hacutedistress.WhenIdidspeak,itwasonlytoexpressauouswishthatIhadneverbeenborn,orneveretoThornfield.

    “Becauseyouaresorrytoleaveit?”

    Thevehemenotion,stirredbygriefandlovewithinme,wasclaimingmastery,andstrugglingforfullsway,andassertingarighttopredomioovere,tolive,rise,andreignatlast:yes,—andtospeak.

    “IgrievetoleaveThornfield:IloveThornfield:-Iloveit,becauseIhavelivedinitafullanddelightfullife,—momentarilyatleast.Ihaverampledon.Ihavenotbeerified.Ihavenotbeenburiedwithinferiorminds,andexcludedfromeveryglimpseofunionwithwhatisbrightaidhigh.Ihavetalked,facetoface,withwhatIreverehwhatIdelightin,—withaninal,avigorous,anexpandedmind.Ihaveknownyou,Mr.Rochester;anditstrikesmewithterrorandanguishtofeelIabsolutelymustbetornfromyouforever.Iseetheyofdeparture;anditislikelookingontheyofdeath.”

    “Wheredoyouseethey?”heaskedsuddenly.

    “Where?You,sir,haveplaceditbeforeme.”

    “Inwhatshape?”

    “IntheshapeofMissIngram;anobleaifulwoman,—yourbride.”

    “Mybride!Whatbride?Ihavenobride!”

    “Butyouwillhave.”

    “Yes;—Iwill!—Iwill!”Hesethisteeth.

    “ThenImustgo:-youhavesaidityourself.”

    “No:youmuststay!Iswearit—ahshallbekept.”

    “ItellyouImustgo!”Iretorted,rousedtosomethinglikepassion.“DoyouthinkIstaytobeenothingtoyou?DoyouthinkIamanautomaton?—amaewithoutfeelings?andbeartohavemymorselofbreadsnatchedfrommylips,andmydropoflivingwaterdashedfrommycup?Doyouthink,becauseIampoor,obscure,plain,andlittle,Iamsoullessaless?Youthinkwrong!—Ihavea