\'Jane，\'herecommenced，asweenteredthelaurelwalk，andslowlystrayeddowninthedirectionofthesunkfenceandthehorse—chestnut，\'Thornfieldisapleasantplaceinsummer，isitnot？\'
\'Yes，sir。\'
\'Youmusthavebecomeinsomedegreeattachedtothehouse，—
you，whohaveaneyefornaturalbeauties，andagooddealoftheorganofAdhesiveness？\'
\'Iamattachedtoit，indeed。\'
\'AndthoughIdon\'tcomprehendhowitis，IperceiveyouhaveacquiredadegreeofregardforthatfoolishlittlechildAdele，too;andevenforsimpledameFairfax？\'
\'Yes，sir;indifferentways，Ihaveanaffectionforboth。\'
\'Andwouldbesorrytopartwiththem？\'
\'Yes。\'
\'Pity！\'hesaid，andsighedandpaused。\'Itisalwaysthewayofeventsinthislife，\'hecontinuedpresently:\'nosoonerhaveyougotsettledinapleasantresting—place，thanavoicecallsouttoyoutoriseandmoveon，forthehourofreposeisexpired。\'
\'MustImoveon，sir？\'Iasked。\'MustIleaveThornfield？\'
\'Ibelieveyoumust，Jane。Iamsorry，Janet，butIbelieveindeedyoumust。\'
Thiswasablow:butIdidnotletitprostrateme。
\'Well，sir，Ishallbereadywhentheordertomarchcomes。\'
\'Itiscomenow—Imustgiveitto—night。\'
\'Thenyouaregoingtobemarried，sir？\'
\'Ex—act—ly—pre—cise—ly:withyourusualacuteness，youhavehitthenailstraightonthehead。\'
\'Soon，sir？\'
\'Verysoon，my—thatis，MissEyre:andyou\'llremember，Jane，thefirsttimeI，orRumour，plainlyintimatedtoyouthatitwasmyintentiontoputmyoldbachelor\'sneckintothesacrednoose，toenterintotheholyestateofmatrimony—totakeMissIngramtomybosom，inshort（she\'sanextensivearmful:butthat\'snottothepoint—onecan\'thavetoomuchofsuchaveryexcellentthingasmybeautifulBlanche）:well，asIwassaying—listentome，Jane！
You\'renotturningyourheadtolookaftermoremoths，areyou？Thatwasonlyalady—clock，child，\"flyingawayhome。\"Iwishtoremindyouthatitwasyouwhofirstsaidtome，withthatdiscretionIrespectinyou—withthatforesight，prudence，andhumilitywhichbefityourresponsibleanddependentposition—thatincaseImarriedMissIngram，bothyouandlittleAdelehadbettertrotforthwith。Ipassoverthesortofslurconveyedinthissuggestiononthecharacterofmybeloved;indeed，whenyouarefaraway，Janet，I\'lltrytoforgetit:Ishallnoticeonlyitswisdom;whichissuchthatIhavemadeitmylawofaction。Adelemustgotoschool;andyou，MissEyre，mustgetanewsituation。\'
\'Yes，sir，Iwilladvertiseimmediately:andmeantime，I
suppose—\'Iwasgoingtosay，\'IsupposeImaystayhere，tillI
findanothersheltertobetakemyselfto\':butIstopped，feelingitwouldnotdotoriskalongsentence，formyvoicewasnotquiteundercommand。
\'InaboutamonthIhopetobeabridegroom，\'continuedMr。
Rochester;\'andintheinterim，Ishallmyselflookoutforemploymentandanasylumforyou。\'
\'Thankyou，sir;Iamsorrytogive—\'
\'Oh，noneedtoapologise！Iconsiderthatwhenadependantdoesherdutyaswellasyouhavedoneyours，shehasasortofclaimuponheremployerforanylittleassistancehecanconvenientlyrenderher;indeedIhavealready，throughmyfuturemother—in—law，heardofaplacethatIthinkwillsuit:itistoundertaketheeducationofthefivedaughtersofMrs。DionysiusO\'GallofBitternuttLodge，Connaught，Ireland。You\'lllikeIreland，Ithink:they\'resuchwarmheartedpeoplethere，theysay。\'
