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“It　is　e　now—I　must　give　it　to…night。”
“Then　you　are　going　to　be　married；　sir？”
“Ex…act…ly—pre…cise…ly：　with　your　usual　acuteness；　you　have　hit　the　nail　straight　on　the　head。”
“Soon；　sir？”
“Very　soon；　my—that　is；　Miss　Eyre：　and　you’ll　remember；　Jane；　the　first　time　I；　or　Rumour；　plainly　intimated　to　you　that　it　was　my　intention　to　put　my　old　bachelor’s　neck　into　the　sacred　noose；　to　enter　into　the　holy　estate　of　matrimony—to　take　Miss　Ingram　to　my　bosom；　in　short　（she’s　an　extensive　armful：　but　that’s　not　to　the　point—one　can’t　have　too　much　of　such　a　very　excellent　thing　as　my　beautiful　Blanche）：　well；　as　I　was　saying—listen　to　me；　Jane！　You’re　not　turning　your　head　to　look　after　more　moths；　are　you？　That　was　only　a　lady…clock；　child；　‘flying　away　home。’　I　wish　to　remind　you　that　it　was　you　who　first　said　to　me；　with　that　discretion　I　respect　in　you—with　that　foresight；　prudence；　and　humility　which　befit　your　responsible　and　dependent　position—that　in　case　I　married　Miss　Ingram；　both　you　and　little　Adèle　had　better　trot　forthwith。　I　pass　over　the　sort　of　slur　conveyed　in　this　suggestion　on　the　character　of　my　beloved；　indeed；　when　you　are　far　away；　Ja；　I’ll　try　to　forget　it：　I　shall　notice　only　its　wisdom；　which　is　such　that　I　have　made　it　my　law　of　action。　Adèle　must　go　to　school；　and　you；　Miss　Eyre；　must　get　a　new　situation。”
“Yes；　sir；　I　will　advertise　immediately：　and　meantime；　I　suppose—”　I　was　going　to　say；　“I　suppose　I　may　stay　here；　till　I　find　another　shelter　to　betake　myself　to：”　but　I　stopped；　feeling　it　would　not　do　to　risk　a　long　sentence；　for　my　voice　and。
“In　about　a　month　I　hope　to　be　a　bridegroom；”　continued　Mr。　Rochester；　“and　in　the　interim；　I　shall　myself　look　out　for　employment　and　an　asylum　for　you。”
“Thank　you；　sir；　I　am　sorry　to　give—”
“Oh；　no　need　to　apologise！　I　consider　that　when　a　dependent　does　her　duty　as　well　as　you　have　done　yours；　she　has　a　sort　of　claim　upon　her　employer　for　any　little　assistance　he　can　conveniently　render　her；　indeed　I　have　already；　through　my　future　mother…in…law；　heard　of　a　place　that　I　think　will　suit：　it　is　to　undertake　the　education　of　the　five　daughters　of　Mrs。　Dionysius　O’Gall　of　Bitternutt　Lodge；　Connaught；　Ireland。　You’ll　like　Ireland；　I　think：　they’re　such　warm…hearted　people　there；　they　say。”
“It　is　a　long　way　off；　sir。”
“No　matter—a　girl　of　your　sense　will　not　object　to　the　voyage　or　the　distance。”
“Not　the　voyage；　but　the　distance：　and　then　the　sea　is　a　barrier—”
“From　what；　Jane？”
“From　England　and　from　Thornfield：　and—”
“Well？”
“From　you；　sir。”
I　said　this　almost　involuntarily；　and；　with　as　little　sanction　of　free　will；　my　tears　gushed　out。　I　did　not　cry　so　as　to　be　heard；　however；　I　avoided　sobbing。　The　thought　of　Mrs。　O’Gall　and　Bitternutt　Lodge　struck　cold　to　my　heart；　and　colder　the　thought　of　all　the　brine　and　foam；　destined；　as　it　seemed；　to　rush　between　me　and　the　master　at　whose　side　I　now　walked；　and　coldest　the　remembrance　of　the　wider　ocean—wealth；　caste；　custom　intervened　between　me　and　what　I　naturally　and　inevitably　loved。
