butofhappyloveandblissfulunion。\'
Thispredictionwasbuthalffulfilled:Ididnotindeeddreamofsorrow，butaslittledidIdreamofjoy;forIneversleptatall。
WithlittleAdeleinmyarms，Iwatchedtheslumberofchildhood—sotranquil，sopassionless，soinnocent—andwaitedforthecomingday:allmylifewasawakeandastirinmyframe:andassoonasthesunroseIrosetoo。IrememberAdeleclungtomeasIlefther:I
rememberIkissedherasIloosenedherlittlehandsfrommyneck;andIcriedoverherwithstrangeemotion，andquittedherbecauseI
fearedmysobswouldbreakherstillsoundrepose。Sheseemedtheemblemofmypastlife;andheIwasnowtoarraymyselftomeet，thedread，butadored，typeofmyunknownfutureday。
chapter26
CHAPTERXXVI
SOPHIEcameatseventodressme:shewasverylongindeedinaccomplishinghertask;solongthatMr。Rochester，grown，I
suppose，impatientofmydelay，sentuptoaskwhyIdidnotcome。Shewasjustfasteningmyveil（theplainsquareofblondafterall）tomyhairwithabrooch;IhurriedfromunderherhandsassoonasIcould。
\'Stop！\'shecriedinFrench。\'Lookatyourselfinthemirror:
youhavenottakenonepeep。\'
SoIturnedatthedoor:Isawarobedandveiledfigure，sounlikemyusualselfthatitseemedalmosttheimageofastranger。\'Jane！\'
calledavoice，andIhasteneddown。IwasreceivedatthefootofthestairsbyMr。Rochester。
\'Lingerer！\'hesaid，\'mybrainisonfirewithimpatience，andyoutarrysolong！\'
Hetookmeintothedining—room，surveyedmekeenlyallover，pronouncedme\'fairasalily，andnotonlytheprideofhislife，butthedesireofhiseyes，\'andthentellingmehewouldgivemebuttenminutestoeatsomebreakfast，herangthebell。Oneofhislatelyhiredservants，afootman，answeredit。
\'IsJohngettingthecarriageready？\'
\'Yes，sir。\'
\'Istheluggagebroughtdown？\'
\'Theyarebringingitdown，sir。\'
\'Goyoutothechurch:seeifMr。Wood（theclergyman）
andtheclerkarethere:returnandtellme。\'
Thechurch，asthereaderknows，wasbutjustbeyondthegates;thefootmansoonreturned。
\'Mr。Woodisinthevestry，sir，puttingonhissurplice。\'
\'Andthecarriage？\'
\'Thehorsesareharnessing。\'
\'Weshallnotwantittogotochurch;butitmustbereadythemomentwereturn:alltheboxesandluggagearrangedandstrappedon，andthecoachmaninhisseat。\'
\'Yes，sir。\'
\'Jane，areyouready？\'
Irose。Therewerenogroomsmen，nobridesmaids，norelativestowaitforormarshal:nonebutMr。RochesterandI。Mrs。Fairfaxstoodinthehallaswepassed。Iwouldfainhavespokentoher，butmyhandwasheldbyagraspofiron:IwashurriedalongbyastrideI
couldhardlyfollow;andtolookatMr。Rochester\'sfacewastofeelthatnotasecondofdelaywouldbetoleratedforanypurpose。I
wonderwhatotherbridegroomeverlookedashedid—sobentuptoapurpose，sogrimlyresolute:orwho，undersuchsteadfastbrows，everrevealedsuchflamingandflashingeyes。
Iknownotwhetherthedaywasfairorfoul;indescendingthedrive，Igazedneitheronskynorearth:myheartwaswithmyeyes;
andbothseemedmigratedintoMr。Rochester\'sframe。Iwantedtoseetheinvisiblethingonwhich，aswewentalong，heappearedtofastenaglancefierceandfell。Iwantedtofeelthethoughtswhoseforceheseemedbreastingandresisting。
Atthechurchyardwickethestopped:hediscoveredIwasquiteoutofbreath。\'AmIcruelinmylove？\'hesaid。\'Delayaninstant:
