\'Wasanybodystirringbelowwhenyouwentdown，Jane？\'
inquiredMr。
Rochesterpresently。
\'No，sir;allwasverystill。\'
\'Weshallgetyouoffcannily，Dick:anditwillbebetter，bothforyoursake，andforthatofthepoorcreatureinyonder。Ihavestrivenlongtoavoidexposure，andIshouldnotlikeittocomeatlast。Here，Carter，helphimonwithhiswaistcoat。Wheredidyouleaveyourfurredcloak？Youcan\'ttravelamilewithoutthat，Iknow，inthisdamnedcoldclimate。Inyourroom？—Jane，rundowntoMr。
Mason\'sroom，—theonenextmine，—andfetchacloakyouwillseethere。\'
AgainIran，andagainreturned，bearinganimmensemantlelinedandedgedwithfur。
\'Now，I\'veanothererrandforyou，\'saidmyuntiringmaster;
youmustawaytomyroomagain。Whatamercyyouareshodwithvelvet，Jane！—aclod—hoppingmessengerwouldneverdoatthisjuncture。Youmustopenthemiddledrawerofmytoilet—tableandtakeoutalittlephialandalittleglassyouwillfindthere，—quick！\'
Iflewthitherandback，bringingthedesiredvessels。
\'That\'swell！Now，doctor，Ishalltakethelibertyofadministeringadosemyself，onmyownresponsibility。IgotthiscordialatRome，ofanItaliancharlatan—afellowyouwouldhavekicked，Carter。Itisnotathingtobeusedindiscriminately，butitisgooduponoccasion:asnow，forinstance。Jane，alittlewater。\'
Heheldoutthetinyglass，andIhalf—filleditfromthewater—bottleonthewashstand。
\'Thatwilldo;—nowwetthelipofthephial。\'
Ididso;hemeasuredtwelvedropsofacrimsonliquid，andpresentedittoMason。
\'Drink，Richard:itwillgiveyoutheheartyoulack，foranhourorso。\'
\'Butwillithurtme？—isitinflammatory？\'
\'Drink！drink！drink！\'
Mr。Masonobeyed，becauseitwasevidentlyuselesstoresist。
Hewasdressednow:hestilllookedpale，buthewasnolongergoryandsullied。Mr。Rochesterlethimsitthreeminutesafterhehadswallowedtheliquid;hethentookhisarm—
\'NowIamsureyoucangetonyourfeet，\'hesaid—\'try。\'
Thepatientrose。
\'Carter，takehimundertheothershoulder。Beofgoodcheer，Richard;stepout—that\'sit！\'
\'Idofeelbetter，\'remarkedMr。Mason。
\'Iamsureyoudo。Now，Jane，triponbeforeusawaytothebackstairs;unbolttheside—passagedoor，andtellthedriverofthepost—chaiseyouwillseeintheyard—orjustoutside，forItoldhimnottodrivehisrattlingwheelsoverthepavement—tobeready;
wearecoming:and，Jane，ifanyoneisabout，cometothefootofthestairsandhem。\'
Itwasbythistimehalf—pastfive，andthesunwasonthepointofrising;butIfoundthekitchenstilldarkandsilent。Theside—passagedoorwasfastened;Iopeneditwithaslittlenoiseaspossible:alltheyardwasquiet;butthegatesstoodwideopen，andtherewasapost—chaise，withhorsesreadyharnessed，anddriverseatedonthebox，stationedoutside。Iapproachedhim，andsaidthegentlemenwerecoming;henodded:thenIlookedcarefullyroundandlistened。Thestillnessofearlymorningslumberedeverywhere;thecurtainswereyetdrawnovertheservants\'chamberwindows;littlebirdswerejusttwitteringintheblossom—blanchedorchardtrees，whoseboughsdroopedlikewhitegarlandsoverthewallenclosingonesideoftheyard;thecarriagehorsesstampedfromtimetotimeintheirclosedstables:allelsewasstill。
Thegentlemennowappeared。Mason，supportedbyMr。Rochesterandthesurgeon，seemedtowalkwithtolerableease:theyassistedhimintothechaise;Carterfollowed。
