“ImustleaveAdèleandThornfield.Imustpartwithyouformywholelife:Imustbeginaenceamongstrangefadstrangeses.”

    “Ofcourse:Itoldyouyoushould.Ipassoverthemadnessaboutpartingfromme.Youmeanyoumustbeeapartofme.Astotheeisallright:youshallyetbemywife:Iamnotmarried.YoushallbeMrs.Rochester—bothvirtuallyandnominally.IshallkeeponlytoyousolongasyouandIlive.YoushallgotoaplaceIhaveihofFrance:awhitewashedvillaontheshoresoftheMediterrahereyoushallliveahappy,andguarded,andmostilife.NeverfearthatIwishtolureyouintoerror—tomakeyoumymistress.Whydidyoushakeyourhead?Jane,youmustbereasonable,orintruthIshallagainbeefrantic.”

    Hisvoidhandquivered:hislargenostrilsdilated;hiseyeblazed:stillIdaredtospeak.

    “Sir,yourwifeisliving:thatisafactaowledgedthismbyyourself.IfIlivedwithyouasyoudesire,Ishouldthenbeyourmistress:tosayotherwiseissophistical—isfalse.”

    “Jane,Iamnotageemperedman—yetthat:Iamnotlong-enduring;Iamnotcoolanddispassioofpitytomeandyourself,putyeronmypulse,feelhowitthrobs,and—beware!”

    Hebaredhiswrist,andofferedittome:thebloodwasforsakinghischeekandlips,theyweregrowinglivid;Iwasdistressedonallhands.Toagitatehimthusdeeply,byaresistancehesoabhorred,wascruel:toyieldwasoutofthequestion.Ididwhathumanbeingsdoinstinctivelywhentheyaredriventoutterextremity—lookedforaidtoonehigherthanman:thewodhelpme!”burstinvoluntarilyfrommylips.

    “Iamafool!”criedMr.Rochestersuddenly.“IkeeptellingherIamnotmarried,anddonotexplaintoherwhy.Ifetsheknowsnothingofthecharacterofthatwoman,or