Thesystemthusenteredon，Ipursuedduringthewholeseasonofprobation;andwiththebestsuccess。Hewaskept，tobesure，rathercrossandcrusty;butonthewholeIcouldseehewasexcellentlyentertained，andthatalamb—likesubmissionandturtle—dovesensibility，whilefosteringhisdespotismmore，wouldhavepleasedhisjudgment，satisfiedhiscommonsense，andevensuitedhistasteless。
Inotherpeople\'spresenceIwas，asformerly，deferentialandquiet;anyotherlineofconductbeinguncalledfor:itwasonlyintheeveningconferencesIthusthwartedandafflictedhim。Hecontinuedtosendformepunctuallythemomenttheclockstruckseven;
thoughwhenIappearedbeforehimnow，hehadnosuchhoneyedtermsas\'love\'and\'darling\'onhislips:thebestwordsatmyservicewere\'provokingpuppet，\'\'maliciouself，\'\'sprite，\'\'changeling，\'etc。
Forcaresses，too，Inowgotgrimaces;forapressureofthehand，apinchonthearm;forakissonthecheek，aseveretweakoftheear。Itwasallright:atpresentIdecidedlypreferredthesefiercefavourstoanythingmoretender。Mrs。Fairfax，Isaw，approvedme:heranxietyonmyaccountvanished;thereforeIwascertainIdidwell。
Meantime，Mr。RochesteraffirmedIwaswearinghimtoskinandbone，andthreatenedawfulvengeanceformypresentconductatsomeperiodfastcoming。Ilaughedinmysleeveathismenaces。\'Icankeepyouinreasonablechecknow，\'Ireflected;\'andIdon\'tdoubttobeabletodoithereafter:ifoneexpedientlosesitsvirtue，anothermustbedevised。\'
Yetafterallmytaskwasnotaneasyone;oftenIwouldratherhavepleasedthanteasedhim。Myfuturehusbandwasbecomingtomemywholeworld;andmorethantheworld:almostmyhopeofheaven。
Hestoodbetweenmeandeverythoughtofreligion，asaneclipseintervenesbetweenmanandthebroadsun。Icouldnot，inthosedays，seeGodforHiscreature:ofwhomIhadmadeanidol。
chapter25CHAPTERXXV
THEmonthofcourtshiphadwasted:itsverylasthourswerebeingnumbered。Therewasnoputtingoffthedaythatadvanced—thebridalday;andallpreparationsforitsarrivalwerecomplete。I，atleast，hadnothingmoretodo:thereweremytrunks，packed，locked，corded，rangedinarowalongthewallofmylittlechamber;
to—morrow，atthistime，theywouldbefarontheirroadtoLondon:
andsoshouldI（D。V。），—orrather，notI，butoneJaneRochester，apersonwhomasyetIknewnot。Thecardsofaddressaloneremainedtonailon:theylay，fourlittlesquares，inthedrawer。Mr。
Rochesterhadhimselfwrittenthedirection，\'Mrs。Rochester，—
Hotel，London，\'oneach:Icouldnotpersuademyselftoaffixthem，ortohavethemaffixed。Mrs。Rochester！Shedidnotexist:shewouldnotbeborntillto—morrow，sometimeaftereighto\'clockA。M。;andI
wouldwaittobeassuredshehadcomeintotheworldalivebeforeI
assignedtoherallthatproperty。Itwasenoughthatinyondercloset，oppositemydressing—table，garmentssaidtobehershadalreadydisplacedmyblackstuffLowoodfrockandstrawbonnet:fornottomeappertainedthatsuitofweddingraiment;thepearl—colouredrobe，thevapouryveilpendentfromtheusurpedportmanteau。Ishuttheclosettoconcealthestrange，wraith—likeapparelitcontained;
which，atthiseveninghour—nineo\'clock—gaveoutcertainlyamostghostlyshimmerthroughtheshadowofmyapartment。\'Iwillleaveyoubyyourself，whitedream，\'Isaid。\'Iamfeverish:Ihearthewindblowing:Iwillgooutofdoorsandfeelit。\'