“It　is　a　long　way；”　I　again　said。
“It　is；　to　be　sure；　and　when　you　get　to　Bitternutt　Lodge；　Connaught；　Ireland；　I　shall　never　see　you　again；　Jane：　that’s　morally　certain。　I　never　go　over　to　Ireland；　not　having　myself　much　of　a　fancy　for　the　country。　We　have　been　good　friends；　Jane；　have　we　not？”
“Yes；　sir。”
“And　when　friends　are　on　the　eve　of　separation；　they　like　to　spend　the　little　time　that　remains　to　them　close　to　each　other。　e！　we’ll　talk　over　the　voyage　and　the　parting　quietly　half…an…hour　or　so；　while　the　stars　enter　into　their　shining　life　up　in　heaven　yonder：　here　is　the　chestnut　tree：　here　is　the　bench　at　its　old　roots。　e；　we　will　sit　there　in　peace　to…night；　though　we　should　never　more　be　destined　to　sit　there　together。”　He　seated　me　and　himself。
“It　is　a　long　way　to　Ireland；　Ja；　and　I　am　sorry　to　send　my　little　friend　on　such　weary　travels：　but　if　I　can’t　do　better；　how　is　it　to　be　helped？　Are　you　anything　akin　to　me；　do　you　think；　Jane？”
I　could　risk　no　sort　of　answer　by　this　time：　my　heart　was　still。
“Because；”　he　said；　“I　sometimes　have　a　queer　feeling　with　regard　to　you—especially　when　you　are　near　me；　as　now：　it　is　as　if　I　had　a　string　somewhere　under　my　left　ribs；　tightly　and　inextricably　knotted　to　a　similar　string　situated　in　the　corresponding　quarter　of　your　little　frame。　And　if　that　boisterous　Channel；　and　two　hundred　miles　or　so　of　land　e　broad　between　us；　I　am　afraid　that　cord　of　munion　will　be　snapt；　and　then　I’ve　a　nervous　notion　I　should　take　to　bleeding　inwardly。　As　for　you；—you’d　forget　me。”
“That　I　never　should；　sir：　you　know—”　Impossible　to　proceed。
“Jane；　do　you　hear　that　nightingale　singing　in　the　wood？　Listen！”
In　listening；　I　sobbed　convulsively；　for　I　could　repress　what　I　endured　no　longer；　I　was　obliged　to　yield；　and　I　was　shaken　from　head　to　foot　with　acute　distress。　When　I　did　speak；　it　was　only　to　express　an　impetuous　wish　that　I　had　never　been　born；　or　never　e　to　Thornfield。
“Because　you　are　sorry　to　leave　it？”
The　vehemence　of　emotion；　stirred　by　grief　and　love　within　me；　was　claiming　mastery；　and　struggling　for　full　sway；　and　asserting　a　right　to　predominate；　to　overe；　to　live；　rise；　and　reign　at　last：　yes；—and　to　speak。
“I　grieve　to　leave　Thornfield：　I　love　Thornfield：…　I　love　it；　because　I　have　lived　in　it　a　full　and　delightful　life；—momentarily　at　least。　I　have　not　been　trampled　on。　I　have　not　been　petrified。　I　have　not　been　buried　with　inferior　minds；　and　excluded　from　every　glimpse　of　munion　with　what　is　bright　and　energetic　and　high。　I　have　talked；　face　to　face；　with　what　I　reverence；　with　what　I　delight　in；—with　an　original；　a　vigorous；　an　expanded　mind。　I　have　known　you；　Mr。　Rochester；　and　it　strikes　me　with　terror　and　anguish　to　feel　I　absolutely　must　be　torn　from　you　for　ever。　I　see　the　necessity　of　departure；　and　it　is　like　looking　on　the　necessity　of　death。”
“Where　do　you　see　the　necessity？”　he　asked　suddenly。
