“Canyouseeme？”
　　“No，myfairy:butIamonlytoothankfultohearandfeelyou。”
　　“Whendoyoutakesupper？”
　　“Inevertakesupper。”
　　“Butyoushallhavesometo—night。Iamhungry:soareyou，Idaresay，onlyyouforget。”
　　SummoningMary，Isoonhadtheroominmorecheerfulorder:Ipreparedhim，likewise，acomfortablerepast。Myspiritswereexcited，andwithpleasureandeaseItalkedtohimduringsupper，andforalongtimeafter。Therewasnoharassingrestraint，norepressingofgleeandvivacitywithhim;forwithhimIwasatperfectease，becauseIknewIsuitedhim;allIsaidordidseemedeithertoconsoleorrevivehim。Delightfulconsciousness！Itbroughttolifeandlightmywholenature:inhispresenceIthoroughlylived;andhelivedinmine。Blindashewas，smilesplayedoverhisface，joydawnedonhisforehead:hislineamentssoftenedandwarmed。
　　Aftersupper，hebegantoaskmemanyquestions，ofwhereIhadbeen，whatIhadbeendoing，howIhadfoundhimout;butIgavehimonlyverypartialreplies:itwastoolatetoenterintoparticularsthatnight。Besides，Iwishedtotouchnodeep—thrillingchord—toopennofreshwellofemotioninhisheart:mysolepresentaimwastocheerhim。Cheered，asIhavesaid，hewas:andyetbutbyfits。Ifamoment’ssilencebroketheconversation，hewouldturnrestless，touchme，thensay，“Jane。”
　　“Youarealtogetherahumanbeing，Jane？Youarecertainofthat？”
　　“Iconscientiouslybelieveso，Mr。Rochester。”
　　“Yethow，onthisdarkanddolefulevening，couldyousosuddenlyriseonmylonehearth？Istretchedmyhandtotakeaglassofwaterfromahireling，anditwasgivenmebyyou:Iaskedaquestion，expectingJohn’swifetoanswerme，andyourvoicespokeatmyear。”
　　“BecauseIhadcomein，inMary’sstead，withthetray。”
　　“AndthereisenchantmentintheveryhourIamnowspendingwithyou。Whocantellwhatadark，dreary，hopelesslifeIhavedraggedonformonthspast？Doingnothing，expectingnothing;mergingnightinday;feelingbutthesensationofcoldwhenIletthefiregoout，ofhungerwhenIforgottoeat:andthenaceaselesssorrow，and，attimes，averydeliriumofdesiretobeholdmyJaneagain。Yes:forherrestorationIlonged，farmorethanforthatofmylostsight。HowcanitbethatJaneiswithme，andsaysshelovesme？Willshenotdepartassuddenlyasshecame？To—morrow，IfearIshallfindhernomore。”
　　Acommonplace，practicalreply，outofthetrainofhisowndisturbedideas，was，Iwassure，thebestandmostreassuringforhiminthisframeofmind。Ipassedmyfingeroverhiseyebrows，andremarkedthattheywerescorched，andthatIwouldapplysomethingwhichwouldmakethemgrowasbroadandblackasever。
　　“Whereistheuseofdoingmegoodinanyway，beneficentspirit，when，atsomefatalmoment，youwillagaindesertme—passinglikeashadow，whitherandhowtomeunknown，andformeremainingafterwardsundiscoverable？
　　“Haveyouapocket—combaboutyou，sir？”
　　“Whatfor，Jane？”
　　“Justtocomboutthisshaggyblackmane。Ifindyouratheralarming，whenIexamineyoucloseathand:youtalkofmybeingafairy，butIamsure，youaremorelikeabrownie。”
　　“AmIhideous，Jane？”
　　“Very，sir:youalwayswere，youknow。”
　　“Humph！Thewickednesshasnotbeentakenoutofyou，whereveryouhavesojourned。”
　　“YetIhavebeenwithgoodpeople;farbetterthanyou:ahundredtimesbetterpeople;possessedofideasandviewsyouneverentertainedinyourlife:quitemorerefinedandexalted。”
　　“Whothedeucehaveyoubeenwith？”
　　“Ifyoutwistinthatwayyouwillmakemepullthehairoutofyourhead;andthenIthinkyouwillceasetoentertaindoubtsofmysubstantiality。”
　　“Whohaveyoubeenwith，Jane？”
　　“Youshallnotgetitoutofmeto—night，sir;youmustwaittillto—morrow;toleavemytalehalftold，will，youknow，beasortofsecuritythatIshallappearatyourbreakfasttabletofinishit。Bythebye，Imustmindnottoriseonyourhearthwithonlyaglassofwaterthen:Imustbringaneggattheleast，tosaynothingoffriedham。”
　　“Youmockingchangeling—fairy—bornandhuman—bred！YoumakemefeelasIhavenotfeltthesetwelvemonths。IfSaulcouldhavehadyouforhisDavid，theevilspiritwouldhavebeenexorcisedwithouttheaidoftheharp。”