Itwasnotonlythehurryofpreparationthatmademefeverish;
notonlytheanticipationofthegreatchange—thenewlifewhichwastocommenceto—morrow:boththesecircumstanceshadtheirshare，doubtless，inproducingthatrestless，excitedmoodwhichhurriedmeforthatthislatehourintothedarkeninggrounds:butathirdcauseinfluencedmymindmorethanthey。
Ihadatheartastrangeandanxiousthought。SomethinghadhappenedwhichIcouldnotcomprehend;nooneknewoforhadseentheeventbutmyself:ithadtakenplacetheprecedingnight。Mr。
Rochesterthatnightwasabsentfromhome;norwasheyetreturned:
businesshadcalledhimtoasmallestateoftwoorthreefarmshepossessedthirtymilesoff—businessitwasrequisiteheshouldsettleinperson，previoustohismeditateddeparturefromEngland。I
waitednowhisreturn;eagertodisburthenmymind，andtoseekofhimthesolutionoftheenigmathatperplexedme。Staytillhecomes，reader:and，whenIdisclosemysecrettohim，youshallsharetheconfidence。
Isoughttheorchard，driventoitsshelterbythewind，whichalldayhadblownstrongandfullfromthesouth，without，however，bringingaspeckofrain。Insteadofsubsidingasnightdrewon，itseemedtoaugmentitsrushanddeepenitsroar:thetreesblewsteadfastlyoneway，neverwrithinground，andscarcelytossingbacktheirboughsonceinanhour;socontinuouswasthestrainbendingtheirbranchyheadsnorthward—thecloudsdriftedfrompoletopole，fastfollowing，massonmass:noglimpseofblueskyhadbeenvisiblethatJulyday。
ItwasnotwithoutacertainwildpleasureIranbeforethewind，deliveringmytroubleofmindtothemeasurelessair—torrentthunderingthroughspace。Descendingthelaurelwalk，Ifacedthewreckofthechestnut—tree;itstoodupblackandriven:thetrunk，splitdownthecentre，gapedghastly。Theclovenhalveswerenotbrokenfromeachother，forthefirmbaseandstrongrootskeptthemunsunderedbelow;thoughcommunityofvitalitywasdestroyed—thesapcouldflownomore:theirgreatboughsoneachsideweredead，andnextwinter\'stempestswouldbesuretofelloneorbothtoearth:
asyet，however，theymightbesaidtoformonetree—aruin，butanentireruin。
\'Youdidrighttoholdfasttoeachother，\'Isaid:asifthemonster—splinterswerelivingthings，andcouldhearme。\'Ithink，scathedasyoulook，andcharredandscorched，theremustbealittlesenseoflifeinyouyet，risingoutofthatadhesionatthefaithful，honestroots:youwillneverhavegreenleavesmore—nevermoreseebirdsmakingnestsandsingingidylsinyourboughs;thetimeofpleasureandloveisoverwithyou:butyouarenotdesolate:
eachofyouhasacomradetosympathisewithhiminhisdecay。\'AsI
lookedupatthem，themoonappearedmomentarilyinthatpartoftheskywhichfilledtheirfissure;herdiskwasblood—redandhalfovercast;sheseemedtothrowonmeonebewildered，drearyglance，andburiedherselfagaininstantlyinthedeepdriftofcloud。Thewindfell，forasecond，roundThornfield;butfarawayoverwoodandwater，pouredawild，melancholywail:itwassadtolistento，andIranoffagain。
HereandthereIstrayedthroughtheorchard，gathereduptheappleswithwhichthegrassroundthetreerootswasthicklystrewn;
thenIemployedmyselfindividingtheripefromtheunripe;Icarriedthemintothehouseandputthemawayinthestoreroom。ThenI
