ire.Wasitsuspectedthatthislunatic,Mrs.Rochester,hadanyhandinit?”

    “You’vehitit,ma’am:it’squitecertainthatitwasher,andnobodybuther,thatsetitgoing.ShehadawomantotakecareofhercalledMrs.Poole—anablewomaninherline,arustworthy,butforonefault—afaultontoadealofthemnursesandmatrons—shekeptaprivatebottleofginbyher,andnowaookadropover-much.Itisexcusable,forshehadahardlifeofit:butstillitwasdangerous;forwhenMrs.Poolewasfastasleepaftertheginandwater,themadlady,whowasasingasawitch,wouldtakethekeysoutofherpocket,letherselfoutofherchamber,andgoroamingaboutthehouse,doinganywildmischiefthatcameintoherhead.TheysayshehadnearlyburntherhusbandinhisbedoIdon’tknowaboutthat.However,onthisnight,shesetfirefirsttothehangingsoftheroomherown,andthedowntoalowerstorey,andmadeherwaytothechamberthathadbeenthegoverness’s—(shewaslikeasifsheknewsomehowhowmattershadgoneon,andhadaspiteather)—andshekihebedthere;buttherewasnobodysleepinginit,fortuhegovernesshadrunawaytwomonthsbefore;andforallMr.Rochestersoughtherasifshehadbeepreciousthinghehadintheworld,henevercouldhearawordofher;andhegrewsavage—quitesavageonhisdisappoi:heneverwasawildman,buthegotdangerousafterhelosther.Hewouldbealooo.HesentMrs.Fairfax,thehousekeeper,awaytoherfriendsatadistahedidithandsomely,forhesettledanannuityonherforlife:andshedeservedit—shewasaverygoodwoman.MissAdèle,awardhehad,uttoschool.Hebrokeoffacquaintahallthegentry,andshuthimselfuplikeahermitattheHall.”

    “What!didhenotleaveEngland?”

    “LeaveEngland?Blessyou,no!Hewouldnotcr