\'Takecareofhim，\'saidMr。Rochestertothelatter，\'andkeephimatyourhousetillheisquitewell:Ishallrideoverinadayortwotoseehowhegetson。Richard，howisitwithyou？\'
\'Thefreshairrevivesme，Fairfax。\'
\'Leavethewindowopenonhisside，Carter;thereisnowind—
good—bye，Dick。\'
\'Fairfax—\'
\'Well，whatisit？\'
\'Letherbetakencareof;letherbetreatedastenderlyasmaybe:lether—\'hestoppedandburstintotears。
\'Idomybest;andhavedoneit，andwilldoit，\'wastheanswer:
heshutupthechaisedoor，andthevehicledroveaway。
\'YetwouldtoGodtherewasanendofallthis！\'addedMr。
Rochester，asheclosedandbarredtheheavyyard—gates。
Thisdone，hemovedwithslowstepandabstractedairtowardsadoorinthewallborderingtheorchard。I，supposinghehaddonewithme，preparedtoreturntothehouse;again，however，Iheardhimcall\'Jane！\'Hehadopenedtheportalandstoodatit，waitingforme。
\'Comewherethereissomefreshness，forafewmoments，\'
hesaid;
\'thathouseisameredungeon:don\'tyoufeelitso？\'
\'Itseemstomeasplendidmansion，sir。\'
\'Theglamourofinexperienceisoveryoureyes，\'heanswered;
\'andyouseeitthroughacharmedmedium:youcannotdiscernthatthegildingisslimeandthesilkdraperiescobwebs;thatthemarbleissordidslate，andthepolishedwoodsmererefusechipsandscalybark。Nowhere\'（hepointedtotheleafyenclosurewehadentered）
\'allisreal，sweet，andpure。\'
Hestrayeddownawalkedgedwithbox，withappletrees，peartrees，andcherrytreesononeside，andaborderontheotherfullofallsortsofold—fashionedflowers，stocks，sweet—williams，primroses，pansies，mingledwithsouthernwood，sweet—briar，andvariousfragrantherbs。TheywerefreshnowasasuccessionofAprilshowersandgleams，followedbyalovelyspringmorning，couldmakethem:
thesunwasjustenteringthedappledeast，andhislightilluminedthewreathedanddewyorchardtreesandshonedownthequietwalksunderthem。
\'Jane，willyouhaveaflower？\'
Hegatheredahalf—blownrose，thefirstonthebush，andofferedittome。
\'Thankyou，sir。\'
\'Doyoulikethissunrise，Jane？Thatskywithitshighandlightcloudswhicharesuretomeltawayasthedaywaxeswarm—thisplacidandbalmyatmosphere？\'
\'Ido，verymuch。\'
\'Youhavepassedastrangenight，Jane。\'
\'Yes，sir。\'
\'Andithasmadeyoulookpale—wereyouafraidwhenI
leftyoualonewithMason？\'
\'Iwasafraidofsomeonecomingoutoftheinnerroom。\'
\'ButIhadfastenedthedoor—Ihadthekeyinmypocket:
I
shouldhavebeenacarelessshepherdifIhadleftalamb—mypetlamb—sonearawolf\'sden，unguarded:youweresafe。\'
\'WillGracePooleliveherestill，sir？\'
\'Ohyes！don\'ttroubleyourheadabouther—putthethingoutofyourthoughts。\'
\'Yetitseemstomeyourlifeishardlysecurewhileshestays。\'
\'Neverfear—Iwilltakecareofmyself。\'
\'Isthedangeryouapprehendedlastnightgonebynow，sir？\'
\'IcannotvouchforthattillMasonisoutofEngland:
noreventhen。Tolive，forme，Jane，istostandonacrater—crustwhichmaycrackandspuefireanyday。\'
\'ButMr。Masonseemsamaneasilyled。Yourinfluence，sir，isevidentlypotentwithhim:hewillneversetyouatdefianceorwilfullyinjureyou。\'
\'Ohno！Masonwillnotdefyme;nor，knowingit，willhehurtme—
but，unintentionally，hemightinamoment，byonecarelessword，depriveme，ifnotoflife，yetforeverofhappiness。\'
\'Tellhimtobecautious，sir:lethimknowwhatyoufear，andshowhimhowtoavertthedanger。\'
