第16章

“Isthereimmediatedanger？”murmuredMr。Mason。

“Pooh！No—amerescratch。Don’tbesoovercome，man:bearup！I’llfetchasurgeonforyounow，myself:you’llbeabletoberemovedbymorning，Ihope。Jane，”hecontinued。

“Sir？”

“Ishallhavetoleaveyouinthisroomwiththisgentleman，foranhour，orperhapstwohours:youwillspongethebloodasIdowhenitreturns:ifhefeelsfaint，youwillputtheglassofwateronthatstandtohislips，andyoursaltstohisnose。Youwillnotspeaktohimonanypretext—and—Richard，itwillbeattheperilofyourlifeifyouspeaktoher:openyourlips—agitateyourself—andI’llnotanswerfortheconsequences。”

Againthepoormangroaned;helookedasifhedarednotmove;fear，eitherofdeathorofsomethingelse，appearedalmosttoparalysehim。Mr。Rochesterputthenowbloodyspongeintomyhand，andIproceededtouseitashehaddone。Hewatchedmeasecond，thensaying，“Remember！—Noconversation，”helefttheroom。Iexperiencedastrangefeelingasthekeygratedinthelock，andthesoundofhisretreatingstepceasedtobeheard。

HerethenIwasinthethirdstorey，fastenedintooneofitsmysticcells;nightaroundme;apaleandbloodyspectacleundermyeyesandhands;amurderesshardlyseparatedfrommebyasingledoor:yes—thatwasappalling—therestIcouldbear;butIshudderedatthethoughtofGracePooleburstingoutuponme。

Imustkeeptomypost，however。Imustwatchthisghastlycountenance—theseblue，stilllipsforbiddentounclose—theseeyesnowshut，nowopening，nowwanderingthroughtheroom，nowfixingonme，andeverglazedwiththedulnessofhorror。Imustdipmyhandagainandagaininthebasinofbloodandwater，andwipeawaythetricklinggore。Imustseethelightoftheunsnuffedcandlewaneonmyemployment;theshadowsdarkenonthewrought，antiquetapestryroundme，andgrowblackunderthehangingsofthevastoldbed，andquiverstrangelyoverthedoorsofagreatcabinetopposite—whosefront，dividedintotwelvepanels，bore，ingrimdesign，theheadsofthetwelveapostles，eachenclosedinitsseparatepanelasinaframe;whileabovethematthetoproseaneboncrucifixandadyingChrist。

Accordingastheshiftingobscurityandflickeringgleamhoveredhereorglancedthere，itwasnowthebeardedphysician，Luke，thatbenthisbrow;nowSt。John’slonghairthatwaved;andanonthedevilishfaceofJudas，thatgrewoutofthepanel，andseemedgatheringlifeandthreateningarevelationofthearch—traitor—ofSatanhimself—inhissubordinate’sform。

Amidstallthis，Ihadtolistenaswellaswatch:tolistenforthemovementsofthewildbeastorthefiendinyondersideden。ButsinceMr。Rochester’svisititseemedspellbound:allthenightIheardbutthreesoundsatthreelongintervals，—astepcreak，amomentaryrenewalofthesnarling，caninenoise，andadeephumangroan。

Thenmyownthoughtsworriedme。Whatcrimewasthisthatlivedincarnateinthissequesteredmansion，andcouldneitherbeexpellednorsubduedbytheowner？—whatmystery，thatbrokeoutnowinfireandnowinblood，atthedeadesthoursofnight？Whatcreaturewasit，that，maskedinanordinarywoman’sfaceandshape，utteredthevoice，nowofamockingdemon，andanonofacarrion—seekingbirdofprey？

