ot.SofarIhavegovernedmyselfthhly.IhaveactedasIinwardlysworeIwouldact;butfurthermighttrymebeyondmystrength.Rise,MissEyre:leaveme;theplayisplayedout’.”

    WherewasI?DidIwakeorsleep?HadIbeendreaming?DidIdreamstill?Theoldwoman’svoicehadged:herat,hergesture,andallwerefamiliartomeasmyownfaaglass—asthespeeyowntongue.Igotup,butdidnotgo.Ilooked;Istirredthefire,andIlookedagain:butshedrewherboandherbandagecloseraboutherfadagainbeetodepart.Theflameilluminatedherhandstretchedout:rousednow,andonthealertfordiscoveries,Iatoicedthathand.Itwasnomorethewitheredlimbofeldthanmyown;itwasaroundedsupplemember,withsmoothfingers,symmetricallyturned;abrflashedolefinger,andstoopingforward,Ilookedatit,andsawagemIhadseenahuimesbefainIlookedattheface;whichwasnolournedfromme—orary,thebowasdoffed,thebandagedisplaced,theheadadvanced.

    “Well,Jane,doyouknowme?”askedthefamiliarvoice.

    “Onlytakeofftheredcloak,sir,andthen—”

    “Butthestringisinaknot—helpme.”

    “Breakit,sir.”

    “There,then—‘Off,yelendings!’”AndMr.Rochestersteppedoutofhisdisguise.

    “Now,sir,whatastrangeidea!”

    “Butwellcarriedout,eh?Don’tyouthinkso?”

    “Withtheladiesyoumusthavemanagedwell.”

    “Butnotwithyou?”

    “Youdidnotactthecharacterofagipsywithme.”

    “WhatcharacterdidIact?Myown?”

    “No;someunatableone.Inshort,Ibelieveyouhavebeentryingtodrawmeout—orin;youhavebeentalkingomakemetalknonseisscarcelyfair,sir.”

    “Doyiveme,Jane?”

    “IottelltillIhavethoughtitallover.If,onrefle,I