Helaughedsardonically，hastilytookmyhand，andashastilythrewitfromhim。
\'IfIcoulddothat，simpleton，wherewouldthedangerbe？
Annihilatedinamoment。EversinceIhaveknownMason，Ihaveonlyhadtosaytohim\"Dothat，\"andthethinghasbeendone。ButIcannotgivehimordersinthiscase:Icannotsay\"Bewareofharmingme，Richard\";foritisimperativethatIshouldkeephimignorantthatharmtomeispossible。Nowyoulookpuzzled;andIwillpuzzleyoufurther。Youaremylittlefriend，areyounot？\'
\'Iliketoserveyou，sir，andtoobeyyouinallthatisright。\'
\'Precisely:Iseeyoudo。Iseegenuinecontentmentinyourgaitandmien，youreyeandface，whenyouarehelpingmeandpleasingme—workingforme，andwithme，in，asyoucharacteristicallysay，\"allthatisright\":forifIbidyoudowhatyouthoughtwrong，therewouldbenolight—footedrunning，noneat—handedalacrity，nolivelyglanceandanimatedcomplexion。Myfriendwouldthenturntome，quietandpale，andwouldsay，\"No，sir;thatisimpossible:Icannotdoit，becauseitiswrong\";andwouldbecomeimmutableasafixedstar。
Well，youtoohavepoweroverme，andmayinjureme:yetIdarenotshowyouwhereIamvulnerable，lest，faithfulandfriendlyasyouare，youshouldtransfixmeatonce。\'
\'IfyouhavenomoretofearfromMr。Masonthanyouhavefromme，sir，youareverysafe。\'
\'Godgrantitmaybeso！Here，Jane，isanarbour;sitdown。\'
Thearbourwasanarchinthewall，linedwithivy;itcontainedarusticseat。Mr。Rochestertookit，leavingroom，however，forme:
butIstoodbeforehim。
\'Sit，\'hesaid;\'thebenchislongenoughfortwo。Youdon\'thesitatetotakeaplaceatmyside，doyou？Isthatwrong，Jane？\'
Iansweredhimbyassumingit:torefusewould，Ifelt，havebeenunwise。
\'Now，mylittlefriend，whilethesundrinksthedew—whilealltheflowersinthisoldgardenawakeandexpand，andthebirdsfetchtheiryoungones\'breakfastoutoftheThornfield，andtheearlybeesdotheirfirstspellofwork—I\'llputacasetoyou，whichyoumustendeavourtosupposeyourown:butfirst，lookatme，andtellmeyouareatease，andnotfearingthatIerrindetainingyou，orthatyouerrinstaying。\'
\'No，sir;Iamcontent。\'
\'Wellthen，Jane，calltoaidyourfancy:—supposeyouwerenolongeragirlwellrearedanddisciplined，butawildboyindulgedfromchildhoodupwards;imagineyourselfinaremoteforeignland;
conceivethatyoutherecommitacapitalerror，nomatterofwhatnatureorfromwhatmotives，butonewhoseconsequencesmustfollowyouthroughlifeandtaintallyourexistence。Mind，Idon\'tsayacrime;Iamnotspeakingofsheddingofbloodoranyotherguiltyact，whichmightmaketheperpetratoramenabletothelaw:mywordiserror。Theresultsofwhatyouhavedonebecomeintimetoyouutterlyinsupportable;youtakemeasurestoobtainrelief:unusualmeasures，butneitherunlawfulnorculpable。Stillyouaremiserable;forhopehasquittedyouontheveryconfinesoflife:yoursunatnoondarkensinaneclipse，whichyoufeelwillnotleaveittillthetimeofsetting。Bitterandbaseassociationshavebecomethesolefoodofyourmemory:youwanderhereandthere，seekingrestinexile:
