\'Est—cequemarobevabien？\'criedshe，boundingforwards;
\'etmessouliers？etmesbas？Tenez，jecroisquejevaisdanser！\'
Andspreadingoutherdress，shechasseedacrosstheroom;
till，havingreachedMr。Rochester，shewheeledlightlyroundbeforehimontip—toe，thendroppedononekneeathisfeet，exclaiming—
\'Monsieur，jevousremerciemillefoisdevotrebonte;
thenrising，sheadded，\'C\'estcommecelaquemamanfaisait，n\'est—cepas，monsieur？\'
\'Pre—cise—ly！\'wastheanswer;\'and，\"commecella，\"shecharmedmyEnglishgoldoutofmyBritishbreeches\'pocket。Ihavebeengreen，too，MissEyre—ay，grassgreen:notamorevernaltintfreshensyounowthanoncefreshenedme。MySpringisgone，however，butithasleftmethatFrenchfloweretonmyhands，which，insomemoods，I
wouldfainberidof。Notvaluingnowtherootwhenceitsprang;
havingfoundthatitwasofasortwhichnothingbutgolddustcouldmanure，Ihavebuthalfalikingtotheblossom，especiallywhenitlookssoartificialasjustnow。IkeepitandrearitratherontheRomanCatholicprincipleofexpiatingnumeroussins，greatorsmall，byonegoodwork。I\'llexplainallthissomeday。Good—night。\'
chapter15
CHAPTERXV
MR。ROCHESTERdid，onafutureoccasion，explainit。Itwasoneafternoon，whenhechancedtomeetmeandAdeleinthegrounds:andwhilesheplayedwithPilotandhershuttlecock，heaskedmetowalkupanddownalongbeechavenuewithinsightofher。
HethensaidthatshewasthedaughterofaFrenchopera—dancer，CelineVarens，towardswhomhehadoncecherishedwhathecalleda\'grandepassion。\'ThispassionCelinehadprofessedtoreturnwithevensuperiorardour。Hethoughthimselfheridol，uglyashewas:
hebelieved，ashesaid，thatshepreferredhis\'tailled\'athlete\'
totheeleganceoftheApolloBelvidere。
\'And，MissEyre，somuchwasIflatteredbythispreferenceoftheGallicsylphforherBritishgnome，thatIinstalledherinanhotel;gaveheracompleteestablishmentofservants，acarriage，cashmeres，diamonds，dentelles，etc。Inshort，Ibegantheprocessofruiningmyselfinthereceivedstyle，likeanyotherspoony。I
hadnot，itseems，theoriginalitytochalkoutanewroadtoshameanddestruction，buttrodetheoldtrackwithstupidexactnessnottodeviateaninchfromthebeatencentre。Ihad—asIdeservedtohave—thefateofallotherspoonies。HappeningtocalloneeveningwhenCelinedidnotexpectme，Ifoundherout;butitwasawarmnight，andIwastiredwithstrollingthroughParis，soIsatdowninherboudoir;happytobreathetheairconsecratedsolatelybyherpresence。No，—Iexaggerate;Ineverthoughttherewasanyconsecratingvirtueabouther:itwasratherasortofpastilleperfumeshehadleft;ascentofmuskandamber，thananodourofsanctity。Iwasjustbeginningtostiflewiththefumesofconservatoryflowersandsprinkledessences，whenIbethoughtmyselftoopenthewindowandstepoutontothebalcony。Itwasmoonlightandgaslightbesides，andverystillandserene。Thebalconywasfurnishedwithachairortwo;Isatdown，andtookoutacigar，—I
willtakeonenow，ifyouwillexcuseme。\'
Hereensuedapause，filledupbytheproducingandlightingofacigar;havingplacedittohislipsandbreathedatrailofHavannahincenseonthefreezingandsunlessair，hewenton—
\'Ilikedbonbonstoointhosedays，MissEyre，andIwascroquant—（overlookthebarbarism）—croquantchocolatecomfits，andsmokingalternately，watchingmeantimetheequipagesthatrolledalongthefashionablestreetstowardstheneighbouringopera—house，wheninanelegantclosecarriagedrawnbyabeautifulpairofEnglishhorses，anddistinctlyseeninthebrilliantcity—night，I
