physician, Luke, that bent his brow; now St. Selon que l'obscurité changeante et la lueur vacillante planaient ici ou y jetaient un coup d'œil, c'était maintenant le médecin barbu, Luke, qui baissait les sourcils; maintenant St. John’s long hair that waved; and anon the devilish face of Judas, that grew out of the panel, and seemed gathering life and threatening a revelation of the arch-traitor—of Satan himself—in his subordinate’s form. Les longs cheveux de John qui ondulaient; et sur le visage diabolique de Judas, qui s'est développé hors du panneau, et a semblé rassembler la vie et menacer une révélation de l'archi-traître - de Satan lui-même - sous la forme de son subordonné. Amidst all this, I had to listen as well as watch: to listen for the movements of the wild beast or the fiend in yonder side den. Amidst all this, I had to listen as well as watch: to listen for the movements of the wild beast or the fiend in yonder side den. Au milieu de tout cela, je devais écouter autant que regarder: écouter les mouvements de la bête sauvage ou du démon dans l'antre de l'autre côté. But since Mr. Rochester’s visit it seemed spellbound: all the night I heard but three sounds at three long intervals,—a step creak, a momentary renewal of the snarling, canine noise, and a deep human groan. But since Mr. Rochester's visit it seemed spellbound: all the night I heard but three sounds at three long intervals,—a step creak, a momentary renewal of the snarling, canine noise, and a deep human groan. Mais depuis la visite de M. Rochester, cela me parut fasciné: toute la nuit, je n'entendis que trois sons à trois longs intervalles, un grincement de pas, un renouvellement momentané du grondement, un bruit canin et un profond gémissement humain. Then my own thoughts worried me. Puis mes propres pensées m'inquiétèrent.

What crime was this that lived incarnate in this sequestered mansion, and could neither be expelled nor subdued by the owner?—what mystery, that broke out now in fire and now in blood, at the deadest hours of night? What crime was this that lived incarnate in this sequestered mansion, and could neither be expelled nor subdued by the owner?—what mystery, that broke out now in fire and now in blood, at the deadest hours of night? Quel crime était ce crime qui vivait incarné dans ce manoir séquestré et ne pouvait être ni expulsé ni maîtrisé par le propriétaire? Quel mystère, qui éclatait maintenant en feu et maintenant en sang, aux heures les plus mortelles de la nuit? What creature was it, that, masked in an ordinary woman’s face and shape, uttered the voice, now of a mocking demon, and anon of a carrion-seeking bird of prey? What creature was it, that, masked in an ordinary woman's face and shape, uttered the voice, now of a mocking demon, and anon of a carrion-seeking bird of prey? Quelle créature était-ce, qui, masquée dans le visage et la forme d'une femme ordinaire, a prononcé la voix, maintenant d'un démon moqueur, et maintenant d'un oiseau de proie à la recherche de charognes? And this man I bent over—this commonplace, quiet stranger—how had he become involved in the web of horror? And this man I bent over—this commonplace, quiet stranger—how had he become involved in the web of horror? Et cet homme sur lequel je me suis penché - cet étranger banal et tranquille - comment s'était-il impliqué dans la toile de l'horreur? and why had the Fury flown at him? What made him seek this quarter of the house at an untimely season, when he should have been asleep in bed? What made him seek this quarter of the house at an untimely season, when he should have been asleep in bed? Qu'est-ce qui l'a fait chercher ce quartier de la maison à une saison intempestive, alors qu'il aurait dû dormir dans son lit? I had heard Mr. Rochester assign him an apartment below—what brought him here! I had heard Mr. Rochester assign him an apartment below—what brought him here! J'avais entendu M. Rochester lui assigner un appartement en bas - ce qui l'a amené ici! And why, now, was he so tame under the violence or treachery done him? Et pourquoi, maintenant, était-il si apprivoisé sous la violence ou la trahison qui lui avait été faite? Why did he so quietly submit to the concealment Mr. Rochester enforced? Pourquoi s'est-il si tranquillement soumis à la dissimulation que M. Rochester a imposée? Why did Mr. Rochester enforce this concealment? Pourquoi M. Rochester a-t-il imposé cette dissimulation? His guest had been outraged, his own life on a former occasion had been hideously plotted against; and both attempts he smothered in secrecy and sank in oblivion! Son invité avait été indigné, sa propre vie à une occasion précédente avait été horriblement complotée; et les deux tentatives il a étouffé dans le secret et a sombré dans l'oubli! Lastly, I saw Mr. Mason was submissive to Mr. Rochester; that the impetuous will of the latter held complete sway over the inertness of the former: the few words which had passed between them assured me of this. Enfin, j'ai vu que M. Mason était soumis à M. Rochester; que la volonté impétueuse de ces derniers l'emportait sur l'inertie des premiers: les quelques mots qui s'étaient écoulés entre eux m'assuraient de cela. It was evident that in their former intercourse, the passive disposition of the one had been habitually influenced by the active energy of the other: whence then had arisen Mr. Rochester’s dismay when he heard of Mr. Mason’s arrival? Il était évident que dans leurs rapports précédents, la disposition passive de l'un avait été habituellement influencée par l'énergie active de l'autre: d'où venait alors la consternation de M. Rochester quand il avait appris l'arrivée de M. Mason? Why had the mere name of this unresisting individual—whom his word now sufficed to control like a child—fallen on him, a few hours since, as a thunderbolt might fall on an oak? Why had the mere name of this unresisting individual—whom his word now sufficed to control like a child—fallen on him, a few hours since, as a thunderbolt might fall on an oak? Pourquoi le seul nom de cet individu inflexible - que sa parole suffisait maintenant à contrôler comme un enfant - était-il tombé sur lui, il y a quelques heures, comme un coup de foudre pouvait tomber sur un chêne? Oh!

