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Chapter23
AsplendidMidsummershoneoverEngland:skiessopure，sunssoradiantaswerethenseeninlongsuccession，seldomfavourevensingly，ourwave—girtland。ItwasasifabandofItaliandayshadcomefromtheSouth，likeaflockofgloriouspassengerbirds，andlightedtorestthemonthecliffsofAlbion。Thehaywasallgotin;thefieldsroundThornfieldweregreenandshorn;theroadswhiteandbaked;thetreeswereintheirdarkprime;hedgeandwood，full—leavedanddeeplytinted，contrastedwellwiththesunnyhueoftheclearedmeadowsbetween。
OnMidsummer—eve，Adèle，wearywithgatheringwildstrawberriesinHayLanehalftheday，hadgonetobedwiththesun。Iwatchedherdropasleep，andwhenIlefther，Isoughtthegarden。
Itwasnowthesweetesthourofthetwenty—four:—“Dayitsfervidfireshadwasted，”anddewfellcoolonpantingplainandscorchedsummit。Wherethesunhadgonedowninsimplestate—pureofthepompofclouds—spreadasolemnpurple，burningwiththelightofredjewelandfurnaceflameatonepoint，ononehill—peak，andextendinghighandwide，softandstillsofter，overhalfheaven。Theeasthaditsowncharmorfinedeepblue，anditsownmodestgem，acasinoandsolitarystar:soonitwouldboastthemoon;butshewasyetbeneaththehorizon。
Iwalkedawhileonthepavement;butasubtle，well—knownscent—thatofacigar—stolefromsomewindow;Isawthelibrarycasementopenahandbreadth;IknewImightbewatchedthence;soIwentapartintotheorchard。NonookinthegroundsmoreshelteredandmoreEden—like;itwasfulloftrees，itbloomedwithflowers:averyhighwallshutitoutfromthecourt，ononeside;ontheother，abeechavenuescreeneditfromthelawn。Atthebottomwasasunkfence;itssoleseparationfromlonelyfields:awindingwalk，borderedwithlaurelsandterminatinginagianthorse—chestnut，circledatthebasebyaseat，leddowntothefence。Hereonecouldwanderunseen。Whilesuchhoney—dewfell，suchsilencereigned，suchgloaminggathered，IfeltasifIcouldhauntsuchshadeforever;butinthreadingtheflowerandfruitparterresattheupperpartoftheenclosure，enticedtherebythelightthenowrisingmooncastonthismoreopenquarter，mystepisstayed—notbysound，notbysight，butoncemorebyawarningfragrance。
Sweet—briarandsouthernwood，jasmine，pink，androsehavelongbeenyieldingtheireveningsacrificeofincense:thisnewscentisneitherofshrubnorflower;itis—Iknowitwell—itisMr。Rochester’scigar。IlookroundandIlisten。Iseetreesladenwithripeningfruit。Ihearanightingalewarblinginawoodhalfamileoff;nomovingformisvisible，nocomingstepaudible;butthatperfumeincreases:Imustflee。Imakeforthewicketleadingtotheshrubbery，andIseeMr。Rochesterentering。Istepasideintotheivyrecess;hewillnotstaylong:hewillsoonreturnwhencehecame，andifIsitstillhewillneverseeme。
Butno—eventideisaspleasanttohimastome，andthisantiquegardenasattractive;andhestrollson，nowliftingthegooseberry—treebranchestolookatthefruit，largeasplums，withwhichtheyareladen;nowtakingaripecherryfromthewall;nowstoopingtowardsaknotofflowers，eithertoinhaletheirfragranceortoadmirethedew—beadsontheirpetals。Agreatmothgoeshummingbyme;italightsonaplantatMr。Rochester’sfoot:heseesit，andbendstoexamineit。
“Now，hehashisbacktowardsme，”thoughtI，“andheisoccupiedtoo;perhaps，ifIwalksoftly，Icanslipawayunnoticed。”
Itrodeonanedgingofturfthatthecrackleofthepebblygravelmightnotbetrayme:hewasstandingamongthebedsatayardortwodistantfromwhereIhadtopass;themothapparentlyengagedhim。“Ishallgetbyverywell，”Imeditated。AsIcrossedhisshadow，thrownlongoverthegardenbythemoon，notyetrisenhigh，hesaidquietly，withoutturning—
“Jane，comeandlookatthisfellow。”
Ihadmadenonoise:hehadnoteyesbehind—couldhisshadowfeel？Istartedatfirst，andthenIapproachedhim。