AndthismanIbentover—thiscommonplace，quietstranger—howhadhebecomeinvolvedinthewebofhorror？andwhyhadtheFuryflownathim？Whatmadehimseekthisquarterofthehouseatanuntimelyseason，whenheshouldhavebeenasleepinbed？IhadheardMr。Rochesterassignhimanapartmentbelow—whatbroughthimhere！Andwhy，now，washesotameundertheviolenceortreacherydonehim？WhydidhesoquietlysubmittotheconcealmentMr。Rochesterenforced？WhydidMr。Rochesterenforcethisconcealment？Hisguesthadbeenoutraged，hisownlifeonaformeroccasionhadbeenhideouslyplottedagainst;andbothattemptshesmotheredinsecrecyandsankinoblivion！ly，IsawMr。MasonwassubmissivetoMr。Rochester;thattheimpetuouswillofthelatterheldcompleteswayovertheinertnessoftheformer:thefewwordswhichhadpassedbetweenthemassuredmeofthis。Itwasevidentthatintheirformerintercourse，thepassivedispositionoftheonehadbeenhabituallyinfluencedbytheactiveenergyoftheother:whencethenhadarisenMr。Rochester’sdismaywhenheheardofMr。Mason’sarrival？Whyhadthemerenameofthisunresistingindividual—whomhiswordnowsufficedtocontrollikeachild—fallenonhim，afewhourssince，asathunderboltmightfallonanoak？

Oh！Icouldnotforgethislookandhispalenesswhenhewhispered:“Jane，Ihavegotablow—Ihavegotablow，Jane。”Icouldnotforgethowthearmhadtrembledwhichherestedonmyshoulder:anditwasnolightmatterwhichcouldthusbowtheresolutespiritandthrillthevigorousframeofFairfaxRochester。

“Whenwillhecome？Whenwillhecome？”Icriedinwardly，asthenightlingeredandlingered—asmybleedingpatientdrooped，moaned，sickened:andneitherdaynoraidarrived。Ihad，againandagain，heldthewatertoMason’swhitelips;againandagainofferedhimthestimulatingsalts:myeffortsseemedineffectual:eitherbodilyormentalsuffering，orlossofblood，orallthreecombined，werefastprostratinghisstrength。Hemoanedso，andlookedsoweak，wild，andlost，Ifearedhewasdying;antImightnotevenspeaktohim。

Thecandle，wastedatlast，wentout;asitexpired，Iperceivedstreaksofgreylightedgingthewindowcurtains:dawnwasthenapproaching。PresentlyIheardPilotbarkfarbelow，outofhisdistantkennelinthecourtyard:hoperevived。Norwasitunwarranted:infiveminutesmorethegratingkey，theyieldinglock，warnedmemywatchwasrelieved。Itcouldnothavelastedmorethantwohours:manyaweekhasseemedshorter。

Mr。Rochesterentered，andwithhimthesurgeonhehadbeentofetch。

“Now，Carter，beonthealert，”hesaidtothislast:“Igiveyoubuthalf—an—hourfordressingthewound，fasteningthebandages，gettingthepatientdownstairsandall。”

“Butishefittomove，sir？”

“Nodoubtofit;itisnothingserious;heisnervous，hisspiritsmustbekeptup。Come，settowork。”

Mr。Rochesterdrewbackthethickcurtain，drewupthehollandblind，letinallthedaylighthecould;andIwassurprisedandcheeredtoseehowfardawnwasadvanced:whatrosystreakswerebeginningtobrightentheeast。ThenheapproachedMason，whomthesurgeonwasalreadyhandling。

“Now，mygoodfellow，howareyou？”heasked。

“She’sdoneforme，Ifear，”wasthefaintreply。

“Notawhit！—courage！Thisdayfortnightyou’llhardlybeapintheworseofit:you’velostalittleblood;that’sallCarter，assurehimthere’snodanger。”

“Icandothatconscientiously，”saidCarter，whohadnowundonethebandages;“onlyIwishIcouldhavegotheresooner:hewouldnothavebledsomuch—buthowisthis？Thefleshontheshoulderistornaswellascut。Thiswoundwasnotdonewithaknife:therehavebeenteethhere！”

“Shebitme，”hemurmured。“Sheworriedmelikeatigress，whenRochestergottheknifefromher。”

“Youshouldnothaveyielded:youshouldhavegrappledwithheratonce，”saidMr。Rochester。

“Butundersuchcircumstances，whatcouldonedo？”returnedMason。“Oh，itwasfrightful！”headded，shuddering。“AndIdidnotexpectit:shelookedsoquietatfirst。”

“Iwarnedyou，”washisfriend’sanswer;“Isaid—beonyourguardwhenyougonearher。Besides，youmighthavewaitedtillto—morrow，andhadmewithyou:itwasmerefollytoattempttheinterviewto—night，andalone。”

“IthoughtIcouldhavedonesomegood。”

“Youthought！youthought！Yes，itmakesmeimpatienttohearyou:but，however，youhavesuffered，andarelikelytosufferenoughfornottakingmyadvice;soI’llsaynomore。Carter—hurry！—hurry！Thesunwillsoonrise，andImusthavehimoff。”

