CHAPTER SEVENTEEN The Day of the_简爱 3000词能听懂英文名著_免费在线阅读收听下载

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN The Day of the Wedding
No friends of family went with Mr. Rochester and I to the church. I had not told my Reed cousins about my wedding, because I knew they would not care. However, I had written to my uncle, John Eyre, in Madeira. Mr. Rochester was in such a hurry that I had only a few minutes to put on my wedding dress!
“Jane, you look beautiful!” he said. “But you can only have ten minutes for breakfast!” We went quickly to the church, Mr. Rochester’s strong hand holding mine. His face looked worried, and firm. He did not speak. I wondered why he did not look happy.
The priest was waiting for us in the church. There was no one else there, except for two men who stood by the door. Mr. Rochester did not seem to notice them, but I did. The wedding began, and soon I heard the priest ask a common question. “is there any reason why these two people should not be married?
Suddenly, I heard a voice say clearly,
“There is a reason. These people cannot be married.”
The priest stared at the man who had spoken, and said nothing. Mr. Rochester did not turn around, but only said, “continue with the wedding.” The priest shock his head. “No, sir. I must let this man speak.” The man came forward and said, calmly and quietly,
“They cannot be married, because Edward Rochester already has a wife.”
I felt as if I had been hit. Mr. Rochester’s face was like stone.
“Who are you?” he said to the stranger. “And tell me why you think I am already married!”
“I am a lawyer, sir. I have a paper here, which says that fifteen years ago, you married Bertha Mason in the West Indies.”
“That may prove I’ve been married,” Mr. Rochester said coldly and angrily, “but it doesn’t prove that she’s still alive.”
“There is a man here who has seen her alive.” The lawyer stared at Mr. Rochester as if he hated him.
“Show him to me---or go to hell!” said Mr. Rochester.
“Mr. Mason1” called the lawyer. The second man came forward. His face was pale, but firm. Mr. Rochester shouted, “Mason!” and raised his strong arm. For a second I thought he was going to hit Mason.
“Edward, no!” shouted Mason. Mr. Rochester dropped his arm and turned away from us. “Sir,” said the priest, frowning, do not forget we are in the house of God! Now, Mr. Mason, please tell us what you know.”
“His wife is alive, and she’s living at Thornfield Hall,” said mason in a strong voice. I cried out in shock. How could this be? “I’m her brother, and I’ve seen her there!”
“She lives at Thornfield Hall?” said the priest. “I have lived here for years, and I never knew Edward Rochester had a wife.”
“I was careful to keep her a secret.” Said Mr. Rochester, frowning. Then he said,
“I must tell the truth, I suppose. There will be no wedding today. God will punish me for this. These men are telling you the truth. I am married, and my wife is alive! I was tricked into marrying her when I was young, in the West Indies. There is much madness in her family, but they d

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN The Day of the

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN The Day of the

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