As I rose and dressed, I thought over what had happened, andwondered if it were a dream. I could not be certain of the realitytill I had seen Mr. Rochester again, and heard him renew his wordsof love and promise.

While arranging my hair, I looked at my face in the glass, and feltit was no longer plain: there was hope in its aspect and life inits colour; and my eyes seemed as if they had beheld the fount offruition, and borrowed beams from the lustrous ripple. I had oftenbeen unwilling to look at my master, because I feared he could notbe pleased at my look; but I was sure I might lift my face to hisnow, and not cool his affection by its expression. I took a plainbut clean and light summer dress from my drawer and put it on: itseemed no attire had ever so well become me, because none had I everworn in so blissful a mood.

I was not surprised, when I ran down into the hall, to see that abrilliant June morning had succeeded to the tempest of the night;and to feel, through the open glass door, the breathing of a freshand fragrant breeze. Nature must be gladsome when I was so happy.A beggar-woman and her little boy--pale, ragged objects both--werecoming up the walk, and I ran down and gave them all the money Ihappened to have in my purse--some three or four shillings: good orbad, they must partake of my jubilee. The rooks cawed, and blitherbirds sang; but nothing was so merry or so musical as my ownrejoicing heart.

Mrs. Fairfax surprised me by looking out of the window with a sadcountenance, and saying gravely--"Miss Eyre, will you come tobreakfast?" During the meal she was quiet and cool: but I couldnot undeceive her then. I must wait for my master to giveexplanations; and so must she. I ate what I could, and then Ihastened upstairs. I met Adele leaving the schoolroom.

"Where are you going? It is time for lessons."

"Mr. Rochester has sent me away to the nursery."

"Where is he?"

"In there," pointing to the apartment she had left; and I went in,and there he stood.

"Come and bid me good-morning," said he. I gladly advanced; and itwas not merely a cold word now, or even a shake of the hand that Ireceived, but an embrace and a kiss. It seemed natural: it seemedgenial to be so well loved, so caressed by him.

"Jane, you look blooming, and smiling, and pretty," said he: "trulypretty this morning. Is this my pale, little elf? Is this mymustard-seed? This little sunny-faced girl with the dimpled cheekand rosy lips; the satin-smooth hazel hair, and the radiant hazeleyes?" (I had green eyes, reader; but you must excuse the mistake:for him they were new-dyed, I suppose.)

"It is Jane Eyre, sir."

"Soon to be Jane Rochester," he added: "in four weeks, Janet; not aday more. Do you hear that?"

I did, and I could not quite comprehend it: it made me giddy. Thefeeling, the announcement sent through me, was something strongerthan was consistent with joy--something that smote and stunned. Itwas, I think almost fear.

"You blushed, and now you are white, Jane: what is that for?"

"Because you gave me a new name--Jane Rochester; and it seems sostrange."

"Yes, Mrs. Rochester," said he; "young Mrs. Rochester--FairfaxRochester's girl-bride."

"It can never be, sir; it does not sound likely. Human beings neverenjoy complete happiness in this world. I was not born for adifferent destiny to the rest of my species: to imagine such a lotbefalling me is a fairy tale--a day-dream."

"Which I can and will realise. I shall begin to-day. This morningI wrote to my banker in London to send me certain jewels he has inhis keeping,--heirlooms for the ladies of Thornfield. In a day ortwo I hope to pour them into your lap: for every privilege, everyattention shall be yours that I would accord a peer's daughter, ifabout to marry her."

"Oh, sir!--never rain jewels! I don't like to hear them spoken of.Jewels for Jane Eyre sounds unnatural and strange: I would rathernot have them."

"I will myself put the diamond chain round your neck, and thecirclet on your forehead,--which it will become: for nature, atleast, has stamped her patent of nobility on this brow, Jane; and Iwill clasp the bracelets on these fine wrists, and load these fairy-like fingers with rings."

"No, no, sir! think of other subjects, and speak of other things,and in another strain. Don't address me as if I were a beauty; I amyour plain, Quakerish governess."

"You are a beauty in my eyes, and a beauty just after the desire ofmy heart,--delicate and aerial."

"Puny and insignificant, you mean. You are dreaming, sir,--or youare sneering. For God's sake don't be ironical!"