“Directly，sir;theshoulderisjustbandaged。Imustlooktothisotherwoundinthearm:shehashadherteethheretoo，Ithink。”

“Shesuckedtheblood:shesaidshe’ddrainmyheart，”saidMason。

IsawMr。Rochestershudder:asingularlymarkedexpressionofdisgust，horror，hatred，warpedhiscountenancealmosttodistortion;butheonlysaid—

“Come，besilent，Richard，andnevermindhergibberish:don’trepeatit。”

“IwishIcouldforgetit，”wastheanswer。

“Youwillwhenyouareoutofthecountry:whenyougetbacktoSpanishTown，youmaythinkofherasdeadandburied—orrather，youneednotthinkofheratall。”

“Impossibletoforgetthisnight！”

“Itisnotimpossible:havesomeenergy，man。Youthoughtyouwereasdeadasaherringtwohourssince，andyouareallaliveandtalkingnow。There！—Carterhasdonewithyouornearlyso;I’llmakeyoudecentinatrice。Jane”（heturnedtomeforthefirsttimesincehisre—entrance），“takethiskey:godownintomybedroom，andwalkstraightforwardintomydressing—room:openthetopdrawerofthewardrobeandtakeoutacleanshirtandneck—handkerchief:bringthemhere;andbenimble。”

Iwent;soughttherepositoryhehadmentioned，foundthearticlesnamed，andreturnedwiththem。

“Now，”saidhe，“gototheothersideofthebedwhileIorderhistoilet;butdon’tleavetheroom:youmaybewantedagain。”

Iretiredasdirected。

“Wasanybodystirringbelowwhenyouwentdown，Jane？”inquiredMr。Rochesterpresently。

“No，sir;allwasverystill。”

“Weshallgetyouoffcannily，Dick:anditwillbebetter，bothforyoursake，andforthatofthepoorcreatureinyonder。Ihavestrivenlongtoavoidexposure，andIshouldnotlikeittocomeatlast。Here，Carter，helphimonwithhiswaist—coat。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，andIhalffilleditfromthewater—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—”

“Wellwhatisit？”

“Letherbetakencareof;letherbetreatedastenderlyasmaybe:lether—”hestoppedandburstintotears。

“Idomybest;andhavedoneit，andwilldoit，”wastheanswer:heshutupthechaisedoor，andthevehicledroveaway。

“YetwouldtoGodtherewasanendofallthis！”addedMr。Rochester，asheclosedandbarredtheheavyyard—gates。

Thisdone，hemovedwithslowstepandabstractedairtowardsadoorinthewallborderingtheorchard。I，supposinghehaddonewithme，preparedtoreturntothehouse;again，however，Iheardhimcall“Jane！”Hehadopenedfeelportalandstoodatit，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—thisplacidandbalmlyatmosphere？”

“Ido，verymuch。”

“Youhavepassedastrangenight，Jane。”

“Yes，sir。”

“Andithasmadeyoulookpale—wereyouafraidwhenIleftyoualonewithMason？”

“Iwasafraidofsomeonecomingoutoftheinnerroom。”

“ButIhadfastenedthedoor—Ihadthekeyinmypocket:IshouldhavebeenacarelessshepherdifIhadleftalamb—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。”

“Oh，no！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;andIbelieveIhavefoundtheinstrumentformycurein—”

Hepaused:thebirdswentoncarolling，theleaveslightlyrustling。Ialmostwonderedtheydidnotchecktheirsongsandwhisperstocatchthesuspendedrevelation;buttheywouldhavehadtowaitmanyminutes—solongwasthesilenceprotracted。AtlastIlookedupatthetardyspeaker: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。”

Chapter21

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—phantomIhadbeenrousedonthatmoonlightnightwhenIheardthecry;anditwasontheafternoonofthedayfollowingIwassummoneddownstairsbyamessagethatsomeonewantedmeinMrs。Fairfax’sroom。Onrepairingthither，Ifoundamanwaitingforme，havingtheappearanceofagentleman’sservant:hewasdressedindeepmourning，andthehatheheldinhishandwassurroundedwithacrapeband。

“Idaresayyouhardlyrememberme，Miss，”hesaid，risingasIentered;“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:thethingswerefrightful。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。