IleftMoorHouseatthreeo’clockp。m。，andsoonafterfourIstoodatthefootofthesign—postofWhitcross，waitingthearrivalofthecoachwhichwastotakemetodistantThornfield。Amidstthesilenceofthosesolitaryroadsanddeserthills，Ihearditapproachfromagreatdistance。Itwasthesamevehiclewhence，ayearago，Ihadalightedonesummereveningonthisveryspot—howdesolate，andhopeless，andobjectless！ItstoppedasIbeckoned。Ientered—notnowobligedtopartwithmywholefortuneasthepriceofitsaccommodation。OncemoreontheroadtoThornfield，Ifeltlikethemessenger—pigeonflyinghome。
　　Itwasajourneyofsix—and—thirtyhours。IhadsetoutfromWhitcrossonaTuesdayafternoon，andearlyonthesucceedingThursdaymorningthecoachstoppedtowaterthehorsesatawaysideinn，situatedinthemidstofscenerywhosegreenhedgesandlargefieldsandlowpastoralhills（howmildoffeatureandverdantofhuecomparedwiththesternNorth—MidlandmoorsofMorton！）metmyeyelikethelineamentsofaoncefamiliarface。Yes，Iknewthecharacterofthislandscape:Iwassurewewerenearmybourne。
　　“HowfarisThornfieldHallfromhere？”Iaskedoftheostler。
　　“Justtwomiles，ma’am，acrossthefields。”
　　“Myjourneyisclosed，”Ithoughttomyself。Igotoutofthecoach，gaveaboxIhadintotheostler’scharge，tobekepttillIcalledforit;paidmyfare;satisfiedthecoachman，andwasgoing:thebrighteningdaygleamedonthesignoftheinn，andIreadingiltletters，“TheRochesterArms。”Myheartleaptup:Iwasalreadyonmymaster’sverylands。Itfellagain:thethoughtstruckit:—
　　“YourmasterhimselfmaybebeyondtheBritishChannel，foraughtyouknow:andthen，ifheisatThornfieldHall，towardswhichyouhasten，whobesideshimisthere？Hislunaticwife:andyouhavenothingtodowithhim:youdarenotspeaktohimorseekhispresence。Youhavelostyourlabour—youhadbettergonofarther，”urgedthemonitor。“Askinformationofthepeopleattheinn;theycangiveyouallyouseek:theycansolveyourdoubtsatonce。Gouptothatman，andinquireifMr。Rochesterbeathome。”
　　Thesuggestionwassensible，andyetIcouldnotforcemyselftoactonit。Isodreadedareplythatwouldcrushmewithdespair。Toprolongdoubtwastoprolonghope。ImightyetoncemoreseetheHallundertherayofherstar。Therewasthestilebeforeme—theveryfieldsthroughwhichIhadhurried，blind，deaf，distractedwitharevengefulfurytrackingandscourgingme，onthemorningIfledfromThornfield:ereIwellknewwhatcourseIhadresolvedtotake，Iwasinthemidstofthem。HowfastIwalked！HowIransometimes！HowIlookedforwardtocatchthefirstviewofthewell—knownwoods！WithwhatfeelingsIwelcomedsingletreesIknew，andfamiliarglimpsesofmeadowandhillbetweenthem！
　　Atlastthewoodsrose;therookeryclustereddark;aloudcawingbrokethemorningstillness。Strangedelightinspiredme:onIhastened。Anotherfieldcrossed—alanethreaded—andtherewerethecourtyardwalls—thebackoffices:thehouseitself，therookerystillhid。“Myfirstviewofitshallbeinfront，”Idetermined，“whereitsboldbattlementswillstriketheeyenoblyatonce，andwhereIcansingleoutmymaster’sverywindow:perhapshewillbestandingatit—herisesearly:perhapsheisnowwalkingintheorchard，oronthepavementinfront。CouldIbutseehim！—butamoment！Surely，inthatcase，Ishouldnotbesomadastoruntohim？Icannottell—Iamnotcertain。AndifIdid—whatthen？Godblesshim！Whatthen？Whowouldbehurtbymyoncemoretastingthelifehisglancecangiveme？Irave:perhapsatthismomentheiswatchingthesunriseoverthePyrenees，oronthetidelessseaofthesouth。”
　　Ihadcoastedalongthelowerwalloftheorchard—turneditsangle:therewasagatejustthere，openingintothemeadow，betweentwostonepillarscrownedbystoneballs。FrombehindonepillarIcouldpeeproundquietlyatthefullfrontofthemansion。Iadvancedmyheadwithprecaution，desiroustoascertainifanybedroomwindow—blindswereyetdrawnup:battlements，windows，longfront—allfromthisshelteredstationwereatmycommand。