recognisedthe\"voiture\"IhadgivenCeline。Shewasreturning:ofcoursemyheartthumpedwithimpatienceagainsttheironrailsIleantupon。Thecarriagestopped，asIhadexpected，atthehoteldoor;myflame（thatistheverywordforanoperainamorata）alighted:
thoughmuffledinacloak—anunnecessaryencumbrance，bythebye，onsowarmaJuneevening—Iknewherinstantlybyherlittlefoot，seenpeepingfromtheskirtofherdress，assheskippedfromthecarriagestep。Bendingoverthebalcony，Iwasabouttomurmur\"Monange\"—inatone，ofcourse，whichshouldbeaudibletotheearoflovealone—whenafigurejumpedfromthecarriageafterher;
cloakedalso;butthatwasaspurredheelwhichhadrungonthepavement，andthatwasahattedheadwhichnowpassedunderthearchedportecochereofthehotel。
\'Youneverfeltjealousy，didyou，MissEyre？Ofcoursenot:Ineednotaskyou;becauseyouneverfeltlove。Youhavebothsentimentsyettoexperience:yoursoulsleeps;theshockisyettobegivenwhichshallwakenit。Youthinkallexistencelapsesinasquietaflowasthatinwhichyouryouthhashithertoslidaway。Floatingonwithclosedeyesandmuffledears，youneitherseetherocksbristlingnotfaroffinthebedoftheflood，norhearthebreakersboilattheirbase。ButItellyou—andyoumaymarkmywords—youwillcomesomedaytoacraggypassinthechannel，wherethewholeoflife\'sstreamwillbebrokenupintowhirlandtumult，foamandnoise:eitheryouwillbedashedtoatomsoncragpoints，orliftedupandborneonbysomemaster—waveintoacalmercurrent—asIamnow。
\'Ilikethisday;Ilikethatskyofsteel;Ilikethesternessandstillnessoftheworldunderthisfrost。IlikeThornfield，itsantiquity，itsretirement，itsoldcrow—treesandthorn—trees，itsgreyfacade，andlinesofdarkwindowsreflectingthatmetalwelkin:
andyethowlonghaveIabhorredtheverythoughtofit，shunneditlikeagreatplague—house？HowIdostillabhor—\'
Hegroundhisteethandwassilent:hearrestedhisstepandstruckhisbootagainstthehardground。Somehatedthoughtseemedtohavehiminitsgrip，andtoholdhimsotightlythathecouldnotadvance。
Wewereascendingtheavenuewhenhethuspaused;thehallwasbeforeus。Liftinghiseyetoitsbattlements，hecastoverthemaglaresuchasIneversawbeforeorsince。Pain，shame，ire，impatience，disgust，detestation，seemedmomentarilytoholdaquiveringconflictinthelargepupildilatingunderhiseboneyebrow。
Wildwasthewrestlewhichshouldbeparamount;butanotherfeelingroseandtriumphed:somethinghardandcynical:self—willedandresolute:itsettledhispassionandpetrifiedhiscountenance:hewenton—
\'DuringthemomentIwassilent，MissEyre，Iwasarrangingapointwithmydestiny。Shestoodthere，bythatbeech—trunk—ahaglikeoneofthosewhoappearedtoMacbethontheheathofForres。\"YoulikeThornfield？\"shesaid，liftingherfinger;andthenshewroteintheairamemento，whichraninluridhieroglyphicsallalongthehouse—front，betweentheupperandlowerrowofwindows，\"Likeitifyoucan？Likeitifyoudare！\"
\'\"Iwilllikeit\"saidI;\"Idarelikeit;\"and\'（hesubjoinedmoodily）\'Iwillkeepmyword;Iwillbreakobstaclestohappiness，togoodness—yes，goodness。IwishtobeabettermanthanIhavebeen，thanIam;asJob\'sleviathanbrokethespear，thedart，andthehabergeon，hindranceswhichotherscountasironandbrass，Iwillesteembutstrawandrottenwood。\'
Adelehereranbeforehimwithhershuttlecock。\'Away！\'
hecriedharshly;\'keepatadistance，child;orgointoSophie！\'Continuingthentopursuehiswalkinsilence，Iventuredtorecallhimtothepointwhencehehadabruptlydiverged—
