"Now, Jane, that is all."

"All the preface, sir; the tale is yet to come. On waking, a gleam

dazzled my eyes; I thought--Oh, it is daylight! But I was mistaken;

it was only candlelight. Sophie, I supposed, had come in. There

was a light in the dressing-table, and the door of the closet,

where, before going to bed, I had hung my wedding-dress and veil,

stood open; I heard a rustling there. I asked, 'Sophie, what are

you doing?' No one answered; but a form emerged from the closet; it

took the light, held it aloft, and surveyed the garments pendent

from the portmanteau. 'Sophie! Sophie!' I again cried: and still

it was silent. I had risen up in bed, I bent forward: first

surprise, then bewilderment, came over me; and then my blood crept

cold through my veins. Mr. Rochester, this was not Sophie, it was

not Leah, it was not Mrs. Fairfax: it was not--no, I was sure of

it, and am still--it was not even that strange woman, Grace Poole."

"It must have been one of them," interrupted my master.

"No, sir, I solemnly assure you to the contrary. The shape standing

before me had never crossed my eyes within the precincts of

Thornfield Hall before; the height, the contour were new to me."

"Describe it, Jane."

"It seemed, sir, a woman, tall and large, with thick and dark hair

hanging long down her back. I know not what dress she had on: it

was white and straight; but whether gown, sheet, or shroud, I cannot

tell."

"Did you see her face?"

"Not at first. But presently she took my veil from its place; she

held it up, gazed at it long, and then she threw it over her own

head, and turned to the mirror. At that moment I saw the reflection

of the visage and features quite distinctly in the dark oblong

glass."

"And how were they?"

"Fearful and ghastly to me--oh, sir, I never saw a face like it! It

was a discoloured face--it was a savage face. I wish I could forget

the roll of the red eyes and the fearful blackened inflation of the

lineaments!"

"Ghosts are usually pale, Jane."

"This, sir, was purple: the lips were swelled and dark; the brow

furrowed: the black eyebrows widely raised over the bloodshot eyes.

Shall I tell you of what it reminded me?"

"You may."

"Of the foul German spectre--the Vampyre."

"Ah!--what did it do?"




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