　　ThecrowssailingoverheadperhapswatchedmewhileItookthissurvey。Iwonderwhattheythought。TheymusthaveconsideredIwasverycarefulandtimidatfirst，andthatgraduallyIgrewveryboldandreckless。Apeep，andthenalongstare;andthenadeparturefrommynicheandastrayingoutintothemeadow;andasuddenstopfullinfrontofthegreatmansion，andaprotracted，hardygazetowardsit。“Whataffectationofdiffidencewasthisatfirst？”theymighthavedemanded;“whatstupidregardlessnessnow？”
　　Hearanillustration，reader。
　　Aloverfindshismistressasleeponamossybank;hewishestocatchaglimpseofherfairfacewithoutwakingher。Hestealssoftlyoverthegrass，carefultomakenosound;hepauses—fancyingshehasstirred:hewithdraws:notforworldswouldhebeseen。Allisstill:heagainadvances:hebendsaboveher;alightveilrestsonherfeatures:heliftsit，bendslower;nowhiseyesanticipatethevisionofbeauty—warm，andblooming，andlovely，inrest。Howhurriedwastheirfirstglance！Buthowtheyfix！Howhestarts！Howhesuddenlyandvehementlyclaspsinbotharmstheformhedarednot，amomentsince，touchwithhisfinger！Howhecallsaloudaname，anddropshisburden，andgazesonitwildly！Hethusgraspsandcries，andgazes，becausehenolongerfearstowakenbyanysoundhecanutter—byanymovementhecanmake。Hethoughthislovesleptsweetly:hefindssheisstonedead。
　　Ilookedwithtimorousjoytowardsastatelyhouse:Isawablackenedruin。
　　Noneedtocowerbehindagate—post，indeed！—topeepupatchamberlattices，fearinglifewasastirbehindthem！Noneedtolistenfordoorsopening—tofancystepsonthepavementorthegravel—walk！Thelawn，thegroundsweretroddenandwaste:theportalyawnedvoid。Thefrontwas，asIhadonceseenitinadream，butawell—likewall，veryhighandveryfragile—looking，perforatedwithpanelesswindows:noroof，nobattlements，nochimneys—allhadcrashedin。
　　Andtherewasthesilenceofdeathaboutit:thesolitudeofalonesomewild。Nowonderthatlettersaddressedtopeopleherehadneverreceivedananswer:aswelldespatchepistlestoavaultinachurchaisle。ThegrimblacknessofthestonestoldbywhatfatetheHallhadfallen—byconflagration:buthowkindled？Whatstorybelongedtothisdisaster？Whatloss，besidesmortarandmarbleandwood—workhadfolloweduponit？Hadlifebeenwreckedaswellasproperty？Ifso，whose？Dreadfulquestion:therewasnooneheretoanswerit—notevendumbsign，mutetoken。
　　Inwanderingroundtheshatteredwallsandthroughthedevastatedinterior，Igatheredevidencethatthecalamitywasnotoflateoccurrence。Wintersnows，Ithought，haddriftedthroughthatvoidarch，winterrainsbeateninatthosehollowcasements;for，amidstthedrenchedpilesofrubbish，springhadcherishedvegetation:grassandweedgrewhereandtherebetweenthestonesandfallenrafters。Andoh！wheremeantimewasthehaplessownerofthiswreck？Inwhatland？Underwhatauspices？Myeyeinvoluntarilywanderedtothegreychurchtowernearthegates，andIasked，“IshewithDamerdeRochester，sharingtheshelterofhisnarrowmarblehouse？”
　　Someanswermustbehadtothesequestions。Icouldfinditnowherebutattheinn，andthither，erelong，Ireturned。Thehosthimselfbroughtmybreakfastintotheparlour。Irequestedhimtoshutthedoorandsitdown:Ihadsomequestionstoaskhim。Butwhenhecomplied，Iscarcelyknewhowtobegin;suchhorrorhadIofthepossibleanswers。AndyetthespectacleofdesolationIhadjustleftpreparedmeinameasureforataleofmisery。Thehostwasarespectable—looking，middle—agedman。
　　“YouknowThornfieldHall，ofcourse？”Imanagedtosayatlast。
　　“Yes，ma’am;Ilivedthereonce。”