"I will make the world acknowledge you a beauty, too," he went on,while I really became uneasy at the strain he had adopted, because Ifelt he was either deluding himself or trying to delude me. "I willattire my Jane in satin and lace, and she shall have roses in herhair; and I will cover the head I love best with a priceless veil."

"And then you won't know me, sir; and I shall not be your Jane Eyreany longer, but an ape in a harlequin's jacket--a jay in borrowedplumes. I would as soon see you, Mr. Rochester, tricked out instage-trappings, as myself clad in a court-lady's robe; and I don'tcall you handsome, sir, though I love you most dearly: far toodearly to flatter you. Don't flatter me."

He pursued his theme, however, without noticing my deprecation."This very day I shall take you in the carriage to Millcote, and youmust choose some dresses for yourself. I told you we shall bemarried in four weeks. The wedding is to take place quietly, in thechurch down below yonder; and then I shall waft you away at once totown. After a brief stay there, I shall bear my treasure to regionsnearer the sun: to French vineyards and Italian plains; and sheshall see whatever is famous in old story and in modern record: sheshall taste, too, of the life of cities; and she shall learn tovalue herself by just comparison with others."

"Shall I travel?--and with you, sir?"

"You shall sojourn at Paris, Rome, and Naples: at Florence, Venice,and Vienna: all the ground I have wandered over shall be re-troddenby you: wherever I stamped my hoof, your sylph's foot shall stepalso. Ten years since, I flew through Europe half mad; withdisgust, hate, and rage as my companions: now I shall revisit ithealed and cleansed, with a very angel as my comforter."

I laughed at him as he said this. "I am not an angel," I asserted;"and I will not be one till I die: I will be myself. Mr.Rochester, you must neither expect nor exact anything celestial ofme--for you will not get it, any more than I shall get it of you:which I do not at all anticipate."

"What do you anticipate of me?"

"For a little while you will perhaps be as you are now,--a verylittle while; and then you will turn cool; and then you will becapricious; and then you will be stern, and I shall have much ado toplease you: but when you get well used to me, you will perhaps likeme again,--LIKE me, I say, not LOVE me. I suppose your love willeffervesce in six months, or less. I have observed in books writtenby men, that period assigned as the farthest to which a husband'sardour extends. Yet, after all, as a friend and companion, I hopenever to become quite distasteful to my dear master."

"Distasteful! and like you again! I think I shall like you again,and yet again: and I will make you confess I do not only LIKE, butLOVE you--with truth, fervour, constancy."

"Yet are you not capricious, sir?"

"To women who please me only by their faces, I am the very devilwhen I find out they have neither souls nor hearts--when they opento me a perspective of flatness, triviality, and perhaps imbecility,coarseness, and ill-temper: but to the clear eye and eloquenttongue, to the soul made of fire, and the character that bends butdoes not break--at once supple and stable, tractable and consistent--I am ever tender and true."

"Had you ever experience of such a character, sir? Did you everlove such an one?"

"I love it now."

"But before me: if I, indeed, in any respect come up to yourdifficult standard?"

"I never met your likeness. Jane, you please me, and you master me--you seem to submit, and I like the sense of pliancy you impart; andwhile I am twining the soft, silken skein round my finger, it sendsa thrill up my arm to my heart. I am influenced--conquered; and theinfluence is sweeter than I can express; and the conquest I undergohas a witchery beyond any triumph I can win. Why do you smile,Jane? What does that inexplicable, that uncanny turn of countenancemean?"

"I was thinking, sir (you will excuse the idea; it was involuntary),I was thinking of Hercules and Samson with their charmers--"

"You were, you little elfish--"

"Hush, sir! You don't talk very wisely just now; any more thanthose gentlemen acted very wisely. However, had they been married,they would no doubt by their severity as husbands have made up fortheir softness as suitors; and so will you, I fear. I wonder howyou will answer me a year hence, should I ask a favour it does notsuit your convenience or pleasure to grant."

"Ask me something now, Jane,--the least thing: I desire to beentreated--"

"Indeed I will, sir; I have my petition all ready."

"Speak! But if you look up and smile with that countenance, I shallswear concession before I know to what, and that will make a fool ofme."

"Not at all, sir; I ask only this: don't send for the jewels, anddon't crown me with roses: you might as well put a border of goldlace round that plain pocket handkerchief you have there."