\'Didyouleavethebalcony，sir，\'Iasked，\'whenMdlle。
Varensentered？\'
Ialmostexpectedarebuffforthishardlywell—timedquestion，but，onthecontrary，wakingoutofhisscowlingabstraction，heturnedhiseyestowardsme，andtheshadeseemedtoclearoffhisbrow。\'Oh，IhadforgottenCeline！Well，toresume。WhenIsawmycharmerthuscomeinaccompaniedbyacavalier，Iseemedtohearahiss，andthegreensnakeofjealousy，risingonundulatingcoilsfromthemoonlitbalcony，glidedwithinmywaistcoat，andateitswayintwominutestomyheart\'score。Strange！\'heexclaimed，suddenlystartingagainfromthepoint。\'StrangethatIshouldchooseyoufortheconfidantofallthis，younglady;passingstrangethatyoushouldlistentomequietly，asifitwerethemostusualthingintheworldforamanlikemetotellstoriesofhisopera—mistressestoaquaint，inexperiencedgirllikeyou！Butthelastsingularityexplainsthefirst，asIintimatedoncebefore:you，withyourgravity，considerateness，andcautionweremadetobetherecipientofsecrets。
Besides，IknowwhatsortofamindIhaveplacedincommunicationwithmyown:Iknowitisonenotliabletotakeinfection:itisapeculiarmind:itisauniqueone。HappilyIdonotmeantoharmit:
but，ifIdid，itwouldnottakeharmfromme。ThemoreyouandI
converse，thebetter;forwhileIcannotblightyou，youmayrefreshme。\'Afterthisdigressionheproceeded—
\'Iremainedinthebalcony。\"Theywillcometoherboudoir，nodoubt，\"thoughtI:\"Letmeprepareanambush。\"Soputtingmyhandinthroughtheopenwindow，Idrewthecurtainoverit，leavingonlyanopeningthroughwhichIcouldtakeobservations;thenIclosedthecasement，allbutachinkjustwideenoughtofurnishanoutlettolovers\'whisperedvows:thenIstolebacktomychair;andasI
resumeditthepaircamein。Myeyewasquicklyattheaperture。
Celine\'schambermaidentered，litalamp，leftitonthetable，andwithdrew。Thecouplewerethusrevealedtomeclearly:bothremovedtheircloaks，andtherewas\"theVarens，\"shininginsatinandjewels，—mygiftsofcourse，—andtherewashercompanioninanofficer\'suniform;andIknewhimforayoungroueofavicomte—abrainlessandviciousyouthwhomIhadsometimesmetinsociety，andhadneverthoughtofhatingbecauseIdespisedhimsoabsolutely。Onrecognisinghim，thefangofthesnakeJealousywasinstantlybroken;becauseatthesamemomentmyloveforCelinesankunderanextinguisher。Awomanwhocouldbetraymeforsucharivalwasnotworthcontendingfor;shedeservedonlyscorn;less，however，thanI，whohadbeenherdupe。
\'Theybegantotalk;theirconversationeasedmecompletely:
frivolous，mercenary，heartless，andsenseless，itwasrathercalculatedtowearythanenragealistener。Acardofminelayonthetable;thisbeingperceived，broughtmynameunderdiscussion。
Neitherofthempossessedenergyorwittobelabourmesoundly，buttheyinsultedmeascoarselyastheycouldintheirlittleway:
especiallyCeline，whoevenwaxedratherbrilliantonmypersonaldefects—deformitiesshetermedthem。Nowithadbeenhercustomtolaunchoutintoferventadmirationofwhatshecalledmy\"beautemale\":whereinshediffereddiametricallyfromyou，whotoldmepoint—blank，atthesecondinterview，thatyoudidnotthinkmehandsome。Thecontraststruckmeatthetimeand—\'
Adeleherecamerunningupagain。
\'Monsieur，Johnhasjustbeentosaythatyouragenthascalledandwishestoseeyou。\'
\'Ah！inthatcaseImustabridge。Openingthewindow，I
walkedinuponthem;liberatedCelinefrommyprotection;gavehernoticetovacateherhotel;offeredherapurseforimmediateexigencies;
