“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？”
　　“Iwasthinking，sir（youwillexcusetheidea;itwasinvoluntary），IwasthinkingofHerculesandSamsonwiththeircharmers—”
　　“Youwere，youlittleelfish—”
　　“Hush，sir！Youdon’ttalkverywiselyjustnow;anymorethanthosegentlemenactedverywisely。However，hadtheybeenmarried，theywouldnodoubtbytheirseverityashusbandshavemadeupfortheirsoftnessassuitors;andsowillyou，Ifear。Iwonderhowyouwillanswermeayearhence，shouldIaskafavouritdoesnotsuityourconvenienceorpleasuretogrant。”
　　“Askmesomethingnow，Jane，—theleastthing:Idesiretobeentreated—”
　　“IndeedIwill，sir;Ihavemypetitionallready。”
　　“Speak！Butifyoulookupandsmilewiththatcountenance，IshallswearconcessionbeforeIknowtowhat，andthatwillmakeafoolofme。”
　　“Notatall，sir;Iaskonlythis:don’tsendforthejewels，anddon’tcrownmewithroses:youmightaswellputaborderofgoldlaceroundthatplainpockethandkerchiefyouhavethere。”
　　“Imightaswell‘gildrefinedgold。’Iknowit:yourequestisgrantedthen—forthetime。IwillremandtheorderIdespatchedtomybanker。Butyouhavenotyetaskedforanything;youhaveprayedagifttobewithdrawn:tryagain。”
　　“Wellthen，sir，havethegoodnesstogratifymycuriosity，whichismuchpiquedononepoint。”
　　Helookeddisturbed。“What？what？”hesaidhastily。“Curiosityisadangerouspetition:itiswellIhavenottakenavowtoaccordeveryrequest—”
　　“Buttherecanbenodangerincomplyingwiththis，sir。”
　　“Utterit，Jane:butIwishthatinsteadofamereinquiryinto，perhaps，asecret，itwasawishforhalfmyestate。”
　　“Now，KingAhasuerus！WhatdoIwantwithhalfyourestate？DoyouthinkIamaJew—usurer，seekinggoodinvestmentinland？Iwouldmuchratherhaveallyourconfidence。Youwillnotexcludemefromyourconfidenceifyouadmitmetoyourheart？”
　　“Youarewelcometoallmyconfidencethatisworthhaving，Jane;butforGod’ssake，don’tdesireauselessburden！Don’tlongforpoison—don’tturnoutadownrightEveonmyhands！”
　　“Whynot，sir？Youhavejustbeentellingmehowmuchyoulikedtobeconquered，andhowpleasantover—persuasionistoyou。Don’tyouthinkIhadbettertakeadvantageoftheconfession，andbeginandcoaxandentreat—evencryandbesulkyifnecessary—forthesakeofamereessayofmypower？”
　　“Idareyoutoanysuchexperiment。Encroach，presume，andthegameisup。”
　　“Isit，sir？Yousoongivein。Howsternyoulooknow！Youreyebrowshavebecomeasthickasmyfinger，andyourforeheadresembleswhat，insomeveryastonishingpoetry，Ioncesawstyled，‘ablue—piledthunderloft。’Thatwillbeyourmarriedlook，sir，Isuppose？”
　　“Ifthatwillbeyourmarriedlook，I，asaChristian，willsoongiveupthenotionofconsortingwithamerespriteorsalamander。Butwhathadyoutoask，thing，—outwithit？”
　　“There，youarelessthancivilnow;andIlikerudenessagreatdealbetterthanflattery。Ihadratherbeathingthananangel。ThisiswhatIhavetoask，—WhydidyoutakesuchpainstomakemebelieveyouwishedtomarryMissIngram？”