leanonme，Jane。\'
AndnowIcanrecallthepictureofthegreyoldhouseofGodrisingcalmbeforeme，ofarookwheelingroundthesteeple，ofaruddymorningskybeyond。Iremembersomething，too，ofthegreengrave—mounds;andIhavenotforgotten，either，twofiguresofstrangersstrayingamongstthelowhillocksandreadingthemementoesgravenonthefewmossyhead—stones。Inoticedthem，because，astheysawus，theypassedroundtothebackofthechurch;andIdoubtednottheyweregoingtoenterbytheside—aisledoorandwitnesstheceremony。ByMr。Rochestertheywerenotobserved;hewasearnestlylookingatmyface，fromwhichthebloodhad，Idaresay，momentarilyfled:forIfeltmyforeheaddewy，andmycheeksandlipscold。WhenIrallied，whichIsoondid，hewalkedgentlywithmeupthepathtotheporch。
Weenteredthequietandhumbletemple;thepriestwaitedinhiswhitesurpliceatthelowlyaltar，theclerkbesidehim。Allwasstill:twoshadowsonlymovedinaremotecorner。Myconjecturehadbeencorrect:thestrangershadslippedinbeforeus，andtheynowstoodbythevaultoftheRochesters，theirbackstowardsus，viewingthroughtherailstheoldtimes—stainedmarbletomb，whereakneelingangelguardedtheremainsofDamerdeRochester，slainatMarstonMoorinthetimeofthecivilwars，andofElizabeth，hiswife。
Ourplacewastakenatthecommunionrails。Hearingacautiousstepbehindme，Iglancedovermyshoulder:oneofthestrangers—agentleman，evidently—wasadvancingupthechancel。Theservicebegan。
Theexplanationoftheintentofmatrimonywasgonethrough;andthentheclergymancameastepfartherforward，and，bendingslightlytowardsMr。Rochester，wenton。
\'Irequireandchargeyouboth（asyewillansweratthedreadfuldayofjudgment，whenthesecretsofallheartsshallbedisclosed），thatifeitherofyouknowanyimpedimentwhyyemaynotlawfullybejoinedtogetherinmatrimony，yedonowconfessit;forbeyewellassuredthatsomanyasarecoupledtogetherotherwisethanGod\'sWorddothallow，arenotjoinedtogetherbyGod，neitheristheirmatrimonylawful。\'
Hepaused，asthecustomis。Whenisthepauseafterthatsentenceeverbrokenbyreply？Not，perhaps，onceinahundredyears。Andtheclergyman，whohadnotliftedhiseyesfromhisbook，andhadheldhisbreathbutforamoment，wasproceeding:hishandwasalreadystretchedtowardsMr。Rochester，ashislipsunclosedtoask，\'Wiltthouhavethiswomanforthyweddedwife？—\'whenadistinctandnearvoicesaid—
\'Themarriagecannotgoon:Ideclaretheexistenceofanimpediment。\'
Theclergymanlookedupatthespeakerandstoodmute;
theclerkdidthesame;Mr。Rochestermovedslightly，asifanearthquakehadrolledunderhisfeet:takingafirmerfooting，andnotturninghisheadoreyes，hesaid，\'Proceed。\'
Profoundsilencefellwhenhehadutteredthatword，withdeepbutlowintonation。PresentlyMr。Woodsaid—
\'Icannotproceedwithoutsomeinvestigationintowhathasbeenasserted，andevidenceofitstruthorfalsehood。\'
\'Theceremonyisquitebrokenoff，\'subjoinedthevoicebehindus。\'Iaminaconditiontoprovemyallegation:aninsuperableimpedimenttothismarriageexists。\'
Mr。Rochesterheard，butheedednot:hestoodstubbornandrigid，makingnomovementbuttopossesshimselfofmyhand。Whatahotandstronggrasphehad！andhowlikequarriedmarblewashispale，firm，massivefrontatthismoment！Howhiseyeshone，stillwatchful，andyetwildbeneath！