disregardedscreams，hysterics，prayers，protestations，convulsions;
madeanappointmentwiththevicomteforameetingattheBoisdeBoulogne。NextmorningIhadthepleasureofencounteringhim;leftabulletinoneofhispooretiolatedarms，feebleasthewingofachickeninthepip，andthenthoughtIhaddonewiththewholecrew。
ButunluckilytheVarens，sixmonthsbefore，hadgivenmethisfiletteAdele，who，sheaffirmed，wasmydaughter;andperhapsshemaybe，thoughIseenoproofsofsuchgrimpaternitywritteninhercountenance:Pilotismorelikemethanshe。SomeyearsafterIhadbrokenwiththemother，sheabandonedherchild，andranawaytoItalywithamusicianorsinger。IacknowledgednonaturalclaimonAdele\'sparttobesupportedbyme，nordoInowacknowledgeany，forIamnotherfather;buthearingthatshewasquitedestitute，I
e\'entookthepoorthingoutoftheslimeandmudofParis，andtransplantedithere，togrowupcleaninthewholesomesoilofanEnglishcountrygarden。Mrs。Fairfaxfoundyoutotrainit;butnowyouknowthatitistheillegitimateoffspringofaFrenchopera—girl，youwillperhapsthinkdifferentlyofyourpostandprotegee:youwillbecomingtomesomedaywithnoticethatyouhavefoundanotherplace—thatyoubegmetolookoutforanewgoverness，etc。—Eh？\'
\'No:Adeleisnotanswerableforeitherhermother\'sfaultsoryours:Ihavearegardforher;andnowthatIknowsheis，inasense，parentless—forsakenbyhermotheranddisownedbyyou，sir—
Ishallclingclosertoherthanbefore。HowcouldIpossiblypreferthespoiltpetofawealthyfamily，whowouldhatehergovernessasanuisance，toalonelylittleorphan，wholeanstowardsherasafriend？\'
\'Oh，thatisthelightinwhichyouviewit！Well，Imustgoinnow;andyoutoo:itdarkens。\'
ButIstayedoutafewminuteslongerwithAdeleandPilot—
ranaracewithher，andplayedagameofbattledoreandshuttlecock。Whenwewentin，andIhadremovedherbonnetandcoat，Itookheronmyknee;keptherthereanhour，allowinghertoprattleassheliked:
notrebukingevensomelittlefreedomsandtrivialitiesintowhichshewasapttostraywhenmuchnoticed，andwhichbetrayedinherasuperficialityofcharacter，inheritedprobablyfromhermother，hardlycongenialtoanEnglishmind。Stillshehadhermerits;andI
wasdisposedtoappreciateallthatwasgoodinhertotheutmost。I
soughtinhercountenanceandfeaturesalikenesstoMr。Rochester，butfoundnone:notrait，noturnofexpressionannouncedrelationship。Itwasapity:ifshecouldbuthavebeenprovedtoresemblehim，hewouldhavethoughtmoreofher。
ItwasnottillafterIhadwithdrawntomyownchamberforthenight，thatIsteadilyreviewedthetaleMr。Rochesterhadtoldme。
Ashehadsaid，therewasprobablynothingatallextraordinaryinthesubstanceofthenarrativeitself:awealthyEnglishman\'spassionforaFrenchdancer，andhertreacherytohim，wereevery—daymattersenough，nodoubt，insociety;buttherewassomethingdecidedlystrangeintheparoxysmofemotionwhichhadsuddenlyseizedhimwhenhewasintheactofexpressingthepresentcontentmentofhismood，andhisnewlyrevivedpleasureintheoldhallanditsenvirons。Imeditatedwonderinglyonthisincident;butgraduallyquittingit，asIfounditforthepresentinexplicable，Iturnedtotheconsiderationofmymaster\'smannertomyself。Theconfidencehehadthoughtfittoreposeinmeseemedatributetomydiscretion:I