"I might as well 'gild refined gold.' I know it: you request isgranted then--for the time. I will remand the order I despatched tomy banker. But you have not yet asked for anything; you have prayeda gift to be withdrawn: try again."

"Well then, sir, have the goodness to gratify my curiosity, which ismuch piqued on one point."

He looked disturbed. "What? what?" he said hastily. "Curiosity isa dangerous petition: it is well I have not taken a vow to accordevery request--"

"But there can be no danger in complying with this, sir."

"Utter it, Jane: but I wish that instead of a mere inquiry into,perhaps, a secret, it was a wish for half my estate."

"Now, King Ahasuerus! What do I want with half your estate? Do youthink I am a Jew-usurer, seeking good investment in land? I wouldmuch rather have all your confidence. You will not exclude me fromyour confidence if you admit me to your heart?"

"You are welcome to all my confidence that is worth having, Jane;but for God's sake, don't desire a useless burden! Don't long forpoison--don't turn out a downright Eve on my hands!"

"Why not, sir? You have just been telling me how much you liked tobe conquered, and how pleasant over-persuasion is to you. Don't youthink I had better take advantage of the confession, and begin andcoax and entreat--even cry and be sulky if necessary--for the sakeof a mere essay of my power?"

"I dare you to any such experiment. Encroach, presume, and the gameis up."

"Is it, sir? You soon give in. How stern you look now! Youreyebrows have become as thick as my finger, and your foreheadresembles what, in some very astonishing poetry, I once saw styled,'a blue-piled thunderloft.' That will be your married look, sir, Isuppose?"

"If that will be YOUR married look, I, as a Christian, will soongive up the notion of consorting with a mere sprite or salamander.But what had you to ask, thing,--out with it?"

"There, you are less than civil now; and I like rudeness a greatdeal better than flattery. I had rather be a THING than an angel.This is what I have to ask,--Why did you take such pains to make mebelieve you wished to marry Miss Ingram?"

"Is that all? Thank God it is no worse!" And now he unknit hisblack brows; looked down, smiling at me, and stroked my hair, as ifwell pleased at seeing a danger averted. "I think I may confess,"he continued, "even although I should make you a little indignant,Jane--and I have seen what a fire-spirit you can be when you areindignant. You glowed in the cool moonlight last night, when youmutinied against fate, and claimed your rank as my equal. Janet,by-the-bye, it was you who made me the offer."

"Of course I did. But to the point if you please, sir--MissIngram?"

"Well, I feigned courtship of Miss Ingram, because I wished torender you as madly in love with me as I was with you; and I knewjealousy would be the best ally I could call in for the furtheranceof that end."

"Excellent! Now you are small--not one whit bigger than the end ofmy little finger. It was a burning shame and a scandalous disgraceto act in that way. Did you think nothing of Miss Ingram'sfeelings, sir?"

"Her feelings are concentrated in one--pride; and that needshumbling. Were you jealous, Jane?"

"Never mind, Mr. Rochester: it is in no way interesting to you toknow that. Answer me truly once more. Do you think Miss Ingramwill not suffer from your dishonest coquetry? Won't she feelforsaken and deserted?"

"Impossible!--when I told you how she, on the contrary, deserted me:the idea of my insolvency cooled, or rather extinguished, her flamein a moment."

"You have a curious, designing mind, Mr. Rochester. I am afraidyour principles on some points are eccentric."

"My principles were never trained, Jane: they may have grown alittle awry for want of attention."

"Once again, seriously; may I enjoy the great good that has beenvouchsafed to me, without fearing that any one else is suffering thebitter pain I myself felt a while ago?"

"That you may, my good little girl: there is not another being inthe world has the same pure love for me as yourself--for I lay thatpleasant unction to my soul, Jane, a belief in your affection."

I turned my lips to the hand that lay on my shoulder. I loved himvery much--more than I could trust myself to say--more than wordshad power to express.

"Ask something more," he said presently; "it is my delight to beentreated, and to yield."

I was again ready with my request. "Communicate your intentions toMrs. Fairfax, sir: she saw me with you last night in the hall, andshe was shocked. Give her some explanation before I see her again.It pains me to be misjudged by so good a woman."