　　“There，sir，youarereddupandmadedecent。NowI’llleaveyou:Ihavebeentravellingtheselastthreedays，andIbelieveIamtired。Goodnight。”
　　“Justoneword，Jane:werethereonlyladiesinthehousewhereyouhavebeen？”
　　Ilaughedandmademyescape，stilllaughingasIranupstairs。“Agoodidea！”Ithoughtwithglee。“IseeIhavethemeansoffrettinghimoutofhismelancholyforsometimetocome。”
　　VeryearlythenextmorningIheardhimupandastir，wanderingfromoneroomtoanother。AssoonasMarycamedownIheardthequestion:“IsMissEyrehere？”Then:“Whichroomdidyouputherinto？Wasitdry？Issheup？Goandaskifshewantsanything;andwhenshewillcomedown。”
　　IcamedownassoonasIthoughttherewasaprospectofbreakfast。Enteringtheroomverysoftly，Ihadaviewofhimbeforehediscoveredmypresence。Itwasmournful，indeed，towitnessthesubjugationofthatvigorousspirittoacorporealinfirmity。Hesatinhischair—still，butnotatrest:expectantevidently;thelinesofnowhabitualsadnessmarkinghisstrongfeatures。Hiscountenanceremindedoneofalampquenched，waitingtobere—lit—andalas！itwasnothimselfthatcouldnowkindlethelustreofanimatedexpression:hewasdependentonanotherforthatoffice！Ihadmeanttobegayandcareless，butthepowerlessnessofthestrongmantouchedmyhearttothequick:stillIaccostedhimwithwhatvivacityIcould。
　　“Itisabright，sunnymorning，sir，”Isaid。“Therainisoverandgone，andthereisatendershiningafterit:youshallhaveawalksoon。”
　　Ihadwakenedtheglow:hisfeaturesbeamed。
　　“Oh，youareindeedthere，myskylark！Cometome。Youarenotgone:notvanished？Iheardoneofyourkindanhourago，singinghighoverthewood:butitssonghadnomusicforme，anymorethantherisingsunhadrays。AllthemelodyonearthisconcentratedinmyJane’stonguetomyear（Iamgladitisnotnaturallyasilentone）:allthesunshineIcanfeelisinherpresence。”
　　Thewaterstoodinmyeyestohearthisavowalofhisdependence;justasifaroyaleagle，chainedtoaperch，shouldbeforcedtoentreatasparrowtobecomeitspurveyor。ButIwouldnotbelachrymose:Idashedoffthesaltdrops，andbusiedmyselfwithpreparingbreakfast。
　　Mostofthemorningwasspentintheopenair。Iledhimoutofthewetandwildwoodintosomecheerfulfields:Idescribedtohimhowbrilliantlygreentheywere;howtheflowersandhedgeslookedrefreshed;howsparklinglybluewasthesky。Isoughtaseatforhiminahiddenandlovelyspot，adrystumpofatree;nordidIrefusetolethim，whenseated，placemeonhisknee。WhyshouldI，whenbothheandIwerehappiernearthanapart？Pilotlaybesideus:allwasquiet。Hebrokeoutsuddenlywhileclaspingmeinhisarms—
　　“Cruel，crueldeserter！Oh，Jane，whatdidIfeelwhenIdiscoveredyouhadfledfromThornfield，andwhenIcouldnowherefindyou;and，afterexaminingyourapartment，ascertainedthatyouhadtakennomoney，noranythingwhichcouldserveasanequivalent！ApearlnecklaceIhadgivenyoulayuntouchedinitslittlecasket;yourtrunkswereleftcordedandlockedastheyhadbeenpreparedforthebridaltour。Whatcouldmydarlingdo，Iasked，leftdestituteandpenniless？Andwhatdidshedo？Letmehearnow。”
　　Thusurged，Ibeganthenarrativeofmyexperienceforthelastyear。Isoftenedconsiderablywhatrelatedtothethreedaysofwanderingandstarvation，becausetohavetoldhimallwouldhavebeentoinflictunnecessarypain:thelittleIdidsaylaceratedhisfaithfulheartdeeperthanIwished。
　　Ishouldnothavelefthimthus，hesaid，withoutanymeansofmakingmyway:Ishouldhavetoldhimmyintention。Ishouldhaveconfidedinhim:hewouldneverhaveforcedmetobehismistress。Violentashehadseemedinhisdespair，he，intruth，lovedmefartoowellandtootenderlytoconstitutehimselfmytyrant:hewouldhavegivenmehalfhisfortune，withoutdemandingsomuchasakissinreturn，ratherthanIshouldhaveflungmyselffriendlessonthewideworld。Ihadendured，hewascertain，morethanIhadconfessedtohim。