　　“Isthatall？ThankGoditisnoworse！”Andnowheunknithisblackbrows;lookeddown，smilingatme，andstrokedmyhair，asifwellpleasedatseeingadangeraverted。“IthinkImayconfess，”hecontinued，“evenalthoughIshouldmakeyoualittleindignant，Jane—andIhaveseenwhatafire—spirityoucanbewhenyouareindignant。Youglowedinthecoolmoonlightlastnight，whenyoumutiniedagainstfate，andclaimedyourrankasmyequal。Janet，by—the—bye，itwasyouwhomademetheoffer。”
　　“OfcourseIdid。Buttothepointifyouplease，sir—MissIngram？”
　　“Well，IfeignedcourtshipofMissIngram，becauseIwishedtorenderyouasmadlyinlovewithmeasIwaswithyou;andIknewjealousywouldbethebestallyIcouldcallinforthefurtheranceofthatend。”
　　“Excellent！Nowyouaresmall—notonewhitbiggerthantheendofmylittlefinger。Itwasaburningshameandascandalousdisgracetoactinthatway。DidyouthinknothingofMissIngram’sfeelings，sir？”
　　“Herfeelingsareconcentratedinone—pride;andthatneedshumbling。Wereyoujealous，Jane？”
　　“Nevermind，Mr。Rochester:itisinnowayinterestingtoyoutoknowthat。Answermetrulyoncemore。DoyouthinkMissIngramwillnotsufferfromyourdishonestcoquetry？Won’tshefeelforsakenanddeserted？”
　　“Impossible！—whenItoldyouhowshe，onthecontrary，desertedme:theideaofmyinsolvencycooled，orratherextinguished，herflameinamoment。”
　　“Youhaveacurious，designingmind，Mr。Rochester。Iamafraidyourprinciplesonsomepointsareeccentric。”
　　“Myprincipleswerenevertrained，Jane:theymayhavegrownalittleawryforwantofattention。”
　　“Onceagain，seriously;mayIenjoythegreatgoodthathasbeenvouchsafedtome，withoutfearingthatanyoneelseissufferingthebitterpainImyselffeltawhileago？”
　　“Thatyoumay，mygoodlittlegirl:thereisnotanotherbeingintheworldhasthesamepureloveformeasyourself—forIlaythatpleasantunctiontomysoul，Jane，abeliefinyouraffection。”
　　Iturnedmylipstothehandthatlayonmyshoulder。Ilovedhimverymuch—morethanIcouldtrustmyselftosay—morethanwordshadpowertoexpress。
　　“Asksomethingmore，”hesaidpresently;“itismydelighttobeentreated，andtoyield。”
　　Iwasagainreadywithmyrequest。“CommunicateyourintentionstoMrs。Fairfax，sir:shesawmewithyoulastnightinthehall，andshewasshocked。GivehersomeexplanationbeforeIseeheragain。Itpainsmetobemisjudgedbysogoodawoman。”
　　“Gotoyourroom，andputonyourbonnet，”hereplied。“ImeanyoutoaccompanymetoMillcotethismorning;andwhileyouprepareforthedrive，Iwillenlightentheoldlady’sunderstanding。Didshethink，Janet，youhadgiventheworldforlove，andconsidereditwelllost？”
　　“IbelieveshethoughtIhadforgottenmystation，andyours，sir。”
　　“Station！station！—yourstationisinmyheart，andonthenecksofthosewhowouldinsultyou，noworhereafter。—Go。”
　　Iwassoondressed;andwhenIheardMr。RochesterquitMrs。Fairfax’sparlour，Ihurrieddowntoit。Theoldlady，hadbeenreadinghermorningportionofScripture—theLessonfortheday;herBiblelayopenbeforeher，andherspectacleswereuponit。Heroccupation，suspendedbyMr。Rochester’sannouncement，seemednowforgotten:hereyes，fixedontheblankwallopposite，expressedthesurpriseofaquietmindstirredbyunwontedtidings。Seeingme，sherousedherself:shemadeasortofefforttosmile，andframedafewwordsofcongratulation;butthesmileexpired，andthesentencewasabandonedunfinished。Sheputupherspectacles，shuttheBible，andpushedherchairbackfromthetable。