\'Itisalongwayoff，sir。\'
\'Nomatter—agirlofyoursensewillnotobjecttothevoyageorthedistance。\'
\'Notthevoyage，butthedistance:andthentheseaisabarrier—\'
\'Fromwhat，Jane？\'
\'FromEnglandandfromThornfield:and—\'
\'Well？\'
\'Fromyou，sir。\'
Isaidthisalmostinvoluntarily，and，withaslittlesanctionoffreewill，mytearsgushedout。Ididnotcrysoastobeheard，however;Iavoidedsobbing。ThethoughtofMrs。O\'GallandBitternuttLodgestruckcoldtomyheart;andcolderthethoughtofallthebrineandfoam，destined，asitseemed，torushbetweenmeandthemasteratwhosesideInowwalked，andcoldesttheremembranceofthewiderocean—wealth，caste，customintervenedbetweenmeandwhatInaturallyandinevitablyloved。
\'Itisalongway，\'Iagainsaid。
\'Itis，tobesure;andwhenyougettoBitternuttLodge，Connaught，Ireland，Ishallneverseeyouagain，Jane:that\'smorallycertain。InevergoovertoIreland，nothavingmyselfmuchofafancyforthecountry。Wehavebeengoodfriends，Jane;havewenot？\'
\'Yes，sir。\'
\'Andwhenfriendsareontheeveofseparation，theyliketospendthelittletimethatremainstothemclosetoeachother。
Come！we\'lltalkoverthevoyageandthepartingquietlyhalfanhourorso，whilethestarsenterintotheirshininglifeupinheavenyonder:hereisthechestnuttree:hereisthebenchatitsoldroots。
Come，wewillsitthereinpeaceto—night，thoughweshouldnevermorebedestinedtosittheretogether。\'Heseatedmeandhimself。
\'ItisalongwaytoIreland，Janet，andIamsorrytosendmylittlefriendonsuchwearytravels:butifIcan\'tdobetter，howisittobehelped？Areyouanythingakintome，doyouthink，Jane？\'
Icouldrisknosortofanswerbythistime:myheartwasstill。
\'Because，\'hesaid，\'Isometimeshaveaqueerfeelingwithregardtoyou—especiallywhenyouarenearme，asnow:itisasifIhadastringsomewhereundermyleftribs，tightlyandinextricablyknottedtoasimilarstringsituatedinthecorrespondingquarterofyourlittleframe。AndifthatboisterousChannelandtwohundredmilesorsooflandcomebroadbetweenus，Iamafraidthatcordofcommunionwillbesnapt;andthenI\'veanervousnotionIshouldtaketobleedinginwardly。Asforyou，—you\'dforgetme。\'
\'ThatInevershould，sir:youknow—\'Impossibletoproceed。
\'Jane，doyouhearthatnightingalesinginginthewood？
Listen！\'
Inlistening，Isobbedconvulsively;forIcouldrepresswhatI
endurednolonger;Iwasobligedtoyield，andIwasshakenfromheadtofootwithacutedistress。WhenIdidspeak，itwasonlytoexpressanimpetuouswishthatIhadneverbeenborn，ornevercometoThornfield。
\'Becauseyouaresorrytoleaveit？\'
Thevehemenceofemotion，stirredbygriefandlovewithinme，wasclaimingmastery，andstrugglingforfullsway，andassertingarighttopredominate，toovercome，tolive，rise，andreignatlast:
yes，—andtospeak。
\'IgrievetoleaveThornfield:IloveThornfield:—Iloveit，becauseIhavelivedinitafullanddelightfullife，—momentarilyatleast。Ihavenotbeentrampledon。Ihavenotbeenpetrified。I
havenotbeenburiedwithinferiorminds，andexcludedfromeveryglimpseofcommunionwithwhatisbrightandenergeticandhigh。I
havetalked，facetoface，withwhatIreverence，withwhatI