Mr。Woodseemedataloss。\'Whatisthenatureoftheimpediment？\'heasked。\'Perhapsitmaybegotover—explainedaway？\'
\'Hardly，\'wastheanswer。\'Ihavecalleditinsuperable，andI
speakadvisedly。\'
Thespeakercameforwardandleanedontherails。Hecontinued，utteringeachworddistinctly，calmly，steadily，butnotloudly—
\'Itsimplyconsistsintheexistenceofapreviousmarriage。
Mr。
Rochesterhasawifenowliving。\'
Mynervesvibratedtothoselow—spokenwordsastheyhadnevervibratedtothunder—mybloodfelttheirsubtleviolenceasithadneverfeltfrostorfire;butIwascollected，andinnodangerofswooning。IlookedatMr。Rochester:Imadehimlookatme。Hiswholefacewascolourlessrock:hiseyewasbothsparkandflint。Hedisavowednothing:heseemedasifhewoulddefyallthings。Withoutspeaking，withoutsmiling，withoutseemingtorecogniseinmeahumanbeing，heonlytwinedmywaistwithhisarmandrivetedmetohisside。
\'Whoareyou？\'heaskedoftheintruder。
\'Andyouwouldthrustonmeawife？\'
\'Iwouldremindyouofyourlady\'sexistence，sir，whichthelawrecognises，ifyoudonot。\'
\'Favourmewithanaccountofher—withhername，herparentage，herplaceofabode。\'
\'Certainly。\'Mr。Briggscalmlytookapaperfromhispocket，andreadoutinasortofofficial，nasalvoice:—
dateoffifteenyearsback），EdwardFairfaxRochester，ofThornfieldEngland，wasmarriedtomysister，BerthaAntoinettaMason，daughterofJonasMason，merchant，andofAntoinettahiswife，aCreole，at—
church，SpanishTown，Jamaica。Therecordofthemarriagewillbefoundintheregisterofthatchurch—acopyofitisnowinmypossession。Signed，RichardMason。\"\'
\'That—ifagenuinedocument—mayproveIhavebeenmarried，butitdoesnotprovethatthewomanmentionedthereinasmywifeisstillliving。\'
\'Shewaslivingthreemonthsago，\'returnedthelawyer。
\'Howdoyouknow？\'
\'Ihaveawitnesstothefact，whosetestimonyevenyou，sir，willscarcelycontrovert。\'
\'Producehim—orgotohell。\'
\'Iwillproducehimfirst—heisonthespot。Mr。Mason，havethegoodnesstostepforward。\'
Mr。Rochester，onhearingthename，sethisteeth;heexperienced，too，asortofstrongconvulsivequiver;neartohimasI
was，Ifeltthespasmodicmovementoffuryordespairrunthroughhisframe。Thesecondstranger，whohadhithertolingeredinthebackground，nowdrewnear;apalefacelookedoverthesolicitor\'sshoulder—yes，itwasMasonhimself。Mr。Rochesterturnedandglaredathim。Hiseye，asIhaveoftensaid，wasablackeye:ithadnowatawny，nay，abloodylightinitsgloom;andhisfaceflushed—olivecheekandhuelessforeheadreceivedaglowasfromspreading，ascendingheart—fire:andhestirred，liftedhisstrongarm—hecouldhavestruckMason，dashedhimonthechurch—floor，shockedbyruthlessblowthebreathfromhisbody—butMasonshrankawayandcriedfaintly，\'GoodGod！\'ContemptfellcoolonMr。Rochester—hispassiondiedasifablighthadshrivelleditup:heonlyasked—\'Whathaveyoutosay？\'
AninaudiblereplyescapedMason\'swhitelips。
\'Thedevilisinitifyoucannotanswerdistinctly。I
againdemand，whathaveyoutosay？\'
\'Sir—sir，\'interruptedtheclergyman，\'donotforgetyouareinasacredplace。\'ThenaddressingMason，heinquiredgently，\'Areyouaware，sir，whetherornotthisgentleman\'swifeisstillliving？\'