“Lookathiswings，”saidhe，“heremindsmeratherofaWestIndianinsect;onedoesnotoftenseesolargeandgayanight—roverinEngland;there！heisflown。”
Themothroamedaway。Iwassheepishlyretreatingalso;butMr。Rochesterfollowedme，andwhenwereachedthewicket，hesaid—
“Turnback:onsolovelyanightitisashametositinthehouse;andsurelynoonecanwishtogotobedwhilesunsetisthusatmeetingwithmoonrise。”
Itisoneofmyfaults，thatthoughmytongueissometimespromptenoughatananswer，therearetimeswhenitsadlyfailsmeinframinganexcuse;andalwaysthelapseoccursatsomecrisis，whenafacilewordorplausiblepretextisspeciallywantedtogetmeoutofpainfulembarrassment。IdidnotliketowalkatthishouralonewithMr。Rochesterintheshadowyorchard;butIcouldnotfindareasontoallegeforleavinghim。Ifollowedwithlaggingstep，andthoughtsbusilybentondiscoveringameansofextrication;buthehimselflookedsocomposedandsogravealso，Ibecameashamedoffeelinganyconfusion:theevil—ifevilexistentorprospectivetherewas—seemedtoliewithmeonly;hismindwasunconsciousandquiet。
“Jane，”herecommenced，asweenteredthelaurelwalk，andslowlystrayeddowninthedirectionofthesunkfenceandthehorse—chestnut，“Thornfieldisapleasantplaceinsummer，isitnot？”
“Yes，sir。”
“Youmusthavebecomeinsomedegreeattachedtothehouse，—you，whohaveaneyefornaturalbeauties，andagooddealoftheorganofAdhesiveness？”
“Iamattachedtoit，indeed。”
“AndthoughIdon’tcomprehendhowitis，IperceiveyouhaveacquiredadegreeofregardforthatfoolishlittlechildAdèle，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，bothyouandlittleAdèlehadbettertrotforthwith。Ipassoverthesortofslurconveyedinthissuggestiononthecharacterofmybeloved;indeed，whenyouarefaraway，Janet，I’lltrytoforgetit:Ishallnoticeonlyitswisdom;whichissuchthatIhavemadeitmylawofaction。Adèlemustgotoschool;andyou，MissEyre，mustgetanewsituation。”
“Yes，sir，Iwilladvertiseimmediately:andmeantime，Isuppose—”Iwasgoingtosay，“IsupposeImaystayhere，tillIfindanothersheltertobetakemyselfto:”butIstopped，feelingitwouldnotdotoriskalongsentence，formyvoicewasnotquiteundercommand。
“InaboutamonthIhopetobeabridegroom，”continuedMr。Rochester;“andintheinterim，Ishallmyselflookoutforemploymentandanasylumforyou。”
“Thankyou，sir;Iamsorrytogive—”
“Oh，noneedtoapologise！Iconsiderthatwhenadependentdoesherdutyaswellasyouhavedoneyours，shehasasortofclaimuponheremployerforanylittleassistancehecanconvenientlyrenderher;indeedIhavealready，throughmyfuturemother—in—law，heardofaplacethatIthinkwillsuit:itistoundertaketheeducationofthefivedaughtersofMrs。DionysiusO’GallofBitternuttLodge，Connaught，Ireland。You’lllikeIreland，Ithink:they’resuchwarm—heartedpeoplethere，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’lltalkoverthevoyageandthepartingquietlyhalf—an—hourorso，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。AndifthatboisterousChannel，andtwohundredmilesorsooflandcomebroadbetweenus，Iamafraidthatcordofcommunionwillbesnapt;andthenI’veanervousnotionIshouldtaketobleedinginwardly。Asforyou，—you’dforgetme。”
“ThatInevershould，sir:youknow—”Impossibletoproceed。
“Jane，doyouhearthatnightingalesinginginthewood？Listen！”
Inlistening，Isobbedconvulsively;forIcouldrepresswhatIendurednolonger;Iwasobligedtoyield，andIwasshakenfromheadtofootwithacutedistress。WhenIdidspeak，itwasonlytoexpressanimpetuouswishthatIhadneverbeenborn，ornevercometoThornfield。
“Becauseyouaresorrytoleaveit？”
Thevehemenceofemotion，stirredbygriefandlovewithinme，wasclaimingmastery，andstrugglingforfullsway，andassertingarighttopredominate，toovercome，tolive，rise，andreignatlast:yes，—andtospeak。