delightin，—withanoriginal，avigorous，anexpandedmind。Ihaveknownyou，Mr。Rochester;anditstrikesmewithterrorandanguishtofeelIabsolutelymustbetornfromyouforever。Iseethenecessityofdeparture;anditislikelookingonthenecessityofdeath。\'
\'Wheredoyouseethenecessity？\'heaskedsuddenly。
\'Where？You，sir，haveplaceditbeforeme。\'
\'Inwhatshape？\'
\'IntheshapeofMissIngram;anobleandbeautifulwoman，—
yourbride。\'
\'Mybride！Whatbride？Ihavenobride！\'
\'Butyouwillhave。\'
\'Yes;—Iwill！\'—Iwill！\'Hesethisteeth。
\'ThenImustgo:—youhavesaidityourself。\'
\'No:youmuststay！Iswearit—andtheoathshallbekept。\'
\'ItellyouImustgo！\'Iretorted，rousedtosomethinglikepassion。\'DoyouthinkIcanstaytobecomenothingtoyou？DoyouthinkIamanautomaton？—amachinewithoutfeelings？andcanbeartohavemymorselofbreadsnatchedfrommylips，andmydropoflivingwaterdashedfrommycup？Doyouthink，becauseIampoor，obscure，plain，andlittle，Iamsoullessandheartless？Youthinkwrong！—Ihaveasmuchsoulasyou，—andfullasmuchheart！AndifGodhadgiftedmewithsomebeautyandmuchwealth，Ishouldhavemadeitashardforyoutoleaveme，asitisnowformetoleaveyou。I
amnottalkingtoyounowthroughthemediumofcustom，conventionalities，norevenofmortalflesh;—itismyspiritthataddressesyourspirit;justasifbothhadpassedthroughthegrave，andwestoodatGod\'sfeet，equal，—asweare！\'
\'Asweare！\'repeatedMr。Rochester—\'so，\'headded，enclosingmeinhisarms，gatheringmetohisbreast，pressinghislipsonmylips:
\'so，Jane！\'
\'Yes，so，sir，\'Irejoined:\'andyetnotso;foryouareamarriedman—orasgoodasamarriedman，andwedtooneinferiortoyou—toonewithwhomyouhavenosympathy—whomIdonotbelieveyoutrulylove;forIhaveseenandheardyousneerather。Iwouldscornsuchaunion:thereforeIambetterthanyou—letmego！\'
\'Where，Jane？ToIreland？\'
\'Yes—toIreland。Ihavespokenmymind，andcangoanywherenow。\'
\'Jane，bestill;don\'tstruggleso，likeawildfranticbirdthatisrendingitsownplumageinitsdesperation。\'
\'Iamnobird;andnonetensnaresme;Iamafreehumanbeingwithanindependentwill，whichInowexerttoleaveyou。\'
Anothereffortsetmeatliberty，andIstooderectbeforehim。
\'Andyourwillshalldecideyourdestiny，\'hesaid:\'I
offeryoumyhand，myheart，andashareofallmypossessions。\'
\'Youplayafarce，whichImerelylaughat。\'
\'Iaskyoutopassthroughlifeatmyside—tobemysecondself，andbestearthlycompanion。\'
\'Forthatfateyouhavealreadymadeyourchoice，andmustabidebyit。\'
\'Jane，bestillafewmoments:youareover—excited:I
willbestilltoo。\'
Awaftofwindcamesweepingdownthelaurel—walkandtrembledthroughtheboughsofthechestnut:itwanderedaway—away—toanindefinitedistance—itdied。Thenightingale\'ssongwasthentheonlyvoiceofthehour:inlisteningtoit，Iagainwept。Mr。Rochestersatquiet，lookingatmegentlyandseriously。Sometimepassedbeforehespoke;heatlastsaid—
\'Cometomyside，Jane，andletusexplainandunderstandoneanother。\'
\'Iwillneveragaincometoyourside:Iamtornawaynow，andcannotreturn。\'
\'But，Jane，Isummonyouasmywife:itisyouonlyIintendtomarry。\'
Iwassilent:Ithoughthemockedme。
\'Come，Jane—comehither。\'
\'Yourbridestandsbetweenus。\'
Herose，andwithastridereachedme。