repairedtothelibrarytoascertainwhetherthefirewaslit，for，thoughsummer，IknewonsuchagloomyeveningMr。Rochesterwouldliketoseeacheerfulhearthwhenhecamein:yes，thefirehadbeenkindledsometime，andburntwell。Iplacedhisarm—chairbythechimney—corner:Iwheeledthetablenearit:Iletdownthecurtain，andhadthecandlesbroughtinreadyforlighting。Morerestlessthanever，whenIhadcompletedthesearrangementsIcouldnotsitstill，norevenremaininthehouse:alittletimepieceintheroomandtheoldclockinthehallsimultaneouslystruckten。
\'Howlateitgrows！\'Isaid。\'Iwillrundowntothegates:
itismoonlightatintervals;Icanseeagoodwayontheroad。Hemaybecomingnow，andtomeethimwillsavesomeminutesofsuspense。\'
Thewindroaredhighinthegreattreeswhichemboweredthegates;buttheroadasfarasIcouldsee，totherighthandandtheleft，wasallstillandsolitary:savefortheshadowsofcloudscrossingitatintervalsasthemoonlookedout，itwasalongpaleline，unvariedbyonemovingspeck。
ApuerileteardimmedmyeyewhileIlooked—atearofdisappointmentandimpatience;ashamedofit，Iwipeditaway。I
lingered;themoonshutherselfwhollywithinherchamber，anddrewclosehercurtainofdensecloud:thenightgrewdark;raincamedrivingfastonthegale。
\'Iwishhewouldcome！Iwishhewouldcome！\'Iexclaimed，seizedwithhypochondriacforeboding。Ihadexpectedhisarrivalbeforetea;nowitwasdark:whatcouldkeephim？Hadanaccidenthappened？
Theeventoflastnightagainrecurredtome。Iinterpreteditasawarningofdisaster。Ifearedmyhopesweretoobrighttoberealised;
andIhadenjoyedsomuchblisslatelythatIimaginedmyfortunehadpasseditsmeridian，andmustnowdecline。
\'Well，Icannotreturntothehouse，\'Ithought;\'Icannotsitbythefireside，whileheisabroadininclementweather:bettertiremylimbsthanstrainmyheart;Iwillgoforwardandmeethim。\'
Isetout;Iwalkedfast，butnotfar:ereIhadmeasuredaquarterofamile，Iheardthetrampofhoofs;ahorsemancameon，fullgallop;adogranbyhisside。Awaywithevilpresentiment！Itwashe:
herehewas，mountedonMesrour，followedbyPilot。Hesawme;forthemoonhadopenedabluefieldinthesky，androdeinitwaterybright:
hetookhishatoff，andwaveditroundhishead。Inowrantomeethim。
\'There！\'heexclaimed，ashestretchedouthishandandbentfromthesaddle:\'youcan\'tdowithoutme，thatisevident。Steponmyboot—toe;givemebothhands:mount！\'
Iobeyed:joymademeagile:Isprangupbeforehim。A
heartykissingIgotforawelcome，andsomeboastfultriumph，whichI
swallowedaswellasIcould。Hecheckedhimselfinhisexultationtodemand，\'Butisthereanythingthematter，Janet，thatyoucometomeetmeatsuchanhour？Isthereanythingwrong？\'
\'No，butIthoughtyouwouldnevercome。Icouldnotbeartowaitinthehouseforyou，especiallywiththisrainandwind。\'
\'Rainandwind，indeed！Yes，youaredrippinglikeamermaid;
pullmycloakroundyou:butIthinkyouarefeverish，Jane:bothyourcheekandhandareburninghot。Iaskagain，isthereanythingthematter？\'
\'Nothingnow;Iamneitherafraidnorunhappy。\'
\'Thenyouhavebeenboth？\'
\'Rather:butI\'lltellyouallaboutitbyandby，sir;
andI
daresayyouwillonlylaughatmeformypains。\'
\'I\'lllaughatyouheartilywhento—morrowispast;tillthenI