　　“Ifeelsoastonished，”shebegan，“Ihardlyknowwhattosaytoyou，MissEyre。Ihavesurelynotbeendreaming，haveI？SometimesIhalffallasleepwhenIamsittingaloneandfancythingsthathaveneverhappened。IthasseemedtomemorethanoncewhenIhavebeeninadoze，thatmydearhusband，whodiedfifteenyearssince，hascomeinandsatdownbesideme;andthatIhaveevenheardhimcallmebymyname，Alice，asheusedtodo。Now，canyoutellmewhetheritisactuallytruethatMr。Rochesterhasaskedyoutomarryhim？Don’tlaughatme。ButIreallythoughthecameinherefiveminutesago，andsaidthatinamonthyouwouldbehiswife。”
　　“Hehassaidthesamethingtome，”Ireplied。
　　“Hehas！Doyoubelievehim？Haveyouacceptedhim？”
　　“Yes。”
　　Shelookedatmebewildered。“Icouldneverhavethoughtit。Heisaproudman:alltheRochesterswereproud:andhisfather，atleast，likedmoney。He，too，hasalwaysbeencalledcareful。Hemeanstomarryyou？”
　　“Hetellsmeso。”
　　Shesurveyedmywholeperson:inhereyesIreadthattheyhadtherefoundnocharmpowerfulenoughtosolvetheenigma。
　　“Itpassesme！”shecontinued;“butnodoubt，itistruesinceyousayso。Howitwillanswer，Icannottell:Ireallydon’tknow。Equalityofpositionandfortuneisoftenadvisableinsuchcases;andtherearetwentyyearsofdifferenceinyourages。Hemightalmostbeyourfather。”
　　“No，indeed，Mrs。Fairfax！”exclaimedI，nettled;“heisnothinglikemyfather！Noone，whosawustogether，wouldsupposeitforaninstant。Mr。Rochesterlooksasyoung，andisasyoung，assomemenatfive—and—twenty。”
　　“Isitreallyforloveheisgoingtomarryyou？”sheasked。
　　Iwassohurtbyhercoldnessandscepticism，thatthetearsrosetomyeyes。
　　“Iamsorrytogrieveyou，”pursuedthewidow;“butyouaresoyoung，andsolittleacquaintedwithmen，Iwishedtoputyouonyourguard。Itisanoldsayingthat‘allisnotgoldthatglitters;’andinthiscaseIdofeartherewillbesomethingfoundtobedifferenttowhateitheryouorIexpect。”
　　“Why？—amIamonster？”Isaid:“isitimpossiblethatMr。Rochestershouldhaveasincereaffectionforme？”
　　“No:youareverywell;andmuchimprovedoflate;andMr。Rochester，Idaresay，isfondofyou。Ihavealwaysnoticedthatyouwereasortofpetofhis。Therearetimeswhen，foryoursake，Ihavebeenalittleuneasyathismarkedpreference，andhavewishedtoputyouonyourguard:butIdidnotliketosuggesteventhepossibilityofwrong。Iknewsuchanideawouldshock，perhapsoffendyou;andyouweresodiscreet，andsothoroughlymodestandsensible，Ihopedyoumightbetrustedtoprotectyourself。nightIcannottellyouwhatIsufferedwhenIsoughtalloverthehouse，andcouldfindyounowhere，northemastereither;andthen，attwelveo’clock，sawyoucomeinwithhim。”
　　“Well，nevermindthatnow，”Iinterruptedimpatiently;“itisenoughthatallwasright。”
　　“Ihopeallwillberightintheend，”shesaid:“butbelieveme，youcannotbetoocareful。TryandkeepMr。Rochesteratadistance:distrustyourselfaswellashim。Gentlemeninhisstationarenotaccustomedtomarrytheirgovernesses。”
　　Iwasgrowingtrulyirritated:happily，Adèleranin。