　　“Well，whatevermysufferingshadbeen，theywereveryshort，”Ianswered:andthenIproceededtotellhimhowIhadbeenreceivedatMoorHouse;howIhadobtainedtheofficeofschoolmistress，&c。Theaccessionoffortune，thediscoveryofmyrelations，followedindueorder。Ofcourse，St。JohnRivers’namecameinfrequentlyintheprogressofmytale。WhenIhaddone，thatnamewasimmediatelytakenup。
　　“ThisSt。John，then，isyourcousin？”
　　“Yes。”
　　“Youhavespokenofhimoften:doyoulikehim？”
　　“Hewasaverygoodman，sir;Icouldnothelplikinghim。”
　　“Agoodman。Doesthatmeanarespectablewell—conductedmanoffifty？Orwhatdoesitmean？”
　　“StJohnwasonlytwenty—nine，sir。”
　　“‘Jeuneencore，’astheFrenchsay。Isheapersonoflowstature，phlegmatic，andplain。Apersonwhosegoodnessconsistsratherinhisguiltlessnessofvice，thaninhisprowessinvirtue。”
　　“Heisuntiringlyactive。Greatandexalteddeedsarewhathelivestoperform。”
　　“Buthisbrain？Thatisprobablyrathersoft？Hemeanswell:butyoushrugyourshoulderstohearhimtalk？”
　　“Hetalkslittle，sir:whathedoessayisevertothepoint。Hisbrainisfirst—rate，Ishouldthinknotimpressible，butvigorous。”
　　“Isheanableman，then？”
　　“Trulyable。”
　　“Athoroughlyeducatedman？”
　　“St。Johnisanaccomplishedandprofoundscholar。”
　　“Hismanners，Ithink，yousaidarenottoyourtaste？—priggishandparsonic？”
　　“Inevermentionedhismanners;but，unlessIhadaverybadtaste，theymustsuitit;theyarepolished，calm，andgentlemanlike。”
　　“Hisappearance，—Iforgetwhatdescriptionyougaveofhisappearance;—asortofrawcurate，halfstrangledwithhiswhiteneckcloth，andstilteduponhisthick—soledhigh—lows，eh？”
　　“St。Johndresseswell。Heisahandsomeman:tall，fair，withblueeyes，andaGrecianprofile。”
　　（Aside。）“Damnhim！”—（Tome。）“Didyoulikehim，Jane？”
　　“Yes，Mr。Rochester，Ilikedhim:butyouaskedmethatbefore。”
　　Iperceived，ofcourse，thedriftofmyinterlocutor。Jealousyhadgotholdofhim:shestunghim;butthestingwassalutary:itgavehimrespitefromthegnawingfangofmelancholy。Iwouldnot，therefore，immediatelycharmthesnake。
　　“Perhapsyouwouldrathernotsitanylongeronmyknee，MissEyre？”wasthenextsomewhatunexpectedobservation。
　　“Whynot，Mr。Rochester？”
　　“Thepictureyouhavejustdrawnissuggestiveofarathertoooverwhelmingcontrast。YourwordshavedelineatedveryprettilyagracefulApollo:heispresenttoyourimagination，—tall，fair，blue—eyed，andwithaGrecianprofile。YoureyesdwellonaVulcan，—arealblacksmith，brown，broad—shouldered:andblindandlameintothebargain。”
　　“Ineverthoughtofit，before;butyoucertainlyareratherlikeVulcan，sir。”
　　“Well，youcanleaveme，ma’am:butbeforeyougo”（andheretainedmebyafirmergraspthanever），“youwillbepleasedjusttoanswermeaquestionortwo。”Hepaused。
　　“Whatquestions，Mr。Rochester？”
　　Thenfollowedthiscross—examination。
　　“St。JohnmadeyouschoolmistressofMortonbeforeheknewyouwerehiscousin？”
　　“Yes。”
　　“Youwouldoftenseehim？Hewouldvisittheschoolsometimes？”
　　“Daily。”
　　“Hewouldapproveofyourplans，Jane？Iknowtheywouldbeclever，foryouareatalentedcreature！”
　　“Heapprovedofthem—yes。”
　　“Hewoulddiscovermanythingsinyouhecouldnothaveexpectedtofind？Someofyouraccomplishmentsarenotordinary。”
　　“Idon’tknowaboutthat。”
　　“Youhadalittlecottageneartheschool，yousay:didheevercometheretoseeyou？”
　　“Nowandthen？”
　　“Ofanevening？”
　　“Onceortwice。”
　　Apause。
　　“Howlongdidyouresidewithhimandhissistersafterthecousinshipwasdiscovered？”
　　“Fivemonths。”
　　“DidRiversspendmuchtimewiththeladiesofhisfamily？”
　　“Yes;thebackparlourwasbothhisstudyandours:hesatnearthewindow，andwebythetable。”
　　“Didhestudymuch？”
　　“Agooddeal。”
　　“What？”
　　“Hindostanee。”
　　“Andwhatdidyoudomeantime？”
　　“IlearntGerman，atfirst。”
　　“Didheteachyou？”
　　“HedidnotunderstandGerman。”
　　“Didheteachyounothing？”
　　“AlittleHindostanee。”
　　“RiverstaughtyouHindostanee？”
　　“Yes，sir。”
　　“Andhissistersalso？”
　　“No。”
　　“Onlyyou？”
　　“Onlyme。”
　　“Didyouasktolearn？”
　　“No。”
　　“Hewishedtoteachyou？”
　　“Yes。”