“Where？　You；　sir；　have　placed　it　before　me。”
“In　what　shape？”
“In　the　shape　of　Miss　Ingram；　a　noble　and　beautiful　woman；—your　bride。”
“My　bride！　What　bride？　I　have　no　bride！”
“But　you　will　have。”
“Yes；—I　will！—I　will！”　He　set　his　teeth。
“Then　I　must　go：…　you　have　said　it　yourself。”
“No：　you　must　stay！　I　swear　it—and　the　oath　shall　be　kept。”
“I　tell　you　I　must　go！”　I　retorted；　roused　to　something　like　passion。　“Do　you　think　I　can　stay　to　bee　nothing　to　you？　Do　you　think　I　am　an　automaton？—a　machine　without　feelings？　and　can　bear　to　have　my　morsel　of　bread　snatched　from　my　lips；　and　my　drop　of　living　water　dashed　from　my　cup？　Do　you　think；　because　I　am　poor；　obscure；　plain；　and　little；　I　am　soulless　and　heartless？　You　think　wrong！—I　have　as　much　soul　as　you；—and　full　as　much　heart！　And　if　God　had　gifted　me　with　some　beauty　and　much　wealth；　I　should　have　made　it　as　hard　for　you　to　leave　me；　as　it　is　now　for　me　to　leave　you。　I　am　not　talking　to　you　now　through　the　medium　of　custom；　conventionalities；　nor　even　of　mortal　flesh；—it　is　my　spirit　that　addresses　your　spirit；　just　as　if　both　had　passed　through　the　grave；　and　we　stood　at　God’s　feet；　equal；—as　we　are！”
“As　we　are！”　repeated　Mr。　Rochester—“so；”　he　added；　enclosing　me　in　his　arms。　Gathering　me　to　his　breast；　pressing　his　lips　on　my　lips：　“so；　Jane！”
“Yes；　so；　sir；”　I　rejoined：　“and　yet　not　so；　for　you　are　a　married　man—or　as　good　as　a　married　man；　and　wed　to　one　inferior　to　you—to　one　with　whom　you　have　no　sympathy—whom　I　do　not　believe　you　truly　love；　for　I　have　seen　and　heard　you　sneer　at　her。　I　would　scorn　such　a　union：　therefore　I　am　better　than　you—let　me　go！”
“Where；　Jane？　To　Ireland？”
“Yes—to　Ireland。　I　have　spoken　my　mind；　and　can　go　anywhere　now。”
“Jane；　be　still；　don’t　struggle　so；　like　a　wild　frantic　bird　that　is　rending　its　own　plumage　in　its　desperation。”
“I　am　no　bird；　and　no　　ensnares　me；　I　am　a　free　human　being　with　an　independent　will；　which　I　now　exert　to　leave　you。”
Another　effort　set　me　at　liberty；　and　I　stood　erect　before　him。
“And　your　will　shall　decide　your　destiny；”　he　said：　“I　offer　you　my　hand；　my　heart；　and　a　share　of　all　my　possessions。”
“You　play　a　farce；　which　I　merely　laugh　at。”
“I　ask　you　to　pass　through　life　at　my　side—to　be　my　second　self；　and　best　earthly　panion。”
“For　that　fate　you　have　already　made　your　choice；　and　must　abide　by　it。”
“Jane；　be　still　a　few　moments：　you　are　over…excited：　I　will　be　still　too。”
A　waft　of　wind　came　sweeping　down　the　laurel…walk；　and　trembled　through　the　boughs　of　the　chestnut：　it　wandered　away—away—to　an　indefinite　distance—it　died。　The　nightingale’s　song　was　then　the　only　voice　of　the　hour：　in　listening　to　it；　I　again　wept。　Mr。　Rochester　sat　quiet；　looking　at　me　gently　and　seriously。　Some　time　passed　before　he　spoke；　he　at　last　said—
“e　to　my　side；　Jane；　and　let　us　explain　and　understand　one　another。”
“I　will　never　again　e　to　your　side：　I　am　torn　away　now；　and　cannot　return。”
“But；　Jane；　I　summon　you　as　my　wife：　it　is　you　only　I　intend　to　marry。”
