\'Iamnobetterthantheoldlightning—struckchestnut—treeinThornfieldorchard，\'heremarkederelong。\'Andwhatrightwouldthatruinhavetobidabuddingwoodbinecoveritsdecaywithfreshness？\'
\'Youarenoruin，sir—nolightning—strucktree:youaregreenandvigorous。Plantswillgrowaboutyourroots，whetheryouaskthemornot，becausetheytakedelightinyourbountifulshadow;andastheygrowtheywillleantowardsyou，andwindroundyou，becauseyourstrengthoffersthemsosafeaprop。\'
Againhesmiled:Igavehimcomfort。
\'Youspeakoffriends，Jane？\'heasked。
\'Yes，offriends，\'Iansweredratherhesitatingly:forIknewI
meantmorethanfriends，butcouldnottellwhatotherwordtoemploy。
Hehelpedme。
\'Ah！Jane。ButIwantawife。\'
\'Doyou，sir？\'
\'Yes:isitnewstoyou？\'
\'Ofcourse:yousaidnothingaboutitbefore。\'
\'Isitunwelcomenews？\'
\'Thatdependsoncircumstances，sir—onyourchoice。\'
\'Whichyoushallmakeforme，Jane。Iwillabidebyyourdecision。\'
\'Choosethen，sir—herwholovesyoubest。\'
\'Iwillatleastchoose—herIlovebest。Jane，willyoumarryme？\'
\'Yes，sir。\'
\'Apoorblindman，whomyouwillhavetoleadaboutbythehand？\'
\'Yes，sir。\'
\'Acrippledman，twentyyearsolderthanyou，whomyouwillhavetowaiton？\'
\'Yes，sir。\'
\'Truly，Jane？\'
\'Mosttruly，sir。\'
\'Oh！mydarling！Godblessyouandrewardyou！\'
\'Mr。Rochester，ifeverIdidagooddeedinmylife—ifeverI
thoughtagoodthought—ifeverIprayedasincereandblamelessprayer—ifeverIwishedarighteouswish，—Iamrewardednow。Tobeyourwifeis，forme，tobeashappyasIcanbeonearth。\'
\'Becauseyoudelightinsacrifice。\'
\'Sacrifice！WhatdoIsacrifice？Famineforfood，expectationforcontent。TobeprivilegedtoputmyarmsroundwhatIvalue—topressmylipstowhatIlove—toreposeonwhatItrust:isthattomakeasacrifice？Ifso，thencertainlyIdelightinsacrifice。\'
\'Andtobearwithmyinfirmities，Jane:tooverlookmydeficiencies。\'
\'Whicharenone，sir，tome。Iloveyoubetternow，whenIcanreallybeusefultoyou，thanIdidinyourstateofproudindependence，whenyoudisdainedeverypartbutthatofthegiverandprotector。\'
\'HithertoIhavehatedtobehelped—tobeled:henceforth，I
feelIshallhateitnomore。Ididnotliketoputmyhandintoahireling\'s，butitispleasanttofeelitcircledbyJane\'slittlefingers。Ipreferredutterlonelinesstotheconstantattendanceofservants;butJane\'ssoftministrywillbeaperpetualjoy。Janesuitsme:doIsuither？\'
\'Tothefinestfibreofmynature，sir。\'
\'Thecasebeingso，wehavenothingintheworldtowaitfor:wemustbemarriedinstantly。\'
Helookedandspokewitheagerness:hisoldimpetuositywasrising。
\'Wemustbecomeonefleshwithoutanydelay，Jane:thereisbutthelicencetoget—thenwemarry。\'
\'Mr。Rochester，Ihavejustdiscoveredthesunisfardeclinedfromitsmeridian，andPilotisactuallygonehometohisdinner。Letmelookatyourwatch。\'
\'Fastenitintoyourgirdle，Janet，andkeepithenceforward:
I
havenouseforit。\'
\'Itisnearlyfouro\'clockintheafternoon，sir。Don\'tyoufeelhungry？\'
\'Thethirddayfromthismustbeourwedding—day，Jane。
Nevermindfineclothesandjewels，now:allthatisnotworthafillip。\'
\'Thesunhasdriedupalltherain—drops，sir。Thebreezeisstill:
itisquitehot。\'
\'Doyouknow，Jane，Ihaveyourlittlepearlnecklaceatthismomentfastenedroundmybronzescragundermycravat？IhavewornitsincethedayIlostmyonlytreasure，asamementoofher。\'
\'Wewillgohomethroughthewood:thatwillbetheshadiestway。\'