“IgrievetoleaveThornfield:IloveThornfield:—Iloveit，becauseIhavelivedinitafullanddelightfullife，—momentarilyatleast。Ihavenotbeentrampledon。Ihavenotbeenpetrified。Ihavenotbeenburiedwithinferiorminds，andexcludedfromeveryglimpseofcommunionwithwhatisbrightandenergeticandhigh。Ihavetalked，facetoface，withwhatIreverence，withwhatIdelightin，—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。Iamnottalkingtoyounowthroughthemediumofcustom，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:“Iofferyoumyhand，myheart，andashareofallmypossessions。”
“Youplayafarce，whichImerelylaughat。”
“Iaskyoutopassthroughlifeatmyside—tobemysecondself，andbestearthlycompanion。”
“Forthatfateyouhavealreadymadeyourchoice，andmustabidebyit。”
“Jane，bestillafewmoments:youareover—excited:Iwillbestilltoo。”
Awaftofwindcamesweepingdownthelaurel—walk，andtrembledthroughtheboughsofthechestnut: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—“Janeacceptmequickly。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，nearasIwas。Andwhatailedthechestnuttree？itwrithedandgroaned;whilewindroaredinthelaurelwalk，andcamesweepingoverus。
“Wemustgoin，”saidMr。Rochester:“theweatherchanges。Icouldhavesatwiththeetillmorning，Jane。”
“Andso，”thoughtI，“couldIwithyou。”Ishouldhavesaidso，perhaps，butalivid，vividsparkleaptoutofacloudatwhichIwaslooking，andtherewasacrack，acrash，andacloserattlingpeal;andIthoughtonlyofhidingmydazzledeyesagainstMr。Rochester’sshoulder。
Therainrusheddown。Hehurriedmeupthewalk，throughthegrounds，andintothehouse;butwewerequitewetbeforewecouldpassthethreshold。Hewastakingoffmyshawlinthehall，andshakingthewateroutofmyloosenedhair，whenMrs。Fairfaxemergedfromherroom。Ididnotobserveheratfirst，nordidMr。Rochester。Thelampwaslit。Theclockwasonthestrokeoftwelve。
“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，littleAdèlecamerunningintotellmethatthegreathorse—chestnutatthebottomoftheorchardhadbeenstruckbylightninginthenight，andhalfofitsplitaway。
Chapter24
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。Abeggar—womanandherlittleboy—pale，raggedobjectsboth—werecomingupthewalk，andIrandownandgavethemallthemoneyIhappenedtohaveinmypurse—somethreeorfourshillings:goodorbad，theymustpartakeofmyjubilee。Therookscawed，andblitherbirdssang;butnothingwassomerryorsomusicalasmyownrejoicingheart。
Mrs。Fairfaxsurprisedmebylookingoutofthewindowwithasadcountenance，andsayinggravely—“MissEyre，willyoucometobreakfast？”Duringthemealshewasquietandcool:butIcouldnotundeceiveherthen。Imustwaitformymastertogiveexplanations;andsomustshe。IatewhatIcould，andthenIhastenedupstairs。ImetAdèleleavingtheschoolroom。
“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，Ithinkalmostfear。
“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。ThismorningIwrotetomybankerinLondontosendmecertainjewelshehasinhiskeeping，—heirloomsfortheladiesofThornfield。InadayortwoIhopetopourthemintoyourlap:foreveryprivilege，everyattentionshallbeyoursthatIwouldaccordapeer’sdaughter，ifabouttomarryher。”
“Oh，sir！—neverrainjewels！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’ssakedon’tbeironical！”
“Iwillmaketheworldacknowledgeyouabeauty，too，”hewenton，whileIreallybecameuneasyatthestrainhehadadopted，becauseIfelthewaseitherdeludinghimselfortryingtodeludeme。“IwillattiremyJaneinsatinandlace，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:nowIshallrevisitithealedandcleansed，withaveryangelasmycomforter。”
Ilaughedathimashesaidthis。“Iamnotanangel，”Iasserted;“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—Iamevertenderandtrue。”