　　“Didyou？”Notinmytime，Ithought:youareastrangertome。
　　“IwasthelateMr。Rochester’sbutler，”headded。
　　Thelate！Iseemtohavereceived，withfullforce，theblowIhadbeentryingtoevade。
　　“Thelate！”gasped。“Ishedead？”
　　“Imeanthepresentgentleman，Mr。Edward’sfather，”heexplained。Ibreathedagain:mybloodresumeditsflow。FullyassuredbythesewordsthatMr。Edward—myMr。Rochester（Godblesshim，whereverhewas！）—wasatleastalive:was，inshort，“thepresentgentleman。”Gladdeningwords！ItseemedIcouldhearallthatwastocome—whateverthedisclosuresmightbe—withcomparativetranquillity。Sincehewasnotinthegrave，Icouldbear，Ithought，tolearnthathewasattheAntipodes。
　　“IsMr。RochesterlivingatThornfieldHallnow？”Iasked，knowing，ofcourse，whattheanswerwouldbe，butyetdesirousofdeferringthedirectquestionastowherehereallywas。
　　“No，ma’am—oh，no！Nooneislivingthere。Isupposeyouareastrangerintheseparts，oryouwouldhaveheardwhathappenedlastautumn，—ThornfieldHallisquitearuin:itwasburntdownjustaboutharvest—time。Adreadfulcalamity！suchanimmensequantityofvaluablepropertydestroyed:hardlyanyofthefurniturecouldbesaved。Thefirebrokeoutatdeadofnight，andbeforetheenginesarrivedfromMillcote，thebuildingwasonemassofflame。Itwasaterriblespectacle:Iwitnesseditmyself。”
　　“Atdeadofnight！”Imuttered。Yes，thatwaseverthehouroffatalityatThornfield。“Wasitknownhowitoriginated？”Idemanded。
　　“Theyguessed，ma’am:theyguessed。Indeed，Ishouldsayitwasascertainedbeyondadoubt。Youarenotperhapsaware，”hecontinued，edginghischairalittlenearerthetable，andspeakinglow，“thattherewasalady—a—alunatic，keptinthehouse？”
　　“Ihaveheardsomethingofit。”
　　“Shewaskeptinverycloseconfinement，ma’am:peopleevenforsomeyearswasnotabsolutelycertainofherexistence。Noonesawher:theyonlyknewbyrumourthatsuchapersonwasattheHall;andwhoorwhatshewasitwasdifficulttoconjecture。TheysaidMr。Edwardhadbroughtherfromabroad，andsomebelievedshehadbeenhismistress。Butaqueerthinghappenedayearsince—averyqueerthing。”
　　Ifearednowtohearmyownstory。Iendeavouredtorecallhimtothemainfact。
　　“Andthislady？”
　　“Thislady，ma’am，”heanswered，“turnedouttobeMr。Rochester’swife！Thediscoverywasbroughtaboutinthestrangestway。Therewasayounglady，agovernessattheHall，thatMr。Rochesterfellin—”
　　“Butthefire，”Isuggested。
　　“I’mcomingtothat，ma’am—thatMr。Edwardfellinlovewith。Theservantssaytheyneversawanybodysomuchinloveashewas:hewasafterhercontinually。Theyusedtowatchhim—servantswill，youknow，ma’am—andhesetstoreonherpasteverything:forall，nobodybuthimthoughthersoveryhandsome。Shewasalittlesmallthing，theysay，almostlikeachild。Ineversawhermyself;butI’veheardLeah，thehouse—maid，tellofher。Leahlikedherwellenough。Mr。Rochesterwasaboutforty，andthisgovernessnottwenty;andyousee，whengentlemenofhisagefallinlovewithgirls，theyareoftenlikeasiftheywerebewitched。Well，hewouldmarryher。”
　　“Youshalltellmethispartofthestoryanothertime，”Isaid;“butnowIhaveaparticularreasonforwishingtohearallaboutthefire。Wasitsuspectedthatthislunatic，Mrs。Rochester，hadanyhandinit？”