\'Mybrideishere，\'hesaid，againdrawingmetohim，\'becausemyequalishere，andmylikeness。Jane，willyoumarryme？\'
StillIdidnotanswer，andstillIwrithedmyselffromhisgrasp:forIwasstillincredulous。
\'Doyoudoubtme，Jane？\'
\'Entirely。\'
\'Youhavenofaithinme？\'
\'Notawhit。\'
\'AmIaliarinyoureyes？\'heaskedpassionately。\'Littlesceptic，youshallbeconvinced。WhatlovehaveIforMissIngram？None:andthatyouknow。Whatlovehassheforme？None:asIhavetakenpainstoprove:Icausedarumourtoreachherthatmyfortunewasnotathirdofwhatwassupposed，andafterthatIpresentedmyselftoseetheresult;itwascoldnessbothfromherandhermother。Iwouldnot—
Icouldnot—marryMissIngram。You—youstrange，youalmostunearthlything！—Iloveasmyownflesh。You—poorandobscure，andsmallandplainasyouare—Ientreattoacceptmeasahusband。\'
\'What，me！\'Iejaculated，beginninginhisearnestness—
andespeciallyinhisincivility—tocredithissincerity:\'mewhohavenotafriendintheworldbutyou—ifyouaremyfriend:notashillingbutwhatyouhavegivenme？\'
\'You，Jane，Imusthaveyouformyown—entirelymyown。
Willyoubemine？Sayyes，quickly。\'
\'Mr。Rochester，letmelookatyourface:turntothemoonlight。\'
\'Why？\'
\'BecauseIwanttoreadyourcountenance—turn！\'
\'There！youwillfinditscarcelymorelegiblethanacrumpled，scratchedpage。Readon:onlymakehaste，forIsuffer。\'
Hisfacewasverymuchagitatedandverymuchflushed，andtherewerestrongworkingsinthefeatures，andstrangegleamsintheeyes。
\'Oh，Jane，youtortureme！\'heexclaimed。\'Withthatsearchingandyetfaithfulandgenerouslook，youtortureme！\'
\'HowcanIdothat？Ifyouaretrue，andyourofferreal，myonlyfeelingstoyoumustbegratitudeanddevotion—theycannottorture。\'
\'Gratitude！\'heejaculated;andaddedwildly—\'Jane，acceptmequickly。Say，Edward—givememyname—Edward—Iwillmarryyou。\'
\'Areyouinearnest？Doyoutrulyloveme？Doyousincerelywishmetobeyourwife？\'
\'Ido;andifanoathisnecessarytosatisfyyou，Iswearit。\'
\'Then，sir，Iwillmarryyou。\'
\'Edward—mylittlewife！\'
\'DearEdward！\'
\'Cometome—cometomeentirelynow，\'saidhe;andadded，inhisdeepesttone，speakinginmyearashischeekwaslaidonmine，\'Makemyhappiness—Iwillmakeyours。\'
\'Godpardonme！\'hesubjoinederelong;\'andmanmeddlenotwithme:Ihaveher，andwillholdher。\'
\'Thereisnoonetomeddle，sir。Ihavenokindredtointerfere。\'
\'No—thatisthebestofit，\'hesaid。AndifIhadlovedhimlessIshouldhavethoughthisaccentandlookofexultationsavage;
but，sittingbyhim，rousedfromthenightmareofparting—calledtotheparadiseofunion—Ithoughtonlyoftheblissgivenmetodrinkinsoabundantaflow。Againandagainhesaid，\'Areyouhappy，Jane？\'
AndagainandagainIanswered，\'Yes，\'Afterwhichhemurmured，\'Itwillatone—itwillatone。HaveInotfoundherfriendless，andcold，andcomfortless？WillInotguard，andcherish，andsolaceher？Istherenotloveinmyheart，andconstancyinmyresolves？ItwillexpiateatGod\'stribunal。IknowmyMakersanctionswhatIdo。
Fortheworld\'sjudgment—Iwashmyhandsthereof。Forman\'sopinion—Idefyit。\'
Butwhathadbefallenthenight？Themoonwasnotyetset，andwewereallinshadow:Icouldscarcelyseemymaster\'sface，nearasI
