简爱

Jane Eyre

Charlotte Bronte / 夏洛蒂 伯朗特

Part Three — A governess at Thornfield

15
The future Mrs Rochester

And so I set out on the long journey back to Thornfield. Mrs Fairfax had written to me while I was at Gateshead, telling me that the guests had all gone, and Mr Rochester had gone to London to buy a carriage for his wedding. It was clear that he would be getting married very soon.
After a long day sitting in the coach, I decided to get out at Millcote, leave my luggage at the hotel, and walk across the fields to Thornfield. It was a warm June evening, and I felt glad to be going home. I had to remind myself sternly that Thornfield was not my permanent home, and that the person I was so looking forward to seeing was perhaps not even thinking of me.
And then I saw him! He was sitting on the gate ahead of me, writing in a notebook. He noticed me at once.
‘Hallo! ’ he cried. I was trembling at the unexpected sight of him, and could not control my voice, so I approached in silence.
‘So it’s Jane Eyre! ’ he continued. ‘Why didn’t you send for a carriage? It’s just like you to come on foot from Millcote. Now, what have you been doing for a whole month? ’
‘I’ve been looking after my aunt, sir, who’s just died. ’
‘You come from another world, Jane, from the world of the dead. I think you must be a spirit. And absent for a whole month! I’m sure you’ve quite forgotten me. ’
Even though I knew I would soon lose him, he had such power to make me happy that I was in heaven listening to him.
‘Did Mrs Fairfax tell you I’ve been to London? ’ he asked.
‘Oh yes, sir, she did. ’
‘And I expect she told you why I went there? Well, you must see the carriage I’ve bought, Jane. It will suit Mrs Rochester perfectly. I only wish I were more handsome, as she’s so beautiful. Can’t you put one of your spells on me, to make me more attractive for her? ’
‘That’s beyond the power of magic, sir, ’ I replied, while thinking, ‘To someone who loves you, you are handsome enough. ’

［中文］

15. 未来的罗切斯特太太

于是我踏上了返回特恩费得的漫长旅途。我在盖茨赫德时，费尔法斯太太曾写信给我，告诉我客人们都走了，罗切斯特先生也去了伦敦，为他的婚礼购置马车。他显然是很快就要结婚了。
我在马车里坐了整整一天，于是决定在米尔考特下车，将行李留在旅馆里，步行走过田野，回到特恩费得。6月的夜晚温暖宜人，想到要回家了，我感到非常高兴。我不得不时时严肃地警告自己特恩费得不是我永久的家，我热切希望见到的那个人可能根本想都不想我。
后来我看到了他！他就坐在我前头的大门口，正往笔记本里写着什么。他一下子就看见了我。
“你好啊！”他喊道。意外地见到他让我浑身发抖，无法控制自己的声音，于是我静静地走了过去。
“那么是简·爱了！”他接着说，“你为什么没叫马车去？走着从米尔考特回来，这正像你。好了，你整整一个月都干什么了？”
“先生，我一直照顾舅妈，她刚去世。”
“简，你来自另一个世界，一个死人的世界，我想你肯定是个幽灵。离开整整一个月！我肯定你已经把我忘了。”
尽管我知道我很快就会失去他，但他使我感到幸福的力量是那么强大，听到他的声音我就像进了天堂。
“费尔法斯太太告诉过你我去伦敦了吗？”他问。
“噢，是的，先生，她告诉我了。”
“我想她也跟你说了我为什么去？好了，你必须看看我买的新马车，它完全配得上罗切斯特太太。我只希望自己长得好看些，因为她是那么美。你不能给我念个咒语，让我对她更有吸引力吗？”
“先生，这是魔力无能为力的。”我一边回答一边想：“对于爱你的人来说，你已经够英俊的了。”