IleftMoorHouseatthreeo\'clockP。M。，andsoonafterfourI
stoodatthefootofthesign—postofWhitcross，waitingthearrivalofthecoachwhichwastotakemetodistantThornfield。Amidstthesilenceofthosesolitaryroadsanddeserthills，Ihearditapproachfromagreatdistance。Itwasthesamevehiclewhence，ayearago，Ihadalightedonesummereveningonthisveryspot—howdesolate，andhopeless，andobjectless！ItstoppedasIbeckoned。I
entered—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，tobekepttillI
calledforit;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，andyetIcouldnotforceselftoactonit。Isodreadedareplythatwouldcrushmewithdespair。Toprolongdoubtwastoprolonghope。ImightyetoncemoreseetheHallundertherayofherstar。Therewasthestilebeforeme—theveryfieldsthroughwhichIhadhurried，blind，deaf，distractedwitharevengefulfurytrackingandscourgingme，onthemorningI
fledfromThornfield:ereIwellknewwhatcourseIhadresolvedtotake，Iwasinthemidstofthem。HowfastIwalked！HowIransometimes？HowIlookedforwardtocatchthefirstviewofthewell—knownwoods！WithwhatfeelingsIwelcomedsingletreesIknew，andfamiliarglimpsesofmeadowandhillbetweenthem！
Atlastthewoodsrose;therookeryclustereddark;aloudcawingbrokethemorningstillness。Strangedelightinspiredme:onI
hastened。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。FrombehindonepillarI
couldpeeproundquietlyatthefullfrontofthemansion。I
advancedmyheadwithprecaution，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，butashell—likewall，veryhighandveryfragile—looking，perforatedwithpanelesswindows:noroof，nobattlements，nochimneys—allhadcrashedin。
Andtherewasthesilenceofdeathaboutit:thesolitudeofalonesomewild。Nowonderthatlettersaddressedtopeopleherehadneverreceivedananswer:aswelldespatchepistlestoavaultinachurchaisle。ThegrimblacknessofthestonestoldbywhatfatetheHallhadfallen—byconflagration:buthowkindled？Whatstorybelongedtothisdisaster？Whatloss，besidesmortarandmarbleandwoodworkhadfolloweduponit？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，theblowI
hadbeentryingtoevade。
\'Thelate！\'Igasped。\'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，thehousemaid，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。MissAdele，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。I
witnessed，andseveralmorewitnessed，Mr。Rochesterascendthroughtheskylightontotheroof;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;butmanythinkhehadbetterbedead。\'
\'Why？How？\'Mybloodwasagainrunningcold。\'Whereishe？\'I
demanded。\'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
CHAPTERXXXVII
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，itwoundfarandfarther:nosignofhabitationorgroundswasvisible。
IthoughtIhadtakenawrongdirectionandlostmyway。
Thedarknessofnaturalaswellasofsylvanduskgatheredoverme。I
lookedroundinsearchofanotherroad。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，hishairwasstillravenblack;norwerehisfeaturesalteredorsunk:notinoneyear\'sspace，byanysorrow，couldhisathleticstrengthbequelledorhisvigorousprimeblighted。
ButinhiscountenanceIsawachange:thatlookeddesperateandbrooding—thatremindedmeofsomewrongedandfetteredwildbeastorbird，dangeroustoapproachinhissullenwoe。Thecagedeagle，whosegold—ringedeyescrueltyhasextinguished，mightlookaslookedthatsightlessSamson。
And，reader，doyouthinkIfearedhiminhisblindferocity？—
ifyoudo，youlittleknowme。AsofthopeblentwithmysorrowthatsoonIshoulddaretodropakissonthatbrowofrock，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，\'I
said，\'howareyou？\'
Shestartedasifshehadseenaghost:Icalmedher。Toherhurried\'Isitreallyyou，miss，comeatthislatehourtothislonelyplace？\'Iansweredbytakingherhand;andthenIfollowedherintothekitchen，whereJohnnowsatbyagoodfire。Iexplainedtothem，inafewwords，thatIhadheardallwhichhadhappenedsinceIleftThornfield，andthatIwascometoseeMr。Rochester。IaskedJohntogodowntotheturnpike—house，whereIhaddismissedthechaise，andbringmytrunk，whichIhadleftthere:andthen，whileI
removedmybonnetandshawl，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，butnotseeingwhereI
stood，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。\'