\'Courage，\'urgedthelawyer，—\'speakout。\'
\'SheisnowlivingatThornfieldHall，\'saidMason，inmorearticulatetones:\'IsawhertherelastApril。Iamherbrother。\'
\'AtThornfieldHall！\'ejaculatedtheclergyman。\'Impossible！
Iamanoldresidentinthisneighbourhood，sir，andIneverheardofaMrs。RochesteratThornfieldHall。\'
IsawagrimsmilecontortMr。Rochester\'slips，andhemuttered—
\'No，byGod！Itookcarethatnoneshouldhearofit—orofherunderthatname。\'Hemused—fortenminutesheheldcounselwithhimself:heformedhisresolve，andannouncedit—
\'Enough！allshallboltoutatonce，likethebulletfromthebarrel。Wood，closeyourbookandtakeoffyoursurplice;JohnGreen（totheclerk），leavethechurch:therewillbenoweddingto—day。\'
Themanobeyed。
Mr。Rochestercontinued，hardilyandrecklessly:\'Bigamyisanuglyword！—Imeant，however，tobeabigamist;butfatehasout—manoeuvredme，orProvidencehascheckedme，—perhapsthelast。Iamlittlebetterthanadevilatthismoment;and，asmypastortherewouldtellme，deservenodoubtthesternestjudgmentsofGod，eventothequenchlessfireanddeathlessworm。Gentlemen，myplanisbrokenup:—whatthislawyerandhisclientsayistrue:Ihavebeenmarried，andthewomantowhomIwasmarriedlives！YousayyouneverheardofaMrs。Rochesteratthehouseupyonder，Wood;butIdaresayyouhavemanyatimeinclinedyoureartogossipaboutthemysteriouslunatickeptthereunderwatchandward。Somehavewhisperedtoyouthatsheismybastardhalf—sister:some，mycast—offmistress。I
nowinformyouthatsheismywife，whomImarriedfifteenyearsago，—
BerthaMasonbyname;sisterofthisresolutepersonage，whoisnow，withhisquiveringlimbsandwhitecheeks，showingyouwhatastoutheartmenmaybear。Cheerup，Dick！—neverfearme！—I\'dalmostassoonstrikeawomanasyou。BerthaMasonismad;andshecameofamadfamily;idiotsandmaniacsthroughthreegenerations！Hermother，theCreole，wasbothamad—womanandadrunkard！—asIfoundoutafterIhadwedthedaughter:fortheyweresilentonfamilysecretsbefore。
Bertha，likeadutifulchild，copiedherparentinbothpoints。I
hadacharmingpartner—pure，wise，modest:youcanfancyIwasahappyman。Iwentthroughrichscenes！Oh！myexperiencehasbeenheavenly，ifyouonlyknewit！ButIoweyounofurtherexplanation。
Briggs，Wood，Mason，IinviteyoualltocomeuptothehouseandvisitMrs。Poole\'spatient，andmywife！YoushallseewhatsortofabeingIwascheatedintoespousing，andjudgewhetherornotIhadarighttobreakthecompact，andseeksympathywithsomethingatleasthuman。Thisgirl，\'hecontinued，lookingatme，\'knewnomorethanyou，Wood，ofthedisgustingsecret:shethoughtallwasfairandlegal，andneverdreamtshewasgoingtobeentrappedintoafeignedunionwithadefraudedwretch，alreadyboundtoabad，mad，andembrutedpartner！Comeallofyou—follow！\'
Stillholdingmefast，heleftthechurch:thethreegentlemencameafter。Atthefrontdoorofthehallwefoundthecarriage。
\'Takeitbacktothecoach—house，John，\'saidMr。Rochestercoolly:
\'itwillnotbewantedto—day。\'
Atourentrance，Mrs。Fairfax，Adele，Sophie，Leah，advancedtomeetandgreetus。