happinessinpleasure—Imeaninheartless，sensualpleasure—suchasdullsintellectandblightsfeeling。Heart—wearyandsoul—withered，youcomehomeafteryearsofvoluntarybanishment:youmakeanewacquaintance—howorwherenomatter:youfindinthisstrangermuchofthegoodandbrightqualitieswhichyouhavesoughtfortwentyyears，andneverbeforeencountered;andtheyareallfresh，healthy，withoutsoilandwithouttaint。Suchsocietyrevives，regenerates:youfeelbetterdayscomeback—higherwishes，purerfeelings;youdesiretorecommenceyourlife，andtospendwhatremainstoyouofdaysinawaymoreworthyofanimmortalbeing。Toattainthisend，areyoujustifiedinoverleapinganobstacleofcustom—amereconventionalimpedimentwhichneitheryourconsciencesanctifiesnoryourjudgmentapproves？\'
Hepausedforananswer:andwhatwasItosay？Oh，forsomegoodspirittosuggestajudiciousandsatisfactoryresponse！Vainaspiration！Thewestwindwhisperedintheivyroundme;butnogentleArielborroweditsbreathasamediumofspeech:thebirdssanginthetree—tops;buttheirsong，howeversweet，wasinarticulate。
AgainMr。Rochesterpropoundedhisquery:
\'Isthewanderingandsinful，butnowrest—seekingandrepentant，manjustifiedindaringtheworld\'sopinion，inordertoattachtohimforeverthisgentle，gracious，genialstranger，therebysecuringhisownpeaceofmindandregenerationoflife？\'
\'Sir，\'Ianswered，\'awanderer\'sreposeorasinner\'sreformationshouldneverdependonafellow—creature。Menandwomendie;
philosophersfalterinwisdom，andChristiansingoodness:ifanyoneyouknowhassufferedanderred，lethimlookhigherthanhisequalsforstrengthtoamendandsolacetoheal。\'
\'Buttheinstrument—theinstrument！God，whodoesthework，ordainstheinstrument。Ihavemyself—Itellityouwithoutparable—beenaworldly，dissipated，restlessman;andIbelieveI
havefoundtheinstrumentformycurein—\'
Hepaused:thebirdswentoncarolling，theleaveslightlyrustling。Ialmostwonderedtheydidnotchecktheirsongsandwhisperstocatchthesuspendedrevelation;buttheywouldhavehadtowaitmanyminutes—solongwasthesilenceprotracted。AtlastI
lookedupatthetardyspeaker:hewaslookingeagerlyatme。
\'Littlefriend，\'saidhe，inquiteachangedtone—whilehisfacechangedtoo，losingallitssoftnessandgravity，andbecomingharshandsarcastic—\'youhavenoticedmytenderpenchantforMissIngram:
don\'tyouthinkifImarriedhershewouldregeneratemewithavengeance？\'
Hegotupinstantly，wentquitetotheotherendofthewalk，andwhenhecamebackhewashummingatune。
\'Jane，Jane，\'saidhe，stoppingbeforeme，\'youarequitepalewithyourvigils:don\'tyoucursemefordisturbingyourrest？\'
\'Curseyou？No，sir。\'
\'Shakehandsinconfirmationoftheword。Whatcoldfingers！
TheywerewarmerlastnightwhenItouchedthematthedoorofthemysteriouschamber。Jane，whenwillyouwatchwithmeagain？\'
\'WheneverIcanbeuseful，sir。\'
\'Forinstance，thenightbeforeIammarried！IamsureIshallnotbeabletosleep。Willyoupromisetositupwithmetobearmecompany？ToyouIcantalkofmylovelyone:fornowyouhaveseenherandknowher。\'
\'Yes，sir。\'
\'She\'sarareone，isshenot，Jane？\'
\'Yes，sir。\'
\'Astrapper—arealstrapper，Jane:big，brown，andbuxom;
withhairjustsuchastheladiesofCarthagemusthavehad。Blessme！
there\'sDentandLynninthestables！Goinbytheshrubbery，throughthatwicket。\'
AsIwentoneway，hewentanother，andIheardhimintheyard，sayingcheerfully—
\'Masongotthestartofyouallthismorning;hewasgonebeforesunrise:Iroseatfourtoseehimoff。\'
chapter21CHAPTERXXI
PRESENTIMENTSarestrangethings！andsoaresympathies;