　　“Letmego，—letmegotoMillcotetoo！”shecried。“Mr。Rochesterwon’t:thoughthereissomuchroominthenewcarriage。Beghimtoletmegomademoiselle。”
　　“ThatIwill，Adèle;”andIhastenedawaywithher，gladtoquitmygloomymonitress。Thecarriagewasready:theywerebringingitroundtothefront，andmymasterwasthepavement，Pilotfollowinghimbackwardsandforwards。
　　“Adèlemayaccompanyus，mayshenot，sir？”
　　“Itoldherno。I’llhavenobrats！—I’llhaveonlyyou。”
　　“Dolethergo，Mr。Rochester，ifyouplease:itwouldbebetter。”
　　“Notit:shewillbearestraint。”
　　Hewasquiteperemptory，bothinlookandvoice。ThechillofMrs。Fairfax’swarnings，andthedampofherdoubtswereuponme:somethingofunsubstantialityanduncertaintyhadbesetmyhopes。Ihalflostthesenseofpoweroverhim。Iwasaboutmechanicallytoobeyhim，withoutfurtherremonstrance;butashehelpedmeintothecarriage，helookedatmyface。
　　“Whatisthematter？”heasked;“allthesunshineisgone。Doyoureallywishthebairntogo？Willitannoyyouifsheisleftbehind？”
　　“Iwouldfarrathershewent，sir。”
　　“Thenoffforyourbonnet，andbacklikeaflashoflightning！”criedhetoAdèle。
　　Sheobeyedhimwithwhatspeedshemight。
　　“Afterall，asinglemorning’sinterruptionwillnotmattermuch，”saidhe，“whenImeanshortlytoclaimyou—yourthoughts，conversation，andcompany—forlife。”
　　Adèle，whenliftedin，commencedkissingme，bywayofexpressinghergratitudeformyintercession:shewasinstantlystowedawayintoacornerontheothersideofhim。ShethenpeepedroundtowhereIsat;sosternaneighbourwastoorestrictivetohim，inhispresentfractiousmood，shedaredwhispernoobservations，noraskofhimanyinformation。
　　“Lethercometome，”Ientreated:“shewill，perhaps，troubleyou，sir:thereisplentyofroomonthisside。”
　　Hehandedheroverasifshehadbeenalapdog。“I’llsendhertoschoolyet，”hesaid，butnowhewassmiling。
　　Adèleheardhim，andaskedifshewastogotoschool“sansmademoiselle？”
　　“Yes，”hereplied，“absolutelysansmademoiselle;forIamtotakemademoiselletothemoon，andthereIshallseekacaveinoneofthewhitevalleysamongthevolcano—tops，andmademoiselleshalllivewithmethere，andonlyme。”
　　“Shewillhavenothingtoeat:youwillstarveher，”observedAdèle。
　　“Ishallgathermannaforhermorningandnight:theplainsandhillsidesinthemoonarebleachedwithmanna，Adèle。”
　　“Shewillwanttowarmherself:whatwillshedoforafire？”
　　“Firerisesoutofthelunarmountains:whensheiscold，I’llcarryheruptoapeak，andlayherdownontheedgeofacrater。”
　　“Oh，qu’elleyseramal—peucomfortable！Andherclothes，theywillwearout:howcanshegetnewones？”
　　Mr。Rochesterprofessedtobepuzzled。“Hem！”saidhe。“Whatwouldyoudo，Adèle？Cudgelyourbrainsforanexpedient。Howwouldawhiteorapinkcloudanswerforagown，doyouthink？Andonecouldcutaprettyenoughscarfoutofarainbow。”
　　“Sheisfarbetterassheis，”concludedAdèle，aftermusingsometime:“besides，shewouldgettiredoflivingwithonlyyouinthemoon。IfIweremademoiselle，Iwouldneverconsenttogowithyou。”
　　“Shehasconsented:shehaspledgedherword。”