"Go to your room, and put on your bonnet," he replied. "I mean youto accompany me to Millcote this morning; and while you prepare forthe drive, I will enlighten the old lady's understanding. Did shethink, Janet, you had given the world for love, and considered itwell lost?"

"I believe she thought I had forgotten my station, and yours, sir."

"Station! station!--your station is in my heart, and on the necks ofthose who would insult you, now or hereafter.--Go."

I was soon dressed; and when I heard Mr. Rochester quit Mrs.Fairfax's parlour, I hurried down to it. The old lady, had beenreading her morning portion of Scripture--the Lesson for the day;her Bible lay open before her, and her spectacles were upon it. Heroccupation, suspended by Mr. Rochester's announcement, seemed nowforgotten: her eyes, fixed on the blank wall opposite, expressedthe surprise of a quiet mind stirred by unwonted tidings. Seeingme, she roused herself: she made a sort of effort to smile, andframed a few words of congratulation; but the smile expired, and thesentence was abandoned unfinished. She put up her spectacles, shutthe Bible, and pushed her chair back from the table.

"I feel so astonished," she began, "I hardly know what to say toyou, Miss Eyre. I have surely not been dreaming, have I? SometimesI half fall asleep when I am sitting alone and fancy things thathave never happened. It has seemed to me more than once when I havebeen in a doze, that my dear husband, who died fifteen years since,has come in and sat down beside me; and that I have even heard himcall me by my name, Alice, as he used to do. Now, can you tell mewhether it is actually true that Mr. Rochester has asked you tomarry him? Don't laugh at me. But I really thought he came in herefive minutes ago, and said that in a month you would be his wife."

"He has said the same thing to me," I replied.

"He has! Do you believe him? Have you accepted him?"

"Yes."

She looked at me bewildered. "I could never have thought it. He isa proud man: all the Rochesters were proud: and his father, atleast, liked money. He, too, has always been called careful. Hemeans to marry you?"

"He tells me so."

She surveyed my whole person: in her eyes I read that they hadthere found no charm powerful enough to solve the enigma.

"It passes me!" she continued; "but no doubt, it is true since yousay so. How it will answer, I cannot tell: I really don't know.Equality of position and fortune is often advisable in such cases;and there are twenty years of difference in your ages. He mightalmost be your father."

"No, indeed, Mrs. Fairfax!" exclaimed I, nettled; "he is nothinglike my father! No one, who saw us together, would suppose it foran instant. Mr. Rochester looks as young, and is as young, as somemen at five-and-twenty."

"Is it really for love he is going to marry you?" she asked.

I was so hurt by her coldness and scepticism, that the tears rose tomy eyes.

"I am sorry to grieve you," pursued the widow; "but you are soyoung, and so little acquainted with men, I wished to put you onyour guard. It is an old saying that 'all is not gold thatglitters;' and in this case I do fear there will be something foundto be different to what either you or I expect."

"Why?--am I a monster?" I said: "is it impossible that Mr.Rochester should have a sincere affection for me?"

"No: you are very well; and much improved of late; and Mr.Rochester, I daresay, is fond of you. I have always noticed thatyou were a sort of pet of his. There are times when, for your sake,I have been a little uneasy at his marked preference, and havewished to put you on your guard: but I did not like to suggest eventhe possibility of wrong. I knew such an idea would shock, perhapsoffend you; and you were so discreet, and so thoroughly modest andsensible, I hoped you might be trusted to protect yourself. Lastnight I cannot tell you what I suffered when I sought all over thehouse, and could find you nowhere, nor the master either; and then,at twelve o'clock, saw you come in with him."

"Well, never mind that now," I interrupted impatiently; "it isenough that all was right."

"I hope all will be right in the end," she said: "but believe me,you cannot be too careful. Try and keep Mr. Rochester at adistance: distrust yourself as well as him. Gentlemen in hisstation are not accustomed to marry their governesses."

I was growing truly irritated: happily, Adele ran in.

"Let me go,--let me go to Millcote too!" she cried. "Mr. Rochesterwon't: though there is so much room in the new carriage. Beg himto let me go mademoiselle."

"That I will, Adele;" and I hastened away with her, glad to quit mygloomy monitress. The carriage was ready: they were bringing itround to the front, and my master was the pavement, Pilot followinghim backwards and forwards.

