noussinglewords;“Mason!—theWestIndies!”hereiterated;aoverthesyllablesthreetimes,growing,iervalsofspeaking,whiterthanashes:hehardlyseemedtoknowwhathewasdoing.

    “Doyoufeelill,sir?”Iinquired.

    “Jane,I’vegotablow;I’vegotablow,Jane!”Hestaggered.

    “Oh,leanonme,sir.”

    “Jane,youofferedmeyourshoulderoncebefore;letmehaveitnow.”

    “Yes,sir,yes;andmyarm.”

    Hesatdown,andmademesitbesidehim.Holdingmyhandinbothhisown,hechafedit;gazingohesametime,withthemosttroubledanddrearylook.

    “Mylittlefriend!”saidhe,“IwishIwereinaquietislandwithonlyyou;andtrouble,anddanger,andhideousrecollesremovedfromme.”

    “Ihelpyou,sir?—I’dgivemylifetoserveyou.”

    “Jane,ifaidiswanted,I’llseekitatyourhands;Ipromiseyouthat.”

    “Thankyou,sir.Tellmewhattodo,—I’lltry,atleast,todoit.”

    “Fetow,Jane,aglassofwinefromthedining-room:theywillbeatsupperthere;andtellmeifMasoniswiththem,andwhatheisdoing.”

    Iwent.Ifoundallthepartyinthedining-roomatsupper,asMr.Rochesterhadsaid;theywereedattable,—thesupperwasarrahesideboard;eachhadtakenwhathechose,aoodabouthereandthereingroups,theirplatesandglassesintheirhands.Everyoneseemedinhighglee;laughterandversatieneralandanimated.Mr.Masonstoodhefire,talkingtoelandMrs.Dent,andappearedasmerryasanyofthem.Ifilledawine-glass(IsawMissIngramwatchmefrowninglyasIdidso:shethoughtIwastakingaliberty,Idaresay),aurhelibrary.

    Mr.Rochester’sextremepallorhaddisappeared,andhelookedoncemorefirmandsterooktheglassfrommyhand.

    “Hereistoy