　　“Butyoucan’tgetherthere;thereisnoroadtothemoon:itisallair;andneitheryounorshecanfly。”
　　“Adèle，lookatthatfield。”WewerenowoutsideThornfieldgates，andbowlinglightlyalongthesmoothroadtoMillcote，wherethedustwaswelllaidbythethunderstorm，and，wherethelowhedgesandloftytimbertreesoneachsideglistenedgreenandrain—refreshed。
　　“Inthatfield，Adèle，Iwaswalkinglateoneeveningaboutafortnightsince—theeveningofthedayyouhelpedmetomakehayintheorchardmeadows;and，asIwastiredwithrakingswaths，Isatdowntorestmeonastile;andthereItookoutalittlebookandapencil，andbegantowriteaboutamisfortunethatbefellmelongago，andawishIhadforhappydaystocome:Iwaswritingawayveryfast，thoughdaylightwasfadingfromtheleaf，whensomethingcameupthepathandstoppedtwoyardsoffme。Ilookedatit。Itwasalittlethingwithaveilofgossameronitshead。Ibeckonedittocomenearme;itstoodsoonatmyknee。Ineverspoketoit，anditneverspoketome，inwords;butIreaditseyes，anditreadmine;andourspeechlesscolloquywastothiseffect—
　　“Itwasafairy，andcomefromElf—land，itsaid;anditserrandwastomakemehappy:Imustgowithitoutofthecommonworldtoalonelyplace—suchasthemoon，forinstance—anditnoddeditsheadtowardsherhorn，risingoverHay—hill:ittoldmeofthealabastercaveandsilvervalewherewemightlive。IsaidIshouldliketogo;butremindedit，asyoudidme，thatIhadnowingstofly。
　　“‘Oh，’returnedthefairy，‘thatdoesnotsignify！Hereisatalismanwillremovealldifficulties;’andsheheldoutaprettygoldring。‘Putit，’shesaid，‘onthefourthfingerofmylefthand，andIamyours，andyouaremine;andweshallleaveearth，andmakeourownheavenyonder。’Shenoddedagainatthemoon。Thering，Adèle，isinmybreeches—pocket，underthedisguiseofasovereign:butImeansoontochangeittoaringagain。”
　　“Butwhathasmademoiselletodowithit？Idon’tcareforthefairy:yousaiditwasmademoiselleyouwouldtaketothemoon？”
　　“Mademoiselleisafairy，”hesaid，whisperingmysteriously。WhereuponItoldhernottomindhisbadinage;andshe，onherpart，evincedafundofgenuineFrenchscepticism:denominatingMr。Rochester“unvraimenteur，”andassuringhimthatshemadenoaccountwhateverofhis“contesdefee，”andthat“dureste，iln’yavaitpasdefées，etquandmemeilyenavait:”shewassuretheywouldneverappeartohim，norevergivehimrings，oroffertolivewithhiminthemoon。
　　ThehourspentatMillcotewasasomewhatharassingonetome。Mr。Rochesterobligedmetogotoacertainsilkwarehouse:thereIwasorderedtochoosehalf—a—dozendresses。Ihatedthebusiness，Ibeggedleavetodeferit:no—itshouldbegonethroughwithnow。Bydintofentreatiesexpressedinenergeticwhispers，Ireducedthehalf—dozentotwo:thesehowever，hevowedhewouldselecthimself。WithanxietyIwatchedhiseyeroveoverthegaystores:hefixedonarichsilkofthemostbrilliantamethystdye，andasuperbpinksatin。Itoldhiminanewseriesofwhispers，thathemightaswellbuymeagoldgownandasilverbonnetatonce:Ishouldcertainlyneverventuretowearhischoice。Withinfinitedifficulty，forhewasstubbornasastone，Ipersuadedhimtomakeanexchangeinfavourofasoberblacksatinandpearl—greysilk。“Itmightpassforthepresent，”hesaid;“buthewouldyetseemeglitteringlikeaparterre。”