"Adele may accompany us, may she not, sir?"

"I told her no. I'll have no brats!--I'll have only you."

"Do let her go, Mr. Rochester, if you please: it would be better."

"Not it: she will be a restraint."

He was quite peremptory, both in look and voice. The chill of Mrs.Fairfax's warnings, and the damp of her doubts were upon me:something of unsubstantiality and uncertainty had beset my hopes. Ihalf lost the sense of power over him. I was about mechanically toobey him, without further remonstrance; but as he helped me into thecarriage, he looked at my face.

"What is the matter?" he asked; "all the sunshine is gone. Do youreally wish the bairn to go? Will it annoy you if she is leftbehind?"

"I would far rather she went, sir."

"Then off for your bonnet, and back like a flash of lightning!"cried he to Adele.

She obeyed him with what speed she might.

"After all, a single morning's interruption will not matter much,"said he, "when I mean shortly to claim you--your thoughts,conversation, and company--for life."

Adele, when lifted in, commenced kissing me, by way of expressingher gratitude for my intercession: she was instantly stowed awayinto a corner on the other side of him. She then peeped round towhere I sat; so stern a neighbour was too restrictive to him, in hispresent fractious mood, she dared whisper no observations, nor askof him any information.

"Let her come to me," I entreated: "she will, perhaps, trouble you,sir: there is plenty of room on this side."

He handed her over as if she had been a lapdog. "I'll send her toschool yet," he said, but now he was smiling.

Adele heard him, and asked if she was to go to school "sansmademoiselle?"

"Yes," he replied, "absolutely sans mademoiselle; for I am to takemademoiselle to the moon, and there I shall seek a cave in one ofthe white valleys among the volcano-tops, and mademoiselle shalllive with me there, and only me."

"She will have nothing to eat: you will starve her," observedAdele.

"I shall gather manna for her morning and night: the plains andhillsides in the moon are bleached with manna, Adele."

"She will want to warm herself: what will she do for a fire?"

"Fire rises out of the lunar mountains: when she is cold, I'llcarry her up to a peak, and lay her down on the edge of a crater."

"Oh, qu' elle y sera mal--peu comfortable! And her clothes, theywill wear out: how can she get new ones?"

Mr. Rochester professed to be puzzled. "Hem!" said he. "What wouldyou do, Adele? Cudgel your brains for an expedient. How would awhite or a pink cloud answer for a gown, do you think? And onecould cut a pretty enough scarf out of a rainbow."

"She is far better as she is," concluded Adele, after musing sometime: "besides, she would get tired of living with only you in themoon. If I were mademoiselle, I would never consent to go withyou."

"She has consented: she has pledged her word."

"But you can't get her there; there is no road to the moon: it isall air; and neither you nor she can fly."

"Adele, look at that field." We were now outside Thornfield gates,and bowling lightly along the smooth road to Millcote, where thedust was well laid by the thunderstorm, and, where the low hedgesand lofty timber trees on each side glistened green and rain-refreshed.

"In that field, Adele, I was walking late one evening about afortnight since--the evening of the day you helped me to make hay inthe orchard meadows; and, as I was tired with raking swaths, I satdown to rest me on a stile; and there I took out a little book and apencil, and began to write about a misfortune that befell me longago, and a wish I had for happy days to come: I was writing awayvery fast, though daylight was fading from the leaf, when somethingcame up the path and stopped two yards off me. I looked at it. Itwas a little thing with a veil of gossamer on its head. I beckonedit to come near me; it stood soon at my knee. I never spoke to it,and it never spoke to me, in words; but I read its eyes, and it readmine; and our speechless colloquy was to this effect -

"It was a fairy, and come from Elf-land, it said; and its errand wasto make me happy: I must go with it out of the common world to alonely place--such as the moon, for instance--and it nodded its headtowards her horn, rising over Hay-hill: it told me of the alabastercave and silver vale where we might live. I said I should like togo; but reminded it, as you did me, that I had no wings to fly.

"'Oh,' returned the fairy, 'that does not signify! Here is atalisman will remove all difficulties;' and she held out a prettygold ring. 'Put it,' she said, 'on the fourth finger of my lefthand, and I am yours, and you are mine; and we shall leave earth,and make our own heaven yonder.' She nodded again at the moon. Thering, Adele, is in my breeches-pocket, under the disguise of asovereign: but I mean soon to change it to a ring again."