　　Asecondpause。
　　“Whydidhewishit？OfwhatusecouldHindostaneebetoyou？”
　　“HeintendedmetogowithhimtoIndia。”
　　“Ah！hereIreachtherootofthematter。Hewantedyoutomarryhim？”
　　“Heaskedmetomarryhim。”
　　“Thatisafiction—animpudentinventiontovexme。”
　　“Ibegyourpardon，itistheliteraltruth:heaskedmemorethanonce，andwasasstiffabouturginghispointaseveryoucouldbe。”
　　“MissEyre，Irepeatit，youcanleaveme。HowoftenamItosaythesamething？Whydoyouremainpertinaciouslyperchedonmyknee，whenIhavegivenyounoticetoquit？”
　　“BecauseIamcomfortablethere。”
　　“No，Jane，youarenotcomfortablethere，becauseyourheartisnotwithme:itiswiththiscousin—thisSt。John。Oh，tillthismoment，IthoughtmylittleJanewasallmine！Ihadabeliefshelovedmeevenwhensheleftme:thatwasanatomofsweetinmuchbitter。Longaswehavebeenparted，hottearsasIhaveweptoverourseparation，IneverthoughtthatwhileIwasmourningher，shewaslovinganother！Butitisuselessgrieving。Jane，leaveme:goandmarryRivers。”
　　“Shakemeoff，then，sir，—pushmeaway，forI’llnotleaveyouofmyownaccord。”
　　“Jane，Ieverlikeyourtoneofvoice:itstillrenewshope，itsoundssotruthful。WhenIhearit，itcarriesmebackayear。Iforgetthatyouhaveformedanewtie。ButIamnotafool—go—”
　　“WheremustIgo，sir？”
　　“Yourownway—withthehusbandyouhavechosen。”
　　“Whoisthat？”
　　“Youknow—thisSt。JohnRivers。”
　　“Heisnotmyhusband，noreverwillbe。Hedoesnotloveme:Idonotlovehim。Heloves（ashecanlove，andthatisnotasyoulove）abeautifulyoungladycalledRosamond。HewantedtomarrymeonlybecausehethoughtIshouldmakeasuitablemissionary’swife，whichshewouldnothavedone。Heisgoodandgreat，butsevere;and，forme，coldasaniceberg。Heisnotlikeyou，sir:Iamnothappyathisside，nornearhim，norwithhim。Hehasnoindulgenceforme—nofondness。Heseesnothingattractiveinme;notevenyouth—onlyafewusefulmentalpoints。—ThenImustleaveyou，sir，togotohim？”
　　Ishudderedinvoluntarily，andclunginstinctivelyclosertomyblindbutbelovedmaster。Hesmiled。
　　“What，Jane！Isthistrue？IssuchreallythestateofmattersbetweenyouandRivers？”
　　“Absolutely，sir！Oh，youneednotbejealous！Iwantedtoteaseyoualittletomakeyoulesssad:Ithoughtangerwouldbebetterthangrief。Butifyouwishmetoloveyou，couldyoubutseehowmuchIdoloveyou，youwouldbeproudandcontent。Allmyheartisyours，sir:itbelongstoyou;andwithyouitwouldremain，werefatetoexiletherestofmefromyourpresenceforever。”
　　Again，ashekissedme，painfulthoughtsdarkenedhisaspect。“Myscaredvision！Mycrippledstrength！”hemurmuredregretfully。
　　Icaressed，inordertosoothehim。Iknewofwhathewasthinking，andwantedtospeakforhim，butdarednot。Asheturnedasidehisfaceaminute，Isawatearslidefromunderthesealedeyelid，andtrickledownthemanlycheek。Myheartswelled。
　　“Iamnobetterthantheoldlightning—struckchestnut—treeinThornfieldorchard，”heremarkederelong。“Andwhatrightwouldthatruinhavetobidabuddingwoodbinecoveritsdecaywithfreshness？”
　　“Youarenoruin，sir—nolightning—strucktree:youaregreenandvigorous。Plantswillgrowaboutyourroots，whetheryouaskthemornot，becausetheytakedelightinyourbountifulshadow;andastheygrowtheywillleantowardsyou，andwindroundyou，becauseyourstrengthoffersthemsosafeaprop。”
　　Againhesmiled:Igavehimcomfort。
　　“Youspeakoffriends，Jane？”heasked。
　　“Yes，offriends，”Iansweredratherhesitatingly:forIknewImeantmorethanfriends，butcouldnottellwhatotherwordtoemploy。Hehelpedme。
　　“Ah！Jane。ButIwantawife。”
　　“Doyou，sir？”
　　“Yes:isitnewstoyou？”
　　“Ofcourse:yousaidnothingaboutitbefore。”
　　“Isitunwelcomenews？”
　　“Thatdependsoncircumstances，sir—onyourchoice。”
　　“Whichyoushallmakeforme，Jane。Iwillabidebyyourdecision。”
　　“Choosethen，sir—herwholovesyoubest。”
　　“Iwillatleastchoose—herilovebest。Jane，willyoumarryme？”
　　“Yes，sir。”
　　“Apoorblindman，whomyouwillhavetoleadaboutbythehand？”
　　“Yes，sir。”