　　GladwasItogethimoutofthesilkwarehouse，andthenoutofajewellersshop:themoreheboughtme，themoremycheekburnedwithasenseofannoyanceanddegradation。Aswere—enteredthecarriage，andIsatbackfeverishandfagged，Irememberedwhat，inthehurryofevents，darkandbright，Ihadwhollyforgotten—theletterofmyuncle，JohnEyre，toMrs。Reed:hisintentiontoadoptmeandmakemehislegatee。“Itwould，indeed，bearelief，”Ithought，“ifIhadeversosmallanindependency;InevercanbearbeingdressedlikeadollbyMr。Rochester，orsittinglikeasecondDanaewiththegoldenshowerfallingdailyroundme。IwillwritetoMadeirathemomentIgethome，andtellmyuncleJohnIamgoingtobemarried，andtowhom:ifIhadbutaprospectofonedaybringingMr。Rochesteranaccessionoffortune，Icouldbetterenduretobekeptbyhimnow。”Andsomewhatrelievedbythisidea（whichIfailednottoexecutethatday），Iventuredoncemoretomeetmymaster’sandlover’seye，whichmostpertinaciouslysoughtmine，thoughIavertedbothfaceandgaze。Hesmiled;andIthoughthissmilewassuchasasultanmight，inablissfulandfondmoment，bestowonaslavehisgoldandgemshadenriched:Icrushedhishand，whichwaseverhuntingmine，vigorously，andthrustitbacktohimredwiththepassionatepressure。
　　“Youneednotlookinthatway，”Isaid;“ifyoudo，I’llwearnothingbutmyoldLowoodfrockstotheendofthechapter。I’llbemarriedinthislilacgingham:youmaymakeadressing—gownforyourselfoutofthepearl—greysilk，andaninfiniteseriesofwaistcoatsoutoftheblacksatin。”
　　Hechuckled;herubbedhishands。“Oh，itisrichtoseeandhearher？”heexclaimed。“Issheoriginal？Isshepiquant？IwouldnotexchangethisonelittleEnglishgirlfortheGrandTurk’swholeseraglio，gazelle—eyes，houriforms，andall！”
　　TheEasternallusionbitmeagain。“I’llnotstandyouaninchinthesteadofaseraglio，”Isaid;“sodon’tconsidermeanequivalentforone。Ifyouhaveafancyforanythinginthatline，awaywithyou，sir，tothebazaarsofStamboulwithoutdelay，andlayoutinextensiveslave—purchasessomeofthatsparecashyouseematalosstospendsatisfactorilyhere。”
　　“Andwhatwillyoudo，Janet，whileIambargainingforsomanytonsoffleshandsuchanassortmentofblackeyes？”
　　“I’llbepreparingmyselftogooutasamissionarytopreachlibertytothemthatareenslaved—yourhareminmatesamongsttherest。I’llgetadmittedthere，andI’llstirupmutiny;andyou，three—tailedbashawasyouare，sir，shallinatricefindyourselffetteredamongstourhands:norwillI，forone，consenttocutyourbondstillyouhavesignedacharter，themostliberalthatdespoteveryetconferred。”
　　“Iwouldconsenttobeatyourmercy，Jane。”
　　“Iwouldhavenomercy，Mr。Rochester，ifyousupplicatedforitwithaneyelikethat。Whileyoulookedso，Ishouldbecertainthatwhatevercharteryoumightgrantundercoercion，yourfirstact，whenreleased，wouldbetoviolateitsconditions。”
　　“Why，Jane，whatwouldyouhave？Ifearyouwillcompelmetogothroughaprivatemarriageceremony，besidesthatperformedatthealtar。Youwillstipulate，Isee，forpeculiarterms—whatwilltheybe？”