was。Andwhatailedthechestnuttree？itwrithedandgroaned;whilewindroaredinthelaurelwalk，andcamesweepingoverus。
\'Wemustgoin，\'saidMr。Rochester:\'theweatherchanges。
I
couldhavesatwiththeetillmorning，Jane。\'
\'Andso，\'thoughtI，\'couldIwithyou。\'Ishouldhavesaidso，perhaps，butalivid，vividsparkleaptoutofacloudatwhichI
waslooking，andtherewasacrack，acrash，andacloserattlingpeal;andIthoughtonlyofhidingmydazzledeyesagainstMr。
Rochester\'sshoulder。
Therainrusheddown。Hehurriedmeupthewalk，throughthegrounds，andintothehouse;butwewerequitewetbeforewecouldpassthethreshold。Hewastakingoffmyshawlinthehall，andshakingthewateroutofmyloosenedhair，whenMrs。Fairfaxemergedfromherroom。Ididnotobserveheratfirst，nordidMr。
Rochester。Thelampwaslit。Thedockwasonthestrokeoftwelve。
\'Hastentotakeoffyourwetthings，\'saidhe;\'andbeforeyougo，good—night—good—night，mydarling！\'
Hekissedmerepeatedly。WhenIlookedup，onleavinghisarms，therestoodthewidow，pale，grave，andamazed。Ionlysmiledather，andranupstairs。\'Explanationwilldoforanothertime，\'thoughtI。Still，whenIreachedmychamber，Ifeltapangattheideasheshouldeventemporarilymisconstruewhatshehadseen。Butjoysooneffacedeveryotherfeeling;andloudasthewindblew，nearanddeepasthethundercrashed，fierceandfrequentasthelightninggleamed，cataract—likeastherainfellduringastormoftwohours\'
duration，Iexperiencednofearandlittleawe。Mr。Rochestercamethricetomydoorinthecourseofit，toaskifIwassafeandtranquil:andthatwascomfort，thatwasstrengthforanything。
BeforeIleftmybedinthemorning，littleAdelecamerunningintotellmethatthegreathorse—chestnutatthebottomoftheorchardhadbeenstruckbylightninginthenight，andhalfofitsplitaway。
chapter24CHAPTERXXIV
ASIroseanddressed，Ithoughtoverwhathadhappened，andwonderedifitwereadream。IcouldnotbecertainoftherealitytillIhadseenMr。Rochesteragain，andheardhimrenewhiswordsofloveandpromise。
Whilearrangingmyhair，Ilookedatmyfaceintheglass，andfeltitwasnolongerplain:therewashopeinitsaspectandlifeinitscolour;andmyeyesseemedasiftheyhadbeheldthefountoffruition，andborrowedbeamsfromthelustrousripple。Ihadoftenbeenunwillingtolookatmymaster，becauseIfearedhecouldnotbepleasedatmylook;butIwassureImightliftmyfacetohisnow，andnotcoolhisaffectionbyitsexpression。Itookaplainbutcleanandlightsummerdressfrommydrawerandputiton:itseemednoattirehadeversowellbecomeme，becausenonehadIeverworninsoblissfulamood。
Iwasnotsurprised，whenIrandownintothehall，toseethatabrilliantJunemorninghadsucceededtothetempestofthenight;
andtofeel，throughtheopenglassdoor，thebreathingofafreshandfragrantbreeze。NaturemustbegladsomewhenIwassohappy。A
beggar—womanandherlittleboy—pale，raggedobjectsboth—werecomingupthewalk，andIrandownandgavethemallthemoneyI
happenedtohaveinmypurse—somethreeorfourshillings:goodorbad，theymustpartakeofmyjubilee。Therookscawed，andblitherbirdssang;butnothingwassomerryorsomusicalasmyownrejoicingheart。
Mrs。Fairfaxsurprisedmebylookingoutofthewindowwithasadcountenance，andsayinggravely—\'MissEyre，willyoucometobreakfast？\'Duringthemealshewasquietandcool:butIcouldnotundeceiveherthen。Imustwaitformymastertogiveexplanations;
