easy-chairwashebed-head:amansatinit,dressedwiththeexceptionofhiscoat;hewasstill;hisheadleantback;hiseyeswereclosed.Mr.Rochesterheldthedleoverhim;Ireisedinhispaleandseeminglylifelessface—thestranger,Mason:Isawtoothathislinenononeside,andonearm,wasalmostsoakedinblood.

    “Holdthedle,”saidMr.Rochester,andItookit:hefetchedabasinofwaterfromthewashstand:“Holdthat,”saidhe.Iobeyed.Hetookthesponge,dippeditin,andmoistehecorpse-likeface;heaskedformysmelling-bottle,andappliedittothenostrils.Mr.Masonshortlyunclosedhiseyes;hegroaned.Mr.Rochesteropeheshirtofthewoundedman,whosearmandshoulderwerebandaged:hespongedawayblood,trigfastdown.

    “Isthereimmediatedanger?”murmuredMr.Mason.

    “Pooh!No—amerescratch.Don’tbesooveran:bearup!I’llfetchasurgeonforyounow,myself:you’llbeabletoberemovedbym,Ihope.Jane,”hetinued.

    “Sir?”

    “Ishallhavetoleaveyouinthisroomwiththisgentleman,foranhour,orperhapstwohours:youwillspohebloodasIdowheurns:ifhefeelsfaint,youwillputtheglassofwateronthatstandtohislips,andyoursaltstohisnose.Youwillnotspeaktohimona—and—Richard,itwillbeattheperilofyourlifeifyouspeaktoher:openyourlips—agitateyourself—andI’llnotanswerforthesequences.”

    Againtheproaned;helookedasifhedarednotmove;fear,eitherofdeathorofsomethingelse,appearedalmosttoparalysehim.Mr.Rochesterputthenowbloodyspoomyhand,andIproceededtouseitashehaddochedmeased,thensaying,“Remember!—Noversatiotheroom.Iexperierangefeelingasthekeygratedinthelodthesoundofhisretreatingstepceasedtobeheard.

    Here