wouldnotliketoseemeweep.Now,however,Isidereditwelltoletthemflowasfreelyandaslongastheyliked.Ifthefloodannoyedhim,somuchthebetter.SoIgavewayandcriedheartily.

    SoonIheardhimearlyeiobeposed.IsaidIcouldnotwhilehewasinsuchapassion.

    “ButIamnotangry,Jane:Ionlyloveyoutoowell;andyouhadsteeledyourlittlepalefacewithsucharesolute,frozenlook,Icouldnote.Hush,now,andwipeyoureyes.”

    Hissoftenedvoiouhathewassubdued;soI,inmyturn,becamecalm.Nowhemadeanefforttoresthisheadonmyshoulder,butIwouldit.Thenhewoulddrawmetohim:no.

    “Jane!Jane!”hesaid,insuatofbittersadthrilledalongeverynerveIhad;“youdon’tloveme,then?Itwasonlymystation,andtherankofmywife,thatyouvalued?Nowthatyouthinkmedisqualifiedtobeeyourhusband,yourecoilfrommytouchasifIweresometoadorape.”

    Thesewordscutme:yetwhatcouldIdoorIsay?Ioughtprobablytohavedoneorsaidnothing;butIwassotorturedbyasenseofremorseatthushurtinghisfeelings,IcouldnottrolthewishtodropbalmwhereIhadwounded.

    “Idoloveyou,”Isaid,“morethanever:butImustnotshoworindulgethefeeling:andthisisthelasttimeImustexpressit.”

    “Thelasttime,Jane!What!doyouthinkyoulivewithme,andseemedaily,a,ifyoustillloveme,bealwayscoldanddistant?”

    “No,sir;thatIamcertainIcouldnot;andthereforeIseethereisbutoneway:butyouwillbefuriousifImentionit.”

    “Oh,mentionit!IfIstorm,youhavetheartofweeping.”

    “Mr.Rochester,Imustleaveyou.”

    “Forhowlong,Jane?Forafewminutes,whileyousmoothyourhair—whichissomewhatdishevelled;andbatheyourface—whichlooksfeverish?”