第121章

第121章“thecreatureofanover-stimulatedbrain；thatiscertain.imustbecarefulofyou，mytreasure：nerveslikeyourswerenotmadeforroughhandling.”

“sir，dependonit，mynerveswerenotinfault；thethingwasreal：thetransactionactuallytookplace.”

“andyourpreviousdreams，weretheyrealtoo？isthornfieldhallaruin？amiseveredfromyoubyinsuperableobstacles？amileavingyouwithoutatear—withoutakiss—withoutaword？”

“notyet.”

“amiabouttodoit？why，thedayisalreadycommencedwhichistobindusindissolubly；andwhenweareonceunited，thereshallbenorecurrenceofthesementalterrors：iguaranteethat.”

“mentalterrors，sir！iwishicouldbelievethemtobeonlysuch：iwishitmorenowthanever；sinceevenyoucannotexplaintomethemysteryofthatawfulvisitant.”

“andsinceicannotdoit，jane，itmusthavebeenunreal.”

“but，sir，whenisaidsotomyselfonrisingthismorning，andwhenilookedroundtheroomtogathercourageandcomfortfromthecheerfulaspectofeachfamiliarobjectinfulldaylight，there—onthecarpet—isawwhatgavethedistinctlietomyhypothesis，—theveil，tornfromtoptobottomintwohalves！”

ifeltmr.rochesterstartandshudder；hehastilyflunghisarmsroundme.“thankgod！”heexclaimed，“thatifanythingmalignantdidcomenearyoulastnight，itwasonlytheveilthatwasharmed.oh，tothinkwhatmighthavehappened！”

hedrewhisbreathshort，andstrainedmesoclosetohim，icouldscarcelypant.aftersomeminutes’silence，hecontinued，cheerily—

“now，janet，i’llexplaintoyouallaboutit.itwashalfdream，halfreality.awomandid，idoubtnot，enteryourroom：andthatwomanwas—musthavebeen—gracepoole.youcallherastrangebeingyourself：fromallyouknow，youhavereasonsotocallher—whatdidshedotome？whattomason？inastatebetweensleepingandwaking，younoticedherentranceandheractions；butfeverish，almostdeliriousasyouwere，youascribedtoheragoblinappearancedifferentfromherown：thelongdishevelledhair，theswelledblackface，theeratedstature，werefigmentsofimagination；resultsofnightmare：thespitefultearingoftheveilwasreal：anditislikeher.iseeyouwouldaskwhyikeepsuchawomaninmyhouse：whenwehavebeenmarriedayearandaday，iwilltellyou；butnotnow.areyousatisfied，jane？doyouacceptmysolutionofthemystery？”

ireflected，andintruthitappearedtometheonlypossibleone：satisfiediwasnot，buttopleasehimiendeavouredtoappearso—relieved，icertainlydidfeel；soiansweredhimwithacontentedsmile.andnow，asitwaslongpastone，ipreparedtoleavehim.

“doesnotsophiesleepwithadèleinthenursery？”heasked，asilitmycandle.

“yes，sir.”

“andthereisroomenoughinadèle’slittlebedforyou.youmustshareitwithherto-night，jane：itisnowonderthattheincidentyouhaverelatedshouldmakeyounervous，andiwouldratheryoudidnotsleepalone：promisemetogotothenursery.”

“ishallbeverygladtodoso，sir.”

“andfastenthedoorsecurelyontheinside.wakesophiewhenyougoupstairs，underpretenceofrequestinghertorouseyouingoodtimeto-morrow；foryoumustbedressedandhavefinishedbreakfastbeforeeight.andnow，nomoresombrethoughts：chasedullcareaway，janet.don’tyouheartowhatsoftwhispersthewindhasfallen？andthereisnomorebeatingofrainagainstthewindow-panes：lookhere”(heliftedupthecurtain)—“itisalovelynight！”

itwas.halfheavenwaspureandstainless：theclouds，nowtroopingbeforethewind，whichhadshiftedtothewest，werefilingoffeastwardinlong，silveredcolumns.themoonshonepeacefully.

“well，”saidmr.rochester，gazinginquiringlyintomyeyes，“howismyjanetnow？”

“thenightisserene，sir；andsoami.”

“andyouwillnotdreamofseparationandsorrowto-night；butofhappyloveandblissfulunion.”

thispredictionwasbuthalffulfilled：ididnotindeeddreamofsorrow，butaslittledididreamofjoy；forineversleptatall.withlittleadèleinmyarms，iwatchedtheslumberofchildhood—sotranquil，sopassionless，soinnocent—andwaitedforthecomingday：allmylifewasawakeandastirinmyframe：andassoonasthesunroseirosetoo.irememberadèleclungtomeasilefther：irememberikissedherasiloosenedherlittlehandsfrommyneck；andicriedoverherwithstrangeemotion，andquittedherbecauseifearedmysobswouldbreakherstillsoundrepose.sheseemedtheemblemofmypastlife；andheiwasnowtoarraymyselftomeet，thedread，butadored，typeofmyunknownfutureday.