darenot:myprizeisnotcertain。Thisisyou，whohavebeenasslipperyasaneelthislastmonth，andasthornyasabriar—rose？I
couldnotlayafingeranywherebutIwaspricked;andnowIseemtohavegatheredupastraylambinmyarms。Youwanderedoutofthefoldtoseekyourshepherd，didyou，Jane？\'
\'Iwantedyou:butdon\'tboast。HereweareatThornfield:
nowletmegetdown。\'
Helandedmeonthepavement。AsJohntookhishorse，andhefollowedmeintothehall，hetoldmetomakehasteandputsomethingdryon，andthenreturntohiminthelibrary;andhestoppedme，asImadeforthestaircase，toextortapromisethatI
wouldnotbelong:norwasIlong;infiveminutesIrejoinedhim。I
foundhimatsupper。
\'Takeaseatandbearmecompany，Jane:pleaseGod，itisthelastmealbutoneyouwilleatatThornfieldHallforalongtime。\'
Isatdownnearhim，buttoldhimIcouldnoteat。
\'Isitbecauseyouhavetheprospectofajourneybeforeyou，Jane？
IsitthethoughtsofgoingtoLondonthattakesawayyourappetite？\'
\'Icannotseemyprospectsclearlyto—night，sir;andI
hardlyknowwhatthoughtsIhaveinmyhead。Everythinginlifeseemsunreal。\'
\'Exceptme:Iamsubstantialenough—touchme。\'
\'You，sir，arethemostphantom—likeofall:youareameredream。\'
Heheldouthishand，laughing。\'Isthatadream？\'saidhe，placingitclosetomyeyes。Hehadarounded，muscular，andvigoroushand，aswellasalong，strongarm。
\'Yes;thoughItouchit，itisadream，\'saidI，asIputitdownfrombeforemyface。\'Sir，haveyoufinishedsupper？\'
\'Yes，Jane。\'
Irangthebellandorderedawaythetray。Whenwewereagainalone，Istirredthefire，andthentookalowseatatmymaster\'sknee。
\'Itisnearmidnight，\'Isaid。
\'Yes:butremember，Jane，youpromisedtowakewithmethenightbeforemywedding。\'
\'Idid;andIwillkeepmypromise，foranhourortwoatleast:
Ihavenowishtogotobed。\'
\'Areallyourarrangementscomplete？\'
\'All，sir。\'
\'Andonmypartlikewise，\'hereturned，\'Ihavesettledeverything;
andweshallleaveThornfieldto—morrow，withinhalfanhourafterourreturnfromchurch。\'
\'Verywell，sir。\'
\'Withwhatanextraordinarysmileyouutteredthatword—
\"verywell，\"Jane！Whatabrightspotofcolouryouhaveoneachcheek！
andhowstrangelyyoureyesglitter！Areyouwell？\'
\'IbelieveIam。\'
\'Believe！Whatisthematter？Tellmewhatyoufeel。\'
\'Icouldnot，sir:nowordscouldtellyouwhatIfeel。
Iwishthispresenthourwouldneverend:whoknowswithwhatfatethenextdaymaycomecharged？\'
\'Thisishypochondria，Jane。Youhavebeenover—excited，orover—fatigued。\'
\'Doyou，sir，feelcalmandhappy？\'
\'Calm？—no:buthappy—totheheart\'score。\'
Ilookedupathimtoreadthesignsofblissinhisface:
itwasardentandflushed。
\'Givemeyourconfidence，Jane，\'hesaid:\'relieveyourmindofanyweightthatoppressesit，byimpartingittome。Whatdoyoufear？—
thatIshallnotproveagoodhusband？\'
\'Itistheideafarthestfrommythoughts。\'
\'Areyouapprehensiveofthenewsphereyouareabouttoenter？—ofthenewlifeintowhichyouarepassing？\'
\'No。\'
\'Youpuzzleme，Jane:yourlookandtoneofsorrowfulaudacityperplexandpainme。Iwantanexplanation。\'
\'Then，sir，listen。Youwerefromhomelastnight？\'
\'Iwas:Iknowthat;andyouhintedawhileagoatsomethingwhichhadhappenedinmyabsence:—nothing，probably，ofconsequence;but，inshort，ithasdisturbedyou。Letmehearit。Mrs。
