“Isthereimmediatedanger？”murmuredMr。Mason。
　　“Pooh！No—amerescratch。Don’tbesoovercome，man:bearup！I’llfetchasurgeonforyounow，myself:you’llbeabletoberemovedbymorning，Ihope。Jane，”hecontinued。
　　“Sir？”
　　“Ishallhavetoleaveyouinthisroomwiththisgentleman，foranhour，orperhapstwohours:youwillspongethebloodasIdowhenitreturns:ifhefeelsfaint，youwillputtheglassofwateronthatstandtohislips，andyoursaltstohisnose。Youwillnotspeaktohimonanypretext—and—Richard，itwillbeattheperilofyourlifeifyouspeaktoher:openyourlips—agitateyourself—andI’llnotanswerfortheconsequences。”
　　Againthepoormangroaned;helookedasifhedarednotmove;fear，eitherofdeathorofsomethingelse，appearedalmosttoparalysehim。Mr。Rochesterputthenowbloodyspongeintomyhand，andIproceededtouseitashehaddone。Hewatchedmeasecond，thensaying，“Remember！—Noconversation，”helefttheroom。Iexperiencedastrangefeelingasthekeygratedinthelock，andthesoundofhisretreatingstepceasedtobeheard。
　　HerethenIwasinthethirdstorey，fastenedintooneofitsmysticcells;nightaroundme;apaleandbloodyspectacleundermyeyesandhands;amurderesshardlyseparatedfrommebyasingledoor:yes—thatwasappalling—therestIcouldbear;butIshudderedatthethoughtofGracePooleburstingoutuponme。
　　Imustkeeptomypost，however。Imustwatchthisghastlycountenance—theseblue，stilllipsforbiddentounclose—theseeyesnowshut，nowopening，nowwanderingthroughtheroom，nowfixingonme，andeverglazedwiththedulnessofhorror。Imustdipmyhandagainandagaininthebasinofbloodandwater，andwipeawaythetricklinggore。Imustseethelightoftheunsnuffedcandlewaneonmyemployment;theshadowsdarkenonthewrought，antiquetapestryroundme，andgrowblackunderthehangingsofthevastoldbed，andquiverstrangelyoverthedoorsofagreatcabinetopposite—whosefront，dividedintotwelvepanels，bore，ingrimdesign，theheadsofthetwelveapostles，eachenclosedinitsseparatepanelasinaframe;whileabovethematthetoproseaneboncrucifixandadyingChrist。
　　Accordingastheshiftingobscurityandflickeringgleamhoveredhereorglancedthere，itwasnowthebeardedphysician，Luke，thatbenthisbrow;nowSt。John’slonghairthatwaved;andanonthedevilishfaceofJudas，thatgrewoutofthepanel，andseemedgatheringlifeandthreateningarevelationofthearch—traitor—ofSatanhimself—inhissubordinate’sform。
　　Amidstallthis，Ihadtolistenaswellaswatch:tolistenforthemovementsofthewildbeastorthefiendinyondersideden。ButsinceMr。Rochester’svisititseemedspellbound:allthenightIheardbutthreesoundsatthreelongintervals，—astepcreak，amomentaryrenewalofthesnarling，caninenoise，andadeephumangroan。
　　Thenmyownthoughtsworriedme。Whatcrimewasthisthatlivedincarnateinthissequesteredmansion，andcouldneitherbeexpellednorsubduedbytheowner？—whatmystery，thatbrokeoutnowinfireandnowinblood，atthedeadesthoursofnight？Whatcreaturewasit，that，maskedinanordinarywoman’sfaceandshape，utteredthevoice，nowofamockingdemon，andanonofacarrion—seekingbirdofprey？
