"Here is to your health, ministrant spirit!" he said. He swallowed

the contents and returned it to me. "What are they doing, Jane?"

"Laughing and talking, sir."

"They don't look grave and mysterious, as if they had heard

something strange?"

"Not at all: they are full of jests and gaiety."

"And Mason?"

"He was laughing too."

"If all these people came in a body and spat at me, what would you

do, Jane?"

"Turn them out of the room, sir, if I could."

He half smiled. "But if I were to go to them, and they only looked

at me coldly, and whispered sneeringly amongst each other, and then

dropped off and left me one by one, what then? Would you go with

them?"

"I rather think not, sir: I should have more pleasure in staying

with you."

"To comfort me?"

"Yes, sir, to comfort you, as well as I could."

"And if they laid you under a ban for adhering to me?"

"I, probably, should know nothing about their ban; and if I did, I

should care nothing about it."

"Then, you could dare censure for my sake?"

"I could dare it for the sake of any friend who deserved my

adherence; as you, I am sure, do."

"Go back now into the room; step quietly up to Mason, and whisper in

his ear that Mr. Rochester is come and wishes to see him: show him

in here and then leave me."

"Yes, sir."

I did his behest. The company all stared at me as I passed straight

among them. I sought Mr. Mason, delivered the message, and preceded

him from the room: I ushered him into the library, and then I went

upstairs.

At a late hour, after I had been in bed some time, I heard the

visitors repair to their chambers: I distinguished Mr. Rochester's

voice, and heard him say, "This way, Mason; this is your room."

He spoke cheerfully: the gay tones set my heart at ease. I was

soon asleep.




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