　　“Ionlywantaneasymind，sir;notcrushedbycrowdedobligations。DoyourememberwhatyousaidofCélineVarens？—ofthediamonds，thecashmeresyougaveher？IwillnotbeyourEnglishCélineVarens。IshallcontinuetoactasAdèle’sgoverness;bythatIshallearnmyboardandlodging，andthirtypoundsayearbesides。I’llfurnishmyownwardrobeoutofthatmoney，andyoushallgivemenothingbut—”
　　“Well，butwhat？”
　　“Yourregard;andifIgiveyoumineinreturn，thatdebtwillbequit。”
　　“Well，forcoolnativeimpudenceandpureinnatepride，youhaven’tyourequal，”saidhe。WewerenowapproachingThornfield。“Willitpleaseyoutodinewithmeto—day？”heasked，aswere—enteredthegates。
　　“No，thankyou，sir。”
　　“Andwhatfor，‘no，thankyou？’ifonemayinquire。”
　　“Ineverhavedinedwithyou，sir:andIseenoreasonwhyIshouldnow:till—”
　　“Tillwhat？Youdelightinhalf—phrases。”
　　“TillIcan’thelpit。”
　　“DoyousupposeIeatlikeanogreoraghoul，thatyoudreadbeingthecompanionofmyrepast？”
　　“Ihaveformednosuppositiononthesubject，sir;butIwanttogoonasusualforanothermonth。”
　　“Youwillgiveupyourgovernessingslaveryatonce。”
　　“Indeed，beggingyourpardon，sir，Ishallnot。Ishalljustgoonwithitasusual。Ishallkeepoutofyourwayallday，asIhavebeenaccustomedtodo:youmaysendformeintheevening，whenyoufeeldisposedtoseeme，andI’llcomethen;butatnoothertime。”
　　“Iwantasmoke，Jane，orapinchofsnuff，tocomfortmeunderallthis，‘pourmedonnerunecontenance，’asAdèlewouldsay;andunfortunatelyIhaveneithermycigar—case，normysnuff—box。Butlisten—whisper。Itisyourtimenow，littletyrant，butitwillbeminepresently;andwhenonceIhavefairlyseizedyou，tohaveandtohold，I’lljust—figurativelyspeaking—attachyoutoachainlikethis”（touchinghiswatch—guard）。“Yes，bonnyweething，I’llwearyouinmybosom，lestmyjewelIshouldtyne。”
　　Hesaidthisashehelpedmetoalightfromthecarriage，andwhileheafterwardsliftedoutAdèle，Ienteredthehouse，andmadegoodmyretreatupstairs。
　　Hedulysummonedmetohispresenceintheevening。Ihadpreparedanoccupationforhim;forIwasdeterminednottospendthewholetimeinatête—à—têteconversation。Irememberedhisfinevoice;Iknewhelikedtosing—goodsingersgenerallydo。Iwasnovocalistmyself，and，inhisfastidiousjudgment，nomusician，either;butIdelightedinlisteningwhentheperformancewasgood。Nosoonerhadtwilight，thathourofromance，begantolowerherblueandstarrybanneroverthelattice，thanIrose，openedthepiano，andentreatedhim，fortheloveofheaven，togivemeasong。HesaidIwasacapriciouswitch，andthathewouldrathersinganothertime;butIaverredthatnotimewaslikethepresent。
　　“DidIlikehisvoice？”heasked。
　　“Verymuch。”Iwasnotfondofpamperingthatsusceptiblevanityofhis;butforonce，andfrommotivesofexpediency，Iwoulde’ensootheandstimulateit。
　　“Then，Jane，youmustplaytheaccompaniment。”
　　“Verywell，sir，Iwilltry。”
　　Ididtry，butwaspresentlysweptoffthestoolanddenominated“alittlebungler。”Beingpushedunceremoniouslytooneside—whichwaspreciselywhatIwished—heusurpedmyplace，andproceededtoaccompanyhimself:forhecouldplayaswellassing。Ihiedmetothewindow—recess。AndwhileIsatthereandlookedoutonthestilltreesanddimlawn，toasweetairwassunginmellowtonesthefollowingstrain:—