　　“Acrippledman，twentyyearsolderthanyou，whomyouwillhavetowaiton？”
　　“Yes，sir。”
　　“Truly，Jane？”
　　“Mosttruly，sir。”
　　“Oh！mydarling！Godblessyouandrewardyou！”
　　“Mr。Rochester，ifeverIdidagooddeedinmylife—ifeverIthoughtagoodthought—ifeverIprayedasincereandblamelessprayer—ifeverIwishedarighteouswish，—Iamrewardednow。Tobeyourwifeis，forme，tobeashappyasIcanbeonearth。”
　　“Becauseyoudelightinsacrifice。”
　　“Sacrifice！WhatdoIsacrifice？Famineforfood，expectationforcontent。TobeprivilegedtoputmyarmsroundwhatIvalue—topressmylipstowhatIlove—toreposeonwhatItrust:isthattomakeasacrifice？Ifso，thencertainlyIdelightinsacrifice。”
　　“Andtobearwithmyinfirmities，Jane:tooverlookmydeficiencies。”
　　“Whicharenone，sir，tome。Iloveyoubetternow，whenIcanreallybeusefultoyou，thanIdidinyourstateofproudindependence，whenyoudisdainedeverypartbutthatofthegiverandprotector。”
　　“HithertoIhavehatedtobehelped—tobeled:henceforth，IfeelIshallhateitnomore。Ididnotliketoputmyhandintoahireling’s，butitispleasanttofeelitcircledbyJane’slittlefingers。Ipreferredutterlonelinesstotheconstantattendanceofservants;butJane’ssoftministrywillbeaperpetualjoy。Janesuitsme:doIsuither？”
　　“Tothefinestfibreofmynature，sir。”
　　“Thecasebeingso，wehavenothingintheworldtowaitfor:wemustbemarriedinstantly。”
　　Helookedandspokewitheagerness:hisoldimpetuositywasrising。
　　“Wemustbecomeonefleshwithoutanydelay，Jane:thereisbutthelicencetoget—thenwemarry。”
　　“Mr。Rochester，Ihavejustdiscoveredthesunisfardeclinedfromitsmeridian，andPilotisactuallygonehometohisdinner。Letmelookatyourwatch。”
　　“Fastenitintoyourgirdle，Janet，andkeepithenceforward:Ihavenouseforit。”
　　“Itisnearlyfouro’clockintheafternoon，sir。Don’tyoufeelhungry？”
　　“Thethirddayfromthismustbeourwedding—day，Jane。Nevermindfineclothesandjewels，now:allthatisnotworthafillip。”
　　“Thesunhasdriedupalltherain—drops，sir。Thebreezeisstill:itisquitehot。”
　　“Doyouknow，Jane，Ihaveyourlittlepearlnecklaceatthismomentfastenedroundmybronzescragundermycravat？IhavewornitsincethedayIlostmyonlytreasure，asamementoofher。”
　　“Wewillgohomethroughthewood:thatwillbetheshadiestway。”
　　Hepursuedhisownthoughtswithoutheedingme。
　　“Jane！youthinkme，Idaresay，anirreligiousdog:butmyheartswellswithgratitudetothebeneficentGodofthisearthjustnow。Heseesnotasmansees，butfarclearer:judgesnotasmanjudges，butfarmorewisely。Ididwrong:Iwouldhavesulliedmyinnocentflower—breathedguiltonitspurity:theOmnipotentsnatcheditfromme。I，inmystiff—neckedrebellion，almostcursedthedispensation:insteadofbendingtothedecree，Idefiedit。Divinejusticepursueditscourse;disasterscamethickonme:Iwasforcedtopassthroughthevalleyoftheshadowofdeath。Hischastisementsaremighty;andonesmotemewhichhashumbledmeforever。YouknowIwasproudofmystrength:butwhatisitnow，whenImustgiveitovertoforeignguidance，asachilddoesitsweakness？Oflate，Jane—only—onlyoflate—IbegantoseeandacknowledgethehandofGodinmydoom。Ibegantoexperienceremorse，repentance;thewishforreconcilementtomyMaker。Ibegansometimestopray:verybriefprayerstheywere，butverysincere。
　　“Somedayssince:nay，Icannumberthem—four;itwaslastMondaynight，asingularmoodcameoverme:oneinwhichgriefreplacedfrenzy—sorrow，sullenness。IhadlonghadtheimpressionthatsinceIcouldnowherefindyou，youmustbedead。Latethatnight—perhapsitmightbebetweenelevenandtwelveo’clock—ereIretiredtomydrearyrest，IsupplicatedGod，that，ifitseemedgoodtoHim，Imightsoonbetakenfromthislife，andadmittedtothatworldtocome，wheretherewasstillhopeofrejoiningJane。