andsomustshe。IatewhatIcould，andthenIhastenedupstairs。I
metAdeleleavingtheschoolroom。
\'Whereareyougoing？Itistimeforlessons。\'
\'Mr。Rochesterhassentmeawaytothenursery。\'
\'Whereishe？\'
\'Inthere，\'pointingtotheapartmentshehadleft;andIwentin，andtherehestood。
\'Comeandbidmegood—morning，\'saidhe。Igladlyadvanced;
anditwasnotmerelyacoldwordnow，orevenashakeofthehandthatIreceived，butanembraceandakiss。Itseemednatural:itseemedgenialtobesowellloved，socaressedbyhim。
\'Jane，youlookblooming，andsmiling，andpretty，\'saidhe:\'trulyprettythismorning。Isthismypale，littleelf？Isthismymustard—seed？Thislittlesunny—facedgirlwiththedimpledcheekandrosylips;thesatin—smoothhazelhair，andtheradianthazeleyes？\'（Ihadgreeneyes，reader;butyoumustexcusethemistake:forhimtheywerenew—dyed，Isuppose。）
\'ItisJaneEyre，sir。\'
\'SoontobeJaneRochester，\'headded:\'infourweeks，Janet;notadaymore。Doyouhearthat？\'
Idid，andIcouldnotquitecomprehendit:itmademegiddy。Thefeeling，theannouncementsentthroughme，wassomethingstrongerthanwasconsistentwithjoy—somethingthatsmoteandstunned:itwas，I
think，almostfear。
\'Youblushed，andnowyouarewhite，Jane:whatisthatfor？\'
\'Becauseyougavemeanewname—JaneRochester;anditseemssostrange。\'
\'Yes，Mrs。Rochester，\'saidhe;\'youngMrs。Rochester—
FairfaxRochester\'sgirl—bride。\'
\'Itcanneverbe，sir;itdoesnotsoundlikely。Humanbeingsneverenjoycompletehappinessinthisworld。Iwasnotbornforadifferentdestinytotherestofmyspecies:toimaginesuchalotbefallingmeisafairytale—aday—dream。\'
\'WhichIcanandwillrealise。Ishallbeginto—day。ThismorningI
wrotetomybankerinLondontosendmecertainjewelshehasinhiskeeping，—heirloomsfortheladiesofThornfield。InadayortwoI
hopetopourthemintoyourlap:foreveryprivilege，everyattentionshallbeyoursthatIwouldaccordapeer\'sdaughter，ifabouttomarryher。\'
\'Oh，sir！—nevermindjewels！Idon\'tliketohearthemspokenof。JewelsforJaneEyresoundsunnaturalandstrange:Iwouldrathernothavethem。\'
\'Iwillmyselfputthediamondchainroundyourneck，andthecircletonyourforehead，—whichitwillbecome:fornature，atleast，hasstampedherpatentofnobilityonthisbrow，Jane;andIwillclaspthebraceletsonthesefinewrists，andloadthesefairy—likefingerswithrings。\'
\'No，no，sir！thinkofothersubjects，andspeakofotherthings，andinanotherstrain。Don\'taddressmeasifIwereabeauty;Iamyourplain，Quakerishgoverness。\'
\'Youareabeautyinmyeyes，andabeautyjustafterthedesireofmyheart，—delicateandaerial。\'
\'Punyandinsignificant，youmean。Youaredreaming，sir，—
oryouaresneering。ForGod\'ssake，don\'tbeironical！\'
\'Iwillmaketheworldacknowledgeyouabeauty，too，\'
hewenton，whileIreallybecameuneasyatthestrainhehadadopted，becauseIfelthewaseitherdeludinghimselfortryingtodeludeme。\'I
willattiremyJaneinsatinandlace，andsheshallhaverosesinherhair;andIwillcovertheheadIlovebestwithapricelessveil。\'
