\"theplayisplayedout。\"\'
WherewasI？DidIwakeorsleep？HadIbeendreaming？
DidI
dreamstill？Theoldwoman\'svoicehadchanged:heraccent，hergesture，andallwerefamiliartomeasmyownfaceinaglass—asthespeechofmyowntongue。Igotup，butdidnotgo。Ilooked;Istirredthefire，andIlookedagain:butshedrewherbonnetandherbandagecloseraboutherface，andagainbeckonedmetodepart。Theflameilluminatedherhandstretchedout:rousednow，andonthealertfordiscoveries，Iatoncenoticedthathand。Itwasnomorethewitheredlimbofeldthanmyown;itwasaroundedsupplemember，withsmoothfingers，symmetricallyturned;abroadringflashedonthelittlefinger，andstoopingforward，Ilookedatit，andsawagemI
hadseenahundredtimesbefore。AgainIlookedattheface;whichwasnolongerturnedfromme—onthecontrary，thebonnetwasdoffed，thebandagedisplaced，theheadadvanced。
\'Well，Jane，doyouknowme？\'askedthefamiliarvoice。
\'Onlytakeofftheredcloak，sir，andthen—\'
\'Butthestringisinaknot—helpme。\'
\'Breakit，sir。\'
\'There，then—\"Off，yelendings！\"\'AndMr。Rochestersteppedoutofhisdisguise。
\'Now，sir，whatastrangeidea！\'
\'Butwellcarriedout，eh？Don\'tyouthinkso？\'
\'Withtheladiesyoumusthavemanagedwell。\'
\'Butnotwithyou？\'
\'Youdidnotactthecharacterofagipsywithme。\'
\'WhatcharacterdidIact？Myown？\'
\'No;someunaccountableone。Inshort，Ibelieveyouhavebeentryingtodrawmeout—orin;youhavebeentalkingnonsensetomakemetalknonsense。Itisscarcelyfair，sir。\'
\'Doyouforgiveme，Jane？\'
\'IcannottelltillIhavethoughtitallover。If，onreflection，IfindIhavefallenintonogreatabsurdity，Ishalltrytoforgiveyou;butitwasnotright。\'
\'Oh，youhavebeenverycorrect—verycareful，verysensible。\'
Ireflected，andthought，onthewhole，Ihad。Itwasacomfort;
but，indeed，Ihadbeenonmyguardalmostfromthebeginningoftheinterview。SomethingofmasqueradeIsuspected。Iknewgipsiesandfortune—tellersdidnotexpressthemselvesasthisseemingoldwomanhadexpressedherself;besidesIhadnotedherfeignedvoice，heranxietytoconcealherfeatures。ButmymindhadbeenrunningonGracePoole—thatlivingenigma，thatmysteryofmysteries，asI
consideredher。IhadneverthoughtofMr。Rochester。
\'Well，\'saidhe，\'whatareyoumusingabout？Whatdoesthatgravesmilesignify？\'
\'Wonderandself—congratulation，sir。Ihaveyourpermissiontoretirenow，Isuppose？\'
\'No;stayamoment;andtellmewhatthepeopleinthedrawing—roomyonderaredoing。\'
\'Discussingthegipsy，Idaresay。\'
\'Sitdown！—Letmehearwhattheysaidaboutme。\'
\'Ihadbetternotstaylong，sir;itmustbeneareleveno\'clock。
Oh，areyouaware，Mr。Rochester，thatastrangerhasarrivedheresinceyouleftthismorning？\'
\'Astranger！—no;whocanitbe？Iexpectednoone;ishegone？\'
\'No;hesaidhehadknownyoulong，andthathecouldtakethelibertyofinstallinghimselfheretillyoureturned。\'
\'Thedevilhedid！Didhegivehisname？\'
\'HisnameisMason，sir;andhecomesfromtheWestIndies;
fromSpanishTown，inJamaica，Ithink。\'
Mr。Rochesterwasstandingnearme;hehadtakenmyhand，asiftoleadmetoachair。AsIspokehegavemywristaconvulsivegrip;thesmileonhislipsfroze:apparentlyaspasmcaughthisbreath。
\'Mason！—theWestIndies！\'hesaid，inthetoneonemightfancyaspeakingautomatontoenounceitssinglewords;\'Mason！—theWestIndies！\'hereiterated;andhewentoverthesyllablesthreetimes，growing，intheintervalsofspeaking，whiterthanashes:hehardlyseemedtoknowwhathewasdoing。
\'Doyoufeelill，sir？\'Iinquired。
\'Jane，I\'vegotablow;I\'vegotablow，Jane！\'Hestaggered。
\'Oh，leanonme，sir。\'
\'Jane，youofferedmeyourshoulderoncebefore;letmehaveitnow。\'
\'Yes，sir，yes;andmyarm。\'
Hesatdown，andmademesitbesidehim。Holdingmyhandinbothhisown，hechafedit;gazingonme，atthesametime，withthemosttroubledanddrearylook。