I could not forget his look and his paleness when he whispered: “Jane, I have got a blow—I have got a blow, Jane.”  I could not forget how the arm had trembled which he rested on my shoulder: and it was no light matter which could thus bow the resolute spirit and thrill the vigorous frame of Fairfax Rochester. I could not forget his look and his paleness when he whispered: “Jane, I have got a blow—I have got a blow, Jane.” I could not forget how the arm had trembled which he rested on my shoulder: and it was no light matter which could thus bow the resolute spirit and thrill the vigorous frame of Fairfax Rochester. Je n'ai pas pu oublier son regard et sa pâleur quand il a chuchoté: «Jane, j'ai un coup - j'ai un coup, Jane. Je ne pouvais oublier comment le bras avait tremblé qu'il reposait sur mon épaule: et ce n'était pas de la matière légère qui pouvait ainsi plier l'esprit résolu et faire vibrer la charpente vigoureuse de Fairfax Rochester. “When will he come?

When will he come?” I cried inwardly, as the night lingered and lingered—as my bleeding patient drooped, moaned, sickened: and neither day nor aid arrived. Quand viendra-t-il?" J'ai pleuré intérieurement, alors que la nuit s'attardait et s'attardait - alors que mon patient saignant tombait, gémissait, tombait malade - et ni le jour ni l'aide ne sont arrivés. I had, again and again, held the water to Mason’s white lips; again and again offered him the stimulating salts: my efforts seemed ineffectual: either bodily or mental suffering, or loss of blood, or all three combined, were fast prostrating his strength. I had, again and again, held the water to Mason's white lips; again and again offered him the stimulating salts: my efforts seemed ineffectual: either bodily or mental suffering, or loss of blood, or all three combined, were fast prostrating his strength. J'avais, encore et encore, porté l'eau sur les lèvres blanches de Mason; maintes et maintes fois lui a offert les sels stimulants: mes efforts semblaient inefficaces: soit la souffrance corporelle ou mentale, ou la perte de sang, ou les trois combinés, prosternaient rapidement ses forces. He moaned so, and looked so weak, wild, and lost, I feared he was dying; and I might not even speak to him. Il gémissait ainsi, et avait l'air si faible, sauvage et perdu, je craignais qu'il ne meure; et je pourrais même pas lui parler. The candle, wasted at last, went out; as it expired, I perceived streaks of grey light edging the window curtains: dawn was then approaching. The candle, wasted at last, went out; as it expired, I perceived streaks of grey light edging the window curtains: dawn was then approaching. La bougie, enfin gaspillée, s'éteignit; en expirant, j'aperçus des traînées de lumière grise bordant les rideaux de la fenêtre: l'aube approchait alors. Presently I heard Pilot bark far below, out of his distant kennel in the courtyard: hope revived. Presently I heard Pilot bark far below, out of his distant kennel in the courtyard: hope revived. Bientôt, j'entendis Pilot aboyer loin en contrebas, hors de son chenil éloigné dans la cour: l'espoir renoué. Nor was it unwarranted: in five minutes more the grating key, the yielding lock, warned me my watch was relieved. Nor was it unwarranted: in five minutes more the grating key, the yielding lock, warned me my watch was relieved. Ce n'était pas non plus injustifié: dans cinq minutes de plus, la clé râpeuse, la serrure cédante, m'ont averti que ma montre était soulagée. It could not have lasted more than two hours: many a week has seemed shorter. It could not have lasted more than two hours: many a week has seemed shorter. Mr.

Rochester entered, and with him the surgeon he had been to fetch. Rochester entra, et avec lui le chirurgien qu'il était allé chercher. “Now, Carter, be on the alert,” he said to this last: “I give you but half-an-hour for dressing the wound, fastening the bandages, getting the patient downstairs and all.” “Now, Carter, be on the alert,” he said to this last: “I give you but half-an-hour for dressing the wound, fastening the bandages, getting the patient downstairs and all.” «Maintenant, Carter, sois en alerte,» dit-il à ce dernier: «Je ne te donne qu'une demi-heure pour panser la plaie, attacher les bandages, faire descendre le patient et tout. "Ora, Carter, stai all'erta", disse a quest'ultimo: "Vi do solo mezz'ora per medicare la ferita, fissare le bende, portare il paziente di sotto e tutto il resto". “But is he fit to move, sir?” “But is he fit to move, sir?” «Mais est-il apte à bouger, monsieur?

“No doubt of it; it is nothing serious; he is nervous, his spirits must be kept up. «Aucun doute là-dessus; ce n'est rien de grave; il est nerveux, son moral doit être maintenu. Come, set to work.” Venez, mettez-vous au travail. » Mr.

Rochester drew back the thick curtain, drew up the holland blind, let in all the daylight he could; and I was surprised and cheered to see how far dawn was advanced: what rosy streaks were beginning to brighten the east. Rochester drew back the thick curtain, drew up the holland blind, let in all the daylight he could; and I was surprised and cheered to see how far dawn was advanced: what rosy streaks were beginning to brighten the east. Rochester tira le rideau épais, tira le store hollandais, laissa entrer toute la lumière du jour qu'il put; et je fus surpris et acclamé de voir à quel point l'aube était avancée: quelles veines roses commençaient à égayer l'est. Then he approached Mason, whom the surgeon was already handling. Puis il s'approcha de Mason, que le chirurgien s'occupait déjà. “Now, my good fellow, how are you?” he asked.

“She’s done for me, I fear,” was the faint reply. “She's done for me, I fear,” was the faint reply. «Elle a fait pour moi, je le crains», fut la faible réponse. “Not a whit!—courage! “Not a whit!—courage! - Pas du tout! - courage!

This day fortnight you’ll hardly be a pin the worse of it: you’ve lost a little blood; that’s all. Cette quinzaine de jours, vous ne serez guère une épingle le pire: vous avez perdu un peu de sang; c'est tout. In questi quindici giorni non avrete quasi nulla di peggio: avrete perso un po' di sangue, tutto qui. Carter, assure him there’s no danger.” “I can do that conscientiously,” said Carter, who had now undone the bandages; “only I wish I could have got here sooner: he would not have bled so much—but how is this? «Je peux le faire consciencieusement», dit Carter, qui avait maintenant défait les bandages; «Seulement j'aurais aimé pouvoir arriver plus tôt: il n'aurait pas tant saigné - mais comment est-ce? The flesh on the shoulder is torn as well as cut. La chair de l'épaule est déchirée et coupée. This wound was not done with a knife: there have been teeth here!” Cette blessure n'a pas été faite avec un couteau: il y a eu des dents ici! “She bit me,” he murmured.