Fairfaxhassaidsomething，perhaps？oryouhaveoverheardtheservantstalk？—yoursensitiveself—respecthasbeenwounded？\'
\'No，sir。\'Itstrucktwelve—Iwaitedtillthetimepiecehadconcludeditssilverchime，andtheclockitshoarse，vibratingstroke，andthenIproceeded。
\'AlldayyesterdayIwasverybusy，andveryhappyinmyceaselessbustle;forIamnot，asyouseemtothink，troubledbyanyhauntingfearsaboutthenewsphere，etcetera:Ithinkitagloriousthingtohavethehopeoflivingwithyou，becauseIloveyou。No，sir，don\'tcaressmenow—letmetalkundisturbed。
YesterdayItrustedwellinProvidence，andbelievedthateventswereworkingtogetherforyourgoodandmine:itwasafineday，ifyourecollect—thecalmnessoftheairandskyforbadeapprehensionsrespectingyoursafetyorcomfortonyourjourney。Iwalkedalittlewhileonthepavementaftertea，thinkingofyou;andIbeheldyouinimaginationsonearme，Iscarcelymissedyouractualpresence。I
thoughtofthelifethatlaybeforeme—yourlife，sir—anexistencemoreexpansiveandstirringthanmyown:asmuchmoresoasthedepthsoftheseatowhichthebrookrunsarethantheshallowsofitsownstraitchannel。Iwonderedwhymoralistscallthisworldadrearywilderness:formeitblossomedlikearose。Justatsunset，theairturnedcoldandtheskycloudy:Iwentin，Sophiecalledmeupstairstolookatmywedding—dress，whichtheyhadjustbrought;andunderitintheboxIfoundyourpresent—theveilwhich，inyourprincelyextravagance，yousentforfromLondon:resolved，Isuppose，sinceI
wouldnothavejewels，tocheatmeintoacceptingsomethingascostly。
IsmiledasIunfoldedit，anddevisedhowIwouldteaseyouaboutyouraristocratictastes，andyoureffortstomasqueyourplebeianbrideintheattributesofapeeress。IthoughthowIwouldcarrydowntoyouthesquareofunembroideredblondIhadmyselfpreparedasacoveringformylow—bornhead，andaskifthatwasnotgoodenoughforawomanwhocouldbringherhusbandneitherfortune，beauty，norconnections。Isawplainlyhowyouwouldlook;andheardyourimpetuousrepublicananswers，andyourhaughtydisavowalofanynecessityonyourparttoaugmentyourwealth，orelevateyourstanding，bymarryingeitherapurseoracoronet。\'
\'Howwellyoureadme，youwitch！\'interposedMr。Rochester:
\'butwhatdidyoufindintheveilbesidesitsembroidery？Didyoufindpoison，oradagger，thatyoulooksomournfulnow？\'
\'No，no，sir;besidesthedelicacyandrichnessofthefabric，I
foundnothingsaveFairfaxRochester\'spride;andthatdidnotscareme，becauseIamusedtothesightofthedemon。But，sir，asitgrewdark，thewindrose:itblewyesterdayevening，notasitblowsnow—wildandhigh—but\"withasullen，moaningsound\"farmoreeerie。
Iwishedyouwereathome。Icameintothisroom，andthesightoftheemptychairandfirelesshearthchilledme。ForsometimeafterIwenttobed，Icouldnotsleep—asenseofanxiousexcitementdistressedme。Thegalestillrising，seemedtomyeartomuffleamournfulunder—sound;whetherinthehouseorabroadIcouldnotatfirsttell，butitrecurred，doubtfulyetdolefulateverylull;atlastImadeoutitmustbesomedoghowlingatadistance。Iwasgladwhenitceased。Onsleeping，Icontinuedindreamstheideaofadarkandgustynight。Icontinuedalsothewishtobewithyou，andexperiencedastrange，regretfulconsciousnessofsomebarrierdividingus。Duringallmyfirstsleep，Iwasfollowingthewindingsofanunknownroad;