\'Mylittlefriend！\'saidhe，\'IwishIwereinaquietislandwithonlyyou;andtrouble，anddanger，andhideousrecollectionsremovedfromme。\'
\'CanIhelpyou，sir？—I\'dgivemylifetoserveyou。\'
\'Jane，ifaidiswanted，I\'llseekitatyourhands;I
promiseyouthat。\'
\'Thankyou，sir。Tellmewhattodo，—I\'lltry，atleast，todoit。\'
\'Fetchmenow，Jane，aglassofwinefromthedining—room:
theywillbeatsupperthere;andtellmeifMasoniswiththem，andwhatheisdoing。\'
Iwent。Ifoundallthepartyinthedining—roomatsupper，asMr。Rochesterhadsaid;theywerenotseatedattable，—thesupperwasarrangedonthesideboard;eachhadtakenwhathechose，andtheystoodabouthereandthereingroups，theirplatesandglassesintheirhands。Everyoneseemedinhighglee;laughterandconversationweregeneralandanimated。Mr。Masonstoodnearthefire，talkingtoColonelandMrs。Dent，andappearedasmerryasanyofthem。Ifilledawine—glass（IsawMissIngramwatchmefrowninglyasIdidso:shethoughtIwastakingaliberty，Idaresay），andI
returnedtothelibrary。
Mr。Rochester\'sextremepallorhaddisappeared，andhelookedoncemorefirmandstern。Hetooktheglassfrommyhand。
\'Hereistoyourhealth，ministrantspirit！\'hesaid。Heswallowedthecontentsandreturnedittome。\'Whataretheydoing，Jane？\'
\'Laughingandtalking，sir。\'
\'Theydon\'tlookgraveandmysterious，asiftheyhadheardsomethingstrange？\'
\'Notatall:theyarefullofjestsandgaiety。\'
\'AndMason？\'
\'Hewaslaughingtoo。\'
\'Ifallthesepeoplecameinabodyandspatatme，whatwouldyoudo，Jane？\'
\'Turnthemoutoftheroom，sir，ifIcould。\'
Hehalfsmiled。\'ButifIweretogotothem，andtheyonlylookedatmecoldly，andwhisperedsneeringlyamongsteachother，andthendroppedoffandleftmeonebyone，whatthen？Wouldyougowiththem？\'
\'Iratherthinknot，sir:Ishouldhavemorepleasureinstayingwithyou。\'
\'Tocomfortme？\'
\'Yes，sir，tocomfortyou，aswellasIcould。\'
\'Andiftheylaidyouunderabanforadheringtome？\'
\'I，probably，shouldknownothingabouttheirban;andifIdid，Ishouldcarenothingaboutit。\'
\'Then，youcoulddarecensureformysake？\'
\'Icoulddareitforthesakeofanyfriendwhodeservedmyadherence;asyou，Iamsure，do。\'
\'Gobacknowintotheroom;stepquietlyuptoMason，andwhisperinhisearthatMr。Rochesteriscomeandwishestoseehim:showhiminhereandthenleaveme。\'
\'Yes，sir。\'
Ididhisbehest。ThecompanyallstaredatmeasIpassedstraightamongthem。IsoughtMr。Mason，deliveredthemessage，andprecededhimfromtheroom:Iusheredhimintothelibrary，andthenIwentupstairs。
Atalatehour，afterIhadbeeninbedsometime，Iheardthevisitorsrepairtotheirchambers:IdistinguishedMr。Rochester\'svoice，andheardhimsay，\'Thisway，Mason;thisisyourroom。\'
Hespokecheerfully:thegaytonessetmyheartatease。
Iwassoonasleep。
chapter20
CHAPTERXX
IHADforgottentodrawmycurtain，whichIusuallydid，andalsotoletdownmywindow—blind。Theconsequencewas，thatwhenthemoon，whichwasfullandbright（forthenightwasfine），cameinhercoursetothatspaceintheskyoppositemycasement，andlookedinatmethroughtheunveiledpanes，hergloriousgazerousedme。
Awakinginthedeadofnight，Iopenedmyeyesonherdisk—
silver—whiteandcrystalclear。Itwasbeautiful，buttoosolemn:I
halfrose，andstretchedmyarmtodrawthecurtain。
GoodGod！Whatacry！
Thenight—itssilence—itsrest，wasrentintwainbyasavage，asharp，ashrillysoundthatranfromendtoendofThornfieldHall。
Mypulsestopped:myheartstoodstill;mystretchedarmwasparalysed。Thecrydied，andwasnotrenewed。Indeed，whateverbeingutteredthatfearfulshriekcouldnotsoonrepeatit:notthewidest—wingedcondorontheAndescould，twiceinsuccession，sendoutsuchayellfromthecloudshroudinghiseyrie。Thethingdeliveringsuchutterancemustrestereitcouldrepeattheeffort。
Itcameoutofthethirdstorey;foritpassedoverhead。
Andoverhead—yes，intheroomjustabovemychamber—ceiling—Inowheardastruggle:adeadlyoneitseemedfromthenoise;andahalf—smotheredvoiceshouted—