“She worried me like a tigress, when Rochester got the knife from her.” «Elle m'inquiétait comme une tigresse, quand Rochester lui a pris le couteau. “You should not have yielded: you should have grappled with her at once,” said Mr. Rochester. «Vous n'auriez pas dû céder: vous auriez dû vous débattre avec elle tout de suite», a déclaré M. Rochester. “But under such circumstances, what could one do?” returned Mason. “But under such circumstances, what could one do?” returned Mason. "Mais dans de telles circonstances, que faire ? reprit Mason. "Ma in queste circostanze, cosa si può fare?", rispose Mason.

“Oh, it was frightful!” he added, shuddering. «Oh, c'était affreux!» ajouta-t-il en frissonnant. “And I did not expect it: she looked so quiet at first.” «Et je ne m'y attendais pas: elle avait l'air si calme au début. “I warned you,” was his friend’s answer; “I said—be on your guard when you go near her. Besides, you might have waited till to-morrow, and had me with you: it was mere folly to attempt the interview to-night, and alone.” D'ailleurs, vous auriez pu attendre jusqu'à demain et m'avoir avec vous: ce n'était que de la folie de tenter l'entretien ce soir et seul. Inoltre, avreste potuto aspettare fino a domani e avermi con voi: è stata una pura follia tentare il colloquio stasera, e da soli". “I thought I could have done some good.” «Je pensais que j'aurais pu faire du bien.»

“You thought!

you thought! Yes, it makes me impatient to hear you: but, however, you have suffered, and are likely to suffer enough for not taking my advice; so I’ll say no more. Oui, cela m'impatiente de vous entendre: mais cependant vous avez souffert, et vous risquez de souffrir assez pour ne pas avoir suivi mes conseils; donc je n'en dirai pas plus. Sì, mi rende impaziente di ascoltarvi: ma, comunque, avete sofferto e probabilmente soffrirete abbastanza per non aver seguito il mio consiglio; quindi non dirò altro. Carter—hurry!—hurry! The sun will soon rise, and I must have him off.” Le soleil se lèvera bientôt, et je dois le faire partir. “Directly, sir; the shoulder is just bandaged.

I must look to this other wound in the arm: she has had her teeth here too, I think.” Je dois regarder cette autre blessure au bras: elle a eu ses dents ici aussi, je pense. Devo guardare quest'altra ferita al braccio: credo che abbia avuto i denti anche qui". “She sucked the blood: she said she’d drain my heart,” said Mason. «Elle a sucé le sang: elle a dit qu'elle drainerait mon cœur», a déclaré Mason. I saw Mr. Rochester shudder: a singularly marked expression of disgust, horror, hatred, warped his countenance almost to distortion; but he only said— J'ai vu M. Rochester frissonner: une expression singulièrement marquée de dégoût, d'horreur, de haine, déformait son visage presque à la déformation; mais il a seulement dit - Vidi il signor Rochester rabbrividire: un'espressione singolarmente marcata di disgusto, di orrore, di odio, deformava il suo volto quasi fino a distorcerlo; ma egli disse soltanto... “Come, be silent, Richard, and never mind her gibberish: don’t repeat it.” «Allons, taisez-vous, Richard, et oubliez son charabia: ne le répétez pas.

“I wish I could forget it,” was the answer.

“You will when you are out of the country: when you get back to Spanish Town, you may think of her as dead and buried—or rather, you need not think of her at all.” «Tu le feras quand tu seras hors du pays: quand tu seras de retour à Spanish Town, tu pourras la considérer comme morte et enterrée - ou plutôt, tu n'as pas besoin de penser à elle du tout. "Lo farai quando sarai fuori dal paese: quando tornerai a Spanish Town, potrai pensare a lei come a una persona morta e sepolta, o meglio, non dovrai pensare affatto a lei". “Impossible to forget this night!”

“It is not impossible: have some energy, man.

You thought you were as dead as a herring two hours since, and you are all alive and talking now. Vous pensiez que vous étiez mort comme un hareng il y a deux heures, et vous êtes tous vivants et en train de parler maintenant. There!—Carter has done with you or nearly so; I’ll make you decent in a trice. Voilà ! -Carter en a fini avec vous ou presque ; je vous rendrai décent en un clin d'œil. Ecco! - Carter ha finito con te o quasi; ti renderò decente in un attimo. Jane” (he turned to me for the first time since his re-entrance), “take this key: go down into my bedroom, and walk straight forward into my dressing-room: open the top drawer of the wardrobe and take out a clean shirt and neck-handkerchief: bring them here; and be nimble.” Jane »(il se tourna vers moi pour la première fois depuis sa rentrée),« prends cette clé: descends dans ma chambre, et avance tout droit dans mon dressing: ouvre le tiroir du haut de l'armoire et sors un chemise et mouchoir propres: apportez-les ici; et soyez agile. Jane" (si rivolse a me per la prima volta dal suo rientro), "prendi questa chiave: scendi nella mia camera da letto e vai dritto nel mio camerino: apri il primo cassetto dell'armadio e tira fuori una camicia pulita e un fazzoletto da collo: portali qui; e sii agile". I went; sought the repository he had mentioned, found the articles named, and returned with them. I went; sought the repository he had mentioned, found the articles named, and returned with them. Je suis allé; a cherché le référentiel qu'il avait mentionné, a trouvé les articles nommés et est revenu avec eux. “Now,” said he, “go to the other side of the bed while I order his toilet; but don’t leave the room: you may be wanted again.” “Now,” said he, “go to the other side of the bed while I order his toilet; but don't leave the room: you may be wanted again.” «Maintenant, dit-il, va de l'autre côté du lit pendant que je commande sa toilette; mais ne quittez pas la pièce: vous pourriez être à nouveau recherché.

I retired as directed.

“Was anybody stirring below when you went down, Jane?” inquired Mr. Rochester presently. “Was anybody stirring below when you went down, Jane?” inquired Mr. Rochester presently. «Est-ce que quelqu'un a bougé en bas quand tu es descendu, Jane? demanda tout de suite M. Rochester. “No, sir; all was very still.”