totalobscurityenvironedme;rainpeltedme;Iwasburdenedwiththechargeofalittlechild:averysmallcreature，tooyoungandfeebletowalk，andwhichshiveredinmycoldarms，andwailedpiteouslyinmyear。Ithought，sir，thatyouwereontheroadalongwaybeforeme;andIstrainedeverynervetoovertakeyou，andmadeeffortonefforttoutteryournameandentreatyoutostop—
butmymovementswerefettered，andmyvoicestilldiedawayinarticulate;whileyou，Ifelt，withdrewfartherandfarthereverymoment。\'
\'Andthesedreamsweighonyourspiritsnow，Jane，whenIamclosetoyou？Littlenervoussubject！Forgetvisionarywoe，andthinkonlyofrealhappiness！Yousayyouloveme，Janet:yes—I
willnotforgetthat;andyoucannotdenyit。Thosewordsdidnotdieinarticulateonyourlips。Iheardthemclearandsoft:athoughttoosolemnperhaps，butsweetasmusic—\"Ithinkitisagloriousthingtohavethehopeoflivingwithyou，Edward，becauseIloveyou。\"Doyouloveme，Jane？—repeatit。\'
\'Ido，sir—Ido，withmywholeheart。\'
\'Well，\'hesaid，aftersomeminutes\'silence，\'itisstrange;
butthatsentencehaspenetratedmybreastpainfully。Why？Ithinkbecauseyousaiditwithsuchanearnest，religiousenergy，andbecauseyourupwardgazeatmenowistheverysublimeoffaith，truth，anddevotion:itistoomuchasifsomespiritwerenearme。Lookwicked，Jane:asyouknowwellhowtolook:coinoneofyourwild，shy，provokingsmiles，tellmeyouhateme—teaseme，vexme;doanythingbutmoveme:Iwouldratherbeincensedthansaddened。\'
\'Iwillteaseyouandvexyoutoyourheart\'scontent，whenI
havefinishedmytale:buthearmetotheend。\'
\'Ithought，Jane，youhadtoldmeall。IthoughtIhadfoundthesourceofyourmelancholyinadream。\'
Ishookmyhead。\'What！istheremore？ButIwillnotbelieveittobeanythingimportant。Iwarnyouofincredulitybeforehand。Goon。\'
Thedisquietudeofhisair，thesomewhatapprehensiveimpatienceofhismanner，surprisedme:butIproceeded。
\'Idreamtanotherdream，sir:thatThornfieldHallwasadrearyruin，theretreatofbatsandowls。Ithoughtthatofallthestatelyfrontnothingremainedbutashell—likewall，veryhighandveryfragile—looking。Iwandered，onamoonlightnight，throughthegrass—grownenclosurewithin:hereIstumbledoveramarblehearth，andthereoverafallenfragmentofcornice。Wrappedupinashawl，Istillcarriedtheunknownlittlechild:Imightnotlayitdownanywhere，howevertiredweremyarms—howevermuchitsweightimpededmyprogress，Imustretainit。Iheardthegallopofahorseatadistanceontheroad;Iwassureitwasyou;andyouweredepartingformanyyearsandforadistantcountry。Iclimbedthethinwallwithfranticperiloushaste，eagertocatchoneglimpseofyoufromthetop:thestonesrolledfromundermyfeet，theivybranchesI
graspedgaveway，thechildclungroundmyneckinterror，andalmoststrangledme;atlastIgainedthesummit。Isawyoulikeaspeckonawhitetrack，lesseningeverymoment。TheblastblewsostrongIcouldnotstand。Isatdownonthenarrowledge;Ihushedthescaredinfantinmylap:youturnedanangleoftheroad:Ibentforwardtotakealastlook;thewallcrumbled;Iwasshaken;thechildrolledfrommyknee，Ilostmybalance，fell，andwoke。\'
\'Now，Jane，thatisall。\'
