目 录 上一节 下一节 
读者，我虽然看来安顿得舒舒服服，但内心却并不平静，我以为车子一停就会有人来接我。从脚夫为我方便而搭的木板上走下来时，我焦急地四顾，盼着听到有人叫我的名字，希望看到有辆马车等候着把我送往桑菲尔德。然而却不见这类动静。我问一位侍者是否有人来探问过一个爱小姐，得到的回答是没有。我无可奈何地请他们把我领到一间僻静的房间，一面等待着，一面疑窦丛生，愁肠百结，心里十分不安。 It is a very strange sensation to inexperienced youth to feel itselfquite alone in the world, cut adrift from every connection,uncertain whether the port to which it is bound can be reached, andprevented by many impediments from returning to that it has quitted.The charm of adventure sweetens that sensation, the glow of pridewarms it; but then the throb of fear disturbs it; and fear with mebecame predominant when half-an-hour elapsed and still I was alone.I bethought myself to ring the bell. 对一位涉世未深的年轻人来说，一种奇怪的感受是体会到自己在世上孑然一身：一切联系已被割断，能否抵达目的港又无把握，要返回出发点则障碍重重。冒险的魅力使这种感受愉快甜蜜，自豪的激情使它温暖，但随后的恐惧又使之不安。半小时过去，我依然孤单一人时，恐惧心理压倒了一切。我决定去按铃。 "Is there a place in this neighbourhood called Thornfield?" I askedof the waiter who answered the summons." 这里附近有没有个叫'桑菲尔德'的地方，"我问应召而来的侍者。 "Thornfield? I don't know, ma'am; I'll inquire at the bar." Hevanished, but reappeared instantly -" 桑菲尔德？我不知道，小姐。让我到酒巴去打听一下吧"。他走了，但立刻又回来了。 "Is your name Eyre, Miss?"" 你的名字叫爱吗，小姐？" 
是的。" "Person here waiting for you."" 这儿有人在等你。" I jumped up, took my muff and umbrella, and hastened into the inn-passage: a man was standing by the open door, and in the lamp-litstreet I dimly saw a one-horse conveyance. 我跳了起来，拿了皮手筒和伞急忙踏进旅店过道。敞开着的门边，一个男人在等候着，在点着路灯的街上，我依稀看到了一辆马车。 "This will be your luggage, I suppose?" said the man rather abruptlywhen he saw me, pointing to my trunk in the passage." 我想这就是你的行李了？"这人见了我，指着过道上我的箱子唐突地说。" "Yes." He hoisted it on to the vehicle, which was a sort of car,and then I got in; before he shut me up, I asked him how far it wasto Thornfield." 是的，"他把箱子举起来放到了车上，那是一辆马车。随后我坐了进去，不等他关门就问到桑菲尔德有多远。 
六英里左右。" "How long shall we be before we get there?"" 我们要多久才到得了那里？" "Happen an hour and a half."" 大概一个半小时。" He fastened the car door, climbed to his own seat outside, and weset off. Our progress was leisurely, and gave me ample time toreflect; I was content to be at length so near the end of myjourney; and as I leaned back in the comfortable though not elegantconveyance, I meditated much at my ease. 他关了车门，爬到车外自己的位置上，我们便上路了。马车款款向前，使我有充裕的时间来思考。我很高兴终于接近了旅程的终点，身子靠在虽不精致却很舒适的马车上，一时浮想联翩。 "I suppose," thought I, "judging from the plainness of the servantand carriage, Mrs. Fairfax is not a very dashing person: so muchthe better; I never lived amongst fine people but once, and I wasvery miserable with them. I wonder if she lives alone except thislittle girl; if so, and if she is in any degree amiable, I shallsurely be able to get on with her; I will do my best; it is a pitythat doing one's best does not always answer. At Lowood, indeed, Itook that resolution, kept it, and succeeded in pleasing; but withMrs. Reed, I remember my best was always spurned with scorn. I prayGod Mrs. Fairfax may not turn out a second Mrs. Reed; but if shedoes, I am not bound to stay with her! let the worst come to theworst, I can advertise again. How far are we on our road now, Iwonder?"" 