andsoaresigns;andthethreecombinedmakeonemysterytowhichhumanityhasnotyetfoundthekey。Ineverlaughedatpresentimentsinmylife，becauseIhavehadstrangeonesofmyown。Sympathies，Ibelieve，exist（forinstance，betweenfar—distant，long—absent，whollyestrangedrelativesasserting，notwithstandingtheiralienation，theunityofthesourcetowhicheachtraceshisorigin）whoseworkingsbafflemortalcomprehension。Andsigns，foraughtweknow，maybebutthesympathiesofNaturewithman。
WhenIwasalittlegirl，onlysixyearsold，IonenightheardBessieLeavensaytoMarthaAbbotthatshehadbeendreamingaboutalittlechild;andthattodreamofchildrenwasasuresignoftrouble，eithertoone\'sselforone\'skin。Thesayingmighthavewornoutofmymemory，hadnotacircumstanceimmediatelyfollowedwhichservedindeliblytofixitthere。ThenextdayBessiewassentforhometothedeathbedofherlittlesister。
OflateIhadoftenrecalledthissayingandthisincident;
forduringthepastweekscarcelyanighthadgoneovermycouchthathadnotbroughtwithitadreamofaninfant，whichIsometimeshushedinmyarms，sometimesdandledonmyknee，sometimeswatchedplayingwithdaisiesonalawn，oragain，dabblingitshandsinrunningwater。
Itwasawailingchildthisnight，andalaughingonethenext:nowitnestledclosetome，andnowitranfromme;butwhatevermoodtheapparitionevinced，whateveraspectitwore，itfailednotforsevensuccessivenightstomeetmethemomentIenteredthelandofslumber。
Ididnotlikethisiterationofoneidea—thisstrangerecurrenceofoneimage，andIgrewnervousasbedtimeapproachedandthehourofthevisiondrewnear。Itwasfromcompanionshipwiththisbaby—phantomIhadbeenrousedonthatmoonlightnightwhenI
heardthecry;anditwasontheafternoonofthedayfollowingI
wassummoneddownstairsbyamessagethatsomeonewantedmeinMrs。
Fairfax\'sroom。Onrepairingthither，Ifoundamanwaitingforme，havingtheappearanceofagentleman\'sservant:hewasdressedindeepmourning，andthehatheheldinhishandwassurroundedwithacrapeband。
\'Idaresayyouhardlyrememberme，Miss，\'hesaid，risingasI
entered;\'butmynameisLeaven:IlivedcoachmanwithMrs。ReedwhenyouwereatGateshead，eightornineyearssince，andIlivetherestill。\'
\'Oh，Robert！howdoyoudo？Irememberyouverywell:youusedtogivemearidesometimesonMissGeorgiana\'sbaypony。AndhowisBessie？YouaremarriedtoBessie？\'
\'Yes，Miss:mywifeisveryhearty，thankyou;shebroughtmeanotherlittleoneabouttwomonthssince—wehavethreenow—andbothmotherandchildarethriving。\'
\'Andarethefamilywellatthehouse，Robert？\'
\'IamsorryIcan\'tgiveyoubetternewsofthem，Miss:
theyareverybadlyatpresent—ingreattrouble。\'
\'Ihopenooneisdead，\'Isaid，glancingathisblackdress。Hetoolookeddownatthecraperoundhishatandreplied—
\'Mr。Johndiedyesterdaywasaweek，athischambersinLondon。\'
\'Mr。John？\'
\'Yes。\'
\'Andhowdoeshismotherbearit？\'
\'Why，yousee，MissEyre，itisnotacommonmishap:hislifehasbeenverywild:theselastthreeyearshegavehimselfuptostrangeways，andhisdeathwasshocking。\'
\'IheardfromBessiehewasnotdoingwell。\'
\'Doingwell！Hecouldnotdoworse:heruinedhishealthandhisestateamongsttheworstmenandtheworstwomen。Hegotintodebtandintojail:hismotherhelpedhimouttwice，butassoonashewasfreehereturnedtohisoldcompanionsandhabits。Hisheadwasnotstrong:
theknaveshelivedamongstfooledhimbeyondanythingIeverheard。
HecamedowntoGatesheadaboutthreeweeksagoandwantedmissistogiveupalltohim。Missisrefused:hermeanshavelongbeenmuchreducedbyhisextravagance;sohewentbackagain，andthenextnewswasthathewasdead。Howhedied，Godknows！—theysayhekilledhimself。\'
Iwassilent:thetidingswerefrightful。RobertLeavenresumed—
\'Missishadbeenoutofhealthherselfforsometime:shehadgotverystout，butwasnotstrongwithit;andthelossofmoneyandfearofpovertywerequitebreakingherdown。TheinformationaboutMr。
John\'sdeathandthemannerofitcametoosuddenly:itbroughtonastroke。Shewasthreedayswithoutspeaking;butlastTuesdaysheseemedratherbetter:sheappearedasifshewantedtosaysomething，andkeptmakingsignstomywifeandmumbling。Itwasonlyyesterdaymorning，however，thatBessieunderstoodshewaspronouncingyourname;andatlastshemadeoutthewords，\"BringJane—fetchJaneEyre:Iwanttospeaktoher。\"Bessieisnotsurewhethersheisinherrightmind，ormeansanythingbythewords;
butshetoldMissReedandMissGeorgiana，andadvisedthemtosendforyou。Theyoungladiesputitoffatfirst;buttheirmothergrewsorestless，andsaid，\"Jane，Jane，\"somanytimes，thatatlasttheyconsented。IleftGatesheadyesterday:andifyoucangetready，Miss，Ishouldliketotakeyoubackwithmeearlyto—morrowmorning。\'
\'Yes，Robert，Ishallbeready:itseemstomethatIoughttogo。\'
\'Ithinksotoo，Miss。Bessiesaidshewassureyouwouldnotrefuse:butIsupposeyouwillhavetoaskleavebeforeyoucangetoff？\'
\'Yes;andIwilldoitnow\';andhavingdirectedhimtotheservants\'hall，andrecommendedhimtothecareofJohn\'swife，andtheattentionsofJohnhimself，IwentinsearchofMr。Rochester。
Hewasnotinanyofthelowerrooms;hewasnotintheyard，thestables，orthegrounds。IaskedMrs。Fairfaxifshehadseenhim;—
yes:shebelievedhewasplayingbilliardswithMissIngram。Tothebilliard—roomIhastened:theclickofballsandthehumofvoicesresoundedthence;Mr。Rochester，MissIngram，thetwoMissesEshton，andtheiradmirers，wereallbusiedinthegame。Itrequiredsomecouragetodisturbsointerestingaparty;myerrand，however，wasoneIcouldnotdefer，soIapproachedthemasterwherehestoodatMissIngram\'sside。SheturnedasIdrewnear，andlookedatmehaughtily:hereyesseemedtodemand，\'Whatcanthecreepingcreaturewantnow？\'andwhenIsaid，inalowvoice，\'Mr。
Rochester，\'shemadeamovementasiftemptedtoordermeaway。I
rememberherappearanceatthemoment—itwasverygracefulandverystriking:sheworeamorningrobeofsky—bluecrape;agauzyazurescarfwastwistedinherhair。Shehadbeenallanimationwiththegame，andirritatedpridedidnotlowertheexpressionofherhaughtylineaments。
\'Doesthatpersonwantyou？\'sheinquiredofMr。Rochester;
andMr。
Rochesterturnedtoseewhothe\'person\'was。Hemadeacuriousgrimace—oneofhisstrangeandequivocaldemonstrations—threwdownhiscueandfollowedmefromtheroom。
\'Well，Jane？\'hesaid，asherestedhisbackagainsttheschool—roomdoor，whichhehadshut。
\'Ifyouplease，sir，Iwantleaveofabsenceforaweekortwo。\'
\'Whattodo？—wheretogo？\'
\'Toseeasickladywhohassentforme。\'
\'Whatsicklady？—wheredoesshelive？\'
forpeopletoseeherthatdistance？\'
\'HernameisReedsir—Mrs。Reed。\'