　　“You’vehitit，ma’am:it’squitecertainthatitwasher，andnobodybuther，thatsetitgoing。ShehadawomantotakecareofhercalledMrs。Poole—anablewomaninherline，andverytrustworthy，butforonefault—afaultcommontoadealofthemnursesandmatrons—shekeptaprivatebottleofginbyher，andnowandthentookadropover—much。Itisexcusable，forshehadahardlifeofit:butstillitwasdangerous;forwhenMrs。Poolewasfastasleepaftertheginandwater，themadlady，whowasascunningasawitch，wouldtakethekeysoutofherpocket，letherselfoutofherchamber，andgoroamingaboutthehouse，doinganywildmischiefthatcameintoherhead。Theysayshehadnearlyburntherhusbandinhisbedonce:butIdon’tknowaboutthat。However，onthisnight，shesetfirefirsttothehangingsoftheroomnextherown，andthenshegotdowntoalowerstorey，andmadeherwaytothechamberthathadbeenthegoverness’s—（shewaslikeasifsheknewsomehowhowmattershadgoneon，andhadaspiteather）—andshekindledthebedthere;buttherewasnobodysleepinginit，fortunately。Thegovernesshadrunawaytwomonthsbefore;andforallMr。Rochestersoughtherasifshehadbeenthemostpreciousthinghehadintheworld，henevercouldhearawordofher;andhegrewsavage—quitesavageonhisdisappointment:heneverwasawildman，buthegotdangerousafterhelosther。Hewouldbealone，too。HesentMrs。Fairfax，thehousekeeper，awaytoherfriendsatadistance;buthedidithandsomely，forhesettledanannuityonherforlife:andshedeservedit—shewasaverygoodwoman。MissAdèle，awardhehad，wasputtoschool。Hebrokeoffacquaintancewithallthegentry，andshuthimselfuplikeahermitattheHall。”
　　“What！didhenotleaveEngland？”
　　“LeaveEngland？Blessyou，no！Hewouldnotcrossthedoor—stonesofthehouse，exceptatnight，whenhewalkedjustlikeaghostaboutthegroundsandintheorchardasifhehadlosthissenses—whichitismyopinionhehad;foramorespirited，bolder，keenergentlemanthanhewasbeforethatmidgeofagovernesscrossedhim，youneversaw，ma’am。Hewasnotamangiventowine，orcards，orracing，assomeare，andhewasnotsoveryhandsome;buthehadacourageandawillofhisown，ifevermanhad。Iknewhimfromaboy，yousee:andformypart，IhaveoftenwishedthatMissEyrehadbeensunkintheseabeforeshecametoThornfieldHall。”
　　“ThenMr。Rochesterwasathomewhenthefirebrokeout？”
　　“Yes，indeedwashe;andhewentuptotheatticswhenallwasburningaboveandbelow，andgottheservantsoutoftheirbedsandhelpedthemdownhimself，andwentbacktogethismadwifeoutofhercell。Andthentheycalledouttohimthatshewasontheroof，whereshewasstanding，wavingherarms，abovethebattlements，andshoutingouttilltheycouldhearheramileoff:Isawherandheardherwithmyowneyes。Shewasabigwoman，andhadlongblackhair:wecouldseeitstreamingagainsttheflamesasshestood。Iwitnessed，andseveralmorewitnessed，Mr。Rochesterascendthroughthesky—lightontotheroof;weheardhimcall‘Bertha！’Wesawhimapproachher;andthen，ma’am，sheyelledandgaveaspring，andthenextminuteshelaysmashedonthepavement。”
　　“Dead？”
　　“Dead！Ay，deadasthestonesonwhichherbrainsandbloodwerescattered。”
　　“GoodGod！”
　　“Youmaywellsayso，ma’am:itwasfrightful！”
　　Heshuddered。
　　“Andafterwards？”Iurged。
　　“Well，ma’am，afterwardsthehousewasburnttotheground:thereareonlysomebitsofwallsstandingnow。”
　　“Wereanyotherliveslost？”
　　“No—perhapsitwouldhavebeenbetteriftherehad。”
　　“Whatdoyoumean？”
　　“PoorMr。Edward！”heejaculated，“Ilittlethoughtevertohaveseenit！Somesayitwasajustjudgmentonhimforkeepinghisfirstmarriagesecret，andwantingtotakeanotherwifewhilehehadoneliving:butIpityhim，formypart。”
　　“Yousaidhewasalive？”Iexclaimed。
　　“Yes，yes:heisalive;butmanythinkhehadbetterhedead。”
　　“Why？How？”Mybloodwasagainrunningcold。“Whereishe？”Idemanded。“IsheinEngland？”
　　“Ay—ay—he’sinEngland;hecan’tgetoutofEngland，Ifancy—he’safixturenow。”
　　Whatagonywasthis！Andthemanseemedresolvedtoprotractit。
　　“Heisstone—blind，”hesaidatlast。“Yes，heisstone—blind，isMr。Edward。”
　　Ihaddreadedworse。Ihaddreadedhewasmad。Isummonedstrengthtoaskwhathadcausedthiscalamity。