我估计，"我想道，"从朴实的仆人和马车来判断，费尔法克斯太太不是一个衣着华丽的女人，这样倒更好，我跟上等人只生活过一回，同他们相处真是受罪。不知道除了那位站娘之外，她是不是一个人过日子。如果是这样，而且她还算得上有点和气，我肯定能同她好好相处，我会尽力而为。可惜竭尽全力并不总能得到好报。其实在罗沃德，我打定了主意，并坚持不懈地去实行，而且也赢得了别人的好感，但与里德太太相处，我记得我的好心总遭到鄙弃。我祈求上帝，但愿费尔法克斯太太不要到头来成了第二个里德太太。可要是她果真如此，我也并不是非与她相处下去不可，就是发生了最坏的情况，我还可以再登广告。不知道我们现在已走了多远了？" 
我放下窗子，往外盼望。米尔科特已落在我们身后。从灯光的数量来看，这似乎是一个相当大的城市，比洛顿要大得多。就我所知，我们此刻像是在一块公地上，不过屋宇遍布整个地区。我觉得我们所在的地区与罗沃德不同。人口更为稠密，却并不那么景色如画；更加熙熙攘攘，却不那么浪漫。 The roads were heavy, the night misty; my conductor let his horsewalk all the way, and the hour and a half extended, I verifybelieve, to two hours; at last he turned in his seat and said - 道路难行，夜雾沉沉。我的向导让马一路溜达，我确信这一个半小时延长到了两个小时，最后他在车座上转过头来说： "You're noan so far fro' Thornfield now."" 现在你离桑菲尔德不远了。" Again I looked out: we were passing a church; I saw its low broadtower against the sky, and its bell was tolling a quarter; I saw anarrow galaxy of lights too, on a hillside, marking a village orhamlet. About ten minutes after, the driver got down and opened apair of gates: we passed through, and they clashed to behind us.We now slowly ascended a drive, and came upon the long front of ahouse: candlelight gleamed from one curtained bow-window; all therest were dark. The car stopped at the front door; it was opened bya maid-servant; I alighted and went in. 我再次往外眺望。我们正经过一个教堂，我看见低矮、宽阔的塔映着天空，教堂的钟声正敲响一刻；我还看到山边一狭长条耀眼的灯光，标明那是一个乡村，或者没有教堂的庄子。大约十分钟后，马车夫跳了下来，打开两扇大门，我们穿了过去，门在我们身后砰地关上了。这会儿我们慢悠悠地登上了一条小道，来到一幢房子宽阔的正门前。一扇遮着窗帘的圆肚窗，闪烁着烛光，其余一片漆黑。马车停在前门，一个女佣开了门，我下车走进门去。 "Will you walk this way, ma'am?" said the girl; and I followed heracross a square hall with high doors all round: she ushered me intoa room whose double illumination of fire and candle at first dazzledme, contrasting as it did with the darkness to which my eyes hadbeen for two hours inured; when I could see, however, a cosy andagreeable picture presented itself to my view." 请从这边走，小姐，"这姑娘说。我跟着她穿过一个四周全是高大的门的方形大厅，她领我进了一个房间，里面明亮的炉火与烛光，同我已经习惯了两小时的黑暗恰成对比，起初弄得我眼花缭乱。然而等我定下神来，眼前便出现了一个惬意和谐的画面。 
这是一个舒适的小房间，温暖的炉火旁摆着一张圆桌，一条老式高背安乐椅上，坐着一位整洁不过的矮小老妇人，头戴寡妇帽，身穿黑色丝绸长袍，还围着雪白的平纹细布围裙，跟我想象中的费尔法克斯太太一模一样，只是不那么威严，却显得更加和蔼罢了。她正忙着编织。一只硕大的猫娴静地蹲在她脚边。作为一幅理想的家庭闲适图，它真是完美无缺了。对一个新到的家庭女教师来说，也很难设想有比这更让人放心的初次见面的情景了。没有那种咄咄逼人的豪华，也没有今人难堪的庄严。我一进门，那老妇人便站了起来，立刻客客气气地上前来迎接我。 "How do you do, my dear? I am afraid you have had a tedious ride;John drives so slowly; you must be cold, come to the fire."" 你好，亲爱的！恐怕一路坐车很乏味吧。约翰驾车又那么慢，你一定怪冷的，到火炉边来吧。" "Mrs. Fairfax, I suppose?" said I." 我想你就是费尔法克斯太太了？"我说。 "Yes, you are right: do sit down."" 是呀，你说得对，请坐吧。" She conducted me to her own chair, and then began to remove my shawland untie my bonnet-strings; I begged she would not give herself somuch trouble. 她把我领到她自己的椅子上坐下，随后动手取下我的披巾，解开我的帽带，我请她不用如此麻烦了。 
啊，一点也不麻烦。你的手恐怕差点儿冻僵了吧。莉娅，调点儿尼格斯酒，切一两片三明治。储藏室的钥匙在这儿。"
| 