“We shall get you off cannily, Dick: and it will be better, both for your sake, and for that of the poor creature in yonder. «Nous vous en sortirons habilement, Dick: et ce sera mieux, à la fois pour vous et pour celui de la pauvre créature là-bas. I have striven long to avoid exposure, and I should not like it to come at last. Je me suis longtemps efforcé d'éviter l'exposition, et je ne voudrais pas que cela vienne enfin. Here, Carter, help him on with his waist-coat. Tenez, Carter, aidez-le à mettre son gilet. Where did you leave your furred cloak? Où avez-vous laissé votre manteau à fourrure? You can’t travel a mile without that, I know, in this damned cold climate. You can't travel a mile without that, I know, in this damned cold climate. In your room?—Jane, run down to Mr. Mason’s room,—the one next mine,—and fetch a cloak you will see there.” Again I ran, and again returned, bearing an immense mantle lined and edged with fur. Again I ran, and again returned, bearing an immense mantle lined and edged with fur. Je courus de nouveau, et je revins de nouveau, portant un immense manteau doublé et bordé de fourrure. “Now, I’ve another errand for you,” said my untiring master; “you must away to my room again. «Maintenant, j'ai une autre course pour vous,» a dit mon maître infatigable; «Vous devez à nouveau partir dans ma chambre. What a mercy you are shod with velvet, Jane!—a clod-hopping messenger would never do at this juncture. Quelle miséricorde tu es chaussée de velours, Jane! - un messager à mottes ne ferait jamais à ce stade. You must open the middle drawer of my toilet-table and take out a little phial and a little glass you will find there,—quick!” You must open the middle drawer of my toilet-table and take out a little phial and a little glass you will find there,—quick!” I flew thither and back, bringing the desired vessels. I flew thither and back, bringing the desired vessels. J'ai volé aller-retour, apportant les vaisseaux désirés.

“That’s well!

Now, doctor, I shall take the liberty of administering a dose myself, on my own responsibility. Now, doctor, I shall take the liberty of administering a dose myself, on my own responsibility. Maintenant, docteur, je prendrai la liberté d'administrer une dose moi-même, sous ma propre responsabilité. I got this cordial at Rome, of an Italian charlatan—a fellow you would have kicked, Carter. J'ai eu ce cordial à Rome, d'un charlatan italien - un type que vous auriez frappé, Carter. It is not a thing to be used indiscriminately, but it is good upon occasion: as now, for instance. It is not a thing to be used indiscriminately, but it is good upon occasion: as now, for instance. Jane, a little water.” He held out the tiny glass, and I half filled it from the water-bottle on the washstand. Il me tendit le petit verre et je le remplis à moitié avec la bouteille d'eau qui se trouvait sur le lavabo. “That will do;—now wet the lip of the phial.” «Cela fera l'affaire; mouillez maintenant la lèvre de la fiole. I did so; he measured twelve drops of a crimson liquid, and presented it to Mason. I did so; he measured twelve drops of a crimson liquid, and presented it to Mason. “Drink, Richard: it will give you the heart you lack, for an hour or so.” “Drink, Richard: it will give you the heart you lack, for an hour or so.” “But will it hurt me?—is it inflammatory?” “Drink!

drink! drink!” Mr.

Mason obeyed, because it was evidently useless to resist. He was dressed now: he still looked pale, but he was no longer gory and sullied. He was dressed now: he still looked pale, but he was no longer gory and sullied. Il était habillé maintenant: il avait toujours l'air pâle, mais il n'était plus sanglant et souillé. Mr. Rochester let him sit three minutes after he had swallowed the liquid; he then took his arm— Mr. Rochester let him sit three minutes after he had swallowed the liquid; he then took his arm— “Now I am sure you can get on your feet,” he said—“try.” The patient rose. The patient rose.

“Carter, take him under the other shoulder.

Be of good cheer, Richard; step out—that’s it!” Soyez de bonne humeur, Richard; sortez - c'est tout! “I do feel better,” remarked Mr. Mason.

“I am sure you do.

Now, Jane, trip on before us away to the backstairs; unbolt the side-passage door, and tell the driver of the post-chaise you will see in the yard—or just outside, for I told him not to drive his rattling wheels over the pavement—to be ready; we are coming: and, Jane, if any one is about, come to the foot of the stairs and hem.” Now, Jane, trip on before us away to the backstairs; unbolt the side-passage door, and tell the driver of the post-chaise you will see in the yard—or just outside, for I told him not to drive his rattling wheels over the pavement—to be ready; we are coming: and, Jane, if any one is about, come to the foot of the stairs and hem.” Maintenant, Jane, voyagez devant nous vers le rez-de-chaussée; déverrouillez la porte latérale, et dites au conducteur de la chaise de poste que vous verrez dans la cour - ou juste à l'extérieur, car je lui ai dit de ne pas conduire ses roues cliquetantes sur le trottoir - d'être prêt; nous arrivons: et, Jane, s'il y en a une, viens au pied de l'escalier et fais l'ourlet. It was by this time half-past five, and the sun was on the point of rising; but I found the kitchen still dark and silent. It was by this time half-past five, and the sun was on the point of rising; but I found the kitchen still dark and silent. The side-passage door was fastened; I opened it with as little noise as possible: all the yard was quiet; but the gates stood wide open, and there was a post-chaise, with horses ready harnessed, and driver seated on the box, stationed outside. The side-passage door was fastened; I opened it with as little noise as possible: all the yard was quiet; but the gates stood wide open, and there was a post-chaise, with horses ready harnessed, and driver seated on the box, stationed outside. La porte du passage latéral était fermée; Je l'ouvris avec le moins de bruit possible: toute la cour était calme; mais les portes étaient grandes ouvertes, et il y avait une chaise de poste, avec des chevaux attelés, et un conducteur assis sur le box, stationné à l'extérieur. I approached him, and said the gentlemen were coming; he nodded: then I looked carefully round and listened. I approached him, and said the gentlemen were coming; he nodded: then I looked carefully round and listened. The stillness of early morning slumbered everywhere; the curtains were yet drawn over the servants' chamber windows; little birds were just twittering in the blossom-blanched orchard trees, whose boughs drooped like white garlands over the wall enclosing one side of the yard; the carriage horses stamped from time to time in their closed stables: all else was still. Le calme du petit matin sommeillait partout; les rideaux étaient encore tirés sur les fenêtres de la chambre des domestiques; de petits oiseaux gazouillaient dans les arbres du verger blanchis à la fleur, dont les branches tombaient comme des guirlandes blanches sur le mur entourant un côté de la cour; les chevaux de calèche piétinaient de temps en temps dans leurs écuries fermées: tout le reste était encore. The gentlemen now appeared.