\'Totheright—about—everysoul！\'criedthemaster;\'awaywithyourcongratulations！Whowantsthem？NotI！—theyarefifteenyearstoolate！\'
Hepassedonandascendedthestairs，stillholdingmyhand，andstillbeckoningthegentlementofollowhim，whichtheydid。Wemountedthefirststaircase，passedupthegallery，proceededtothethirdstorey:thelow，blackdoor，openedbyMr。Rochester\'smaster—key，admittedustothetapestriedroom，withitsgreatbedanditspictorialcabinet。
\'Youknowthisplace，Mason，\'saidourguide;\'shebitandstabbedyouhere。\'
Heliftedthehangingsfromthewall，uncoveringtheseconddoor:
this，too，heopened。Inaroomwithoutawindow，thereburntafireguardedbyahighandstrongfender，andalampsuspendedfromtheceilingbyachain。GracePoolebentoverthefire，apparentlycookingsomethinginasaucepan。Inthedeepshade，atthefartherendoftheroom，afigureranbackwardsandforwards。Whatitwas，whetherbeastorhumanbeing，onecouldnot，atfirstsight，tell:itgrovelled，seemingly，onallfours;itsnatchedandgrowledlikesomestrangewildanimal:butitwascoveredwithclothing，andaquantityofdark，grizzledhair，wildasamane，hiditsheadandface。
\'Good—morrow，Mrs。Poole！\'saidMr。Rochester。\'Howareyou？andhowisyourchargeto—day？\'
\'We\'retolerable，sir，Ithankyou，\'repliedGrace，liftingtheboilingmesscarefullyontothehob:\'rathersnappish，butnot\'rageous。\'
Afiercecryseemedtogivethelietoherfavourablereport:
theclothedhyenaroseup，andstoodtallonitshind—feet。
\'Ah！sir，sheseesyou！\'exclaimedGrace:\'you\'dbetternotstay。\'
\'Onlyafewmoments，Grace:youmustallowmeafewmoments。\'
\'Takecarethen，sir！—forGod\'ssake，takecare！\'
Themaniacbellowed:shepartedhershaggylocksfromhervisage，andgazedwildlyathervisitors。Irecognisedwellthatpurpleface，—
thosebloatedfeatures。Mrs。Pooleadvanced。
\'Keepoutoftheway，\'saidMr。Rochester，thrustingheraside:
\'shehasnoknifenow，Isuppose，andI\'monmyguard！\'
\'Oneneverknowswhatshehas，sir:sheissocunning:
itisnotinmortaldiscretiontofathomhercraft。\'
\'Wehadbetterleaveher，\'whisperedMason。
\'Gotothedevil！\'washisbrother—in—law\'srecommendation。
\'\'Ware！\'criedGrace。Thethreegentlemenretreatedsimultaneously。
Mr。Rochesterflungmebehindhim:thelunaticsprangandgrappledhisthroatviciously，andlaidherteethtohischeek:theystruggled。Shewasabigwoman，instaturealmostequallingherhusband，andcorpulentbesides:sheshowedvirileforceinthecontest—morethanonceshealmostthrottledhim，athleticashewas。Hecouldhavesettledherwithawell—plantedblow:buthewouldnotstrike:hewouldonlywrestle。Atlasthemasteredherarms;GracePoolegavehimacord，andhepinionedthembehindher:withmorerope，whichwasathand，heboundhertoachair。Theoperationwasperformedamidstthefiercestyellsandthemostconvulsiveplunges。Mr。Rochesterthenturnedtothespectators:helookedatthemwithasmilebothacridanddesolate。
\'Thatismywife，\'saidhe。\'SuchisthesoleconjugalembraceIamevertoknow—sucharetheendearmentswhicharetosolacemyleisurehours！AndthisiswhatIwishedtohave\'（layinghishandonmyshoulder）:\'thisyounggirl，whostandssograveandquietatthemouthofhell，lookingcollectedlyatthegambolsofademon。I
