jane eyre(简·爱)-第21章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
auriculas； and golden…eyed pansies。 On Thursday afternoons
（half…holidays） we now took walks； and found still sweeter flowers
opening by the wayside； under the hedges。
I discovered； too； that a great pleasure； an enjoyment which the
horizon only bounded； lay all outside the high and spike…guarded walls
of our garden： this pleasure consisted in prospect of noble summits
girdling a great hill…hollow； rich in verdure and shadow； in a
bright beck； full of dark stones and sparkling eddies。 How different
had this scene looked when I viewed it laid out beneath the iron sky
of winter； stiffened in frost； shrouded with snow！… when mists as
chill as death wandered to the impulse of east winds along those
purple peaks； and rolled down 'ing' and holm till they blended with
the frozen fog of the beck！ That beck itself was then a torrent；
turbid and curbless： it tore asunder the wood； and sent a raving sound
through the air； often thickened with wild rain or whirling sleet； and
for the forest on its banks； that showed only ranks of skeletons。
April advanced to May： a bright； serene May it was； days of blue
sky； placid sunshine； and soft western or southern gales filled up its
duration。 And now vegetation matured with vigour； Lowood shook loose
its tresses； it became all green； all flowery； its great elm； ash； and
oak skeletons were restored to majestic life； woodland plants sprang
up profusely in its recesses； unnumbered varieties of moss filled
its hollows； and it made a strange ground…sunshine out of the wealth
of its wild primrose plants： I have seen their pale gold gleam in
overshadowed spots like scatterings of the sweetest lustre。 All this I
enjoyed often and fully； free； unwatched； and almost alone： for this
unwonted liberty and pleasure there was a cause； to which it now
becomes my task to advert。
Have I not described a pleasant site for a dwelling； when I speak
of it as bosomed in hill and wood； and rising from the verge of a
stream？ Assuredly； pleasant enough： but whether healthy or not is
another question。
That forest…dell； where Lowood lay； was the cradle of fog and
fog…bred pestilence； which； quickening with the quickening spring；
crept into the Orphan Asylum； breathed typhus through its crowded
schoolroom and dormitory； and； ere May arrived； transformed the
seminary into an hospital。
Semi…starvation and neglected colds had predisposed most of the
pupils to receive infection： forty…five out of the eighty girls lay
ill at one time。 Classes were broken up； rules relaxed。 The few who
continued well were allowed almost unlimited license； because the
medical attendant insisted on the necessity of frequent exercise to
keep them in health： and had it been otherwise； no one had leisure
to watch or restrain them。 Miss Temple's whole attention was
absorbed by the patients： she lived in the sick…room； never quitting
it except to snatch a few hours' rest at night。 The teachers were
fully occupied with packing up and making other necessary preparations
for the departure of those girls who were fortunate enough to have
friends and relations able and willing to remove them from the seat of
contagion。 Many； already smitten； went home only to die： some died
at the school； and were buried quietly and quickly； the nature of
the malady forbidding delay。
While disease had thus become an inhabitant of Lowood； and death
its frequent visitor； while there was gloom and fear within its walls；
while its rooms and passages steamed with hospital smells； the drug
and the pastille striving vainly to overcome the effluvia of
mortality； that bright May shone unclouded over the bold hills and
beautiful woodland out of doors。 Its garden； too； glowed with flowers：
hollyhocks had sprung up tall as trees； lilies had opened； tulips
and roses were in bloom； the borders of the little beds were gay
with pink thrift and crimson double daisies； the sweetbriars gave out；
morning and evening； their scent of spice and apples； and these
fragrant treasures were all useless for most of the inmates of Lowood；
except to furnish now and then a handful of herbs and blossoms to
put in a coffin。
But I； and the rest who continued well； enjoyed fully the
beauties of the scene and season； they let us ramble in the wood； like
gipsies； from morning till night； we did what we liked； went where
we liked： we lived better too。 Mr。 Brocklehurst and his family never
came near Lowood now： household matters were not scrutinised into； the
cross housekeeper was gone； driven away by the fear of infection；
her successor； who had been matron at the Lowton Dispensary； unused to
the ways of her new abode； provided with comparative liberality。
Besides； there were fewer to feed； the sick could eat little； our
breakfast…basins were better filled； when there was no time to prepare
a regular dinner； which often happened； she would give us a large
piece of cold pie； or a thick slice of bread and cheese； and this we
carried away with us to the wood； where we each chose the spot we
liked best； and dined sumptuously。
My favourite seat was a smooth and broad stone； rising white and
dry from the very middle of the beck； and only to be got at by
wading through the water； a feat I accomplished barefoot。 The stone
was just broad enough to accommodate； comfortably； another girl and
me； at that time my chosen comrade… one Mary Ann Wilson； a shrewd；
observant personage； whose society I took pleasure in； partly
because she was witty and original； and partly because she had a
manner which set me at my ease。 Some years older than I； she knew more
of the world； and could tell me many things I liked to hear： with
her my curiosity found gratification： to my faults also she gave ample
indulgence； never imposing curb or rein on anything I said。 She had
a turn for narrative； I for analysis； she liked to inform； I to
question； so we got on swimmingly together； deriving much
entertainment； if not much improvement； from our mutual intercourse。
And where； meantime； was Helen Burns？ Why did I not spend these
sweet days of liberty with her？ Had I forgotten her？ or was I so
worthless as to have grown tired of her pure society？ Surely the
Mary Ann Wilson I have mentioned was inferior to my first
acquaintance： she could only tell me amusing stories； and
reciprocate any racy and pungent gossip I chose to indulge in；
while； if I have spoken truth of Helen； she was qualified to give
those who enjoyed the privilege of her converse a taste of far
higher things。
True； reader； and I knew and felt this： and though I am a defective
being； with many faults and few redeeming points； yet I never tired of
Helen Burns； nor ever ceased to cherish for her a sentiment of
attachment； as strong； tender； and respectful as any that ever
animated my heart。 How could it be otherwise； when Helen； at all times
and under all circumstances； evinced for me a quiet and faithful
friendship； which ill…humour never soured； nor irritation never
troubled？ But Helen was ill at present： for some weeks she had been
removed from my sight to I knew not what room upstairs。 She was not； I
was told； in the hospital portion of the house with the fever
patients； for her complaint was consumption； not typhus： and by
consumption I； in my ignorance； understood something mild； which
time and care would be sure to alleviate。
I was confirmed in this idea by the fact of her once or twice
coming downstairs on very warm sunny afternoons； and being taken by
Miss Temple into the garden； but； on these occasions； I was not
allowed to go and speak to her； I only saw her from the schoolroom
window； and then not distinctly； for she was much wrapped up； and
sat at a distance under the verandah。
One evening； in the beginning of June； I had stayed out very late
with Mary Ann in the wood； we had； as usual； separated ourselves
from the others； and had wandered far； so far that we lost our way；
and had to ask it at a lonely cottage； where a man and woman lived；
who looked after a herd of half…wild swine that fed on the mast in t