regardedandaccepteditassuch。Hisdeportmenthadnowforsomeweeksbeenmoreuniformtowardsmethanatthefirst。Ineverseemedinhisway;hedidnottakefitsofchillinghauteur:whenhemetmeunexpectedly，theencounterseemedwelcome;hehadalwaysawordandsometimesasmileforme:whensummonedbyformalinvitationtohispresence，IwashonouredbyacordialityofreceptionthatmademefeelIreallypossessedthepowertoamusehim，andthattheseeveningconferencesweresoughtasmuchforhispleasureasformybenefit。
I，indeed，talkedcomparativelylittle，butIheardhimtalkwithrelish。Itwashisnaturetobecommunicative;helikedtoopentoamindunacquaintedwiththeworldglimpsesofitsscenesandways（I
donotmeanitscorruptscenesandwickedways，butsuchasderivedtheirinterestfromthegreatscaleonwhichtheywereacted，thestrangenoveltybywhichtheywerecharacterised）;andIhadakeendelightinreceivingthenewideasheoffered，inimaginingthenewpicturesheportrayed，andfollowinghiminthoughtthroughthenewregionshedisclosed，neverstartledortroubledbyonenoxiousallusion。
Theeaseofhismannerfreedmefrompainfulrestraint:
thefriendlyfrankness，ascorrectascordial，withwhichhetreatedme，drewmetohim。Ifeltattimesasifheweremyrelationratherthanmymaster:yethewasimperioussometimesstill;butIdidnotmindthat;Isawitwashisway。Sohappy，sogratifieddidIbecomewiththisnewinterestaddedtolife，thatIceasedtopineafterkindred:mythincrescent—destinyseemedtoenlarge;theblanksofexistencewerefilledup;mybodilyhealthimproved;Igatheredfleshandstrength。
AndwasMr。Rochesternowuglyinmyeyes？No，reader:
gratitude，andmanyassociations，allpleasurableandgenial，madehisfacetheobjectIbestlikedtosee;hispresenceinaroomwasmorecheeringthanthebrightestfire。YetIhadnotforgottenhisfaults;indeed，I
couldnot，forhebroughtthemfrequentlybeforeme。Hewasproud，sardonic，harshtoinferiorityofeverydescription:inmysecretsoulIknewthathisgreatkindnesstomewasbalancedbyunjustseveritytomanyothers。Hewasmoody，too;unaccountablyso;Imorethanonce，whensentfortoreadtohim，foundhimsittinginhislibraryalone，withhisheadbentonhisfoldedarms;and，whenhelookedup，amorose，almostamalignant，scowlblackenedhisfeatures。ButIbelievedthathismoodiness，hisharshness，andhisformerfaultsofmorality（Isayformer，fornowheseemedcorrectedofthem）hadtheirsourceinsomecruelcrossoffate。Ibelievedhewasnaturallyamanofbettertendencies，higherprinciples，andpurertastesthansuchascircumstanceshaddeveloped，educationinstilled，ordestinyencouraged。Ithoughttherewereexcellentmaterialsinhim;thoughforthepresenttheyhungtogethersomewhatspoiledandtangled。I
cannotdenythatIgrievedforhisgrief，whateverthatwas，andwouldhavegivenmuchtoassuageit。
ThoughIhadnowextinguishedmycandleandwaslaiddowninbed，I
couldnotsleepforthinkingofhislookwhenhepausedintheavenue，andtoldhowhisdestinyhadrisenupbeforehim，anddaredhimtobehappyatThornfield。
\'Whynot？\'Iaskedmyself。\'Whatalienateshimfromthehouse？Willheleaveitagainsoon？Mrs。Fairfaxsaidheseldomstayedherelongerthanafortnightatatime;andhehasnowbeenresidenteightweeks。Ifhedoesgo，thechangewillbedoleful。Supposeheshouldbeabsentspring，summer，andautumn:howjoylesssunshineandfinedayswillseem！\'
IhardlyknowwhetherIhadsleptornotafterthismusing;
atanyrate，Istartedwideawakeonhearingavaguemurmur，peculiarandlugubrious，whichsounded，Ithought，justaboveme。IwishedIhadkeptmycandleburning:thenightwasdrearilydark;myspiritsweredepressed。Iroseandsatupinbed，listening。Thesoundwashushed。