　　“Iwasinmyownroom，andsittingbythewindow，whichwasopen:itsoothedmetofeelthebalmynight—air;thoughIcouldseenostarsandonlybyavague，luminoushaze，knewthepresenceofamoon。Ilongedforthee，Janet！Oh，Ilongedfortheebothwithsoulandflesh！IaskedofGod，atonceinanguishandhumility，ifIhadnotbeenlongenoughdesolate，afflicted，tormented;andmightnotsoontasteblissandpeaceoncemore。ThatImeritedallIendured，Iacknowledged—thatIcouldscarcelyenduremore，Ipleaded;andthealphaandomegaofmyheart’swishesbrokeinvoluntarilyfrommylipsinthewords—‘Jane！Jane！Jane！’”
　　“Didyouspeakthesewordsaloud？”
　　“Idid，Jane。Ifanylistenerhadheardme，hewouldhavethoughtmemad:Ipronouncedthemwithsuchfranticenergy。”
　　“AnditwaslastMondaynight，somewherenearmidnight？”
　　“Yes;butthetimeisofnoconsequence:whatfollowedisthestrangepoint。Youwillthinkmesuperstitious，—somesuperstitionIhaveinmyblood，andalwayshad:nevertheless，thisistrue—trueatleastitisthatIheardwhatInowrelate。
　　“AsIexclaimed‘Jane！Jane！Jane！’avoice—Icannottellwhencethevoicecame，butIknowwhosevoiceitwas—replied，‘Iamcoming:waitforme;’andamomentafter，wentwhisperingonthewindthewords—‘Whereareyou？’
　　“I’lltellyou，ifIcan，theidea，thepicturethesewordsopenedtomymind:yetitisdifficulttoexpresswhatIwanttoexpress。Ferndeanisburied，asyousee，inaheavywood，wheresoundfallsdull，anddiesunreverberating。‘Whereareyou？’seemedspokenamongstmountains;forIheardahill—sentechorepeatthewords。Coolerandfresheratthemomentthegaleseemedtovisitmybrow:Icouldhavedeemedthatinsomewild，lonescene，IandJaneweremeeting。Inspirit，Ibelievewemusthavemet。Younodoubtwere，atthathour，inunconscioussleep，Jane:perhapsyoursoulwanderedfromitscelltocomfortmine;forthosewereyouraccents—ascertainasIlive—theywereyours！”
　　Reader，itwasonMondaynight—nearmidnight—thatItoohadreceivedthemysterioussummons:thoseweretheverywordsbywhichIrepliedtoit。IlistenedtoMr。Rochester’snarrative，butmadenodisclosureinreturn。Thecoincidencestruckmeastooawfulandinexplicabletobecommunicatedordiscussed。IfItoldanything，mytalewouldbesuchasmustnecessarilymakeaprofoundimpressiononthemindofmyhearer:andthatmind，yetfromitssufferingstoopronetogloom，needednotthedeepershadeofthesupernatural。Ikeptthesethingsthen，andponderedtheminmyheart。
　　“Youcannotnowwonder，”continuedmymaster，“thatwhenyouroseuponmesounexpectedlylastnight，Ihaddifficultyinbelievingyouanyotherthanamerevoiceandvision，somethingthatwouldmelttosilenceandannihilation，asthemidnightwhisperandmountainechohadmeltedbefore。Now，IthankGod！Iknowittobeotherwise。Yes，IthankGod！”
　　Heputmeoffhisknee，rose，andreverentlyliftinghishatfromhisbrow，andbendinghissightlesseyestotheearth，hestoodinmutedevotion。Onlythelastwordsoftheworshipwereaudible。
　　“IthankmyMaker，that，inthemidstofjudgment，hehasrememberedmercy。IhumblyentreatmyRedeemertogivemestrengthtoleadhenceforthapurerlifethanIhavedonehitherto！”
　　Thenhestretchedhishandouttobeled。Itookthatdearhand，helditamomenttomylips，thenletitpassroundmyshoulder:beingsomuchlowerofstaturethanhe，Iservedbothforhispropandguide。Weenteredthewood，andwendedhomeward。
　　Chapter38—CONCLUSION
　　Reader，Imarriedhim。Aquietweddingwehad:heandI，theparsonandclerk，werealonepresent。Whenwegotbackfromchurch，Iwentintothekitchenofthemanor—house，whereMarywascookingthedinnerandJohncleaningtheknives，andIsaid—
　　“Mary，IhavebeenmarriedtoMr。Rochesterthismorning。”Thehousekeeperandherhusbandwerebothofthatdecentphlegmaticorderofpeople，towhomonemayatanytimesafelycommunicatearemarkablepieceofnewswithoutincurringthedangerofhavingone’searspiercedbysomeshrillejaculation，andsubsequentlystunnedbyatorrentofwordywonderment。Marydidlookup，andshedidstareatme:theladlewithwhichshewasbastingapairofchickensroastingatthefire，didforsomethreeminuteshangsuspendedinair;andforthesamespaceoftimeJohn’sknivesalsohadrestfromthepolishingprocess:butMary，bendingagainovertheroast，saidonly—
　　“Haveyou，Miss？Well，forsure！”