Mason, supported by Mr. Rochester and the surgeon, seemed to walk with tolerable ease: they assisted him into the chaise; Carter followed. Mason, supported by Mr. Rochester and the surgeon, seemed to walk with tolerable ease: they assisted him into the chaise; Carter followed. Mason, soutenu par M. Rochester et le chirurgien, semblait marcher avec une aisance tolérable: ils l'ont aidé à s'asseoir dans la chaise; Carter le suivit. “Take care of him,” said Mr. Rochester to the latter, “and keep him at your house till he is quite well: I shall ride over in a day or two to see how he gets on. “Take care of him,” said Mr. Rochester to the latter, “and keep him at your house till he is quite well: I shall ride over in a day or two to see how he gets on. - Prenez soin de lui, dit M. Rochester à ce dernier, et gardez-le chez vous jusqu'à ce qu'il soit bien: je passerai dans un jour ou deux pour voir comment il va. Richard, how is it with you?” Richard, comment ça va avec toi? “The fresh air revives me, Fairfax.” «L'air frais me ravive, Fairfax.»

“Leave the window open on his side, Carter; there is no wind—good-bye, Dick.” "Laissez la fenêtre ouverte de son côté, Carter ; il n'y a pas de vent... Au revoir, Dick." “Fairfax—”

“Well what is it?”

“Let her be taken care of; let her be treated as tenderly as may be: let her—” he stopped and burst into tears. «Qu'elle prenne soin d'elle; laissez-la être traitée aussi tendrement que possible: laissez-la… »Il s'arrêta et fondit en larmes. “I do my best; and have done it, and will do it,” was the answer: he shut up the chaise door, and the vehicle drove away. "Je fais de mon mieux; et je l'ai fait, et je le ferai », fut la réponse: il ferma la porte de la chaise, et le véhicule partit. “Yet would to God there was an end of all this!” added Mr. Rochester, as he closed and barred the heavy yard-gates. «Pourtant, pour Dieu, il y aurait une fin à tout cela!» ajouta M. Rochester en fermant et en barrant les lourdes portes de la cour. This done, he moved with slow step and abstracted air towards a door in the wall bordering the orchard. This done, he moved with slow step and abstracted air towards a door in the wall bordering the orchard. Ceci fait, il se déplaça d'un pas lent et détourna l'air vers une porte dans le mur bordant le verger. I, supposing he had done with me, prepared to return to the house; again, however, I heard him call “Jane!”  He had opened feel portal and stood at it, waiting for me. I, supposing he had done with me, prepared to return to the house; again, however, I heard him call “Jane!” He had opened feel portal and stood at it, waiting for me. Moi, supposant qu'il en avait fini avec moi, je me préparai à rentrer dans la maison; encore une fois, cependant, je l'ai entendu appeler "Jane!" Il avait ouvert le portail des sensations et s'y tenait, m'attendant. “Come where there is some freshness, for a few moments,” he said; “that house is a mere dungeon: don’t you feel it so?” “Come where there is some freshness, for a few moments,” he said; “that house is a mere dungeon: don't you feel it so?” «Venez là où il y a de la fraîcheur, pour quelques instants», dit-il; "Cette maison est un simple donjon: tu ne le sens pas?" “It seems to me a splendid mansion, sir.”

“The glamour of inexperience is over your eyes,” he answered; “and you see it through a charmed medium: you cannot discern that the gilding is slime and the silk draperies cobwebs; that the marble is sordid slate, and the polished woods mere refuse chips and scaly bark. “The glamour of inexperience is over your eyes,” he answered; “and you see it through a charmed medium: you cannot discern that the gilding is slime and the silk draperies cobwebs; that the marble is sordid slate, and the polished woods mere refuse chips and scaly bark. «Le charme de l'inexpérience est sur vos yeux,» répondit-il; «Et vous le voyez à travers un médium charmé: vous ne pouvez pas discerner que la dorure est de la vase et les draperies de soie des toiles d'araignées; que le marbre est une ardoise sordide, et que les bois polis ne sont que des copeaux de rebut et de l'écorce écailleuse. Now here ” (he pointed to the leafy enclosure we had entered) “all is real, sweet, and pure.” Now here ” (he pointed to the leafy enclosure we had entered) “all is real, sweet, and pure.” Maintenant ici »(il désigna l'enceinte verdoyante dans laquelle nous étions entrés)« tout est réel, doux et pur. » He strayed down a walk edged with box, with apple trees, pear trees, and cherry trees on one side, and a border on the other full of all sorts of old-fashioned flowers, stocks, sweet-williams, primroses, pansies, mingled with southernwood, sweet-briar, and various fragrant herbs. He strayed down a walk edged with box, with apple trees, pear trees, and cherry trees on one side, and a border on the other full of all sorts of old-fashioned flowers, stocks, sweet-williams, primroses, pansies, mingled with southernwood, sweet-briar, and various fragrant herbs. Il s'est égaré dans une promenade bordée de buis, avec des pommiers, des poiriers et des cerisiers d'un côté, et une bordure de l'autre pleine de toutes sortes de fleurs à l'ancienne, des stocks, des sweet-williams, des primevères, des pensées, mêlées avec du bois du sud, de la bruyère douce et diverses herbes parfumées. They were fresh now as a succession of April showers and gleams, followed by a lovely spring morning, could make them: the sun was just entering the dappled east, and his light illumined the wreathed and dewy orchard trees and shone down the quiet walks under them. They were fresh now as a succession of April showers and gleams, followed by a lovely spring morning, could make them: the sun was just entering the dappled east, and his light illumined the wreathed and dewy orchard trees and shone down the quiet walks under them. Ils étaient frais maintenant comme une succession d'averses et de lueurs d'avril, suivies d'une belle matinée de printemps, pouvaient les faire: le soleil venait juste d'entrer dans l'est pommelé, et sa lumière illuminait les arbres du verger couronnés et rosés et brillait sur les promenades tranquilles sous leur. “Jane, will you have a flower?”