　　AndthismanIbentover—thiscommonplace，quietstranger—howhadhebecomeinvolvedinthewebofhorror？andwhyhadtheFuryflownathim？Whatmadehimseekthisquarterofthehouseatanuntimelyseason，whenheshouldhavebeenasleepinbed？IhadheardMr。Rochesterassignhimanapartmentbelow—whatbroughthimhere！Andwhy，now，washesotameundertheviolenceortreacherydonehim？WhydidhesoquietlysubmittotheconcealmentMr。Rochesterenforced？WhydidMr。Rochesterenforcethisconcealment？Hisguesthadbeenoutraged，hisownlifeonaformeroccasionhadbeenhideouslyplottedagainst;andbothattemptshesmotheredinsecrecyandsankinoblivion！ly，IsawMr。MasonwassubmissivetoMr。Rochester;thattheimpetuouswillofthelatterheldcompleteswayovertheinertnessoftheformer:thefewwordswhichhadpassedbetweenthemassuredmeofthis。Itwasevidentthatintheirformerintercourse，thepassivedispositionoftheonehadbeenhabituallyinfluencedbytheactiveenergyoftheother:whencethenhadarisenMr。Rochester’sdismaywhenheheardofMr。Mason’sarrival？Whyhadthemerenameofthisunresistingindividual—whomhiswordnowsufficedtocontrollikeachild—fallenonhim，afewhourssince，asathunderboltmightfallonanoak？
　　Oh！Icouldnotforgethislookandhispalenesswhenhewhispered:“Jane，Ihavegotablow—Ihavegotablow，Jane。”Icouldnotforgethowthearmhadtrembledwhichherestedonmyshoulder:anditwasnolightmatterwhichcouldthusbowtheresolutespiritandthrillthevigorousframeofFairfaxRochester。
　　“Whenwillhecome？Whenwillhecome？”Icriedinwardly，asthenightlingeredandlingered—asmybleedingpatientdrooped，moaned，sickened:andneitherdaynoraidarrived。Ihad，againandagain，heldthewatertoMason’swhitelips;againandagainofferedhimthestimulatingsalts:myeffortsseemedineffectual:eitherbodilyormentalsuffering，orlossofblood，orallthreecombined，werefastprostratinghisstrength。Hemoanedso，andlookedsoweak，wild，andlost，Ifearedhewasdying;antImightnotevenspeaktohim。
　　Thecandle，wastedatlast，wentout;asitexpired，Iperceivedstreaksofgreylightedgingthewindowcurtains:dawnwasthenapproaching。PresentlyIheardPilotbarkfarbelow，outofhisdistantkennelinthecourtyard:hoperevived。Norwasitunwarranted:infiveminutesmorethegratingkey，theyieldinglock，warnedmemywatchwasrelieved。Itcouldnothavelastedmorethantwohours:manyaweekhasseemedshorter。
　　Mr。Rochesterentered，andwithhimthesurgeonhehadbeentofetch。
　　“Now，Carter，beonthealert，”hesaidtothislast:“Igiveyoubuthalf—an—hourfordressingthewound，fasteningthebandages，gettingthepatientdownstairsandall。”
　　“Butishefittomove，sir？”
　　“Nodoubtofit;itisnothingserious;heisnervous，hisspiritsmustbekeptup。Come，settowork。”
　　Mr。Rochesterdrewbackthethickcurtain，drewupthehollandblind，letinallthedaylighthecould;andIwassurprisedandcheeredtoseehowfardawnwasadvanced:whatrosystreakswerebeginningtobrightentheeast。ThenheapproachedMason，whomthesurgeonwasalreadyhandling。
　　“Now，mygoodfellow，howareyou？”heasked。
　　“She’sdoneforme，Ifear，”wasthefaintreply。
　　“Notawhit！—courage！Thisdayfortnightyou’llhardlybeapintheworseofit:you’velostalittleblood;that’sallCarter，assurehimthere’snodanger。”
　　“Icandothatconscientiously，”saidCarter，whohadnowundonethebandages;“onlyIwishIcouldhavegotheresooner:hewouldnothavebledsomuch—buthowisthis？Thefleshontheshoulderistornaswellascut。Thiswoundwasnotdonewithaknife:therehavebeenteethhere！”
　　“Shebitme，”hemurmured。“Sheworriedmelikeatigress，whenRochestergottheknifefromher。”
　　“Youshouldnothaveyielded:youshouldhavegrappledwithheratonce，”saidMr。Rochester。