I　was　silent：　I　thought　he　mocked　me。
“e；　Jane—e　hither。”
“Your　bride　stands　between　us。”
He　rose；　and　with　a　stride　reached　me。
“My　bride　is　here；”　he　said；　again　drawing　me　to　him；　“because　my　equal　is　here；　and　my　likeness。　Jane；　will　you　marry　me？”
Still　I　did　not　answer；　and　still　I　writhed　myself　from　his　grasp：　for　I　was　still　incredulous。
“Do　you　doubt　me；　Jane？”
“Entirely。”
“You　have　no　faith　in　me？”
“Not　a　whit。”
“Am　I　a　liar　in　your　eyes？”　he　asked　passionately。　“Little　sceptic；　you　shall　be　convinced。　What　love　have　I　for　Miss　Ingram？　None：　and　that　you　know。　What　love　has　she　for　me？　None：　as　I　have　taken　pains　to　prove：　I　caused　a　rumour　to　reach　her　that　my　fortune　was　not　a　third　of　what　was　supposed；　and　after　that　I　presented　myself　to　see　the　result；　it　was　coldness　both　from　her　and　her　mother。　I　would　not—I　could　not—marry　Miss　Ingram。　You—　you　strange；　you　almost　unearthly　thing！—I　love　as　my　own　flesh。　You—poor　and　obscure；　and　small　and　plain　as　you　are—I　entreat　to　accept　me　as　a　husband。”
“What；　me！”　I　ejaculated；　beginning　in　his　earnestness—and　especially　in　his　incivility—to　credit　his　sincerity：　“me　who　have　not　a　friend　in　the　world　but　you…　if　you　are　my　friend：　not　a　shilling　but　what　you　have　given　me？”
“You；　Jane；　I　must　have　you　for　my　own—entirely　my　own。　Will　you　be　mine？　Say　yes；　quickly。”
“Mr。　Rochester；　let　me　look　at　your　face：　turn　to　the　moonlight。”
“Why？”
“Because　I　want　to　read　your　countenance—turn！”
“There！　you　will　find　it　scarcely　more　legible　than　a　crumpled；　scratched　page。　Read　on：　only　make　haste；　for　I　suffer。”
His　face　was　very　much　agitated　and　very　much　flushed；　and　there　were　strong　workings　in　the　features；　and　strange　gleams　in　the　eyes
“Oh；　Jane；　you　torture　me！”　he　exclaimed。　“With　that　searching　and　yet　faithful　and　generous　look；　you　torture　me！”
“How　can　I　do　that？　If　you　are　true；　and　your　offer　real；　my　only　feelings　to　you　must　be　gratitude　and　devotion—they　cannot　torture。”
“Gratitude！”　he　ejaculated；　and　added　wildly—“Jane　accept　me　quickly。　Say；　Edward—give　me　my　name—Edward—I　will　marry　you。”
“Are　you　in　earnest？　Do　you　truly　love　me？　Do　you　sincerely　wish　me　to　be　your　wife？”
“I　do；　and　if　an　oath　is　necessary　to　satisfy　you；　I　swear　it。”
“Then；　sir；　I　will　marry　you。”
“Edward—my　little　wife！”
“Dear　Edward！”
“e　to　me—e　to　me　entirely　now；”　said　he；　and　added；　in　his　deepest　tone；　speaking　in　my　ear　as　his　cheek　was　laid　on　mine；　“Make　my　happiness—I　will　make　yours。”
“God　pardon　me！”　he　subjoined　ere　long；　“and　man　meddle　not　with　me：　I　have　her；　and　will　hold　her。”
“There　is　no　one　to　meddle；　sir。　I　have　no　kindred　to　interfere。”
“No—that　is　the　best　of　it；”　he　said。　And　if　I　had　loved　him　less　I　should　have　thought　his　accent　and　look　of　exultation　savage；　but；　sitting　by　him；　roused　from　the　nightmare　of　parting—called　to　the　paradise　of　union—I　thought　only　of　the　bliss　given　me　to　drink　in　so　abundant　a　flow。　Again　and　again　he　said；　“Are　you　happy；　Jane？”　And　again　and　again　I　answered；　“Yes。”　After　whic