He gathered a half-blown rose, the first on the bush, and offered it to me. Il a ramassé une rose à moitié soufflée, la première sur le buisson, et me l'a offerte. “Thank you, sir.”

“Do you like this sunrise, Jane?

That sky with its high and light clouds which are sure to melt away as the day waxes warm—this placid and balmly atmosphere?” Ce ciel avec ses nuages hauts et légers qui ne manqueront pas de fondre au fur et à mesure que le jour se réchauffe - cette atmosphère placide et douce? “I do, very much.”

“You have passed a strange night, Jane.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And it has made you look pale—were you afraid when I left you alone with Mason?” “I was afraid of some one coming out of the inner room.” «J'avais peur que quelqu'un sorte de la pièce intérieure.» “But I had fastened the door—I had the key in my pocket: I should have been a careless shepherd if I had left a lamb—my pet lamb—so near a wolf’s den, unguarded: you were safe.” «Mais j'avais fermé la porte - j'avais la clé dans ma poche: j'aurais dû être un berger insouciant si j'avais laissé un agneau - mon agneau de compagnie - si près de la fosse aux loups, sans surveillance: vous étiez en sécurité. “Will Grace Poole live here still, sir?” «Est-ce que Grace Poole vivra encore ici, monsieur?

“Oh yes!

don’t trouble your head about her—put the thing out of your thoughts.” ne vous troublez pas la tête à son sujet - mettez la chose hors de vos pensées. “Yet it seems to me your life is hardly secure while she stays.” "Pourtant, il me semble que votre vie n'est guère assurée tant qu'elle reste."

“Never fear—I will take care of myself.”

“Is the danger you apprehended last night gone by now, sir?” “I cannot vouch for that till Mason is out of England: nor even then. «Je ne peux pas en garantir tant que Mason n'est pas hors d'Angleterre: ni même alors. To live, for me, Jane, is to stand on a crater-crust which may crack and spue fire any day.” Vivre, pour moi, Jane, c'est se tenir sur une croûte de cratère qui peut se fissurer et cracher du feu à tout moment. “But Mr. Mason seems a man easily led. “But Mr. Mason seems a man easily led. «Mais M. Mason semble être un homme facilement dirigé.

Your influence, sir, is evidently potent with him: he will never set you at defiance or wilfully injure you.” Votre influence, monsieur, est évidemment puissante avec lui: il ne vous mettra jamais au défi ni ne vous blessera volontairement. “Oh, no!

Mason will not defy me; nor, knowing it, will he hurt me—but, unintentionally, he might in a moment, by one careless word, deprive me, if not of life, yet for ever of happiness.” Mason ne me défiera pas; il ne me fera pas de mal non plus, sachant cela, mais, involontairement, il pourrait en un instant, par un mot imprudent, me priver, sinon de vie, mais pour toujours de bonheur. “Tell him to be cautious, sir: let him know what you fear, and show him how to avert the danger.” «Dites-lui d'être prudent, monsieur: faites-lui savoir ce que vous craignez et montrez-lui comment éviter le danger. He laughed sardonically, hastily took my hand, and as hastily threw it from him. Il rit d'un air sardonique, me prit à la hâte la main et la lui jeta à la hâte. “If I could do that, simpleton, where would the danger be? «Si je pouvais faire ça, simple, où serait le danger? Annihilated in a moment. Ever since I have known Mason, I have only had to say to him ‘Do that,' and the thing has been done. Depuis que je connais Mason, je n'ai eu qu'à lui dire «Fais ça» et la chose est faite. But I cannot give him orders in this case: I cannot say ‘Beware of harming me, Richard;' for it is imperative that I should keep him ignorant that harm to me is possible. Mais je ne peux pas lui donner des ordres dans ce cas: je ne peux pas dire: «Attention à ne pas me faire du mal, Richard»; car il est impératif que je le garde ignorant que le mal est possible pour moi. Now you look puzzled; and I will puzzle you further. Maintenant vous avez l'air perplexe; et je vais vous intriguer davantage. You are my little friend, are you not?” “I like to serve you, sir, and to obey you in all that is right.” "J'aime vous servir, monsieur, et vous obéir dans tout ce qui est juste." “Precisely: I see you do. «Précisément: je vous vois faire.

I see genuine contentment in your gait and mien, your eye and face, when you are helping me and pleasing me—working for me, and with me, in, as you characteristically say, ‘ all that is right :' for if I bid you do what you thought wrong, there would be no light-footed running, no neat-handed alacrity, no lively glance and animated complexion. Je vois un vrai contentement dans ta démarche et ton air, tes yeux et ton visage, quand tu m'aides et que tu me plais - travaillant pour moi, et avec moi, dans, comme tu le dis de manière caractéristique, `` tout cela est juste: 'car si je fais une offre vous faites ce que vous pensiez mal, il n'y aurait pas de course légère, pas d'empressement soigné, pas de regard vif et de teint animé. My friend would then turn to me, quiet and pale, and would say, ‘No, sir; that is impossible: I cannot do it, because it is wrong;' and would become immutable as a fixed star. Mon ami se tournait alors vers moi, calme et pâle, et disait: «Non, monsieur; c'est impossible: je ne peux pas le faire, parce que c'est mal; et deviendrait immuable comme une étoile fixe. Well, you too have power over me, and may injure me: yet I dare not show you where I am vulnerable, lest, faithful and friendly as you are, you should transfix me at once.” Well, you too have power over me, and may injure me: yet I dare not show you where I am vulnerable, lest, faithful and friendly as you are, you should transfix me at once.” Eh bien, toi aussi tu as du pouvoir sur moi et tu peux me blesser: pourtant je n'ose pas te montrer où je suis vulnérable, de peur que, fidèle et amical comme tu l'es, tu ne me transperces tout de suite. “If you have no more to fear from Mr. Mason than you have from me, sir, you are very safe.” «Si vous n'avez pas plus à craindre de M. Mason que de moi, monsieur, vous êtes très en sécurité. “God grant it may be so! «Dieu accorde qu'il en soit ainsi!