\'Andthenyouwon\'tknowme，sir;andIshallnotbeyourJaneEyreanylonger，butanapeinaharlequin\'sjacket—ajayinborrowedplumes。Iwouldassoonseeyou，Mr。Rochester，trickedoutinstage—trappings，asmyselfcladinacourt—lady\'srobe;andIdon\'tcallyouhandsome，sir，thoughIloveyoumostdearly:fartoodearlytoflatteryou。Don\'tflatterme。\'
Hepursuedhistheme，however，withoutnoticingmydeprecation。
\'ThisverydayIshalltakeyouinthecarriagetoMillcote，andyoumustchoosesomedressesforyourself。Itoldyouweshallbemarriedinfourweeks。Theweddingistotakeplacequietly，inthechurchdownbelowyonder;andthenIshallwaftyouawayatoncetotown。Afterabriefstaythere，Ishallbearmytreasuretoregionsnearerthesun:toFrenchvineyardsandItalianplains;andsheshallseewhateverisfamousinoldstoryandinmodernrecord:sheshalltaste，too，ofthelifeofcities;andsheshalllearntovalueherselfbyjustcomparisonwithothers。\'
\'ShallItravel？—andwithyou，sir？\'
\'YoushallsojournatParis，Rome，andNaples:atFlorence，Venice，andVienna:allthegroundIhavewanderedovershallbere—troddenbyyou:whereverIstampedmyhoof，yoursylph\'sfootshallstepalso。
Tenyearssince，IflewthroughEuropehalfmad;withdisgust，hate，andrageasmycompanions:nowIshallrevisitithealedandcleaned，withaveryangelasmycomforter。\'
Ilaughedathimashesaidthis。\'Iamnotanangel，\'
I
asserted;\'andIwillnotbeonetillIdie:Iwillbemyself。Mr。
Rochester，youmustneitherexpectnorexactanythingcelestialofme—
foryouwillnotgetit，anymorethanIshallgetitofyou:whichIdonotatallanticipate。\'
\'Whatdoyouanticipateofme？\'
\'Foralittlewhileyouwillperhapsbeasyouarenow，—
averylittlewhile;andthenyouwillturncool;andthenyouwillbecapricious;andthenyouwillbestern，andIshallhavemuchadotopleaseyou:butwhenyougetwellusedtome，youwillperhapslikemeagain，—likeme，Isay，notloveme。Isupposeyourlovewilleffervesceinsixmonths，orless。Ihaveobservedinbookswrittenbymen，thatperiodassignedasthefarthesttowhichahusband\'sardourextends。Yet，afterall，asafriendandcompanion，Ihopenevertobecomequitedistastefultomydearmaster。\'
\'Distasteful！andlikeyouagain！IthinkIshalllikeyouagain，andyetagain:andIwillmakeyouconfessIdonotonlylike，butloveyou—withtruth，fervour，constancy。\'
\'Yetareyounotcapricious，sir？\'
\'Towomenwhopleasemeonlybytheirfaces，IamtheverydevilwhenIfindouttheyhaveneithersoulsnorhearts—whentheyopentomeaperspectiveofflatness，triviality，andperhapsimbecility，coarseness，andill—temper:buttothecleareyeandeloquenttongue，tothesoulmadeoffire，andthecharacterthatbendsbutdoesnotbreak—atoncesuppleandstable，tractableandconsistent—
I
amevertenderandtrue。\'
\'Hadyoueverexperienceofsuchacharacter，sir？Didyoueverlovesuchanone？\'
\'Iloveitnow。\'
\'Butbeforeme:ifI，indeed，inanyrespectcomeuptoyourdifficultstandard？\'
\'Inevermetyourlikeness。Jane，youpleaseme，andyoumasterme—
youseemtosubmit，andIlikethesenseofpliancyyouimpart;andwhileIamtwiningthesoft，silkenskeinroundmyfinger，itsendsathrillupmyarmtomyheart。Iaminfluenced—conquered;andtheinfluenceissweeterthanIcanexpress;andtheconquestIundergohasawitcherybeyondanytriumphIcanwin。Whydoyousmile，Jane？
Whatdoesthatinexplicable，thatuncannyturnofcountenancemean？\'