Itriedagaintosleep;butmyheartbeatanxiously:myinwardtranquillitywasbroken。Theclock，fardowninthehall，strucktwo。Justthenitseemedmychamber—doorwastouched;asiffingershadsweptthepanelsingropingawayalongthedarkgalleryoutside。Isaid，\'Whoisthere？\'Nothinganswered。Iwaschilledwithfear。
AllatonceIrememberedthatitmightbePilot，who，whenthekitchen—doorchancedtobeleftopen，notunfrequentlyfoundhiswayuptothethresholdofMr。Rochester\'schamber:Ihadseenhimlyingtheremyselfinthemornings。Theideacalmedmesomewhat:Ilaydown。
Silencecomposesthenerves;andasanunbrokenhushnowreignedagainthroughthewholehouse，Ibegantofeelthereturnofslumber。ButitwasnotfatedthatIshouldsleepthatnight。Adreamhadscarcelyapproachedmyear，whenitfledaffrighted，scaredbyamarrow—freezingincidentenough。
Thiswasademoniaclaugh—low，suppressed，anddeep—uttered，asitseemed，attheverykeyholeofmychamberdoor。Theheadofmybedwasnearthedoor，andIthoughtatfirstthegoblin—laugherstoodatmybedside—orrather，crouchedbymypillow:butIrose，lookedround，andcouldseenothing;while，asIstillgazed，theunnaturalsoundwasreiterated:andIknewitcamefrombehindthepanels。Myfirstimpulsewastoriseandfastenthebolt;mynext，againtocryout，\'Whoisthere？\'
Somethinggurgledandmoaned。Erelong，stepsretreatedupthegallerytowardsthethird—storeystaircase:adoorhadlatelybeenmadetoshutinthatstaircase;Ihearditopenandclose，andallwasstill。
\'WasthatGracePoole？andisshepossessedwithadevil？\'
thoughtI。Impossiblenowtoremainlongerbymyself:ImustgotoMrs。Fairfax。Ihurriedonmyfrockandashawl;Iwithdrewtheboltandopenedthedoorwithatremblinghand。Therewasacandleburningjustoutside，andonthemattinginthegallery。Iwassurprisedatthiscircumstance:butstillmorewasIamazedtoperceivetheairquitedim，asiffilledwithsmoke;and，whilelookingtotherighthandandleft，tofindwhencethesebluewreathsissued，Ibecamefurtherawareofastrongsmellofburning。
Somethingcreaked:itwasadoorajar;andthatdoorwasMr。
Rochester\'s，andthesmokerushedinacloudfromthence。IthoughtnomoreofMrs。Fairfax;IthoughtnomoreofGracePoole，orthelaugh:inaninstant，Iwaswithinthechamber。Tonguesofflamedartedroundthebed:thecurtainswereonfire。Inthemidstofblazeandvapour，Mr。Rochesterlaystretchedmotionless，indeepsleep。
\'Wake！wake！\'Icried。Ishookhim，butheonlymurmuredandturned:thesmokehadstupefiedhim。Notamomentcouldbelost:theverysheetswerekindling，Irushedtohisbasinandewer;
fortunately，onewaswideandtheotherdeep，andbothwerefilledwithwater。Iheavedthemup，delugedthebedanditsoccupant，flewbacktomyownroom，broughtmyownwater—jug，baptizedthecouchafresh，and，byGod\'said，succeededinextinguishingtheflameswhichweredevouringit。
Thehissofthequenchedelement，thebreakageofapitcherwhichI
flungfrommyhandwhenIhademptiedit，and，aboveall，thesplashoftheshower—bathIhadliberallybestowed，rousedMr。Rochesteratlast。Thoughitwasnowdark，Iknewhewasawake;becauseIheardhimfulminatingstrangeanathemasatfindinghimselflyinginapoolofwater。
\'Isthereaflood？\'hecried。
No，sir，\'Ianswered;\'buttherehasbeenafire:getup，do;youarequenchednow;Iwillfetchyouacandle。\'
\'InthenameofalltheelvesinChristendom，isthatJaneEyre？\'
hedemanded。\'Whathaveyoudonewithme，witch，sorceress？Whoisintheroombesidesyou？Haveyouplottedtodrownme？\'
\'Iwillfetchyouacandle，sir;and，inHeaven\'sname，getup。