\'Help！help！help！\'threetimesrapidly。
\'Willnoonecome？\'itcried;andthen，whilethestaggeringandstampingwentonwildly，Idistinguishedthroughplankandplaster:—
\'Rochester！Rochester！forGod\'ssake，come！\'
Achamber—dooropened:someoneran，orrushed，alongthegallery。Anotherstepstampedontheflooringaboveandsomethingfell;andtherewassilence。
Ihadputonsomeclothes，thoughhorrorshookallmylimbs;
I
issuedfrommyapartment。Thesleeperswereallaroused:ejaculations，terrifiedmurmurssoundedineveryroom;doorafterdoorunclosed;onelookedoutandanotherlookedout;thegalleryfilled。Gentlemenandladiesalikehadquittedtheirbeds;and\'Oh！whatisit？\'—\'Whoishurt？\'—\'Whathashappened？\'—\'Fetchalight！\'—\'Isitfire？\'—\'Arethererobbers？\'—\'Whereshallwerun？\'wasdemandedconfusedlyonallhands。Butforthemoon—lighttheywouldhavebeenincompletedarkness。Theyrantoandfro;theycrowdedtogether:somesobbed，somestumbled:theconfusionwasinextricable。
\'WherethedevilisRochester？\'criedColonelDent。\'I
cannotfindhiminhisbed。\'
\'Here！here！\'wasshoutedinreturn。\'Becomposed，allofyou:
I\'mcoming。\'
Andthedoorattheendofthegalleryopened，andMr。
Rochesteradvancedwithacandle:hehadjustdescendedfromtheupperstorey。
Oneoftheladiesrantohimdirectly;sheseizedhisarm:itwasMissIngram。
\'Whatawfuleventhastakenplace？\'saidshe。\'Speak！letusknowtheworstatonce！\'
\'Butdon\'tpullmedownorstrangleme，\'hereplied:fortheMissesEshtonwereclingingabouthimnow;andthetwodowagers，invastwhitewrappers，werebearingdownonhimlikeshipsinfullsail。
\'All\'sright！—all\'sright！\'hecried。\'It\'samererehearsalofMuchAdoaboutNothing。Ladies，keepoff，orIshallwaxdangerous。\'
Anddangeroushelooked:hisblackeyesdartedsparks。
Calminghimselfbyaneffort，headded—
\'Aservanthashadthenightmare;thatisall。She\'sanexcitable，nervousperson:sheconstruedherdreamintoanapparition，orsomethingofthatsort，nodoubt;andhastakenafitwithfright。Now，then，Imustseeyouallbackintoyourrooms;for，tillthehouseissettled，shecannotbelookedafter。Gentlemen，havethegoodnesstosettheladiestheexample。MissIngram，Iamsureyouwillnotfailinevincingsuperioritytoidleterrors。AmyandLouisa，returntoyournestslikeapairofdoves，asyouare。Mesdames\'（tothedowagers），\'youwilltakecoldtoadeadcertainty，ifyoustayinthischillgalleryanylonger。\'
Andso，bydintofalternatecoaxingandcommanding，hecontrivedtogetthemalloncemoreenclosedintheirseparatedormitories。I
didnotwaittobeorderedbacktomine，butretreatedunnoticed，asunnoticedIhadleftit。
Not，however，togotobed:onthecontrary，Ibegananddressedmyselfcarefully。ThesoundsIhadheardafterthescream，andthewordsthathadbeenuttered，hadprobablybeenheardonlybyme;fortheyhadproceededfromtheroomabovemine:buttheyassuredmethatitwasnotaservant\'sdreamwhichhadthusstruckhorrorthroughthehouse;andthattheexplanationMr。Rochesterhadgivenwasmerelyaninventionframedtopacifyhisguests。Idressed，then，tobereadyforemergencies。Whendressed，IsatalongtimebythewindowlookingoutoverthesilentgroundsandsilveredfieldsandwaitingforIknewnotwhat。Itseemedtomethatsomeeventmustfollowthestrangecry，struggle，andcall。
No:stillnessreturned:eachmurmurandmovementceasedgradually，andinaboutanhourThornfieldHallwasagainashushedasadesert。Itseemedthatsleepandnighthadresumedtheirempire。
Meantimethemoondeclined:shewasabouttoset。Notlikingtositinthecoldanddarkness，IthoughtIwouldliedownonmybed，dressedasIwas。Ileftthewindow，andmovedwithlittlenoiseacrossthecarpet;asIstoopedtotakeoffmyshoes，acautioushandtappedlowatthedoor。
\'AmIwanted？\'Iasked。
\'Areyouup？\'askedthevoiceIexpectedtohear，viz。，mymaster\'s。
\'Yes，sir。\'
\'Anddressed？\'
\'Yes。\'