wantedherjustasachangeafterthatfierceragout。WoodandBriggs，lookatthedifference！Comparethesecleareyeswiththeredballsyonder—thisfacewiththatmask—thisformwiththatbulk;thenjudgeme，priestofthegospelandmanofthelaw，andrememberwithwhatjudgmentyejudgeyeshallbejudged！Offwithyounow。Imustshutupmyprize。\'
Weallwithdrew。Mr。Rochesterstayedamomentbehindus，togivesomefurtherordertoGracePoole。Thesolicitoraddressedmeashedescendedthestair。
\'You，madam，\'saidhe，\'areclearedfromallblame:yourunclewillbegladtohearit—if，indeed，heshouldbestillliving—whenMr。
MasonreturnstoMadeira。\'
\'Myuncle！Whatofhim？Doyouknowhim？\'
\'Mr。Masondoes。Mr。EyrehasbeentheFunchalcorrespondentofhishouseforsomeyears。WhenyourunclereceivedyourletterintimatingthecontemplatedunionbetweenyourselfandMr。
Rochester，Mr。Mason，whowasstayingatMadeiratorecruithishealth，onhiswaybacktoJamaica，happenedtobewithhim。Mr。
Eyrementionedtheintelligence;forheknewthatmyclientherewasacquaintedwithagentlemanofthenameofRochester。Mr。Mason，astonishedanddistressedasyoumaysuppose，revealedtherealstateofmatters。Youruncle，Iamsorrytosay，isnowonasick—bed;
fromwhich，consideringthenatureofhisdisease—decline—andthestageithasreached，itisunlikelyhewilleverrise。HecouldnotthenhastentoEnglandhimself，toextricateyoufromthesnareintowhichyouhadfallen，butheimploredMr。Masontolosenotimeintakingstepstopreventthefalsemarriage。Hereferredhimtomeforassistance。Iusedalldespatch，andamthankfulIwasnottoolate:asyou，doubtless，mustbealso。WereInotmorallycertainthatyourunclewillbedeadereyoureachMadeira，IwouldadviseyoutoaccompanyMr。Masonback;butasitis，IthinkyouhadbetterremaininEnglandtillyoucanhearfurther，eitherfromorofMr。
Eyre。Haveweanythingelsetostayfor？\'heinquiredofMr。Mason。
\'No，no—letusbegone，\'wastheanxiousreply;andwithoutwaitingtotakeleaveofMr。Rochester，theymadetheirexitatthehalldoor。Theclergymanstayedtoexchangeafewsentences，eitherofadmonitionorreproof，withhishaughtyparishioner;thisdutydone，hetoodeparted。
IheardhimgoasIstoodatthehalf—opendoorofmyownroom，towhichIhadnowwithdrawn。Thehousecleared，Ishutmyselfin，fastenedtheboltthatnonemightintrude，andproceeded—nottoweep，nottomourn，Iwasyettoocalmforthat，but—mechanicallytotakeoffthewedding—dress，andreplaceitbythestuffgownIhadwornyesterday，asIthought，forthelasttime。Ithensatdown:Ifeltweakandtired。Ileanedmyarmsonatable，andmyheaddroppedonthem。AndnowIthought:tillnowIhadonlyheard，seen，moved—
followedupanddownwhereIwasledordragged—watchedeventrushonevent，disclosureopenbeyonddisclosure:butnow，Ithought。
Themorninghadbeenaquietmorningenough—allexceptthebriefscenewiththelunatic:thetransactioninthechurchhadnotbeennoisy;therewasnoexplosionofpassion，noloudaltercation，nodispute，nodefianceorchallenge，notears，nosobs:afewwordshadbeenspoken，acalmlypronouncedobjectiontothemarriagemade;
somestern，shortquestionsputbyMr。Rochester;answers，explanationsgiven，evidenceadduced;anopenadmissionofthetruthhadbeenutteredbymymaster;thenthelivingproofhadbeenseen;
theintrudersweregone，andallwasover。