　　Ashorttimeaftershepursued—“Iseedyougooutwiththemaster，butIdidn’tknowyouweregonetochurchtobewed;”andshebastedaway。John，whenIturnedtohim，wasgrinningfromeartoear。
　　“ItelledMaryhowitwouldbe，”hesaid:“IknewwhatMr。Edward”（Johnwasanoldservant，andhadknownhismasterwhenhewasthecadetofthehouse，therefore，heoftengavehimhisChristianname）—“IknewwhatMr。Edwardwoulddo;andIwascertainhewouldnotwaitlongneither:andhe’sdoneright，foraughtIknow。Iwishyoujoy，Miss！”andhepolitelypulledhisforelock。
　　“Thankyou，John。Mr。RochestertoldmetogiveyouandMarythis。”Iputintohishandafive—poundnote。Withoutwaitingtohearmore，Ileftthekitchen。Inpassingthedoorofthatsanctumsometimeafter，Icaughtthewords—
　　“She’llhappendobetterforhimnoronyo’t’grandladies。”Andagain，“Ifsheben’toneo’th’handsomest，she’snoanfaalandvarrygood—natured;andi’hiseenshe’sfairbeautiful，onybodymayseethat。”
　　IwrotetoMoorHouseandtoCambridgeimmediately，tosaywhatIhaddone:fullyexplainingalsowhyIhadthusacted。DianaandMaryapprovedthestepunreservedly。Dianaannouncedthatshewouldjustgivemetimetogetoverthehoneymoon，andthenshewouldcomeandseeme。
　　“Shehadbetternotwaittillthen，Jane，”saidMr。Rochester，whenIreadherlettertohim;“ifshedoes，shewillbetoolate，forourhoneymoonwillshineourlifelong:itsbeamswillonlyfadeoveryourgraveormine。”
　　HowSt。Johnreceivedthenews，Idon’tknow:heneveransweredtheletterinwhichIcommunicatedit:yetsixmonthsafterhewrotetome，without，however，mentioningMr。Rochester’snameoralludingtomymarriage。Hisletterwasthencalm，and，thoughveryserious，kind。Hehasmaintainedaregular，thoughnotfrequent，correspondenceeversince:hehopesIamhappy，andtrustsIamnotofthosewholivewithoutGodintheworld，andonlymindearthlythings。
　　YouhavenotquiteforgottenlittleAdèle，haveyou，reader？Ihadnot;IsoonaskedandobtainedleaveofMr。Rochester，togoandseeherattheschoolwherehehadplacedher。Herfranticjoyatbeholdingmeagainmovedmemuch。Shelookedpaleandthin:shesaidshewasnothappy。Ifoundtherulesoftheestablishmentweretoostrict，itscourseofstudytoosevereforachildofherage:Itookherhomewithme。Imeanttobecomehergovernessoncemore，butIsoonfoundthisimpracticable;mytimeandcareswerenowrequiredbyanother—myhusbandneededthemall。SoIsoughtoutaschoolconductedonamoreindulgentsystem，andnearenoughtopermitofmyvisitingheroften，andbringingherhomesometimes。Itookcaresheshouldneverwantforanythingthatcouldcontributetohercomfort:shesoonsettledinhernewabode，becameveryhappythere，andmadefairprogressinherstudies。Asshegrewup，asoundEnglisheducationcorrectedinagreatmeasureherFrenchdefects;andwhensheleftschool，Ifoundinherapleasingandobligingcompanion:docile，good—tempered，andwell—principled。Byhergratefulattentiontomeandmine，shehaslongsincewellrepaidanylittlekindnessIeverhaditinmypowertoofferher。
　　Mytaledrawstoitsclose:onewordrespectingmyexperienceofmarriedlife，andonebriefglanceatthefortunesofthosewhosenameshavemostfrequentlyrecurredinthisnarrative，andIhavedone。
　　Ihavenowbeenmarriedtenyears。IknowwhatitistoliveentirelyforandwithwhatIlovebestonearth。Iholdmyselfsupremelyblest—blestbeyondwhatlanguagecanexpress;becauseIammyhusband’slifeasfullyisheismine。NowomanwasevernearertohermatethanIam:evermoreabsolutelyboneofhisboneandfleshofhisflesh。IknownowearinessofmyEdward’ssociety:heknowsnoneofmine，anymorethanweeachdoofthepulsationoftheheartthatbeatsinourseparatebosoms;consequently，weareevertogether。Tobetogetherisforustobeatonceasfreeasinsolitude，asgayasincompany。Wetalk，Ibelieve，alldaylong:totalktoeachotherisbutamoreanimatedandanaudiblethinking。Allmyconfidenceisbestowedonhim，allhisconfidenceisdevotedtome;wearepreciselysuitedincharacter—perfectconcordistheresult。