\'ReedofGateshead？TherewasaReedofGateshead，amagistrate。\'
\'Itishiswidow，sir。\'
\'Andwhathaveyoutodowithher？Howdoyouknowher？\'
\'Mr。Reedwasmyuncle—mymother\'sbrother。\'
\'Thedeucehewas！Younevertoldmethatbefore:youalwayssaidyouhadnorelations。\'
\'Nonethatwouldownme，sir。Mr。Reedisdead，andhiswifecastmeoff。\'
\'Why？\'
\'BecauseIwaspoor，andburdensome，andshedislikedme。\'
\'ButReedleftchildren？—youmusthavecousins？SirGeorgeLynnwastalkingofaReedofGatesheadyesterday，who，hesaid，wasoneoftheveriestrascalsontown;andIngramwasmentioningaGeorgianaReedofthesameplace，whowasmuchadmiredforherbeautyaseasonortwoagoinLondon。\'
\'JohnReedisdead，too，sir:heruinedhimselfandhalf—ruinedhisfamily，andissupposedtohavecommittedsuicide。Thenewssoshockedhismotherthatitbroughtonanapoplecticattack。\'
\'Andwhatgoodcanyoudoher？Nonsense，Jane！Iwouldneverthinkofrunningahundredmilestoseeanoldladywhowill，perhaps，bedeadbeforeyoureachher:besides，yousayshecastyouoff。\'
\'Yes，sir，butthatislongago;andwhenhercircumstanceswereverydifferent:Icouldnotbeeasytoneglectherwishesnow。\'
\'Howlongwillyoustay？\'
\'Asshortatimeaspossible，sir。\'
\'Promisemeonlytostayaweek—\'
\'Ihadbetternotpassmyword:Imightbeobligedtobreakit。\'
\'Atalleventsyouwillcomeback:youwillnotbeinducedunderanypretexttotakeupapermanentresidencewithher？\'
\'Oh，no！Ishallcertainlyreturnifallbewell。\'
\'Andwhogoeswithyou？Youdon\'ttravelahundredmilesalone。\'
\'No，sir，shehassenthercoachman。\'
\'Apersontobetrusted？\'
\'Yes，sir，hehaslivedtenyearsinthefamily。\'
Mr。Rochestermeditated。\'Whendoyouwishtogo？\'
\'Earlyto—morrowmorning，sir。\'
\'Well，youmusthavesomemoney;youcan\'ttravelwithoutmoney，andIdaresayyouhavenotmuch:Ihavegivenyounosalaryyet。Howmuchhaveyouintheworld，Jane？\'heasked，smiling。
Idrewoutmypurse;ameagrethingitwas。\'Fiveshillings，sir。\'Hetookthepurse，pouredthehoardintohispalm，andchuckledoveritasifitsscantinessamusedhim。Soonheproducedhispocket—book:\'Here，\'saidhe，offeringmeanote;itwasfiftypounds，andheowedmebutfifteen。ItoldhimIhadnochange。
\'Idon\'twantchange;youknowthat。Takeyourwages。\'
Ideclinedacceptingmorethanwasmydue。Hescowledatfirst;
then，asifrecollectingsomething，hesaid—
\'Right，right！Betternotgiveyouallnow:youwould，perhaps，stayawaythreemonthsifyouhadfiftypounds。Thereareten;isitnotplenty？\'
\'Yes，sir，butnowyouowemefive。\'
\'Comebackforit，then;Iamyourbankerforfortypounds。\'
\'Mr。Rochester，ImayaswellmentionanothermatterofbusinesstoyouwhileIhavetheopportunity。\'
\'Matterofbusiness？Iamcurioustohearit。\'
\'Youhaveasgoodasinformedme，sir，thatyouaregoingshortlytobemarried？\'
\'Yes;whatthen？\'
\'Inthatcase，sir，Adeleoughttogotoschool:Iamsureyouwillperceivethenecessityofit。\'
\'Togetheroutofmybride\'sway，whomightotherwisewalkoverherrathertooemphatically？There\'ssenseinthesuggestion;notadoubtofit。Adele，asyousay，mustgotoschool;andyou，ofcourse，mustmarchstraightto—thedevil？\'
\'Ihopenot，sir;butImustseekanothersituationsomewhere。\'
\'Incourse！\'heexclaimed，withatwangofvoiceandadistortionoffeaturesequallyfantasticandludicrous。Helookedatmesomeminutes。