Hepursuedhisownthoughtswithoutheedingme。
\'Jane！youthinkme，Idaresay，anirreligiousdog:butmyheartswellswithgratitudetothebeneficentGodofthisearthjustnow。
Heseesnotasmansees，butfarclearer:judgesnotasmanjudges，butfarmorewisely。Ididwrong:Iwouldhavesulliedmyinnocentflower—
breathedguiltonitspurity:theOmnipotentsnatcheditfromme。I，inmystiff—neckedrebellion，almostcursedthedispensation:
insteadofbendingtothedecree，Idefiedit。Divinejusticepursueditscourse;disasterscamethickonme:Iwasforcedtopassthroughthevalleyoftheshadowofdeath。Hischastisementsaremighty;andonesmotemewhichhashumbledmeforever。YouknowIwasproudofmystrength:butwhatisitnow，whenImustgiveitovertoforeignguidance，asachilddoesitsweakness？Oflate，Jane—
only—onlyoflate—IbegantoseeandacknowledgethehandofGodinmydoom。Ibegantoexperienceremorse，repentance;thewishforreconcilementtomyMaker。Ibegansometimestopray:verybriefprayerstheywere，butverysincere。
\'Somedayssince:nay，Icannumberthem—four;itwaslastMondaynight，asingularmoodcameoverme:oneinwhichgriefreplacedfrenzy—sorrow，sullenness。IhadlonghadtheimpressionthatsinceIcouldnowherefindyou，youmustbedead。Latethatnight—perhapsitmightbebetweenelevenandtwelveo\'clock—ereI
retiredtomydrearyrest，IsupplicatedGod，that，ifitseemedgoodtoHim，Imightsoonbetakenfromthislife，andadmittedtothatworldtocome，wheretherewasstillhopeofrejoiningJane。
\'Iwasinmyownroom，andsittingbythewindow，whichwasopen:
itsoothedmetofeelthebalmynight—air;thoughIcouldseenostars，andonlybyavague，luminoushaze，knewthepresenceofamoon。Ilongedforthee，Janet！Oh，Ilongedfortheebothwithsoulandflesh！IaskedofGod，atonceinanguishandhumility，ifIhadnotbeenlongenoughdesolate，afflicted，tormented;andmightnotsoontasteblissandpeaceoncemore。ThatImeritedallIendured，Iacknowledged—thatIcouldscarcelyenduremore，Ipleaded;andthealphaandomegaofmyheart\'swishesbrokeinvoluntarilyfrommylipsinthewords—\"Jane！Jane！Jane！\"\'
\'Didyouspeakthesewordsaloud？\'
\'Idid，Jane。Ifanylistenerhadheardme，hewouldhavethoughtmemad:Ipronouncedthemwithsuchfranticenergy。\'
\'AnditwaslastMondaynight，somewherenearmidnight？\'
\'Yes;butthetimeisofnoconsequence:whatfollowedisthestrangepoint。Youwillthinkmesuperstitious—somesuperstitionI
haveinmyblood，andalwayshad:nevertheless，thisistrue—trueatleastitisthatIheardwhatInowrelate。
\'AsIexclaimed\"Jane！Jane！Jane！\"avoice—Icannottellwhencethevoicecame，butIknowwhosevoiceitwas—replied，\"Iamcoming:waitforme;\"andamomentafter，wentwhisperingonthewindthewords—\"Whereareyou？\"
\'I\'lltellyou，ifIcan，theidea，thepicturethesewordsopenedtomymind:yetitisdifficulttoexpresswhatIwanttoexpress。Ferndeanisburied，asyousee，inaheavywood，wheresoundfallsdull，anddiesunreverberating。\"Whereareyou？\"seemedspokenamongstmountains;forIheardahill—sentechorepeatthewords。Coolerandfresheratthemomentthegaleseemedtovisitmybrow:Icouldhavedeemedthatinsomewild，lonescene，IandJaneweremeeting。Inspirit，Ibelievewemusthavemet。Younodoubtwere，atthathour，inunconscioussleep，Jane:perhapsyoursoulwanderedfromitscelltocomfortmine;forthosewereyouraccents—
ascertainasIlive—theywereyours！\'