Somebodyhasplottedsomething:youcannottoosoonfindoutwhoandwhatitis。\'
\'There！Iamupnow;butatyourperilyoufetchacandleyet:waittwominutestillIgetintosomedrygarments，ifanydrytherebe—
yes，hereismydressing—gown。Nowrun！\'
Ididrun;Ibroughtthecandlewhichstillremainedinthegallery。Hetookitfrommyhand，helditup，andsurveyedthebed，allblackenedandscorched，thesheetsdrenched，thecarpetroundswimminginwater。
\'Whatisit？andwhodidit？\'heasked。
Ibrieflyrelatedtohimwhathadtranspired:thestrangelaughI
hadheardinthegallery;thestepascendingtothethirdstorey;
thesmoke，—thesmelloffirewhichhadconductedmetohisroom;inwhatstateIhadfoundmattersthere，andhowIhaddelugedhimwithallthewaterIcouldlayhandson。
Helistenedverygravely;hisface，asIwenton，expressedmoreconcernthanastonishment;hedidnotimmediatelyspeakwhenIhadconcluded。
\'ShallIcallMrs。Fairfax？\'Iasked。
\'Mrs。Fairfax？No;whatthedeucewouldyoucallherfor？
Whatcanshedo？Lethersleepunmolested。\'
\'ThenIwillfetchLeah，andwakeJohnandhiswife。\'
\'Notatall:justbestill。Youhaveashawlon。Ifyouarenotwarmenough，youmaytakemycloakyonder;wrapitaboutyou，andsitdowninthearm—chair:there，—Iwillputiton。Nowplaceyourfeetonthestool，tokeepthemoutofthewet。Iamgoingtoleaveyouafewminutes。Ishalltakethecandle。RemainwhereyouaretillIreturn;beasstillasamouse。Imustpayavisittothesecondstorey。Don\'tmove，remember，orcallanyone。\'
Hewent:Iwatchedthelightwithdraw。Hepassedupthegalleryverysoftly，unclosedthestaircasedoorwithaslittlenoiseaspossible，shutitafterhim，andthelastrayvanished。Iwasleftintotaldarkness。Ilistenedforsomenoise，butheardnothing。A
verylongtimeelapsed。Igrewweary:itwascold，inspiteofthecloak;andthenIdidnotseetheuseofstaying，asIwasnottorousethehouse。IwasonthepointofriskingMr。Rochester\'sdispleasurebydisobeyinghisorders，whenthelightoncemoregleameddimlyonthegallerywall，andIheardhisunshodfeettreadthematting。\'Ihopeitishe，\'thoughtI，\'andnotsomethingworse。\'
Here—entered，paleandverygloomy。\'Ihavefounditallout，\'
saidhe，settinghiscandledownonthewashstand;\'itisasI
thought。\'
\'How，sir？\'
Hemadenoreply，butstoodwithhisarmsfolded，lookingontheground。Attheendofafewminutesheinquiredinratherapeculiartone—
\'Iforgetwhetheryousaidyousawanythingwhenyouopenedyourchamberdoor。\'
\'No，sir，onlythecandlestickontheground。\'
\'Butyouheardanoddlaugh？Youhaveheardthatlaughbefore，I
shouldthink，orsomethinglikeit？\'
\'Yes，sir:thereisawomanwhosewshere，calledGracePoole，—shelaughsinthatway。Sheisasingularperson。\'
\'Justso。GracePoole—youhaveguessedit。Sheis，asyousay，singular—very。Well，Ishallreflectonthesubject。Meantime，Iamgladthatyouaretheonlyperson，besidesmyself，acquaintedwiththeprecisedetailsofto—night\'sincident。Youarenotalkingfool:saynothingaboutit。Iwillaccountforthisstateofaffairs\'
（pointingtothebed）:\'andnowreturntoyourownroom。Ishalldoverywellonthesofainthelibraryfortherestofthenight。Itisnearfour:—intwohourstheservantswillbeup。\'
\'Good—night，then，sir，\'saidI，departing。
Heseemedsurprised—veryinconsistentlyso，ashehadjusttoldmetogo。
\'What！\'heexclaimed，\'areyouquittingmealready，andinthatway？\'
\'YousaidImightgo，sir。\'