　　“Itwasallhisowncourage，andabodymaysay，hiskindness，inaway，ma’am:hewouldn’tleavethehousetilleveryoneelsewasoutbeforehim。Ashecamedownthegreatstaircaseatlast，afterMrs。Rochesterhadflungherselffromthebattlements，therewasagreatcrash—allfell。Hewastakenoutfromundertheruins，alive，butsadlyhurt:abeamhadfalleninsuchawayastoprotecthimpartly;butoneeyewasknockedout，andonehandsocrushedthatMr。Carter，thesurgeon，hadtoamputateitdirectly。Theothereyeinflamed:helostthesightofthatalso。Heisnowhelpless，indeed—blindandacripple。”
　　“Whereishe？Wheredoeshenowlive？”
　　“AtFerndean，amanor—houseonafarmhehas，aboutthirtymilesoff:quiteadesolatespot。”
　　“Whoiswithhim？”
　　“OldJohnandhiswife:hewouldhavenoneelse。Heisquitebrokendown，theysay。”
　　“Haveyouanysortofconveyance？”
　　“Wehaveachaise，ma’am，averyhandsomechaise。”
　　“Letitbegotreadyinstantly;andifyourpost—boycandrivemetoFerndeanbeforedarkthisday，I’llpaybothyouandhimtwicethehireyouusuallydemand。”
　　Chapter37
　　Themanor—houseofFerndeanwasabuildingofconsiderableantiquity，moderatesize，andnoarchitecturalpretensions，deepburiedinawood。Ihadheardofitbefore。Mr。Rochesteroftenspokeofit，andsometimeswentthere。Hisfatherhadpurchasedtheestateforthesakeofthegamecovers。Hewouldhaveletthehouse，butcouldfindnotenant，inconsequenceofitsineligibleandinsalubrioussite。Ferndeanthenremaineduninhabitedandunfurnished，withtheexceptionofsometwoorthreeroomsfittedupfortheaccommodationofthesquirewhenhewentthereintheseasontoshoot。
　　TothishouseIcamejusteredarkonaneveningmarkedbythecharacteristicsofsadsky，coldgale，andcontinuedsmallpenetratingrain。ThelastmileIperformedonfoot，havingdismissedthechaiseanddriverwiththedoubleremunerationIhadpromised。Evenwhenwithinaveryshortdistanceofthemanor—house，youcouldseenothingofit，sothickanddarkgrewthetimberofthegloomywoodaboutit。Irongatesbetweengranitepillarsshowedmewheretoenter，andpassingthroughthem，Ifoundmyselfatonceinthetwilightofclose—rankedtrees。Therewasagrass—growntrackdescendingtheforestaislebetweenhoarandknottyshaftsandunderbranchedarches。Ifollowedit，expectingsoontoreachthedwelling;butitstretchedonandon，itwouldfarandfarther:nosignofhabitationorgroundswasvisible。
　　IthoughtIhadtakenawrongdirectionandlostmyway。Thedarknessofnaturalaswellasofsylvanduskgatheredoverme。Ilookedroundinsearchofanotherroad。Therewasnone:allwasinterwovenstem，columnartrunk，densesummerfoliage—noopeninganywhere。
　　Iproceeded:atlastmywayopened，thetreesthinnedalittle;presentlyIbeheldarailing，thenthehouse—scarce，bythisdimlight，distinguishablefromthetrees;sodankandgreenwereitsdecayingwalls。Enteringaportal，fastenedonlybyalatch，Istoodamidstaspaceofenclosedground，fromwhichthewoodsweptawayinasemicircle。Therewerenoflowers，nogarden—beds;onlyabroadgravel—walkgirdlingagrass—plat，andthissetintheheavyframeoftheforest。Thehousepresentedtwopointedgablesinitsfront;thewindowswerelatticedandnarrow:thefrontdoorwasnarrowtoo，onestepleduptoit。Thewholelooked，asthehostoftheRochesterArmshadsaid，“quiteadesolatespot。”Itwasasstillasachurchonaweek—day:thepatteringrainontheforestleaveswastheonlysoundaudibleinitsvicinage。
　　“Cantherebelifehere？”Iasked。
　　Yes，lifeofsomekindtherewas;forIheardamovement—thatnarrowfront—doorwasunclosing，andsomeshapewasabouttoissuefromthegrange。
　　Itopenedslowly:afigurecameoutintothetwilightandstoodonthestep;amanwithoutahat:hestretchedforthhishandasiftofeelwhetheritrained。Duskasitwas，Ihadrecognisedhim—itwasmymaster，EdwardFairfaxRochester，andnoother。
