Name: 第5部--《簡-愛》有聲讀物，夏洛蒂-勃朗特著 (第21-24章) (Part 5 - Jane Eyre Audiobook by Charlotte Bronte (Chs 21-24))
Uploaded: 2021-01-14T05:07:42.000Z
Duration: 2 h 8 min 42 s
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Presentiments are strange things! and so are sympathies; and so are signs; and the

three combined make one mystery to which humanity has not yet found the key.

I never laughed at presentiments in my life, because I have had strange ones of my

Sympathies, I believe, exist (for instance, between far-distant, long-absent, wholly

estranged relatives asserting, notwithstanding their alienation, the unity

origin) whose workings baffle mortal comprehension.

And signs, for aught we know, may be but the sympathies of Nature with man.

When I was a little girl, only six years old, I one night heard Bessie Leaven say to

Martha Abbot that she had been dreaming about a little child; and that to dream of

children was a sure sign of trouble, either to one's self or one's kin.

The saying might have worn out of my memory, had not a circumstance immediately

followed which served indelibly to fix it there.

The next day Bessie was sent for home to the deathbed of her little sister.

Of late I had often recalled this saying and this incident; for during the past week

scarcely a night had gone over my couch that had not brought with it a dream of an

arms, sometimes dandled on my knee, sometimes watched playing with daisies on a

lawn, or again, dabbling its hands in running water.

It was a wailing child this night, and a laughing one the next: now it nestled close

to me, and now it ran from me; but whatever mood the apparition evinced, whatever

successive nights to meet me the moment I entered the land of slumber.

I did not like this iteration of one idea-- this strange recurrence of one image, and I

grew nervous as bedtime approached and the hour of the vision drew near.

It was from companionship with this baby- phantom I had been roused on that moonlight

night when I heard the cry; and it was on the afternoon of the day following I was

summoned downstairs by a message that some one wanted me in Mrs. Fairfax's room.

On repairing thither, I found a man waiting for me, having the appearance of a

gentleman's servant: he was dressed in deep mourning, and the hat he held in his hand

"I daresay you hardly remember me, Miss," he said, rising as I entered; "but my name

is Leaven: I lived coachman with Mrs. Reed when you were at Gateshead, eight or nine

"Oh, Robert! how do you do? I remember you very well: you used to give

me a ride sometimes on Miss Georgiana's bay pony.

You are married to Bessie?" "Yes, Miss: my wife is very hearty, thank

you; she brought me another little one about two months since--we have three now--

"And are the family well at the house, Robert?"

"I am sorry I can't give you better news of them, Miss: they are very badly at present-

"I hope no one is dead," I said, glancing at his black dress.

He too looked down at the crape round his hat and replied--

"Mr. John died yesterday was a week, at his chambers in London."

"Why, you see, Miss Eyre, it is not a common mishap: his life has been very wild:

these last three years he gave himself up to strange ways, and his death was

"I heard from Bessie he was not doing well."

He could not do worse: he ruined his health and his estate amongst the worst men and

He got into debt and into jail: his mother helped him out twice, but as soon as he was

free he returned to his old companions and habits.

His head was not strong: the knaves he lived amongst fooled him beyond anything I

He came down to Gateshead about three weeks ago and wanted missis to give up all to

Missis refused: her means have long been much reduced by his extravagance; so he

went back again, and the next news was that he was dead.

How he died, God knows!--they say he killed himself."

I was silent: the things were frightful. Robert Leaven resumed--

"Missis had been out of health herself for some time: she had got very stout, but was

not strong with it; and the loss of money and fear of poverty were quite breaking her

The information about Mr. John's death and the manner of it came too suddenly: it

She was three days without speaking; but last Tuesday she seemed rather better: she

appeared as if she wanted to say something, and kept making signs to my wife and

It was only yesterday morning, however, that Bessie understood she was pronouncing

your name; and at last she made out the words, 'Bring Jane--fetch Jane Eyre: I want

Bessie is not sure whether she is in her right mind, or means anything by the words;

but she told Miss Reed and Miss Georgiana, and advised them to send for you.

The young ladies put it off at first; but their mother grew so restless, and said,

'Jane, Jane,' so many times, that at last they consented.

I left Gateshead yesterday: and if you can get ready, Miss, I should like to take you

back with me early to-morrow morning." "Yes, Robert, I shall be ready: it seems to

"I think so too, Miss. Bessie said she was sure you would not

refuse: but I suppose you will have to ask leave before you can get off?"

"Yes; and I will do it now;" and having directed him to the servants' hall, and

recommended him to the care of John's wife, and the attentions of John himself, I went

He was not in any of the lower rooms; he was not in the yard, the stables, or the

I asked Mrs. Fairfax if she had seen him;-- yes: she believed he was playing billiards

To the billiard- room I hastened: the click of balls and the hum of voices resounded

thence; Mr. Rochester, Miss Ingram, the two Misses Eshton, and their admirers, were all

It required some courage to disturb so interesting a party; my errand, however,

was one I could not defer, so I approached the master where he stood at Miss Ingram's