sIamazedtoperceivetheairquitedim,asiffilledwithsmoke;and,whilelookingththandaofihesebluewreathsissued,Ibecamefurtherawareofastrongsmell.

    Somethingcreaked:itwasadoorajar;andthatdoorwasMr.Rochester’s,andthesmokerushedinacloudfromthehoughtnomoreofMrs.Fairfax;IthoughtnracePoole,orthelaugh:inaninstant,Iwaswithinthechamber.Tonguesofflamedartedroundthebed:thecurtainswereohemidstofblazeandvapour,Mr.Rochesterlaystretchedmotionless,indeepsleep.

    “Wake!wake!”Icried.Ishookhim,butheonlymurmuredandturhesmokehadstupefiedhim.Notamomentcouldbelost:theverysheetswerekindling,Irushedtohisbasinandewer;fortunately,onewaswideaherdeep,andbothwerefilledwithwater.Iheavedthemup,delugedthebedanditsoct,flewbayownrohtmyownwater-jug,baptizedthecouchafresh,and,byGod’said,succeedediinguishingtheflameswhichweredevit.

    Thehissofthequenchedelement,thebreakageofapitcherwhichIflungfrommyhandwhenIhademptiedit,and,aboveall,thesplashoftheshower-bathIhadliberallybestowed,rousedMr.Rochesteratlast.Thoughitwasnowdark,Ikneake;becauseIheardhimfulminatingstrahemasatfindinghimselflyinginapoolofwater.

    “Isthereaflood?”hecried.

    “No,sir,”Ianswered;“buttherehasbeenafire:getup,do;youarequenow;Iwillfetchyouadle.”

    “InthenameofalltheelvesinChristendom,isthatJaneEyre?”hedemanded.“Whathaveyoudohme,witch,sorceress?Whoisintheroombesidesyou?Haveyouplottedtodrownme?”

    “Iwillfetchyouadle,sir;and,inHeaven’sup.Somebodyhasplottedsomething:youottoosoonfindoutwhoandwhatitis.”

    “There!Iamupnow;