　　“Butundersuchcircumstances，whatcouldonedo？”returnedMason。“Oh，itwasfrightful！”headded，shuddering。“AndIdidnotexpectit:shelookedsoquietatfirst。”
　　“Iwarnedyou，”washisfriend’sanswer;“Isaid—beonyourguardwhenyougonearher。Besides，youmighthavewaitedtillto—morrow，andhadmewithyou:itwasmerefollytoattempttheinterviewto—night，andalone。”
　　“IthoughtIcouldhavedonesomegood。”
　　“Youthought！youthought！Yes，itmakesmeimpatienttohearyou:but，however，youhavesuffered，andarelikelytosufferenoughfornottakingmyadvice;soI’llsaynomore。Carter—hurry！—hurry！Thesunwillsoonrise，andImusthavehimoff。”
　　“Directly，sir;theshoulderisjustbandaged。Imustlooktothisotherwoundinthearm:shehashadherteethheretoo，Ithink。”
　　“Shesuckedtheblood:shesaidshe’ddrainmyheart，”saidMason。
　　IsawMr。Rochestershudder:asingularlymarkedexpressionofdisgust，horror，hatred，warpedhiscountenancealmosttodistortion;butheonlysaid—
　　“Come，besilent，Richard，andnevermindhergibberish:don’trepeatit。”
　　“IwishIcouldforgetit，”wastheanswer。
　　“Youwillwhenyouareoutofthecountry:whenyougetbacktoSpanishTown，youmaythinkofherasdeadandburied—orrather，youneednotthinkofheratall。”
　　“Impossibletoforgetthisnight！”
　　“Itisnotimpossible:havesomeenergy，man。Youthoughtyouwereasdeadasaherringtwohourssince，andyouareallaliveandtalkingnow。There！—Carterhasdonewithyouornearlyso;I’llmakeyoudecentinatrice。Jane”（heturnedtomeforthefirsttimesincehisre—entrance），“takethiskey:godownintomybedroom，andwalkstraightforwardintomydressing—room:openthetopdrawerofthewardrobeandtakeoutacleanshirtandneck—handkerchief:bringthemhere;andbenimble。”
　　Iwent;soughttherepositoryhehadmentioned，foundthearticlesnamed，andreturnedwiththem。
　　“Now，”saidhe，“gototheothersideofthebedwhileIorderhistoilet;butdon’tleavetheroom:youmaybewantedagain。”
　　Iretiredasdirected。
　　“Wasanybodystirringbelowwhenyouwentdown，Jane？”inquiredMr。Rochesterpresently。
　　“No，sir;allwasverystill。”
　　“Weshallgetyouoffcannily，Dick:anditwillbebetter，bothforyoursake，andforthatofthepoorcreatureinyonder。Ihavestrivenlongtoavoidexposure，andIshouldnotlikeittocomeatlast。Here，Carter，helphimonwithhiswaist—coat。Wheredidyouleaveyourfurredcloak？Youcan’ttravelamilewithoutthat，Iknow，inthisdamnedcoldclimate。Inyourroom？—Jane，rundowntoMr。Mason’sroom，—theonenextmine，—andfetchacloakyouwillseethere。”
　　AgainIran，andagainreturned，bearinganimmensemantlelinedandedgedwithfur。
　　“Now，I’veanothererrandforyou，”saidmyuntiringmaster;“youmustawaytomyroomagain。Whatamercyyouareshodwithvelvet，Jane！—aclod—hoppingmessengerwouldneverdoatthisjuncture。Youmustopenthemiddledrawerofmytoilet—tableandtakeoutalittlephialandalittleglassyouwillfindthere，—quick！”
　　Iflewthitherandback，bringingthedesiredvessels。
　　“That’swell！Now，doctor，Ishalltakethelibertyofadministeringadosemyself，onmyownresponsibility。IgotthiscordialatRome，ofanItaliancharlatan—afellowyouwouldhavekicked，Carter。Itisnotathingtobeusedindiscriminately，butitisgooduponoccasion:asnow，forinstance。Jane，alittlewater。”
　　Heheldoutthetinyglass，andIhalffilleditfromthewater—bottleonthewashstand。
　　“Thatwilldo;—nowwetthelipofthephial。”