　　Istayedmystep，almostmybreath，andstoodtowatchhim—toexaminehim，myselfunseen，andalas！tohiminvisible。Itwasasuddenmeeting，andoneinwhichrapturewaskeptwellincheckbypain。Ihadnodifficultyinrestrainingmyvoicefromexclamation，mystepfromhastyadvance。
　　Hisformwasofthesamestrongandstalwartcontourasever:hisportwasstillerect，hisheirwasstillravenblack;norwerehisfeaturesalteredorsunk:notinoneyear’sspace，byanysorrow，couldhisathleticstrengthbequelledorhisvigorousprimeblighted。ButinhiscountenanceIsawachange:thatlookeddesperateandbrooding—thatremindedmeofsomewrongedandfetteredwildbeastorbird，dangeroustoapproachinhissullenwoe。Thecagedeagle，whosegold—ringedeyescrueltyhasextinguished，mightlookaslookedthatsightlessSamson。
　　And，reader，doyouthinkIfearedhiminhisblindferocity？—ifyoudo，youlittleknowme。AsofthopeblestwithmysorrowthatsoonIshoulddaretodropakissonthatbrowofrock，andonthoselipssosternlysealedbeneathit:butnotyet。Iwouldnotaccosthimyet。
　　Hedescendedtheonestep，andadvancedslowlyandgropinglytowardsthegrass—plat。Wherewashisdaringstridenow？Thenhepaused，asifheknewnotwhichwaytoturn。Heliftedhishandandopenedhiseyelids;gazedblank，andwithastrainingeffort，onthesky，andtowardtheamphitheatreoftrees:onesawthatalltohimwasvoiddarkness。Hestretchedhisrighthand（theleftarm，themutilatedone，hekepthiddeninhisbosom）;heseemedtowishbytouchtogainanideaofwhatlayaroundhim:hemetbutvacancystill;forthetreesweresomeyardsoffwherehestood。Herelinquishedtheendeavour，foldedhisarms，andstoodquietandmuteintherain，nowfallingfastonhisuncoveredhead。AtthismomentJohnapproachedhimfromsomequarter。
　　“Willyoutakemyarm，sir？”hesaid;“thereisaheavyshowercomingon:hadyounotbettergoin？”
　　“Letmealone，”wastheanswer。
　　Johnwithdrewwithouthavingobservedme。Mr。Rochesternowtriedtowalkabout:vainly，—allwastoouncertain。Hegropedhiswaybacktothehouse，and，re—enteringit，closedthedoor。
　　Inowdrewnearandknocked:John’swifeopenedforme。“Mary，”Isaid，“howareyou？”
　　Shestartedasifshehadseenaghost:Icalmedher。Toherhurried“Isitreallyyou，miss，comeatthislatehourtothislonelyplace？”Iansweredbytakingherhand;andthenIfollowedherintothekitchen，whereJohnnowsatbyagoodfire。Iexplainedtothem，infewwords，thatIhadheardallwhichhadhappenedsinceIleftThornfield，andthatIwascometoseeMr。Rochester。IaskedJohntogodowntotheturn—pike—house，whereIhaddismissedthechaise，andbringmytrunk，whichIhadleftthere:andthen，whileIremovedmybonnetandshawl，IquestionedMaryastowhetherIcouldbeaccommodatedattheManorHouseforthenight;andfindingthatarrangementstothateffect，thoughdifficult，wouldnotbeimpossible，IinformedherIshouldstay。Justatthismomenttheparlour—bellrang。
　　“Whenyougoin，”saidI，“tellyourmasterthatapersonwishestospeaktohim，butdonotgivemyname。”
　　“Idon’tthinkhewillseeyou，”sheanswered;“herefuseseverybody。”
　　Whenshereturned，Iinquiredwhathehadsaid。“Youaretosendinyournameandyourbusiness，”shereplied。Shethenproceededtofillaglasswithwater，andplaceitonatray，togetherwithcandles。
　　“Isthatwhatherangfor？”Iasked。
　　“Yes:healwayshascandlesbroughtinatdark，thoughheisblind。”
　　“Givethetraytome;Iwillcarryitin。”
　　Itookitfromherhand:shepointedmeouttheparlourdoor。ThetrayshookasIheldit;thewaterspiltfromtheglass;myheartstruckmyribsloudandfast。Maryopenedthedoorforme，andshutitbehindme。
　　Thisparlourlookedgloomy:aneglectedhandfuloffireburntlowinthegrate;and，leaningoverit，withhisheadsupportedagainstthehigh，old—fashionedmantelpiece，appearedtheblindtenantoftheroom。Hisolddog，Pilot，layononeside，removedoutoftheway，andcoiledupasifafraidofbeinginadvertentlytroddenupon。PilotprickeduphisearswhenIcamein:thenhejumpedupwithayelpandawhine，andboundedtowardsme:healmostknockedthetrayfrommyhands。Isetitonthetable;thenpattedhim，andsaidsoftly，“Liedown！”Mr。Rochesterturnedmechanicallytoseewhatthecommotionwas:butashesawnothing，hereturnedandsighed。