\'Comeout，then，quietly。\'
Iobeyed。Mr。Rochesterstoodinthegalleryholdingalight。
\'Iwantyou，\'hesaid:\'comethisway:takeyourtime，andmakenonoise。\'
Myslipperswerethin:Icouldwalkthemattedfloorassoftlyasacat。Heglidedupthegalleryandupthestairs，andstoppedinthedark，lowcorridorofthefatefulthirdstorey:Ihadfollowedandstoodathisside。
\'Haveyouaspongeinyourroom？\'heaskedinawhisper。
\'Yes，sir。\'
\'Haveyouanysalts—volatilesalts？\'
\'Yes。\'
\'Gobackandfetchboth。\'
Ireturned，soughtthespongeonthewashstand，thesaltsinmydrawer，andoncemoreretracedmysteps。Hestillwaited;heheldakeyinhishand:approachingoneofthesmall，blackdoors，heputitinthelock;hepaused，andaddressedmeagain。
\'Youdon\'tturnsickatthesightofblood？\'
\'IthinkIshallnot:Ihaveneverbeentriedyet。\'
IfeltathrillwhileIansweredhim;butnocoldness，andnofaintness。
\'Justgivemeyourhand，\'hesaid:\'itwillnotdotoriskafaintingfit。\'
Iputmyfingersintohis。\'Warmandsteady，\'washisremark:
heturnedthekeyandopenedthedoor。
IsawaroomIrememberedtohaveseenbefore，thedayMrs。Fairfaxshowedmeoverthehouse:itwashungwithtapestry;butthetapestrywasnowloopedupinonepart，andtherewasadoorapparent，whichhadthenbeenconcealed。Thisdoorwasopen;alightshoneoutoftheroomwithin:Iheardthenceasnarling，snatchingsound，almostlikeadogquarrelling。Mr。Rochester，puttingdownhiscandle，saidtome，\'Waitaminute，\'andhewentforwardtotheinnerapartment。
Ashoutoflaughtergreetedhisentrance;noisyatfirst，andterminatinginGracePoole\'sowngoblinha！ha！Shethenwasthere。
Hemadesomesortofarrangementwithoutspeaking，thoughIheardalowvoiceaddresshim:hecameoutandclosedthedoorbehindhim。
\'Here，Jane！\'hesaid;andIwalkedroundtotheothersideofalargebed，whichwithitsdrawncurtainsconcealedaconsiderableportionofthechamber。Aneasy—chairwasnearthebed—head:amansatinit，dressedwiththeexceptionofhiscoat;hewasstill;hisheadleantback;hiseyeswereclosed。Mr。Rochesterheldthecandleoverhim;Irecognisedinhispaleandseeminglylifelessface—thestranger，Mason:Isawtoothathislinenononesideandonearm，wasalmostsoakedinblood。
\'Holdthecandle，\'saidMr。Rochester，andItookit:hefetchedabasinofwaterfromthewashstand:\'Holdthat，\'saidhe。Iobeyed。
Hetookthesponge，dippeditin，andmoistenedthecorpse—likeface;heaskedformysmelling—bottle，andappliedittothenostrils。
Mr。Masonshortlyunclosedhiseyes;hegroaned。Mr。Rochesteropenedtheshirtofthewoundedman，whosearmandshoulderwerebandaged:hespongedawayblood，tricklingfastdown。
\'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。I
experiencedastrangefeelingasthekeygratedinthelock，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:allthenightI
heardbutthreesoundsatthreelongintervals，—astepcreak，amomentaryrenewalofthesnarling，caninenoise，andadeephumangroan。
Thenmyownthoughtsworriedme。Whatcrimewasthis，thatlivedincarnateinthissequesteredmansion，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！Lastly，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;andImightnotevenspeaktohim。
Thecandle，wastedatlast，wentout;asitexpired，I
perceivedstreaksofgreylightedgingthewindowcurtains:dawnwasthenapproaching。PresentlyIheardPilotbarkfarbelow，outofhisdistantkennelinthecourtyard:hoperevived。Norwasitunwarranted:
infiveminutesmorethegratingkey，theyieldinglock，warnedmemywatchwasrelieved。Itcouldnothavelastedmorethantwohours:
manyaweekhasseemedshorter。
Mr。Rochesterentered，andwithhimthesurgeonhehadbeentofetch。
\'Now，Carter，beonthealert，\'hesaidtothislast:\'I
giveyoubuthalfanhourfordressingthewound，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\'sall。Carter，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。