　　Ididso;hemeasuredtwelvedropsofacrimsonliquid，andpresentedittoMason。
　　“Drink，Richard:itwillgiveyoutheheartyoulack，foranhourorso。”
　　“Butwillithurtme？—isitinflammatory？”
　　“Drink！drink！drink！”
　　Mr。Masonobeyed，becauseitwasevidentlyuselesstoresist。Hewasdressednow:hestilllookedpale，buthewasnolongergoryandsullied。Mr。Rochesterlethimsitthreeminutesafterhehadswallowedtheliquid;hethentookhisarm—
　　“NowIamsureyoucangetonyourfeet，”hesaid—“try。”
　　Thepatientrose。
　　“Carter，takehimundertheothershoulder。Beofgoodcheer，Richard;stepout—that’sit！”
　　“Idofeelbetter，”remarkedMr。Mason。
　　“Iamsureyoudo。Now，Jane，triponbeforeusawaytothebackstairs;unbolttheside—passagedoor，andtellthedriverofthepost—chaiseyouwillseeintheyard—orjustoutside，forItoldhimnottodrivehisrattlingwheelsoverthepavement—tobeready;wearecoming:and，Jane，ifanyoneisabout，cometothefootofthestairsandhem。”
　　Itwasbythistimehalf—pastfive，andthesunwasonthepointofrising;butIfoundthekitchenstilldarkandsilent。Theside—passagedoorwasfastened;Iopeneditwithaslittlenoiseaspossible:alltheyardwasquiet;butthegatesstoodwideopen，andtherewasapost—chaise，withhorsesreadyharnessed，anddriverseatedonthebox，stationedoutside。Iapproachedhim，andsaidthegentlemenwerecoming;henodded:thenIlookedcarefullyroundandlistened。Thestillnessofearlymorningslumberedeverywhere;thecurtainswereyetdrawnovertheservants’chamberwindows;littlebirdswerejusttwitteringintheblossom—blanchedorchardtrees，whoseboughsdroopedlikewhitegarlandsoverthewallenclosingonesideoftheyard;thecarriagehorsesstampedfromtimetotimeintheirclosedstables:allelsewasstill。
　　Thegentlemennowappeared。Mason，supportedbyMr。Rochesterandthesurgeon，seemedtowalkwithtolerableease:theyassistedhimintothechaise;Carterfollowed。
　　“Takecareofhim，”saidMr。Rochestertothelatter，“andkeephimatyourhousetillheisquitewell:Ishallrideoverinadayortwotoseehowhegetson。Richard，howisitwithyou？”
　　“Thefreshairrevivesme，Fairfax。”
　　“Leavethewindowopenonhisside，Carter;thereisnowind—good—bye，Dick。”
　　“Fairfax—”
　　“Wellwhatisit？”
　　“Letherbetakencareof;letherbetreatedastenderlyasmaybe:lether—”hestoppedandburstintotears。
　　“Idomybest;andhavedoneit，andwilldoit，”wastheanswer:heshutupthechaisedoor，andthevehicledroveaway。
　　“YetwouldtoGodtherewasanendofallthis！”addedMr。Rochester，asheclosedandbarredtheheavyyard—gates。
　　Thisdone，hemovedwithslowstepandabstractedairtowardsadoorinthewallborderingtheorchard。I，supposinghehaddonewithme，preparedtoreturntothehouse;again，however，Iheardhimcall“Jane！”Hehadopenedfeelportalandstoodatit，waitingforme。
　　“Comewherethereissomefreshness，forafewmoments，”hesaid;“thathouseisameredungeon:don’tyoufeelitso？”
　　“Itseemstomeasplendidmansion，sir。”
　　“Theglamourofinexperienceisoveryoureyes，”heanswered;“andyouseeitthroughacharmedmedium:youcannotdiscernthatthegildingisslimeandthesilkdraperiescobwebs;thatthemarbleissordidslate，andthepolishedwoodsmererefusechipsandscalybark。Nowhere”（hepointedtotheleafyenclosurewehadentered）“allisreal，sweet，andpure。”