"But what has mademoiselle to do with it? I don't care for thefairy: you said it was mademoiselle you would take to the moon?"

"Mademoiselle is a fairy," he said, whispering mysteriously.Whereupon I told her not to mind his badinage; and she, on her part,evinced a fund of genuine French scepticism: denominating Mr.Rochester "un vrai menteur," and assuring him that she made noaccount whatever of his "contes de fee," and that "du reste, il n'yavait pas de fees, et quand meme il y en avait:" she was sure theywould never appear to him, nor ever give him rings, or offer to livewith him in the moon.

The hour spent at Millcote was a somewhat harassing one to me. Mr.Rochester obliged me to go to a certain silk warehouse: there I wasordered to choose half-a-dozen dresses. I hated the business, Ibegged leave to defer it: no--it should be gone through with now.By dint of entreaties expressed in energetic whispers, I reduced thehalf-dozen to two: these however, he vowed he would select himself.With anxiety I watched his eye rove over the gay stores: he fixedon a rich silk of the most brilliant amethyst dye, and a superb pinksatin. I told him in a new series of whispers, that he might aswell buy me a gold gown and a silver bonnet at once: I shouldcertainly never venture to wear his choice. With infinitedifficulty, for he was stubborn as a stone, I persuaded him to makean exchange in favour of a sober black satin and pearl-grey silk."It might pass for the present," he said; "but he would yet see meglittering like a parterre."

Glad was I to get him out of the silk warehouse, and then out of ajewellers shop: the more he bought me, the more my cheek burnedwith a sense of annoyance and degradation. As we re-entered thecarriage, and I sat back feverish and fagged, I remembered what, inthe hurry of events, dark and bright, I had wholly forgotten--theletter of my uncle, John Eyre, to Mrs. Reed: his intention to adoptme and make me his legatee. "It would, indeed, be a relief," Ithought, "if I had ever so small an independency; I never can bearbeing dressed like a doll by Mr. Rochester, or sitting like a secondDanae with the golden shower falling daily round me. I will writeto Madeira the moment I get home, and tell my uncle John I am goingto be married, and to whom: if I had but a prospect of one daybringing Mr. Rochester an accession of fortune, I could betterendure to be kept by him now." And somewhat relieved by this idea(which I failed not to execute that day), I ventured once more tomeet my master's and lover's eye, which most pertinaciously soughtmine, though I averted both face and gaze. He smiled; and I thoughthis smile was such as a sultan might, in a blissful and fond moment,bestow on a slave his gold and gems had enriched: I crushed hishand, which was ever hunting mine, vigorously, and thrust it back tohim red with the passionate pressure.

"You need not look in that way," I said; "if you do, I'll wearnothing but my old Lowood frocks to the end of the chapter. I'll bemarried in this lilac gingham: you may make a dressing-gown foryourself out of the pearl-grey silk, and an infinite series ofwaistcoats out of the black satin."

He chuckled; he rubbed his hands. "Oh, it is rich to see and hearher?" he exclaimed. "Is she original? Is she piquant? I would notexchange this one little English girl for the Grand Turk's wholeseraglio, gazelle-eyes, houri forms, and all!"

The Eastern allusion bit me again. "I'll not stand you an inch inthe stead of a seraglio," I said; "so don't consider me anequivalent for one. If you have a fancy for anything in that line,away with you, sir, to the bazaars of Stamboul without delay, andlay out in extensive slave-purchases some of that spare cash youseem at a loss to spend satisfactorily here."

"And what will you do, Janet, while I am bargaining for so many tonsof flesh and such an assortment of black eyes?"

"I'll be preparing myself to go out as a missionary to preachliberty to them that are enslaved--your harem inmates amongst therest. I'll get admitted there, and I'll stir up mutiny; and you,three-tailed bashaw as you are, sir, shall in a trice find yourselffettered amongst our hands: nor will I, for one, consent to cutyour bonds till you have signed a charter, the most liberal thatdespot ever yet conferred."

"I would consent to be at your mercy, Jane."

"I would have no mercy, Mr. Rochester, if you supplicated for itwith an eye like that. While you looked so, I should be certainthat whatever charter you might grant under coercion, your firstact, when released, would be to violate its conditions."