　　“Thetruestlovethateverheart
　　Feltatitskindledcore，
　　Didthrougheachvein，inquickenedstart，
　　Thetideofbeingpour。
　　Hercomingwasmyhopeeachday，
　　Herpartingwasmypain;
　　Thechancethatdidherstepsdelay
　　Wasiceineveryvein。
　　Idreameditwouldbenamelessbliss，
　　AsIloved，lovedtobe;
　　AndtothisobjectdidIpress
　　Asblindaseagerly。
　　Butwideaspathlesswasthespace
　　Thatlayourlivesbetween，
　　Anddangerousasthefoamyrace
　　Ofocean—surgesgreen。
　　Andhauntedasarobber—path
　　Throughwildernessorwood;
　　ForMightandRight，andWoeandWrath，
　　Betweenourspiritsstood。
　　Idangersdared;Ihindrancescorned;
　　Iomensdiddefy:
　　Whatevermenaced，harassed，warned，
　　Ipassedimpetuousby。
　　Onspedmyrainbow，fastaslight;
　　Iflewasinadream;
　　Forgloriousroseuponmysight
　　ThatchildofShowerandGleam。
　　Stillbrightoncloudsofsufferingdim
　　Shinesthatsoft，solemnjoy;
　　NorcareInow，howdenseandgrim
　　Disastersgathernigh。
　　Icarenotinthismomentsweet，
　　ThoughallIhaverushedo’er
　　Shouldcomeonpinion，strongandfleet，
　　Proclaimingvengeancesore:
　　ThoughhaughtyHateshouldstrikemedown，
　　Right，barapproachtome，
　　AndgrindingMight，withfuriousfrown，
　　Swearendlessenmity。
　　Mylovehasplacedherlittlehand
　　Withnoblefaithinmine，
　　Andvowedthatwedlock’ssacredband
　　Ournatureshallentwine。
　　Mylovehassworn，withsealingkiss，
　　Withmetolive—todie;
　　Ihaveatlastmynamelessbliss。
　　AsIlove—lovedamI！”
　　Heroseandcametowardsme，andIsawhisfaceallkindled，andhisfullfalcon—eyeflashing，andtendernessandpassionineverylineament。Iquailedmomentarily—thenIrallied。Softscene，daringdemonstration，Iwouldnothave;andIstoodinperilofboth:aweaponofdefencemustbeprepared—Iwhettedmytongue:ashereachedme，Iaskedwithasperity，“whomhewasgoingtomarrynow？”
　　“ThatwasastrangequestiontobeputbyhisdarlingJane。”
　　“Indeed！Iconsidereditaverynaturalandnecessaryone:hehadtalkedofhisfuturewifedyingwithhim。Whatdidhemeanbysuchapaganidea？Ihadnointentionofdyingwithhim—hemightdependonthat。”
　　“Oh，allhelonged，allheprayedfor，wasthatImightlivewithhim！DeathwasnotforsuchasI。”
　　“Indeeditwas:Ihadasgoodarighttodiewhenmytimecameashehad:butIshouldbidethattime，andnotbehurriedawayinasuttee。”
　　“WouldIforgivehimfortheselfishidea，andprovemypardonbyareconcilingkiss？”
　　“No:Iwouldratherbeexcused。”
　　HereIheardmyselfapostrophisedasa“hardlittlething;”anditwasadded，“anyotherwomanwouldhavebeenmeltedtomarrowathearingsuchstanzascroonedinherpraise。”
　　IassuredhimIwasnaturallyhard—veryflinty，andthathewouldoftenfindmeso;andthat，moreover，Iwasdeterminedtoshowhimdiversruggedpointsinmycharacterbeforetheensuingfourweekselapsed:heshouldknowfullywhatsortofabargainhehadmade，whiletherewasyettimetorescindit。
　　“WouldIbequietandtalkrationally？”
　　“Iwouldbequietifheliked，andastotalkingrationally，IflatteredmyselfIwasdoingthatnow。”