\'Butnotwithouttakingleave;notwithoutawordortwoofacknowledgmentandgood—will:not，inshort，inthatbrief，dryfashion。Why，youhavesavedmylife！—snatchedmefromahorribleandexcruciatingdeath！andyouwalkpastmeasifweweremutualstrangers！Atleastshakehands。\'
Heheldouthishand;Igavehimmine:hetookitfirstinone，theninbothhisown。
\'Youhavesavedmylife:Ihaveapleasureinowingyousoimmenseadebt。Icannotsaymore。Nothingelsethathasbeingwouldhavebeentolerabletomeinthecharacterofcreditorforsuchanobligation:butyou:itisdifferent;—Ifeelyourbenefitsnoburden，Jane。\'
Hepaused;gazedatme:wordsalmostvisibletrembledonhislips，—
buthisvoicewaschecked。
\'Good—nightagain，sir。Thereisnodebt，benefit，burden，obligation，inthecase。\'
\'Iknew，\'hecontinued，youwoulddomegoodinsomeway，atsometime;—IsawitinyoureyeswhenIfirstbeheldyou:theirexpressionandsmiledidnot\'—（againhestopped）—\'didnot\'（heproceededhastily）\'strikedelighttomyveryinmostheartsofornothing。
Peopletalkofnaturalsympathies;Ihaveheardofgoodgenii:therearegrainsoftruthinthewildestfable。Mycherishedpreserver，good—night！\'
Strangeenergywasinhisvoice，strangefireinhislook。
\'IamgladIhappenedtobeawake，\'Isaid:andthenI
wasgoing。
\'What！youwillgo？\'
\'Iamcold，sir。\'
\'Cold？Yes，—andstandinginapool！Go，then，Jane;go！\'
Buthestillretainedmyhand，andIcouldnotfreeit。Ibethoughtmyselfofanexpedient。
\'IthinkIhearMrs。Fairfaxmove，sir，\'saidI。
\'Well，leaveme\':herelaxedhisfingers，andIwasgone。
Iregainedmycouch，butneverthoughtofsleep。TillmorningdawnedIwastossedonabuoyantbutunquietsea，wherebillowsoftroublerolledundersurgesofjoy。IthoughtsometimesIsawbeyonditswildwatersashore，sweetasthehillsofBeulah;andnowandthenafresheninggale，wakenedbyhope，boremyspirittriumphantlytowardsthebourne:butIcouldnotreachit，eveninfancy—acounteractingbreezeblewoffland，andcontinuallydrovemeback。
Sensewouldresistdelirium:judgmentwouldwarnpassion。Toofeverishtorest，Iroseassoonasdaydawned。
chapter16CHAPTERXVI
IBOTHwishedandfearedtoseeMr。Rochesteronthedaywhichfollowedthissleeplessnight:Iwantedtohearhisvoiceagain，yetfearedtomeethiseye。Duringtheearlypartofthemorning，I
momentarilyexpectedhiscoming;hewasnotinthefrequenthabitofenteringtheschoolroom，buthedidstepinforafewminutessometimes，andIhadtheimpressionthathewassuretovisititthatday。
Butthemorningpassedjustasusual:nothinghappenedtointerruptthequietcourseofAdele\'sstudies;onlysoonafterbreakfast，I
heardsomebustleintheneighbourhoodofMr。Rochester\'schamber，Mrs。Fairfax\'svoice，andLeah\'s，andthecook\'s—thatis，John\'swife—andevenJohn\'sowngrufftones。Therewereexclamationsof\'Whatamercymasterwasnotburntinhisbed！\'\'Itisalwaysdangeroustokeepacandlelitatnight。\'\'Howprovidentialthathehadpresenceofmindtothinkofthewater—jug！\'\'Iwonderhewakednobody！\'\'Itistobehopedhewillnottakecoldwithsleepingonthelibrarysofa，\'etc。
Tomuchconfabulationsucceededasoundofscrubbingandsettingtorights;andwhenIpassedtheroom，ingoingdownstairstodinner，I
sawthroughtheopendoorthatallwasagainrestoredtocompleteorder;onlythebedwasstrippedofitshangings。Leahstoodupinthewindow—seat，rubbingthepanesofglassdimmedwithsmoke。Iwasabouttoaddressher，forIwishedtoknowwhataccounthadbeengivenoftheaffair:but，onadvancing，Isawasecondpersoninthechamber—
awomansittingonachairbythebedside，andsewingringstonewcurtains。ThatwomanwasnootherthanGracePoole。