Iwasinmyownroomasusual—justmyself，withoutobviouschange:
nothinghadsmittenme，orscathedme，ormaimedme。AndyetwherewastheJaneEyreofyesterday？—wherewasherlife？—wherewereherprospects？
JaneEyre，whohadbeenanardent，expectantwoman—almostabride，wasacold，solitarygirlagain:herlifewaspale;herprospectsweredesolate。AChristmasfrosthadcomeatmidsummer;awhiteDecemberstormhadwhirledoverJune;iceglazedtheripeapples，driftscrushedtheblowingroses;onhayfieldandcornfieldlayafrozenshroud:laneswhichlastnightblushedfullofflowers，to—daywerepathlesswithuntroddensnow;andthewoods，whichtwelvehourssincewavedleafyandfragrantasgrovesbetweenthetropics，nowspread，waste，wild，andwhiteaspine—forestsinwintryNorway。Myhopeswerealldead—struckwithasubtledoom，suchas，inonenight，fellonallthefirst—borninthelandofEgypt。Ilookedonmycherishedwishes，yesterdaysobloomingandglowing;theylaystark，chill，lividcorpsesthatcouldneverrevive。Ilookedatmylove:
thatfeelingwhichwasmymaster\'s—whichhehadcreated;itshiveredinmyheart，likeasufferingchildinacoldcradle;
sicknessandanguishhadseizedit;itcouldnotseekMr。
Rochester\'sarms—itcouldnotderivewarmthfromhisbreast。Oh，nevermorecoulditturntohim;forfaithwasblighted—confidencedestroyed！Mr。Rochesterwasnottomewhathehadbeen;forhewasnotwhatIhadthoughthim。Iwouldnotascribevicetohim;Iwouldnotsayhehadbetrayedme;buttheattributeofstainlesstruthwasgonefromhisidea，andfromhispresenceImustgo:thatI
perceivedwell。When—how—whither，Icouldnotyetdiscern;buthehimself，Idoubtednot，wouldhurrymefromThornfield。Realaffection，itseemed，hecouldnothaveforme;ithadbeenonlyfitfulpassion:thatwasbalked;hewouldwantmenomore。Ishouldfeareventocrosshispathnow:myviewmustbehatefultohim。Oh，howblindhadbeenmyeyes！Howweakmyconduct！
Myeyeswerecoveredandclosed:eddyingdarknessseemedtoswimroundme，andreflectioncameinasblackandconfusedaflow。
Self—abandoned，relaxed，andeffortless，Iseemedtohavelaidmedowninthedried—upbedofagreatriver;Iheardafloodloosenedinremotemountains，andfeltthetorrentcome:toriseIhadnowill，tofleeIhadnostrength。Ilayfaint，longingtobedead。Oneideaonlystillthrobbedlife—likewithinme—aremembranceofGod:itbegotanunutteredprayer:thesewordswentwanderingupanddowninmyraylessmind，assomethingthatshouldbewhispered，butnoenergywasfoundtoexpressthem—
\'Benotfarfromme，fortroubleisnear:thereisnonetohelp。\'
Itwasnear:andasIhadliftednopetitiontoHeaventoavertit—
asIhadneitherjoinedmyhands，norbentmyknees，normovedmylips—itcame:infullheavyswingthetorrentpouredoverme。Thewholeconsciousnessofmylifelorn，mylovelost，myhopequenched，myfaithdeath—struck，swayedfullandmightyabovemeinonesullenmass。Thatbitterhourcannotbedescribed:intruth，\'thewaterscameintomysoul;Isankindeepmire:Ifeltnostanding:Icameintodeepwaters;thefloodsoverflowedme。\'
chapter27CHAPTERXXVII
SOMEtimeintheafternoonIraisedmyhead，andlookingroundandseeingthewesternsungildingthesignofitsdeclineonthewall，Iasked，\'WhatamItodo？\'
Buttheanswermymindgave—\'LeaveThornfieldatonce\'—