\'Allthepreface，sir;thetaleisyettocome。Onwaking，agleamdazzledmyeyes;Ithought—Oh，itisdaylight！ButIwasmistaken;itwasonlycandlelight。Sophie，Isupposed，hadcomein。
Therewasalightinthedressing—table，andthedoorofthecloset，where，beforegoingtobed，Ihadhungmywedding—dressandveil，stoodopen;Iheardarustlingthere。Iasked，\"Sophie，whatareyoudoing？\"Nooneanswered;butaformemergedfromthecloset;ittookthelight，helditaloft，andsurveyedthegarmentspendentfromtheportmanteau。\"Sophie！Sophie！\"Iagaincried:andstillitwassilent。
Ihadrisenupinbed，Ibentforward:firstsurprise，thenbewilderment，cameoverme;andthenmybloodcreptcoldthroughmyveins。Mr。Rochester，thiswasnotSophie，itwasnotLeah，itwasnotMrs。Fairfax:itwasnot—no，Iwassureofit，andamstill—itwasnoteventhatstrangewoman，GracePoole。\'
\'Itmusthavebeenoneofthem，\'interruptedmymaster。
\'No，sir，Isolemnlyassureyoutothecontrary。TheshapestandingbeforemehadnevercrossedmyeyeswithintheprecinctsofThornfieldHallbefore;theheight，thecontourwerenewtome。\'
\'Describeit，Jane。\'
\'Itseemed，sir，awoman，tallandlarge，withthickanddarkhairhanginglongdownherback。Iknownotwhatdressshehadon:
itwaswhiteandstraight;butwhethergown，sheet，orshroud，I
cannottell。\'
\'Didyouseeherface？\'
\'Notatfirst。Butpresentlyshetookmyveilfromitsplace;shehelditup，gazedatitlong，andthenshethrewitoverherownhead，andturnedtothemirror。AtthatmomentIsawthereflectionofthevisageandfeaturesquitedistinctlyinthedarkoblongglass。\'
\'Andhowwerethey？\'
\'Fearfulandghastlytome—oh，sir，Ineversawafacelikeit！Itwasadiscolouredface—itwasasavageface。IwishIcouldforgettherolloftheredeyesandthefearfulblackenedinflationofthelineaments！\'
\'Ghostsareusuallypale，Jane。\'
\'This，sir，waspurple:thelipswereswelledanddark;
thebrowfurrowed:theblackeyebrowswidelyraisedoverthebloodshoteyes。
ShallItellyouofwhatitremindedme？\'
\'Youmay。\'
\'OfthefoulGermanspectre—theVampyre。\'
\'Ah！—whatdiditdo？\'
\'Sir，itremovedmyveilfromitsgaunthead，rentitintwoparts，andflingingbothonthefloor，trampledonthem。\'
\'Afterwards？\'
\'Itdrewasidethewindow—curtainandlookedout;perhapsitsawdawnapproaching，for，takingthecandle，itretreatedtothedoor。
Justatmybedside，thefigurestopped:thefieryeyesglareduponme—
shethrustuphercandleclosetomyface，andextinguisheditundermyeyes。Iwasawareherluridvisageflamedovermine，andIlostconsciousness:forthesecondtimeinmylife—onlythesecondtime—
I
becameinsensiblefromterror。\'
\'Whowaswithyouwhenyourevived？\'
\'Noone，sir，butthebroadday。Irose，bathedmyheadandfaceinwater，drankalongdraught;feltthatthoughenfeebledIwasnotill，anddeterminedthattononebutyouwouldIimpartthisvision。Nowsir，tellmewhoandwhatthatwomanwas？\'
\'Thecreatureofanover—stimulatedbrain;thatiscertain。
I
mustbecarefulofyou，mytreasure:nerveslikeyourswerenotmadeforroughhandling。\'
\'Sir，dependonit，mynerveswerenotinfault;thethingwasreal:thetransactionactuallytookplace。\'
\'Andyourpreviousdreams，weretheyrealtoo？IsThornfieldHallaruin？AmIseveredfromyoubyinsuperableobstacles？AmIleavingyouwithoutatear—withoutakiss—withoutaword？\'