　　“Givemethewater，Mary，”hesaid。
　　Iapproachedhimwiththenowonlyhalf—filledglass;Pilotfollowedme，stillexcited。
　　“Whatisthematter？”heinquired。
　　“Down，Pilot！”Iagainsaid。Hecheckedthewateronitswaytohislips，andseemedtolisten:hedrank，andputtheglassdown。“Thisisyou，Mary，isitnot？”
　　“Maryisinthekitchen，”Ianswered。
　　Heputouthishandwithaquickgesture，butnotseeingwhereIstood，hedidnottouchme。“Whoisthis？Whoisthis？”hedemanded，trying，asitseemed，toSEEwiththosesightlesseyes—unavailinganddistressingattempt！“Answerme—speakagain！”heordered，imperiouslyandaloud。
　　“Willyouhavealittlemorewater，sir？Ispilthalfofwhatwasintheglass，”Isaid。
　　“Whoisit？Whatisit？Whospeaks？”
　　“Pilotknowsme，andJohnandMaryknowIamhere。Icameonlythisevening，”Ianswered。
　　“GreatGod！—whatdelusionhascomeoverme？Whatsweetmadnesshasseizedme？”
　　“Nodelusion—nomadness:yourmind，sir，istoostrongfordelusion，yourhealthtoosoundforfrenzy。”
　　“Andwhereisthespeaker？Isitonlyavoice？Oh！Icannotsee，butImustfeel，ormyheartwillstopandmybrainburst。Whatever—whoeveryouare—beperceptibletothetouchorIcannotlive！”
　　Hegroped;Iarrestedhiswanderinghand，andprisoneditinbothmine。
　　“Herveryfingers！”hecried;“hersmall，slightfingers！Ifsotheremustbemoreofher。”
　　Themuscularhandbrokefrommycustody;myarmwasseized，myshoulder—neck—waist—Iwasentwinedandgatheredtohim。
　　“IsitJane？Whatisit？Thisishershape—thisishersize—”
　　“Andthishervoice，”Iadded。“Sheisallhere:herheart，too。Godblessyou，sir！Iamgladtobesonearyouagain。”
　　“JaneEyre！—JaneEyre，”wasallhesaid。
　　“Mydearmaster，”Ianswered，“IamJaneEyre:Ihavefoundyouout—Iamcomebacktoyou。”
　　“Intruth？—intheflesh？MylivingJane？”
　　“Youtouchme，sir，—youholdme，andfastenough:Iamnotcoldlikeacorpse，norvacantlikeair，amI？”
　　“Mylivingdarling！Thesearecertainlyherlimbs，andtheseherfeatures;butIcannotbesoblest，afterallmymisery。Itisadream;suchdreamsasIhavehadatnightwhenIhaveclaspedheroncemoretomyheart，asIdonow;andkissedher，asthus—andfeltthatshelovedme，andtrustedthatshewouldnotleaveme。”
　　“WhichIneverwill，sir，fromthisday。”
　　“Neverwill，saysthevision？ButIalwayswokeandfounditanemptymockery;andIwasdesolateandabandoned—mylifedark，lonely，hopeless—mysoulathirstandforbiddentodrink—myheartfamishedandnevertobefed。Gentle，softdream，nestlinginmyarmsnow，youwillfly，too，asyoursistershaveallfledbeforeyou:butkissmebeforeyougo—embraceme，Jane。”
　　“There，sir—andthere！”’
　　Ipressedmylipstohisoncebrilliantandnowraylesseyes—Iswepthishairfromhisbrow，andkissedthattoo。Hesuddenlyseemedtoarousehimself:theconvictionoftherealityofallthisseizedhim。
　　“Itisyou—isit，Jane？Youarecomebacktomethen？”
　　“Iam。”
　　“Andyoudonotliedeadinsomeditchundersomestream？Andyouarenotapiningoutcastamongststrangers？”
　　“No，sir！Iamanindependentwomannow。”
　　“Independent！Whatdoyoumean，Jane？”
　　“MyuncleinMadeiraisdead，andheleftmefivethousandpounds。”
　　“Ah！thisispractical—thisisreal！”hecried:“Ishouldneverdreamthat。Besides，thereisthatpeculiarvoiceofhers，soanimatingandpiquant，aswellassoft:itcheersmywitheredheart;itputslifeintoit。—What，Janet！Areyouanindependentwoman？Arichwoman？”
　　“Ifyouwon’tletmelivewithyou，Icanbuildahouseofmyowncloseuptoyourdoor，andyoumaycomeandsitinmyparlourwhenyouwantcompanyofanevening。”