Here, Jane, is an arbour; sit down.” Ici, Jane, est une tonnelle; asseyez-vous." The arbour was an arch in the wall, lined with ivy; it contained a rustic seat. La tonnelle était une arche dans le mur, tapissée de lierre; il contenait un siège rustique. Mr. Rochester took it, leaving room, however, for me: but I stood before him. M. Rochester s'en empara, laissant toutefois de la place pour moi ; mais je me tins devant lui. “Sit,” he said; “the bench is long enough for two. You don’t hesitate to take a place at my side, do you? Tu n'hésites pas à prendre place à mes côtés, n'est-ce pas? Is that wrong, Jane?” I answered him by assuming it: to refuse would, I felt, have been unwise. Je lui ai répondu en le supposant: refuser aurait été, à mon avis, imprudent. “Now, my little friend, while the sun drinks the dew—while all the flowers in this old garden awake and expand, and the birds fetch their young ones' breakfast out of the Thornfield, and the early bees do their first spell of work—I’ll put a case to you, which you must endeavour to suppose your own: but first, look at me, and tell me you are at ease, and not fearing that I err in detaining you, or that you err in staying.” «Maintenant, mon petit ami, pendant que le soleil boit la rosée - pendant que toutes les fleurs de ce vieux jardin se réveillent et s'agrandissent, et que les oiseaux vont chercher le petit-déjeuner de leurs petits à Thornfield, et que les premières abeilles font leur premier travail - Je vais vous présenter un cas, que vous devez essayer de supposer le vôtre: mais d'abord, regardez-moi, et dites-moi que vous êtes à l'aise, et ne craignez pas que je me trompe en vous détenant, ou que vous vous trompez en restant . » “No, sir; I am content.”

“Well then, Jane, call to aid your fancy:—suppose you were no longer a girl well reared and disciplined, but a wild boy indulged from childhood upwards; imagine yourself in a remote foreign land; conceive that you there commit a capital error, no matter of what nature or from what motives, but one whose consequences must follow you through life and taint all your existence. “Well then, Jane, call to aid your fancy:—suppose you were no longer a girl well reared and disciplined, but a wild boy indulged from childhood upwards; imagine yourself in a remote foreign land; conceive that you there commit a capital error, no matter of what nature or from what motives, but one whose consequences must follow you through life and taint all your existence. «Eh bien, Jane, appelez au secours de votre imagination:… supposez que vous n'étiez plus une fille bien élevée et disciplinée, mais un garçon sauvage adoré depuis l'enfance; imaginez-vous dans un pays étranger éloigné; imaginez que vous y commettez une erreur capitale, quelle qu'en soit la nature ou pour quels motifs, mais dont les conséquences doivent vous suivre dans la vie et souiller toute votre existence. Mind, I don’t say a crime ; I am not speaking of shedding of blood or any other guilty act, which might make the perpetrator amenable to the law: my word is error . Mind, I don't say a crime ; I am not speaking of shedding of blood or any other guilty act, which might make the perpetrator amenable to the law: my word is error . Attention, je ne dis pas un crime; Je ne parle pas de l'effusion de sang ou de tout autre acte coupable qui pourrait rendre l'auteur de l'infraction soumis à la loi: ma parole est une erreur. The results of what you have done become in time to you utterly insupportable; you take measures to obtain relief: unusual measures, but neither unlawful nor culpable. Les résultats de ce que vous avez fait sont devenus pour vous tout à fait insupportables; vous prenez des mesures pour obtenir réparation: mesures inhabituelles, mais ni illégales ni coupables. Still you are miserable; for hope has quitted you on the very confines of life: your sun at noon darkens in an eclipse, which you feel will not leave it till the time of setting. Still you are miserable; for hope has quitted you on the very confines of life: your sun at noon darkens in an eclipse, which you feel will not leave it till the time of setting. Vous êtes toujours malheureux; car l'espoir vous a quittés aux confins mêmes de la vie: votre soleil à midi s'assombrit en une éclipse, qui, selon vous, ne le quittera qu'au moment du coucher. Bitter and base associations have become the sole food of your memory: you wander here and there, seeking rest in exile: happiness in pleasure—I mean in heartless, sensual pleasure—such as dulls intellect and blights feeling. Les associations amères et viles sont devenues la seule nourriture de votre mémoire: vous vous promenez ici et là, cherchant le repos en exil: le bonheur dans le plaisir - je veux dire dans le plaisir sans cœur et sensuel - tel que l'intellect émoussé et la sensation de flétrissement. Heart-weary and soul-withered, you come home after years of voluntary banishment: you make a new acquaintance—how or where no matter: you find in this stranger much of the good and bright qualities which you have sought for twenty years, and never before encountered; and they are all fresh, healthy, without soil and without taint. Heart-weary and soul-withered, you come home after years of voluntary banishment: you make a new acquaintance—how or where no matter: you find in this stranger much of the good and bright qualities which you have sought for twenty years, and never before encountered; and they are all fresh, healthy, without soil and without taint. Le cœur fatigué et l'âme flétrie, vous rentrez chez vous après des années de bannissement volontaire: vous faites une nouvelle connaissance - comment ou où peu importe: vous trouvez dans cet étranger une grande partie des bonnes et brillantes qualités que vous recherchez depuis vingt ans, et jamais rencontré auparavant; et ils sont tous frais, sains, sans terre et sans souillure. Such society revives, regenerates: you feel better days come back—higher wishes, purer feelings; you desire to recommence your life, and to spend what remains to you of days in a way more worthy of an immortal being. Such society revives, regenerates: you feel better days come back—higher wishes, purer feelings; you desire to recommence your life, and to spend what remains to you of days in a way more worthy of an immortal being. Une telle société renaît, se régénère: vous sentez revenir des jours meilleurs - des souhaits plus élevés, des sentiments plus purs; vous désirez recommencer votre vie, et passer ce qui vous reste de jours d'une manière plus digne d'un être immortel. To attain this end, are you justified in overleaping an obstacle of custom—a mere conventional impediment which neither your conscience sanctifies nor your judgment approves?” Pour atteindre ce but, êtes-vous justifié de franchir un obstacle de coutume - un simple obstacle conventionnel que ni votre conscience ne sanctifie ni votre jugement n'approuve? He paused for an answer: and what was I to say? Il s'arrêta pour une réponse: et qu'allais-je dire?

