smuchsoulasyou,—andfullasmuchheart!AndifGodhadgiftedmewithsomebeautyandmuchwealth,Ishouldhavemadeitashardforyoutoleaveme,asitisnowformetoleaveyou.Iamnottalkingtoyounhthemediumof,ventionalities,norevenofmortalflesh;—itismyspiritthataddressesyourspirit;justasifbothhadpassedthroughthegrave,aoodatGod’sfeet,equal,—asweare!”

    “Asweare!”repeatedMr.Rochester—“so,”headded,enclosingmeinhisarms.Gatheriohisbreast,pressinghislipsonmylips:“so,Jane!”

    “Yes,so,sir,”Irejoined:“aso;foryouareamarriedman—oodasamarriedman,aooneinferiortoyou—toohwhomyouhavenosympathy—whomIdonotbelieveyoutrulylove;forIhaveseenandheardyousher.Iwouldssuion:thereforeIambetterthanyou—letmego!”

    “Where,JaoIreland?”

    “Yes—toIreland.Ihavespokenmymind,andgoanywherenow.”

    “Jaill;don’tstruggleso,likeawildfranticbirdthatisrendingitsownplumageinitsdesperation.”

    “Iamnobird;andensnaresme;Iamafreehumanbeingwithanindepewill,whiowexerttoleaveyou.”

    Anothereffortsetmeatliberty,andIstooderectbeforehim.

    “Andyourwillshalldecideyourdestiny,”hesaid:“Iofferyoumyhand,myheart,andashareofallmypossessions.”

    “Youplayafarce,whichImerelylaughat.”

    “Iaskyoutopassthroughlifeatmyside—tobemysedself,aearthlypanion.”

    “Forthatfateyouhavealreadymadeyourchoidmustabidebyit.”

    “Jaillafewmoments:youareover-excited:Iwillbestilltoo.”

    Awaftofwindcamesweepingdownthelaurel-walk,andtrembledthroughtheboughsofthechestnut:itwanderedaway—away—toanindefiadied.Thenightingale’ssongwasthen