　　“Butasyouarerich，Jane，youhavenow，nodoubt，friendswhowilllookafteryou，andnotsufferyoutodevoteyourselftoablindlameterlikeme？”
　　“ItoldyouIamindependent，sir，aswellasrich:Iammyownmistress。”
　　“Andyouwillstaywithme？”
　　“Certainly—unlessyouobject。Iwillbeyourneighbour，yournurse，yourhousekeeper。Ifindyoulonely:Iwillbeyourcompanion—toreadtoyou，towalkwithyou，tositwithyou，towaitonyou，tobeeyesandhandstoyou。Ceasetolooksomelancholy，mydearmaster;youshallnotbeleftdesolate，solongasIlive。”
　　Herepliednot:heseemedserious—abstracted;hesighed;hehalf—openedhislipsasiftospeak:heclosedthemagain。Ifeltalittleembarrassed。PerhapsIhadtoorashlyover—leapedconventionalities;andhe，likeSt。John，sawimproprietyinmyinconsiderateness。Ihadindeedmademyproposalfromtheideathathewishedandwouldaskmetobehiswife:anexpectation，notthelesscertainbecauseunexpressed，hadbuoyedmeup，thathewouldclaimmeatonceashisown。Butnohinttothateffectescapinghimandhiscountenancebecomingmoreovercast，IsuddenlyrememberedthatImighthavebeenallwrong，andwasperhapsplayingthefoolunwittingly;andIbegangentlytowithdrawmyselffromhisarms—butheeagerlysnatchedmecloser。
　　“No—no—Jane;youmustnotgo。No—Ihavetouchedyou，heardyou，feltthecomfortofyourpresence—thesweetnessofyourconsolation:Icannotgiveupthesejoys。Ihavelittleleftinmyself—Imusthaveyou。Theworldmaylaugh—maycallmeabsurd，selfish—butitdoesnotsignify。Myverysouldemandsyou:itwillbesatisfied，oritwilltakedeadlyvengeanceonitsframe。”
　　“Well，sir，Iwillstaywithyou:Ihavesaidso。”
　　“Yes—butyouunderstandonethingbystayingwithme;andIunderstandanother。You，perhaps，couldmakeupyourmindtobeaboutmyhandandchair—towaitonmeasakindlittlenurse（foryouhaveanaffectionateheartandagenerousspirit，whichpromptyoutomakesacrificesforthoseyoupity），andthatoughttosufficeformenodoubt。IsupposeIshouldnowentertainnonebutfatherlyfeelingsforyou:doyouthinkso？Come—tellme。”
　　“Iwillthinkwhatyoulike，sir:Iamcontenttobeonlyyournurse，ifyouthinkitbetter。”
　　“Butyoucannotalwaysbemynurse，Janet:youareyoung—youmustmarryoneday。”
　　“Idon’tcareaboutbeingmarried。”
　　“Youshouldcare，Janet:ifIwerewhatIoncewas，Iwouldtrytomakeyoucare—but—asightlessblock！”
　　Herelapsedagainintogloom。I，onthecontrary，becamemorecheerful，andtookfreshcourage:theselastwordsgavemeaninsightastowherethedifficultylay;andasitwasnodifficultywithme，Ifeltquiterelievedfrommypreviousembarrassment。Iresumedalivelierveinofconversation。
　　“Itistimesomeoneundertooktorehumaniseyou，”saidI，partinghisthickandlonguncutlocks;“forIseeyouarebeingmetamorphosedintoalion，orsomethingofthatsort。Youhavea‘fauxair’ofNebuchadnezzarinthefieldsaboutyou，thatiscertain:yourhairremindsmeofeagles’feathers;whetheryournailsaregrownlikebirds’clawsornot，Ihavenotyetnoticed。”
　　“Onthisarm，Ihaveneitherhandnornails，”hesaid，drawingthemutilatedlimbfromhisbreast，andshowingittome。“Itisamerestump—aghastlysight！Don’tyouthinkso，Jane？”
　　“Itisapitytoseeit;andapitytoseeyoureyes—andthescaroffireonyourforehead:andtheworstofitis，oneisindangeroflovingyoutoowellforallthis;andmakingtoomuchofyou。”
　　“Ithoughtyouwouldberevolted，Jane，whenyousawmyarm，andmycicatrisedvisage。”
　　“Didyou？Don’ttellmeso—lestIshouldsaysomethingdisparagingtoyourjudgment。Now，letmeleaveyouaninstant，tomakeabetterfire，andhavethehearthsweptup。Canyoutellwhenthereisagoodfire？”
　　“Yes;withtherighteyeIseeaglow—aruddyhaze。”
　　“Andyouseethecandles？”
　　“Verydimly—eachisaluminouscloud。”