"Why, Jane, what would you have? I fear you will compel me to gothrough a private marriage ceremony, besides that performed at thealtar. You will stipulate, I see, for peculiar terms--what willthey be?"

"I only want an easy mind, sir; not crushed by crowded obligations.Do you remember what you said of Celine Varens?--of the diamonds,the cashmeres you gave her? I will not be your English CelineVarens. I shall continue to act as Adele's governess; by that Ishall earn my board and lodging, and thirty pounds a year besides.I'll furnish my own wardrobe out of that money, and you shall giveme nothing but--"

"Well, but what?"

"Your regard; and if I give you mine in return, that debt will bequit."

"Well, for cool native impudence and pure innate pride, you haven'tyour equal," said he. We were now approaching Thornfield. "Will itplease you to dine with me to-day?" he asked, as we re-entered thegates.

"No, thank you, sir."

"And what for, 'no, thank you?' if one may inquire."

"I never have dined with you, sir: and I see no reason why I shouldnow: till--"

"Till what? You delight in half-phrases."

"Till I can't help it."

"Do you suppose I eat like an ogre or a ghoul, that you dread beingthe companion of my repast?"

"I have formed no supposition on the subject, sir; but I want to goon as usual for another month."

"You will give up your governessing slavery at once."

"Indeed, begging your pardon, sir, I shall not. I shall just go onwith it as usual. I shall keep out of your way all day, as I havebeen accustomed to do: you may send for me in the evening, when youfeel disposed to see me, and I'll come then; but at no other time."

"I want a smoke, Jane, or a pinch of snuff, to comfort me under allthis, 'pour me donner une contenance,' as Adele would say; andunfortunately I have neither my cigar-case, nor my snuff-box. Butlisten--whisper. It is your time now, little tyrant, but it will bemine presently; and when once I have fairly seized you, to have andto hold, I'll just--figuratively speaking--attach you to a chainlike this" (touching his watch-guard). "Yes, bonny wee thing, I'llwear you in my bosom, lest my jewel I should tyne."

He said this as he helped me to alight from the carriage, and whilehe afterwards lifted out Adele, I entered the house, and made goodmy retreat upstairs.

He duly summoned me to his presence in the evening. I had preparedan occupation for him; for I was determined not to spend the wholetime in a tete-e-tete conversation. I remembered his fine voice; Iknew he liked to sing--good singers generally do. I was no vocalistmyself, and, in his fastidious judgment, no musician, either; but Idelighted in listening when the performance was good. No sooner hadtwilight, that hour of romance, began to lower her blue and starrybanner over the lattice, than I rose, opened the piano, andentreated him, for the love of heaven, to give me a song. He said Iwas a capricious witch, and that he would rather sing another time;but I averred that no time was like the present.

"Did I like his voice?" he asked.

"Very much." I was not fond of pampering that susceptible vanity ofhis; but for once, and from motives of expediency, I would e'ensoothe and stimulate it.

"Then, Jane, you must play the accompaniment."

"Very well, sir, I will try."

I did try, but was presently swept off the stool and denominated "alittle bungler." Being pushed unceremoniously to one side--whichwas precisely what I wished--he usurped my place, and proceeded toaccompany himself: for he could play as well as sing. I hied me tothe window-recess. And while I sat there and looked out on thestill trees and dim lawn, to a sweet air was sung in mellow tonesthe following strain:-

"The truest love that ever heartFelt at its kindled core,Did through each vein, in quickened start,The tide of being pour.

Her coming was my hope each day,Her parting was my pain;The chance that did her steps delayWas ice in every vein.

I dreamed it would be nameless bliss,As I loved, loved to be;And to this object did I pressAs blind as eagerly.

But wide as pathless was the spaceThat lay our lives between,And dangerous as the foamy raceOf ocean-surges green.

And haunted as a robber-pathThrough wilderness or wood;For Might and Right, and Woe and Wrath,Between our spirits stood.

I dangers dared; I hindrance scorned;I omens did defy:Whatever menaced, harassed, warned,I passed impetuous by.

On sped my rainbow, fast as light;I flew as in a dream;For glorious rose upon my sightThat child of Shower and Gleam.

Still bright on clouds of suffering dimShines that soft, solemn joy;Nor care I now, how dense and grimDisasters gather nigh.