　　Mr。Rochestercontinuedblindthefirsttwoyearsofourunion;perhapsitwasthatcircumstancethatdrewussoverynear—thatknitussoveryclose:forIwasthenhisvision，asIamstillhisrighthand。Literally，Iwas（whatheoftencalledme）theappleofhiseye。Hesawnature—hesawbooksthroughme;andneverdidIwearyofgazingforhisbehalf，andofputtingintowordstheeffectoffield，tree，town，river，cloud，sunbeam—ofthelandscapebeforeus;oftheweatherroundus—andimpressingbysoundonhisearwhatlightcouldnolongerstamponhiseye。NeverdidIwearyofreadingtohim;neverdidIwearyofconductinghimwherehewishedtogo:ofdoingforhimwhathewishedtobedone。Andtherewasapleasureinmyservices，mostfull，mostexquisite，eventhoughsad—becauseheclaimedtheseserviceswithoutpainfulshameordampinghumiliation。Helovedmesotruly，thatheknewnoreluctanceinprofitingbymyattendance:hefeltIlovedhimsofondly，thattoyieldthatattendancewastoindulgemysweetestwishes。
　　Onemorningattheendofthetwoyears，asIwaswritingalettertohisdictation，hecameandbentoverme，andsaid—“Jane，haveyouaglitteringornamentroundyourneck？”
　　Ihadagoldwatch—chain:Ianswered“Yes。”
　　“Andhaveyouapalebluedresson？”
　　Ihad。Heinformedmethen，thatforsometimehehadfanciedtheobscuritycloudingoneeyewasbecominglessdense;andthatnowhewassureofit。
　　HeandIwentuptoLondon。Hehadtheadviceofaneminentoculist;andheeventuallyrecoveredthesightofthatoneeye。Hecannotnowseeverydistinctly:hecannotreadorwritemuch;buthecanfindhiswaywithoutbeingledbythehand:theskyisnolongerablanktohim—theearthnolongeravoid。Whenhisfirst—bornwasputintohisarms，hecouldseethattheboyhadinheritedhisowneyes，astheyoncewere—large，brilliant，andblack。Onthatoccasion，heagain，withafullheart，acknowledgedthatGodhadtemperedjudgmentwithmercy。
　　MyEdwardandI，then，arehappy:andthemoreso，becausethosewemostlovearehappylikewise。DianaandMaryRiversarebothmarried:alternately，onceeveryyear，theycometoseeus，andwegotoseethem。Diana’shusbandisacaptaininthenavy，agallantofficerandagoodman。Mary’sisaclergyman，acollegefriendofherbrother’s，and，fromhisattainmentsandprinciples，worthyoftheconnection。BothCaptainFitzjamesandMr。Whartonlovetheirwives，andarelovedbythem。
　　AstoSt。JohnRivers，heleftEngland:hewenttoIndia。Heenteredonthepathhehadmarkedforhimself;hepursuesitstill。Amoreresolute，indefatigablepioneerneverwroughtamidstrocksanddangers。Firm，faithful，anddevoted，fullofenergy，andzeal，andtruth，helaboursforhisrace;heclearstheirpainfulwaytoimprovement;hehewsdownlikeagianttheprejudicesofcreedandcastethatencumberit。Hemaybestern;hemaybeexacting;hemaybeambitiousyet;buthisisthesternnessofthewarriorGreatheart，whoguardshispilgrimconvoyfromtheonslaughtofApollyon。Hisistheexactionoftheapostle，whospeaksbutforChrist，whenhesays—“Whosoeverwillcomeafterme，lethimdenyhimself，andtakeuphiscrossandfollowme。”Hisistheambitionofthehighmaster—spirit，whichaimstofillaplaceinthefirstrankofthosewhoareredeemedfromtheearth—whostandwithoutfaultbeforethethroneofGod，whosharethelastmightyvictoriesoftheLamb，whoarecalled，andchosen，andfaithful。
　　St。Johnisunmarried:heneverwillmarrynow。Himselfhashithertosufficedtothetoil，andthetoildrawsnearitsclose:hisglorioussunhastenstoitssetting。ThelastletterIreceivedfromhimdrewfrommyeveshumantears，andyetfilledmyheartwithdivinejoy:heanticipatedhissurereward，hisincorruptiblecrown。Iknowthatastranger’shandwillwritetomenext，tosaythatthegoodandfaithfulservanthasbeencalledatlengthintothejoyofhisLord。Andwhyweepforthis？NofearofdeathwilldarkenSt。John’slasthour:hismindwillbeunclouded，hisheartwillbeundaunted，hishopewillbesure，hisfaithsteadfast。Hisownwordsareapledgeofthis—
　　“MyMaster，”hesays，“hasforewarnedme。DailyHeannouncesmoredistinctly，—‘SurelyIcomequickly！’andhourlyImoreeagerlyrespond，—‘Amen;evensocome，LordJesus！’”