\'Notyet。\'
\'AmIabouttodoit？Why，thedayisalreadycommencedwhichistobindusindissolubly;andwhenweareonceunited，thereshallbenorecurrenceofthesementalterrors:Iguaranteethat。\'
\'Mentalterrors，sir！IwishIcouldbelievethemtobeonlysuch:Iwishitmorenowthanever;sinceevenyoucannotexplaintomethemysteryofthatawfulvisitant。\'
\'AndsinceIcannotdoit，Jane，itmusthavebeenunreal。\'
\'But，sir，whenIsaidsotomyselfonrisingthismorning，andwhenIlookedroundtheroomtogathercourageandcomfortfromthecheerfulaspectofeachfamiliarobjectinfulldaylight，there—onthecarpet—Isawwhatgavethedistinctlietomyhypothesis，—theveil，tornfromtoptobottomintwohalves！\'
IfeltMr。Rochesterstartandshudder;hehastilyflunghisarmsroundme。\'ThankGod！\'heexclaimed，\'thatifanythingmalignantdidcomenearyoulastnight，itwasonlytheveilthatwasharmed。Oh，tothinkwhatmighthavehappened！\'
Hedrewhisbreathshort，andstrainedmesoclosetohim，I
couldscarcelypant。Aftersomeminutes\'silence，hecontinued，cheerily—
\'Now，Janet，I\'llexplaintoyouallaboutit。Itwashalfdream，halfreality。Awomandid，Idoubtnot，enteryourroom:andthatwomanwas—musthavebeen—GracePoole。Youcallherastrangebeingyourself:fromallyouknow，youhavereasonsotocallher—whatdidshedotome？whattoMason？Inastatebetweensleepingandwaking，younoticedherentranceandheractions;butfeverish，almostdeliriousasyouwere，youascribedtoheragoblinappearancedifferentfromherown:thelongdishevelledhair，theswelledblackface，theexaggeratedstature，werefigmentsofimagination;resultsofnightmare:thespitefultearingoftheveilwasreal:anditislikeher。IseeyouwouldaskwhyIkeepsuchawomaninmyhouse:
whenwehavebeenmarriedayearandaday，Iwilltellyou;butnotnow。Areyousatisfied，Jane？Doyouacceptmysolutionofthemystery？\'
Ireflected，andintruthitappearedtometheonlypossibleone:satisfiedIwasnot，buttopleasehimIendeavouredtoappearso—relieved，Icertainlydidfeel;soIansweredhimwithacontentedsmile。Andnow，asitwaslongpastone，Ipreparedtoleavehim。
\'DoesnotSophiesleepwithAdeleinthenursery？\'heasked，asI
litmycandle。
\'Yes，sir。\'
\'AndthereisroomenoughinAdele\'slittlebedforyou。
Youmustshareitwithherto—night，Jane:itisnowonderthattheincidentyouhaverelatedshouldmakeyounervous，andIwouldratheryoudidnotsleepalone:promisemetogotothenursery。\'
\'Ishallbeverygladtodoso，sir。\'
\'Andfastenthedoorsecurelyontheinside。WakeSophiewhenyougoupstairs，underpretenceofrequestinghertorouseyouingoodtimeto—morrow;foryoumustbedressedandhavefinishedbreakfastbeforeeight。Andnow，nomoresombrethoughts:chasedullcareaway，Janet。Don\'tyouheartowhatsoftwhispersthewindhasfallen？
andthereisnomorebeatingofrainagainstthewindow—panes:lookhere\'（heliftedupthecurtain）—\'itisalovelynight！\'
Itwas。Halfheavenwaspureandstainless:theclouds，nowtroopingbeforethewind，whichhadshiftedtothewest，werefilingoffeastwardinlong，silveredcolumns。Themoonshonepeacefully。
\'Well，\'saidMr。Rochester，gazinginquiringlyintomyeyes，\'howismyJanetnow？\'
\'Thenightisserene，sir;andsoamI。\'
\'Andyouwillnotdreamofseparationandsorrowto—night;