I care not in this moment sweet,Though all I have rushed o'erShould come on pinion, strong and fleet,Proclaiming vengeance sore:

Though haughty Hate should strike me down,Right, bar approach to me,And grinding Might, with furious frown,Swear endless enmity.

My love has placed her little handWith noble faith in mine,And vowed that wedlock's sacred bandOur nature shall entwine.

My love has sworn, with sealing kiss,With me to live--to die;I have at last my nameless bliss.As I love--loved am I!"

He rose and came towards me, and I saw his face all kindled, and hisfull falcon-eye flashing, and tenderness and passion in everylineament. I quailed momentarily--then I rallied. Soft scene,daring demonstration, I would not have; and I stood in peril ofboth: a weapon of defence must be prepared--I whetted my tongue:as he reached me, I asked with asperity, "whom he was going to marrynow?"

"That was a strange question to be put by his darling Jane."

"Indeed! I considered it a very natural and necessary one: he hadtalked of his future wife dying with him. What did he mean by sucha pagan idea? I had no intention of dying with him--he might dependon that."

"Oh, all he longed, all he prayed for, was that I might live withhim! Death was not for such as I."

"Indeed it was: I had as good a right to die when my time came ashe had: but I should bide that time, and not be hurried away in asuttee."

"Would I forgive him for the selfish idea, and prove my pardon by areconciling kiss?"

"No: I would rather be excused."

Here I heard myself apostrophised as a "hard little thing;" and itwas added, "any other woman would have been melted to marrow athearing such stanzas crooned in her praise."

I assured him I was naturally hard--very flinty, and that he wouldoften find me so; and that, moreover, I was determined to show himdivers rugged points in my character before the ensuing four weekselapsed: he should know fully what sort of a bargain he had made,while there was yet time to rescind it.

"Would I be quiet and talk rationally?"

"I would be quiet if he liked, and as to talking rationally, Iflattered myself I was doing that now."

He fretted, pished, and pshawed. "Very good," I thought; "you mayfume and fidget as you please: but this is the best plan to pursuewith you, I am certain. I like you more than I can say; but I'llnot sink into a bathos of sentiment: and with this needle ofrepartee I'll keep you from the edge of the gulf too; and, moreover,maintain by its pungent aid that distance between you and myselfmost conducive to our real mutual advantage."

From less to more, I worked him up to considerable irritation; then,after he had retired, in dudgeon, quite to the other end of theroom, I got up, and saying, "I wish you good-night, sir," in mynatural and wonted respectful manner, I slipped out by the side-doorand got away.

The system thus entered on, I pursued during the whole season ofprobation; and with the best success. He was kept, to be sure,rather cross and crusty; but on the whole I could see he wasexcellently entertained, and that a lamb-like submission and turtle-dove sensibility, while fostering his despotism more, would havepleased his judgment, satisfied his common-sense, and even suitedhis taste less.

In other people's presence I was, as formerly, deferential andquiet; any other line of conduct being uncalled for: it was only inthe evening conferences I thus thwarted and afflicted him. Hecontinued to send for me punctually the moment the clock struckseven; though when I appeared before him now, he had no such honeyedterms as "love" and "darling" on his lips: the best words at myservice were "provoking puppet," "malicious elf," "sprite,""changeling," &c. For caresses, too, I now got grimaces; for apressure of the hand, a pinch on the arm; for a kiss on the cheek, asevere tweak of the ear. It was all right: at present I decidedlypreferred these fierce favours to anything more tender. Mrs.Fairfax, I saw, approved me: her anxiety on my account vanished;therefore I was certain I did well. Meantime, Mr. Rochesteraffirmed I was wearing him to skin and bone, and threatened awfulvengeance for my present conduct at some period fast coming. Ilaughed in my sleeve at his menaces. "I can keep you in reasonablecheck now," I reflected; "and I don't doubt to be able to do ithereafter: if one expedient loses its virtue, another must bedevised."

Yet after all my task was not an easy one; often I would rather havepleased than teased him. My future husband was becoming to me mywhole world; and more than the world: almost my hope of heaven. Hestood between me and every thought of religion, as an eclipseintervenes between man and the broad sun. I could not, in thosedays, see God for His creature: of whom I had made an idol.