目 录 上一节 下一节 
白昼的余光迟迟没有离去，月亮越来越大，也越来越亮，这时我能将他看得清楚了。他身上裹着骑手披风，戴着皮毛领，系着钢扣子。他的脸部看不大清楚，但我捉摸得出，他大体中等身 材，胸膛很宽。他的脸庞黝黑，面容严厉、眉毛浓密；他的眼睛和紧锁的双眉看上去刚才遭到了挫折、并且愤怒过。他青春已逝，但未届中年。大约三十五岁，我觉得自己并不怕他，但有点儿腼腆。要是他是位漂亮笑俊的年轻绅士，我也许不会如此大胆地站着，违背他心愿提出问题，而且不等他开口就表示愿意帮忙，我几乎没有看到过一位漂亮的青年，平生也从未同一位漂亮青年说过话，我在理论上尊崇美丽、高雅、勇敢和魅力，但如果我见到这些品质体现有男性的躯体中，那我会本能地明白，这些东西没有，也不可能与我的品质共鸣、那我也会像人们躲避火灾、闪电、或者别的虽然明亮却今人厌恶的东西一样，对它们避之不迭。 If even this stranger had smiled and been good-humoured to me when Iaddressed him; if he had put off my offer of assistance gaily andwith thanks, I should have gone on my way and not felt any vocationto renew inquiries: but the frown, the roughness of the traveller,set me at my ease: I retained my station when he waved to me to go,and announced - 如果这位陌生人在我同他说话时微笑一下，并且对我和和气气；如果他愉快地谢绝我的帮助，并表示感谢，我准会继续赶路，不会感到有任何职责去重新向他发问。但是这位赶路人的皱眉和粗犷，却使我坦然自若，因此当他挥手叫我走的时候，我仍然坚守阵地，并且宣布： "I cannot think of leaving you, sir, at so late an hour, in thissolitary lane, till I see you are fit to mount your horse."" 先生，没有看到你能够骑上马，我是不能让你留在这条偏僻小路上的，天已经这么晚了。" He looked at me when I said this; he had hardly turned his eyes inmy direction before. 我说这话的时候，他看着我，而在这之前，他几乎没有朝我的方向看过。 "I should think you ought to be at home yourself," said he, "if youhave a home in this neighbourhood: where do you come from?"" 我觉得你自己该回家了，"他说，"要是你的家在附近的话。你是从哪儿来的？" 
就是下面那个地方，只要有月光，在外面呆晚了我也一点都不害怕。我很乐意为你去跑一趟海村，要是你想的话。说真的，我正要上那儿去寄封信。" "You live just below--do you mean at that house with thebattlements?" pointing to Thornfield Hall, on which the moon cast ahoary gleam, bringing it out distinct and pale from the woods that,by contrast with the western sky, now seemed one mass of shadow." 你说就住在下面，是不是指有城垛的那幢房子？"他指着桑菲尔德府。这时月亮给桑菲尔德府洒下了灰白色的光，清晰地勾勒出了它以树林为背景的苍白轮廓。而那树林，在西边的天际衬托之下，似乎成了一大片阴影。 "Yes, sir."" 是的，先生。" "Whose house is it?"" 那是谁的房子？" "Mr. Rochester's."" 罗切斯特先生的。" 
你知道罗切斯特先生吗？" "No, I have never seen him."" 不知道，从来没有见过他。" "He is not resident, then?"" 他不常住在那里吗？" "No."" 是的。" "Can you tell me where he is?"" 能告诉我他在哪里吗？" 
我不知道。" "You are not a servant at the hall, of course. You are--" Hestopped, ran his eye over my dress, which, as usual, was quitesimple: a black merino cloak, a black beaver bonnet; neither ofthem half fine enough for a lady's-maid. He seemed puzzled todecide what I was; I helped him." 当然你不是府上的佣人了？你是--"他打住了，目光掠过我照例十分朴实的衣服，我披着黑色美利奴羊毛斗篷，戴着顶黑水獭皮帽，这两件东西远远没有太太的佣人衣服那么讲究。他似乎难以判断我的身份，我帮了他。 "I am the governess."" 我是家庭教师。" "Ah, the governess!" he repeated; "deuce take me, if I had notforgotten! The governess!" and again my raiment underwent scrutiny.In two minutes he rose from the stile: his face expressed pain whenhe tried to move." 啊，家庭教师！"他重复了一下，"见鬼，我竟把这也忘了！家庭教师！"我的服饰再次成了他审视的对象。过了两分钟，他从台阶上站起来，刚一挪动，脸上就露出了痛苦的表情。 "I cannot commission you to fetch help," he said; "but you may helpme a little yourself, if you will be so kind."" 我不能托你找人帮忙，"他说，"不过要是你愿意，你本人倒可以帮我一点忙。" 
好的，先生。" "You have not an umbrella that I can use as a stick?"" 你有没有伞，可以让我当拐杖用？" "No."" 没有。" "Try to get hold of my horse's bridle and lead him to me: you arenot afraid?"" 想办法抓住马笼头，把马牵到我这里来，你不害怕吗？" I should have been afraid to touch a horse when alone, but when toldto do it, I was disposed to obey. I put down my muff on the stile,and went up to the tall steed; I endeavoured to catch the bridle,but it was a spirited thing, and would not let me come near itshead; I made effort on effort, though in vain: meantime, I wasmortally afraid of its trampling fore-feet. The traveller waitedand watched for some time, and at last he laughed. 我一个人是准不敢去碰一匹马的，但既然他吩咐我去干，我也就乐意服从了，我把皮手筒放在台阶上，向那匹高高的骏马走去。我竭力想抓住马笼头，但这匹马性子很烈，不让我靠近它头部。我试了又试、却都劳而无功，我还很怕被它的前腿踩着。这位赶路人等待并观察了片刻，最后终于笑了起来。 
我明白，"他说，"山是永远搬不到穆罕默德这边来的，因此你所能做到的，是帮助穆罕默德走到山那边去，我得请你到这儿来。" I came. "Excuse me," he continued: "necessity compels me to makeyou useful." He laid a heavy hand on my shoulder, and leaning on mewith some stress, limped to his horse. Having once caught thebridle, he mastered it directly and sprang to his saddle; grimacinggrimly as he made the effort, for it wrenched his sprain. 我走了过去--"对不起，"他继续说，"出于需要，我不得不请你帮忙了。"他把一只沉重的手搭在我肩上，吃力地倚着我，一瘸一瘸朝他的马走去。他一抓住笼头，就立刻使马服服贴贴，随后跳上马鞍，因为搓了一下扭伤的部位，一用力便露出了痛苦的表情。 "Now," said he, releasing his under lip from a hard bite, "just handme my whip; it lies there under the hedge."" 好啦，"他说，放松了紧咬着的下唇，"把马鞭递给我就行啦，在树篱下面。" I sought it and found it. 我找了一下，把马鞭找到了。 "Thank you; now make haste with the letter to Hay, and return asfast as you can."" 谢谢你，现在你快去海村寄信罢，快去快回。" 
他把带马刺的后跟一叩，那马先是一惊，后腿跃起，随后便疾驰而去，那条狗窜上去紧追不舍，刹那之间，三者便无影无踪，牋 像荒野中的石楠被一阵狂风卷走。
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