Reader，itwasonMondaynight—nearmidnight—thatItoohadreceivedthemysterioussummons:thoseweretheverywordsbywhichIrepliedtoit。IlistenedtoMr。Rochester\'snarrative，butmadenodisclosureinreturn。Thecoincidencestruckmeastooawfulandinexplicabletobecommunicatedordiscussed。IfItoldanything，mytalewouldbesuchasmustnecessarilymakeaprofoundimpressiononthemindofmyhearer:andthatmind，yetfromitssufferingstoopronetogloom，needednotthedeepershadeofthesupernatural。I
keptthesethingsthen，andponderedtheminmyheart。
\'Youcannotnowwonder，\'continuedmymaster，\'thatwhenyouroseuponmesounexpectedlylastnight，Ihaddifficultyinbelievingyouanyotherthanamerevoiceandvision，somethingthatwouldmelttosilenceandannihilation，asthemidnightwhisperandmountainechohadmeltedbefore。Now，IthankGod！Iknowittobeotherwise。
Yes，IthankGod！\'
Heputmeoffhisknee，rose，andreverentlyliftinghishatfromhisbrow，andbendinghissightlesseyestotheearth，hestoodinmutedevotion。Onlythelastwordsoftheworshipwereaudible。
\'IthankmyMaker，that，inthemidstofjudgment，hehasrememberedmercy。IhumblyentreatmyRedeemertogivemestrengthtoleadhenceforthapurerlifethanIhavedonehitherto！\'
Thenhestretchedhishandouttobeled。Itookthatdearhand，helditamomenttomylips，thenletitpassroundmyshoulder:beingsomuchlowerofstaturethanhe，Iservedbothforhispropandguide。Weenteredthewood，andwendedhomeward。
chapter38
CHAPTERXXXVIIICONCLUSION
READER，Imarriedhim。Aquietweddingwehad:heandI，theparsonandclerk，werealonepresent。Whenwegotbackfromchurch，Iwentintothekitchenofthemanor—house，whereMarywascookingthedinnerandJohncleaningtheknives，andIsaid—
\'Mary，IhavebeenmarriedtoMr。Rochesterthismorning。\'
Thehousekeeperandherhusbandwerebothofthatdecentphlegmaticorderofpeople，towhomonemayatanytimesafelycommunicatearemarkablepieceofnewswithoutincurringthedangerofhavingone\'searspiercedbysomeshrillejaculation，andsubsequentlystunnedbyatorrentofwordywonderment。Marydidlookup，andshedidstareatme:theladlewithwhichshewasbastingapairofchickensroastingatthefire，didforsomethreeminuteshangsuspendedinair;andforthesamespaceoftimeJohn\'sknivesalsohadrestfromthepolishingprocess:butMary，bendingagainovertheroast，saidonly—
\'Haveyou，Miss？Well，forsure！\'
Ashorttimeaftershepursued—\'Iseedyougooutwiththemaster，butIdidn\'tknowyouweregonetochurchtobewed;\'andshebastedaway。John，whenIturnedtohim，wasgrinningfromeartoear。
\'ItelledMaryhowitwouldbe，\'hesaid:\'IknewwhatMr。
Edward\'（Johnwasanoldservant，andhadknownhismasterwhenhewasthecadetofthehouse，therefore，heoftengavehimhisChristianname）—\'IknewwhatMr。Edwardwoulddo;andIwascertainhewouldnotwaitlongneither:andhe\'sdoneright，foraughtIknow。Iwishyoujoy，Miss！\'andhepolitelypulledhisforelock。
\'Thankyou，John。Mr。RochestertoldmetogiveyouandMarythis。\'
Iputintohishandafive—poundnote。Withoutwaitingtohearmore，I
leftthekitchen。Inpassingthedoorofthatsanctumsometimeafter，Icaughtthewords—
\'She\'llhappendobetterforhimnoronyo\'t\'grandladies。\'
Andagain，\'Ifsheben\'toneo\'th\'handsomest，she\'snoanfaalandvarrygood—natured;andi\'hiseenshe\'sfairbeautiful，onybodymayseethat。\'
IwrotetoMoorHouseandtoCambridgeimmediately，tosaywhatI
haddone:fullyexplainingalsowhyIhadthusacted。DianaandMaryapprovedthestepunreservedly。Dianaannouncedthatshewouldjustgivemetimetogetoverthehoneymoon，andthenshewouldcomeandseeme。
