Down,Pilot!”Iagainsaid.Hecheckedthewateronitswaytohislips,aolisten:hedrank,andputtheglassdown.“Thisisyou,Mary,isitnot?”

    “Maryisi,”Ianswered.

    Heputouthishandwithaquickgesture,butnotseeingwhereIstood,hedidnottouchme.“Whoisthis?Whoisthis?”hedemarying,asitseemed,toSEEwiththosesightlesseyes—unavailinganddistressingattempt!“Answerme—speakagain!”heordered,imperiouslyandaloud.

    “Willyouhavealittlemorewater,sir?Ispilthalfofwhatwasintheglass,”Isaid.

    “Whoisit?Whatisit?Whospeaks?”

    “Pilotknowsme,andJohnandMaryknowIamhere.Icameonlythisevening,”Ianswered.

    “GreatGod!—whatdelusionhase?Whatsweetmadnesshasseizedme?”

    “Nodelusion—nomadness:yourmind,sir,istfordelusion,yourhealthtoosoundforfrenzy.”

    “Andwhereisthespeaker?Isitonlyavoice?Oh!Iotsee,butImustfeel,ormyheartwillstopandmybrainburst.Whatever—whoeveryouare—beperceptibletothetouchorIotlive!”

    Hegroped;Iarrestedhiswanderinghand,andprisoinbothmine.

    “Herveryfingers!”hecried;“hersmall,slightfingers!Ifsotheremustbemoreofher.”

    Themuscularhandbrokefrommyyarmwasseized,myshoulder—neck—waist—Iwasentwinedandgatheredtohim.

    “IsitJane?Whatisit?Thisishershape—thisishersize—”

    “Andthishervoice,”Iadded.“Sheisallhere:herheart,too.Godblessyou,sir!Iamgladtobesonearyouagain.”

    “JaneEyre!—JaneEyre,”wasallhesaid.

    “Mydearmaster,”Ianswered,“IamJaneEyre:Ihavefoundyouout—Iamebacktoyou.”

    “Intruth?—intheflesh?MylivingJane?”

    “Youtouchme,sir,—youholdme,andfaste