　　Hestrayeddownawalkedgedwithbox，withappletrees，peartrees，andcherrytreesononeside，andaborderontheotherfullofallsortsofold—fashionedflowers，stocks，sweet—williams，primroses，pansies，mingledwithsouthernwood，sweet—briar，andvariousfragrantherbs。TheywerefreshnowasasuccessionofAprilshowersandgleams，followedbyalovelyspringmorning，couldmakethem:thesunwasjustenteringthedappledeast，andhislightilluminedthewreathedanddewyorchardtreesandshonedownthequietwalksunderthem。
　　“Jane，willyouhaveaflower？”
　　Hegatheredahalf—blownrose，thefirstonthebush，andofferedittome。
　　“Thankyou，sir。”
　　“Doyoulikethissunrise，Jane？Thatskywithitshighandlightcloudswhicharesuretomeltawayasthedaywaxeswarm—thisplacidandbalmlyatmosphere？”
　　“Ido，verymuch。”
　　“Youhavepassedastrangenight，Jane。”
　　“Yes，sir。”
　　“Andithasmadeyoulookpale—wereyouafraidwhenIleftyoualonewithMason？”
　　“Iwasafraidofsomeonecomingoutoftheinnerroom。”
　　“ButIhadfastenedthedoor—Ihadthekeyinmypocket:IshouldhavebeenacarelessshepherdifIhadleftalamb—mypetlamb—sonearawolf’sden，unguarded:youweresafe。”
　　“WillGracePooleliveherestill，sir？”
　　“Ohyes！don’ttroubleyourheadabouther—putthethingoutofyourthoughts。”
　　“Yetitseemstomeyourlifeishardlysecurewhileshestays。”
　　“Neverfear—Iwilltakecareofmyself。”
　　“Isthedangeryouapprehendedlastnightgonebynow，sir？”
　　“IcannotvouchforthattillMasonisoutofEngland:noreventhen。Tolive，forme，Jane，istostandonacrater—crustwhichmaycrackandspuefireanyday。”
　　“ButMr。Masonseemsamaneasilyled。Yourinfluence，sir，isevidentlypotentwithhim:hewillneversetyouatdefianceorwilfullyinjureyou。”
　　“Oh，no！Masonwillnotdefyme;nor，knowingit，willhehurtme—but，unintentionally，hemightinamoment，byonecarelessword，depriveme，ifnotoflife，yetforeverofhappiness。”
　　“Tellhimtobecautious，sir:lethimknowwhatyoufear，andshowhimhowtoavertthedanger。”
　　Helaughedsardonically，hastilytookmyhand，andashastilythrewitfromhim。
　　“IfIcoulddothat，simpleton，wherewouldthedangerbe？Annihilatedinamoment。EversinceIhaveknownMason，Ihaveonlyhadtosaytohim‘Dothat，’andthethinghasbeendone。ButIcannotgivehimordersinthiscase:Icannotsay‘Bewareofharmingme，Richard;’foritisimperativethatIshouldkeephimignorantthatharmtomeispossible。Nowyoulookpuzzled;andIwillpuzzleyoufurther。Youaremylittlefriend，areyounot？”
　　“Iliketoserveyou，sir，andtoobeyyouinallthatisright。”
　　“Precisely:Iseeyoudo。Iseegenuinecontentmentinyourgaitandmien，youreyeandface，whenyouarehelpingmeandpleasingme—workingforme，andwithme，in，asyoucharacteristicallysay，‘allthatisright:’forifIbidyoudowhatyouthoughtwrong，therewouldbenolight—footedrunning，noneat—handedalacrity，nolivelyglanceandanimatedcomplexion。Myfriendwouldthenturntome，quietandpale，andwouldsay，‘No，sir;thatisimpossible:Icannotdoit，becauseitiswrong;’andwouldbecomeimmutableasafixedstar。Well，youtoohavepoweroverme，andmayinjureme:yetIdarenotshowyouwhereIamvulnerable，lest，faithfulandfriendlyasyouare，youshouldtransfixmeatonce。”
　　“IfyouhavenomoretofearfromMr。Masonthanyouhavefromme，sir，youareverysafe。”
　　“Godgrantitmaybeso！Here，Jane，isanarbour;sitdown。”
　　Thearbourwasanarchinthewall，linedwithivy;itcontainedarusticseat。Mr。Rochestertookit，leavingroom，however，forme:butIstoodbeforehim。
