rocity?—ifyoudo,youlittleknowme.AsofthopeblestwithmysorrowthatsoonIshoulddaretodropakissonthatbrowofrodonthoselipssosternlysealedbehit:but.Iwouldnotaccosthimyet.

    Hedesdedtheoep,andadvancedslowlyandgropinglytowardsthegrass-plat.Wherewashisdaringstridenow?Thenhepaused,asifhekwhichwaytoturedhishandandopenedhiseyelids;gazedblank,andwithastrainingeffort,onthesky,andtowardtheamphitheatreoftrees:ohatalltohimwasvoiddarkness.Hestretchedhisrighthand(theleftarm,themutilatedohiddeninhisbosom);heseemedtowishbytouchtogainanideaofwhatlayaroundhim:hemetbutvacystill;forthetreesweresomeyardsoffwherehestood.Herelinquishedtheendeavour,foldedhisarms,andstoodquietandmuteintherain,nowfallingfastonhisuncoveredhead.AtthismomentJohnapproachedhimfromsomequarter.

    “Willyoutakemyarm,sir?”hesaid;“thereisaheavyshoweringon:hadyouergoin?”

    “Letmealone,”wastheanswer.

    Johnwithdrewwithouthavingobservedme.Mr.Rochesternowtriedtowalkabout:vainly,—allwastoouain.Hegropedhiswaybacktothehouse,aeringit,closedthedoor.

    Inowdrewnearandknocked:John’swifeopenedforme.“Mary,”Isaid,“howareyou?”

    Shestartedasifshehadseenaghost:Icalmedher.Toherhurried“Isitreallyyou,miss,eatthislatehourtothislonelyplace?”Iansweredbytakingherhand;andthenIfollowedherintothekit,whereJohnnowsatbyagoodfire.Iexplaihem,infewwords,thatIhadheardallwhichhadhappenedsinceIleftThornfield,andthatIwasetoseeMr.Rochester.IaskedJohntogodowntotheturn-pike-house,whereIhaddismissedthechaise,andbringmytrunk,whichIhadleftthere:and