theonlyvoiceofthehour:inlisteningtoit,Iagai.Mr.Rochestersatquiet,lookingatmegentlyandseriously.Sometimepassedbeforehespoke;heatlastsaid—

    “etomyside,Jane,ausexplainanduaher.”

    “Iwillneveragaioyourside:Iamtornawaynow,andotreturn.”

    “But,Jane,Isummonyouasmywife:itisyouonlyIiomarry.”

    Iwassilent:Ithoughthemockedme.

    “e,Jane—ehither.”

    “Yourbridestaweenus.”

    Herose,andwithastridereachedme.

    “Mybrideishere,”hesaid,againdrawiohim,“becausemyequalishere,andmylikeness.Jane,willyoumarryme?”

    StillIdidnotanswer,andstillIwrithedmyselffromhisgrasp:forIwasstillincredulous.

    “Doyoudoubtme,Jane?”

    “Entirely.”

    “Youhavenofaithinme?”

    “Notawhit.”

    “AmIaliarinyoureyes?”heaskedpassionately.“Littlesceptic,youshallbevinced.WhatlovehaveIforMissIngram?None:andthatyouknow.Whatlovehassheforme?None:asIhavetakenpainstoprove:Icausedarumourtoreachherthatmyfortunewasnotathirdofwhatposed,andafterthatIpresentedmyselftoseetheresult;itwasessbothfromheraher.Iwouldnot—Icouldnot—marryMissIngram.You—ye,youalmostuhlything!—Iloveasmyownflesh.You—poorandobscure,andsmallandplainasyouare—Ieoacceptmeasahusband.”

    “What,me!”Iejaculated,beginninginhisearness—andespeciallyinhisincivility—tocredithissiy:“mewhohavenotafriendintheworldbutyou-ifyouaremyfriend:notashillingbutwhatyouhavegivenme?”

    “You,Jane,Imusthaveyouformyowirelymyown.Willyoubemine?Sayyes,quickly.”

    “Mr.Rochester,letmelookatyourface:turntothemoonlight.”