　　“Sit，”hesaid;“thebenchislongenoughfortwo。Youdon’thesitatetotakeaplaceatmyside，doyou？Isthatwrong，Jane？”
　　Iansweredhimbyassumingit:torefusewould，Ifelt，havebeenunwise。
　　“Now，mylittlefriend，whilethesundrinksthedew—whilealltheflowersinthisoldgardenawakeandexpand，andthebirdsfetchtheiryoungones’breakfastoutoftheThornfield，andtheearlybeesdotheirfirstspellofwork—I’llputacasetoyou，whichyoumustendeavourtosupposeyourown:butfirst，lookatme，andtellmeyouareatease，andnotfearingthatIerrindetainingyou，orthatyouerrinstaying。”
　　“No，sir;Iamcontent。”
　　“Wellthen，Jane，calltoaidyourfancy:—supposeyouwerenolongeragirlwellrearedanddisciplined，butawildboyindulgedfromchildhoodupwards;imagineyourselfinaremoteforeignland;conceivethatyoutherecommitacapitalerror，nomatterofwhatnatureorfromwhatmotives，butonewhoseconsequencesmustfollowyouthroughlifeandtaintallyourexistence。Mind，Idon’tsayacrime;Iamnotspeakingofsheddingofbloodoranyotherguiltyact，whichmightmaketheperpetratoramenabletothelaw:mywordiserror。Theresultsofwhatyouhavedonebecomeintimetoyouutterlyinsupportable;youtakemeasurestoobtainrelief:unusualmeasures，butneitherunlawfulnorculpable。Stillyouaremiserable;forhopehasquittedyouontheveryconfinesoflife:yoursunatnoondarkensinaneclipse，whichyoufeelwillnotleaveittillthetimeofsetting。Bitterandbaseassociationshavebecomethesolefoodofyourmemory:youwanderhereandthere，seekingrestinexile:happinessinpleasure—Imeaninheartless，sensualpleasure—suchasdullsintellectandblightsfeeling。Heart—wearyandsoul—withered，youcomehomeafteryearsofvoluntarybanishment:youmakeanewacquaintance—howorwherenomatter:youfindinthisstrangermuchofthegoodandbrightqualitieswhichyouhavesoughtfortwentyyears，andneverbeforeencountered;andtheyareallfresh，healthy，withoutsoilandwithouttaint。Suchsocietyrevives，regenerates:youfeelbetterdayscomeback—higherwishes，purerfeelings;youdesiretorecommenceyourlife，andtospendwhatremainstoyouofdaysinawaymoreworthyofanimmortalbeing。Toattainthisend，areyoujustifiedinoverleapinganobstacleofcustom—amereconventionalimpedimentwhichneitheryourconsciencesanctifiesnoryourjudgmentapproves？”
　　Hepausedforananswer:andwhatwasItosay？Oh，forsomegoodspirittosuggestajudiciousandsatisfactoryresponse！Vainaspiration！Thewestwindwhisperedintheivyroundme;butnogentleArielborroweditsbreathasamediumofspeech:thebirdssanginthetree—tops;buttheirsong，howeversweet，wasinarticulate。
　　AgainMr。Rochesterpropoundedhisquery:
　　“Isthewanderingandsinful，butnowrest—seekingandrepentant，manjustifiedindaringtheworld’sopinion，inordertoattachtohimforeverthisgentle，gracious，genialstranger，therebysecuringhisownpeaceofmindandregenerationoflife？”
　　“Sir，”Ianswered，“awanderer’sreposeorasinner’sreformationshouldneverdependonafellow—creature。Menandwomendie;philosophersfalterinwisdom，andChristiansingoodness:ifanyoneyouknowhassufferedanderred，lethimlookhigherthanhisequalsforstrengthtoamendandsolacetoheal。”
　　“Buttheinstrument—theinstrument！God，whodoesthework，ordainstheinstrument。Ihavemyself—Itellityouwithoutparable—beenaworldly，dissipated，restlessman;andIbelieveIhavefoundtheinstrumentformycurein—”
