noise.”

    Myslipperswerethin:Icouldwalkthemattedfloorassoftlyasacat.Heglidedupthegalleryandupthestairs,andstoppedinthedark,lowcorridorofthefatefulthirdstorey:Ihadfollowedandstoodathisside.

    “Haveyouaspongeinyourroom?”heaskedinawhisper.

    “Yes,sir.”

    “Haveyouanysalts—volatilesalts?Yes.”

    “Gobadfetchboth.”

    Ireturned,soughtthespohewashstand,thesaltsinmydrawer,andoncemoreretracedmysteps.Hestillwaited;heheldakeyinhishand:approagohesmall,blackdoors,heputitinthelock;hepaused,andaddressedmeagain.

    “Youdon’tturnsickatthesightofblood?”

    “IthinkIshallnot:Ihaveneverbee.”

    IfeltathrillwhileIansweredhim;butnoess,andnofaintness.

    “Justgivemeyourhand,”hesaid:“itwillnotdotoriskafaintingfit.”

    Iputmyfingersintohis.“Warmandsteady,”washisremark:heturhekeyahedoor.

    IsawaroomIrememberedtohaveseenbefore,thedayMrs.Fairfaxshowedmeoverthehouse:itwashungwithtapestry;butthetapestrywasnowloopedupi,andtherewasadoorapparent,whichhadthenbeencealed.Thisdooren;alightshooftheroomwithihenarling,snatgsound,almostlikeadogquarrelling.Mr.Rochester,puttingdownhisdle,saidtome,“Waitaminute,”aforwardtotheinnerapartment.Ashoutoflaughtergreetedhisentranoisyatfirst,andterminatinginGracePoole’sowngoblinha!ha!Shethenwasthere.Hemadesomesortementwithoutspeaking,thoughIheardalowvoiceaddresshim:hecameoutandclosedthedoorbehindhim.

    “Here,Jane!”hesaid;andIwalkedroundtotheothersideofalargebed,whichwithitsdrawncurtainscealedasiderableportionofthechamber.An