wassoprompt，sodread，thatIstoppedmyears。IsaidIcouldnotbearsuchwordsnow。\'ThatIamnotEdwardRochester\'sbrideistheleastpartofmywoe，\'Ialleged:\'thatIhavewakenedoutofmostgloriousdreams，andfoundthemallvoidandvain，isahorrorIcouldbearandmaster;butthatImustleavehimdecidedly，instantly，entirely，isintolerable。Icannotdoit。\'
But，then，avoicewithinmeaverredthatIcoulddoitandforetoldthatIshoulddoit。Iwrestledwithmyownresolution:I
wantedtobeweakthatImightavoidtheawfulpassageoffurthersufferingIsawlaidoutforme;andConscience，turnedtyrant，heldPassionbythethroat，toldhertauntingly，shehadyetbutdippedherdaintyfootintheslough，andsworethatwiththatarmofironhewouldthrustherdowntounsoundeddepthsofagony。
\'Letmebetornaway，then！\'Icried。\'Letanotherhelpme！\'
\'No;youshalltearyourselfaway，noneshallhelpyou:
youshallyourselfpluckoutyourrighteye;yourselfcutoffyourrighthand:
yourheartshallbethevictim，andyouthepriesttotransfixit。\'
Iroseupsuddenly，terror—struckatthesolitudewhichsoruthlessajudgehaunted，—atthesilencewhichsoawfulavoicefilled。MyheadswamasIstooderect。IperceivedthatIwassickeningfromexcitementandinanition;neithermeatnordrinkhadpassedmylipsthatday，forIhadtakennobreakfast。And，withastrangepang，I
nowreflectedthat，longasIhadbeenshutuphere，nomessagehadbeensenttoaskhowIwas，ortoinvitemetocomedown:notevenlittleAdelehadtappedatthedoor;notevenMrs。Fairfaxhadsoughtme。\'Friendsalwaysforgetthosewhomfortuneforsakes，\'I
murmured，asIundrewtheboltandpassedout。Istumbledoveranobstacle:myheadwasstilldizzy，mysightwasdim，andmylimbswerefeeble。Icouldnotsoonrecovermyself。Ifell，butnotontotheground;anoutstretchedarmcaughtme。Ilookedup—IwassupportedbyMr。Rochester，whosatinachairacrossmychamberthreshold。
\'Youcomeoutatlast，\'hesaid。\'Well，Ihavebeenwaitingforyoulong，andlistening:yetnotonemovementhaveIheard，noronesob:
fiveminutesmoreofthatdeath—likehush，andIshouldhaveforcedthelocklikeaburglar。Soyoushunme？—youshutyourselfupandgrievealone！Iwouldratheryouhadcomeandupbraidedmewithvehemence。Youarepassionate:Iexpectedasceneofsomekind。I
waspreparedforthehotrainoftears;onlyIwantedthemtobeshedonmybreast:nowasenselessfloorhasreceivedthem，oryourdrenchedhandkerchief。ButIerr:youhavenotweptatall！Iseeawhitecheekandafadedeye，butnotraceoftears。Isuppose，then，yourhearthasbeenweepingblood？
\'Well，Jane！notawordofreproach？Nothingbitter—nothingpoignant？Nothingtocutafeelingorstingapassion？YousitquietlywhereIhaveplacedyou，andregardmewithaweary，passivelook。
\'Jane，Inevermeanttowoundyouthus。Ifthemanwhohadbutonelittleewelambthatwasdeartohimasadaughter，thatateofhisbreadanddrankofhiscup，andlayinhisbosom，hadbysomemistakeslaughtereditattheshambles，hewouldnothaveruedhisbloodyblundermorethanInowruemine。Willyoueverforgiveme？\'
Reader，Iforgavehimatthemomentandonthespot。Therewassuchdeepremorseinhiseye，suchtruepityinhistone，suchmanlyenergyinhismanner;andbesides，therewassuchunchangedloveinhiswholelookandmien—Iforgavehimall:yetnotinwords，notoutwardly;
onlyatmyheart\'score。