\'Shehadbetternotwaittillthen，Jane，\'saidMr。Rochester，whenIreadherlettertohim;\'ifshedoes，shewillbetoolate，forourhoneymoonwillshineourlifelong:itsbeamswillonlyfadeoveryourgraveormine。\'
HowSt。Johnreceivedthenews，Idon\'tknow:heneveransweredtheletterinwhichIcommunicatedit:yetsixmonthsafterhewrotetome，without，however，mentioningMr。Rochester\'snameoralludingtomymarriage。Hisletterwasthencalm，and，thoughveryserious，kind。
Hehasmaintainedaregular，thoughnotfrequent，correspondenceeversince:hehopesIamhappy，andtrustsIamnotofthosewholivewithoutGodintheworld，andonlymindearthlythings。
YouhavenotquiteforgottenlittleAdele，haveyou，reader？
I
hadnot;IsoonaskedandobtainedleaveofMr。Rochester，togoandseeherattheschoolwherehehadplacedher。Herfranticjoyatbeholdingmeagainmovedmemuch。Shelookedpaleandthin:shesaidshewasnothappy。Ifoundtherulesoftheestablishmentweretoostrict，itscourseofstudytoosevereforachildofherage:I
tookherhomewithme。Imeanttobecomehergovernessoncemore，butIsoonfoundthisimpracticable;mytimeandcareswerenowrequiredbyanother—myhusbandneededthemall。SoIsoughtoutaschoolconductedonamoreindulgentsystem，andnearenoughtopermitofmyvisitingheroften，andbringingherhomesometimes。Itookcaresheshouldneverwantforanythingthatcouldcontributetohercomfort:shesoonsettledinhernewabode，becameveryhappythere，andmadefairprogressinherstudies。Asshegrewup，asoundEnglisheducationcorrectedinagreatmeasureherFrenchdefects;andwhensheleftschool，Ifoundinherapleasingandobligingcompanion:
docile，good—tempered，andwell—principled。Byhergratefulattentiontomeandmine，shehaslongsincewellrepaidanylittlekindnessIeverhaditinmypowertoofferher。
Mytaledrawstoitsclose:onewordrespectingmyexperienceofmarriedlife，andonebriefglanceatthefortunesofthosewhosenameshavemostfrequentlyrecurredinthisnarrative，andIhavedone。
Ihavenowbeenmarriedtenyears。IknowwhatitistoliveentirelyforandwithwhatIlovebestonearth。Iholdmyselfsupremelyblest—blestbeyondwhatlanguagecanexpress;becauseI
ammyhusband\'slifeasfullyasheismine。NowomanwasevernearertohermatethanIam:evermoreabsolutelyboneofhisboneandfleshofhisflesh。IknownowearinessofmyEdward\'ssociety:
heknowsnoneofmine，anymorethanweeachdoofthepulsationoftheheartthatbeatsinourseparatebosoms;consequently，weareevertogether。Tobetogetherisforustobeatonceasfreeasinsolitude，asgayasincompany。Wetalk，Ibelieve，alldaylong:totalktoeachotherisbutamoreanimatedandanaudiblethinking。Allmyconfidenceisbestowedonhim，allhisconfidenceisdevotedtome;
wearepreciselysuitedincharacter—perfectconcordistheresult。
Mr。Rochestercontinuedblindthefirsttwoyearsofourunion:
perhapsitwasthatcircumstancethatdrewussoverynear—thatknitussoveryclose:forIwasthenhisvision，asIamstillhisrighthand。Literally，Iwas（whatheoftencalledme）theappleofhiseye。Hesawnature—hesawbooksthroughme;andneverdidIwearyofgazingforhisbehalf，andofputtingintowordstheeffectoffield，tree，town，river，cloud，sunbeam—ofthelandscapebeforeus;oftheweatherroundus—andimpressingbysoundonhisearwhatlightcouldnolongerstamponhiseye。NeverdidIwearyofreadingtohim;neverdidIwearyofconductinghimwherehewishedtogo:
