"I thought you would be revolted, Jane, when you saw my arm, and my

cicatrised visage."

"Did you? Don't tell me so--lest I should say something disparaging

to your judgment. Now, let me leave you an instant, to make a

better fire, and have the hearth swept up. Can you tell when there

is a good fire?"

"Yes; with the right eye I see a glow--a ruddy haze."

"And you see the candles?"

"Very dimly--each is a luminous cloud."

"Can you see me?"

"No, my fairy: but I am only too thankful to hear and feel you."

"When do you take supper?"

"I never take supper."

"But you shall have some to-night. I am hungry: so are you, I

daresay, only you forget."

Summoning Mary, I soon had the room in more cheerful order: I

prepared him, likewise, a comfortable repast. My spirits were

excited, and with pleasure and ease I talked to him during supper,

and for a long time after. There was no harassing restraint, no

repressing of glee and vivacity with him; for with him I was at

perfect ease, because I knew I suited him; all I said or did seemed

either to console or revive him. Delightful consciousness! It

brought to life and light my whole nature: in his presence I

thoroughly lived; and he lived in mine. Blind as he was, smiles

played over his face, joy dawned on his forehead: his lineaments

softened and warmed.

After supper, he began to ask me many questions, of where I had

been, what I had been doing, how I had found him out; but I gave him

only very partial replies: it was too late to enter into

particulars that night. Besides, I wished to touch no deep-

thrilling chord--to open no fresh well of emotion in his heart: my

sole present aim was to cheer him. Cheered, as I have said, he was:

and yet but by fits. If a moment's silence broke the conversation,

he would turn restless, touch me, then say, "Jane."

"You are altogether a human being, Jane? You are certain of that?"

"I conscientiously believe so, Mr. Rochester."

"Yet how, on this dark and doleful evening, could you so suddenly

rise on my lone hearth? I stretched my hand to take a glass of

water from a hireling, and it was given me by you: I asked a

question, expecting John's wife to answer me, and your voice spoke

at my ear."




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