　　Hepaused:thebirdswentoncarolling，theleaveslightlyrustling。Ialmostwonderedtheydidnotchecktheirsongsandwhisperstocatchthesuspendedrevelation;buttheywouldhavehadtowaitmanyminutes—solongwasthesilenceprotracted。AtlastIlookedupatthetardyspeaker:hewaslookingeagerlyatme。
　　“Littlefriend，”saidhe，inquiteachangedtone—whilehisfacechangedtoo，losingallitssoftnessandgravity，andbecomingharshandsarcastic—“youhavenoticedmytenderpenchantforMissIngram:don’tyouthinkifImarriedhershewouldregeneratemewithavengeance？”
　　Hegotupinstantly，wentquitetotheotherendofthewalk，andwhenhecamebackhewashummingatune。
　　“Jane，Jane，”saidhe，stoppingbeforeme，“youarequitepalewithyourvigils:don’tyoucursemefordisturbingyourrest？”
　　“Curseyou？No，sir。”
　　“Shakehandsinconfirmationoftheword。Whatcoldfingers！TheywerewarmerlastnightwhenItouchedthematthedoorofthemysteriouschamber。Jane，whenwillyouwatchwithmeagain？”
　　“WheneverIcanbeuseful，sir。”
　　“Forinstance，thenightbeforeIammarried！IamsureIshallnotbeabletosleep。Willyoupromisetositupwithmetobearmecompany？ToyouIcantalkofmylovelyone:fornowyouhaveseenherandknowher。”
　　“Yes，sir。”
　　“She’sarareone，isshenot，Jane？”
　　“Yes，sir。”
　　“Astrapper—arealstrapper，Jane:big，brown，andbuxom;withhairjustsuchastheladiesofCarthagemusthavehad。Blessme！there’sDentandLynninthestables！Goinbytheshrubbery，throughthatwicket。”
　　AsIwentoneway，hewentanother，andIheardhimintheyard，sayingcheerfully—
　　“Masongotthestartofyouallthismorning;hewasgonebeforesunrise:Iroseatfourtoseehimoff。”
　　Chapter21
　　Presentimentsarestrangethings！andsoaresympathies;andsoaresigns;andthethreecombinedmakeonemysterytowhichhumanityhasnotyetfoundthekey。Ineverlaughedatpresentimentsinmylife，becauseIhavehadstrangeonesofmyown。Sympathies，Ibelieve，exist（forinstance，betweenfar—distant，long—absent，whollyestrangedrelativesasserting，notwithstandingtheiralienation，theunityofthesourcetowhicheachtraceshisorigin）whoseworkingsbafflemortalcomprehension。Andsigns，foraughtweknow，maybebutthesympathiesofNaturewithman。
　　WhenIwasalittlegirl，onlysixyearsold，IonenightheardBessieLeavensaytoMarthaAbbotthatshehadbeendreamingaboutalittlechild;andthattodreamofchildrenwasasuresignoftrouble，eithertoone’sselforone’skin。Thesayingmighthavewornoutofmymemory，hadnotacircumstanceimmediatelyfollowedwhichservedindeliblytofixitthere。ThenextdayBessiewassentforhometothedeathbedofherlittlesister。
　　OflateIhadoftenrecalledthissayingandthisincident;forduringthepastweekscarcelyanighthadgoneovermycouchthathadnotbroughtwithitadreamofaninfant，whichIsometimeshushedinmyarms，sometimesdandledonmyknee，sometimeswatchedplayingwithdaisiesonalawn，oragain，dabblingitshandsinrunningwater。Itwasawailingchildthisnight，andalaughingonethenext:nowitnestledclosetome，andnowitranfromme;butwhatevermoodtheapparitionevinced，whateveraspectitwore，itfailednotforsevensuccessivenightstomeetmethemomentIenteredthelandofslumber。