ofdoingforhimwhathewishedtobedone。Andtherewasapleasureinmyservices，mostfull，mostexquisite，eventhoughsad—becauseheclaimedtheseserviceswithoutpainfulshameordampinghumiliation。
Helovedmesotruly，thatheknewnoreluctanceinprofitingbymyattendance:hefeltIlovedhimsofondly，thattoyieldthatattendancewastoindulgemysweetestwishes。
Onemorningattheendofthetwoyears，asIwaswritingalettertohisdictation，hecameandbentoverme，andsaid—
\'Jane，haveyouaglitteringornamentroundyourneck？\'
Ihadagoldwatch—chain:Ianswered\'Yes。\'
\'Andhaveyouapale—bluedresson？\'
Ihad。Heinformedmethen，thatforsometimehehadfanciedtheobscuritycloudingoneeyewasbecominglessdense;andthatnowhewassureofit。
HeandIwentuptoLondon。Hehadtheadviceofaneminentoculist;andheeventuallyrecoveredthesightofthatoneeye。Hecannotnowseeverydistinctly:hecannotreadorwritemuch;buthecanfindhiswaywithoutbeingledbythehand:theskyisnolongerablanktohim—theearthnolongeravoid。Whenhisfirst—bornwasputintohisarms，hecouldseethattheboyhadinheritedhisowneyes，astheyoncewere—large，brilliant，andblack。Onthatoccasion，heagain，withafullheart，acknowledgedthatGodhadtemperedjudgmentwithmercy。
MyEdwardandI，then，arehappy:andthemoreso，becausethosewemostlovearehappylikewise。DianaandMaryRiversarebothmarried:alternately，onceeveryyear，theycometoseeus，andwegotoseethem。Diana\'shusbandisacaptaininthenavy，agallantofficerandagoodman。Mary\'sisaclergyman，acollegefriendofherbrother\'s，and，fromhisattainmentsandprinciples，worthyoftheconnection。BothCaptainFitzjamesandMr。Whartonlovetheirwives，andarelovedbythem。
AstoSt。JohnRivers，heleftEngland:hewenttoIndia。
Heenteredonthepathhehadmarkedforhimself;hepursuesitstill。
Amoreresolute，indefatigablepioneerneverwroughtamidstrocksanddangers。Firm，faithful，anddevoted，fullofenergy，andzeal，andtruth，helaboursforhisrace;heclearstheirpainfulwaytoimprovement;hehewsdownlikeagianttheprejudicesofcreedandcastethatencumberit。Hemaybestern;hemaybeexacting;hemaybeambitiousyet;buthisisthesternnessofthewarriorGreatheart，whoguardshispilgrimconvoyfromtheonslaughtofApollyon。Hisistheexactionoftheapostle，whospeaksbutforChrist，whenhesays—
\'Whosoeverwillcomeafterme，lethimdenyhimself，andtakeuphiscrossandfollowme。\'Hisistheambitionofthehighmaster—spirit，whichaimstofillaplaceinthefirstrankofthosewhoareredeemedfromtheearth—whostandwithoutfaultbeforethethroneofGod，whosharethelastmightyvictoriesoftheLamb，whoarecalled，andchosen，andfaithful。
St。Johnisunmarried:heneverwillmarrynow。Himselfhashithertosufficedtothetoil，andthetoildrawsnearitsclose:
hisglorioussunhastenstoitssetting。ThelastletterIreceivedfromhimdrewfrommyeyeshumantears，andyetfilledmyheartwithdivinejoy:heanticipatedhissurereward，hisincorruptiblecrown。
I
knowthatastranger\'shandwillwritetomenext，tosaythatthegoodandfaithfulservanthasbeencalledatlengthintothejoyofhisLord。Andwhyweepforthis？NofearofdeathwilldarkenSt。
John\'slasthour:hismindwillbeunclouded，hisheartwillbeundaunted，hishopewillbesure，hisfaithsteadfast。Hisownwordsareapledgeofthis—
\'MyMaster，\'hesays，\'hasforewarnedme。DailyHeannouncesmoredistinctly，—\"SurelyIcomequickly！\"andhourlyImoreeagerlyrespond，—\"Amen;evensocome，LordJesus！\"\'