Oh, for some good spirit to suggest a judicious and satisfactory response! Oh, pour un bon esprit de suggérer une réponse judicieuse et satisfaisante! Vain aspiration! The west wind whispered in the ivy round me; but no gentle Ariel borrowed its breath as a medium of speech: the birds sang in the tree-tops; but their song, however sweet, was inarticulate. Le vent d'ouest chuchotait dans le lierre autour de moi; mais aucun doux Ariel n'a emprunté son souffle comme moyen de parole: les oiseaux chantaient à la cime des arbres; mais leur chant, si doux soit-il, était inarticulé. Again Mr. Rochester propounded his query: Encore une fois, M. Rochester a proposé sa question:

“Is the wandering and sinful, but now rest-seeking and repentant, man justified in daring the world’s opinion, in order to attach to him for ever this gentle, gracious, genial stranger, thereby securing his own peace of mind and regeneration of life?” «L'homme errant et pécheur, mais maintenant en quête de repos et de repentir, est-il justifié d'oser l'opinion du monde, afin de lui attacher à jamais cet étranger doux, gracieux et génial, assurant ainsi sa propre paix de l'esprit et la régénération de la vie ? » “Sir,” I answered, “a wanderer’s repose or a sinner’s reformation should never depend on a fellow-creature. «Monsieur,» répondis-je, «le repos d'un vagabond ou la réforme d'un pécheur ne devraient jamais dépendre d'un semblable. Men and women die; philosophers falter in wisdom, and Christians in goodness: if any one you know has suffered and erred, let him look higher than his equals for strength to amend and solace to heal.” Des hommes et des femmes meurent; les philosophes faiblissent en sagesse et les chrétiens en bonté: si quelqu'un que vous connaissez a souffert et s'est trompé, laissez-le regarder plus haut que ses égaux pour avoir la force de se corriger et le réconfort pour guérir. “But the instrument—the instrument! "Mais l'instrument - l'instrument !

God, who does the work, ordains the instrument. Dieu, qui fait le travail, ordonne l'instrument. I have myself—I tell it you without parable—been a worldly, dissipated, restless man; and I believe I have found the instrument for my cure in—” J'ai moi-même - je vous le dis sans parabole - été un homme mondain, dissipé, agité; et je crois avoir trouvé l'instrument de ma guérison en… » He paused: the birds went on carolling, the leaves lightly rustling. Il fit une pause: les oiseaux continuèrent à chanter, les feuilles bruirent légèrement. I almost wondered they did not check their songs and whispers to catch the suspended revelation; but they would have had to wait many minutes—so long was the silence protracted. Je me suis presque demandé qu'ils n'avaient pas vérifié leurs chansons et chuchotements pour attraper la révélation suspendue; mais ils auraient dû attendre plusieurs minutes - tant le silence se prolongeait. At last I looked up at the tardy speaker: he was looking eagerly at me. Enfin je levai les yeux vers l'orateur tardif: il me regardait avec impatience. “Little friend,” said he, in quite a changed tone—while his face changed too, losing all its softness and gravity, and becoming harsh and sarcastic—“you have noticed my tender penchant for Miss Ingram: don’t you think if I married her she would regenerate me with a vengeance?” «Petit ami», dit-il d'un ton assez différent - tandis que son visage changeait aussi, perdant toute sa douceur et sa gravité, et devenant dur et sarcastique - «vous avez remarqué mon tendre penchant pour Miss Ingram: ne pensez-vous pas si Je l'ai épousée, elle me régénérerait avec une vengeance? He got up instantly, went quite to the other end of the walk, and when he came back he was humming a tune. Il se leva instantanément, alla tout à fait à l'autre bout de l'allée, et quand il revint, il fredonnait un air. “Jane, Jane,” said he, stopping before me, “you are quite pale with your vigils: don’t you curse me for disturbing your rest?” «Jane, Jane,» dit-il en s'arrêtant devant moi, «vous êtes bien pâle de vos veillées: ne me maudissez-vous pas de déranger votre repos? “Curse you?

No, sir.” “Shake hands in confirmation of the word. «Serrer la main pour confirmer le mot.

What cold fingers! They were warmer last night when I touched them at the door of the mysterious chamber. Jane, when will you watch with me again?” Jane, quand regarderez-vous avec moi à nouveau? “Whenever I can be useful, sir.” "Chaque fois que je peux être utile, monsieur."

“For instance, the night before I am married! «Par exemple, la veille de mon mariage!

I am sure I shall not be able to sleep. Will you promise to sit up with me to bear me company? Promettez-vous de vous asseoir avec moi pour me tenir compagnie? To you I can talk of my lovely one: for now you have seen her and know her.” Je peux vous parler de ma belle: pour l'instant vous l'avez vue et vous la connaissez. “Yes, sir.”

“She’s a rare one, is she not, Jane?”

“Yes, sir.”

“A strapper—a real strapper, Jane: big, brown, and buxom; with hair just such as the ladies of Carthage must have had. «Une sangle - une vraie sangle, Jane: grande, brune et plantureuse; avec des cheveux tels que les dames de Carthage devaient avoir. Bless me! Bénissez-moi! there’s Dent and Lynn in the stables! il y a Dent et Lynn dans les écuries! Go in by the shrubbery, through that wicket.” Entrez par les buissons, par ce guichet. As I went one way, he went another, and I heard him in the yard, saying cheerfully— Comme je suis allé dans un sens, il en est allé dans un autre, et je l'ai entendu dans la cour dire joyeusement: “Mason got the start of you all this morning; he was gone before sunrise: I rose at four to see him off.” «Mason vous a tous commencé ce matin; il était parti avant le lever du soleil: je me suis levé à quatre heures pour le voir partir.