　　Ididnotlikethisiterationofoneidea—thisstrangerecurrenceofoneimage，andIgrewnervousasbedtimeapproachedandthehourofthevisiondrewnear。Itwasfromcompanionshipwiththisbaby—phantomIhadbeenrousedonthatmoonlightnightwhenIheardthecry;anditwasontheafternoonofthedayfollowingIwassummoneddownstairsbyamessagethatsomeonewantedmeinMrs。Fairfax’sroom。Onrepairingthither，Ifoundamanwaitingforme，havingtheappearanceofagentleman’sservant:hewasdressedindeepmourning，andthehatheheldinhishandwassurroundedwithacrapeband。
　　“Idaresayyouhardlyrememberme，Miss，”hesaid，risingasIentered;“butmynameisLeaven:IlivedcoachmanwithMrs。ReedwhenyouwereatGateshead，eightornineyearssince，andIlivetherestill。”
　　“Oh，Robert！howdoyoudo？Irememberyouverywell:youusedtogivemearidesometimesonMissGeorgiana’sbaypony。AndhowisBessie？YouaremarriedtoBessie？”
　　“Yes，Miss:mywifeisveryhearty，thankyou;shebroughtmeanotherlittleoneabouttwomonthssince—wehavethreenow—andbothmotherandchildarethriving。”
　　“Andarethefamilywellatthehouse，Robert？”
　　“IamsorryIcan’tgiveyoubetternewsofthem，Miss:theyareverybadlyatpresent—ingreattrouble。”
　　“Ihopenooneisdead，”Isaid，glancingathisblackdress。Hetoolookeddownatthecraperoundhishatandreplied—
　　“Mr。Johndiedyesterdaywasaweek，athischambersinLondon。”
　　“Mr。John？”
　　“Yes。”
　　“Andhowdoeshismotherbearit？”
　　“Why，yousee，MissEyre，itisnotacommonmishap:hislifehasbeenverywild:theselastthreeyearshegavehimselfuptostrangeways，andhisdeathwasshocking。”
　　“IheardfromBessiehewasnotdoingwell。”
　　“Doingwell！Hecouldnotdoworse:heruinedhishealthandhisestateamongsttheworstmenandtheworstwomen。Hegotintodebtandintojail:hismotherhelpedhimouttwice，butassoonashewasfreehereturnedtohisoldcompanionsandhabits。Hisheadwasnotstrong:theknaveshelivedamongstfooledhimbeyondanythingIeverheard。HecamedowntoGatesheadaboutthreeweeksagoandwantedmissistogiveupalltohim。Missisrefused:hermeanshavelongbeenmuchreducedbyhisextravagance;sohewentbackagain，andthenextnewswasthathewasdead。Howhedied，Godknows！—theysayhekilledhimself。”
　　Iwassilent:thethingswerefrightful。RobertLeavenresumed—
　　“Missishadbeenoutofhealthherselfforsometime:shehadgotverystout，butwasnotstrongwithit;andthelossofmoneyandfearofpovertywerequitebreakingherdown。TheinformationaboutMr。John’sdeathandthemannerofitcametoosuddenly:itbroughtonastroke。Shewasthreedayswithoutspeaking;butlastTuesdaysheseemedratherbetter:sheappearedasifshewantedtosaysomething，andkeptmakingsignstomywifeandmumbling。Itwasonlyyesterdaymorning，however，thatBessieunderstoodshewaspronouncingyourname;andatlastshemadeoutthewords，‘BringJane—fetchJaneEyre:Iwanttospeaktoher。’Bessieisnotsurewhethersheisinherrightmind，ormeansanythingbythewords;butshetoldMissReedandMissGeorgiana，andadvisedthemtosendforyou。Theyoungladiesputitoffatfirst;buttheirmothergrewsorestless，andsaid，‘Jane，Jane，’somanytimes，thatatlasttheyconsented。IleftGatesheadyesterday:andifyoucangetready，Miss，Ishouldliketotakeyoubackwithmeearlyto—morrowmorning。”
　　“Yes，Robert，Ishallbeready:itseemstomethatIoughttogo。”
　　“Ithinksotoo，Miss。Bessiesaidshewassureyouwouldnotrefuse:butIsupposeyouwillhavetoaskleavebeforeyoucangetoff？”
　　“Yes;andIwilldoitnow;”andhavingdirectedhimtotheservants’hall，andrecommendedhimtothecareofJohn’swife，andtheattentionsofJohnhimself，IwentinsearchofMr。Rochester。