sdaughter,ifabouttomarryher.”

    “Oh,sir!—neverrainjewels!Idon’tliketohearthemspokenof.JewelsforJaneEyresoundsunnaturalandstrange:Iwouldrathernothavethem.”

    “Iwillmyselfputthediamondroundyournedthecircletonyourforehead,—whichitwillbee:fornature,atleast,hasstampedherpatentofnobilityonthisbrow,Jane;andIwillclaspthebraceletsonthesefinewrists,andloadthesefairy-likefingerswithrings.”

    “No,no,sir!thinkofothersubjects,andspeakofotherthings,andinarain.Don’taddressmeasifIwereabeauty;Iamyourplain,Quakerishgoverness.”

    “Youareabeautyinmyeyes,ayjustafterthedesireofmyheart,—delicateandaerial.”

    “Punyandinsignifit,youmean.Youaredreaming,sir,—oryouaresneering.Fod’ssakedon’tbeironical!”

    “Iwillmaketheworldaowledgeyouabeauty,too,”hewenton,whileIreallybecameuneasyatthestrainhehadadopted,becauseIfelthewaseitherdeludinghimselftodeludeme.“IwillattiremyJaneinsatinandladsheshallhaverosesinherhair;andIwillcovertheheadIlovebestricelessveil.”

    “Andthenyouwon’tknowme,sir;andIshallnotbeyourJaneEyreanylonger,butanapeinaharlequin’sjacket—ajayinborrowedplumes.Iwouldassoonseeyou,Mr.Rochester,trickedoutinstage-trappings,asmyselfcladinacourt-lady’srobe;andIdon’tcallyouhandsome,sir,thoughIloveyoumostdearly:fartoodearlytoflatteryou.Don’tflatterme.”

    Hepursuedhistheme,however,withoutnotigmydeprecation.“ThisverydayIshalltakeyouinthecarriagetoMillcote,andyoumustchoosesomedressesforyourself.Itoldyouweshallbemarriedinfourweeks.Theweddingistotakeplacequietly,inthechurchdo