第110章

第110章asiroseanddressed，ithoughtoverwhathadhappened，andwonderedifitwereadream.icouldnotbecertainoftherealitytillihadseenmr.rochesteragain，andheardhimrenewhiswordsofloveandpromise.

whilearrangingmyhair，ilookedatmyfaceintheglass，andfeltitwasnolongerplain：therewashopeinitsaspectandlifeinitscolour；andmyeyesseemedasiftheyhadbeheldthefountoffruition，andborrowedbeamsfromthelustrousripple.ihadoftenbeenunwillingtolookatmymaster，becauseifearedhecouldnotbepleasedatmylook；butiwassureimightliftmyfacetohisnow，andnotcoolhisaffectionbyitsexpression.itookaplainbutcleanandlightsummerdressfrommydrawerandputiton：itseemednoattirehadeversowellbecomeme，becausenonehadieverworninsoblissfulamood.

iwasnotsurprised，whenirandownintothehall，toseethatabrilliantjunemorninghadeededtothetempestofthenight；andtofeel，throughtheopenglassdoor，thebreathingofafreshandfragrantbreeze.naturemustbegladsomewheniwassohappy.aar-womanandherlittleboy—pale，edobjectsboth—werecomingupthewalk，andirandownandgavethemallthemoneyihappenedtohaveinmypurse—somethreeorfourshillings：goodorbad，theymustpartakeofmyjubilee.therookscawed，andblitherbirdssang；butnothingwassomerryorsomusicalasmyownrejoicingheart.

mrs.fairfaxsurprisedmebylookingoutofthewindowwithasadcountenance，andsayinggravely—“misseyre，willyoucometobreakfast？”duringthemealshewasquietandcool：buticouldnotundeceiveherthen.imustwaitformymastertogiveexplanations；andsomustshe.iatewhaticould，andthenihastenedupstairs.imetadèleleavingtheschoolroom.

“whereareyougoing？itistimeforlessons.”

“mr.rochesterhassentmeawaytothenursery.”

“whereishe？”

“inthere，”pointingtotheapartmentshehadleft；andiwentin，andtherehestood.

“comeandbidmegood-morning，”saidhe.igladlyadvanced；anditwasnotmerelyacoldwordnow，orevenashakeofthehandthatireceived，butanembraceandakiss.itseemednatural：itseemedgenialtobesowellloved，socaressedbyhim.

“jane，youlookblooming，andsmiling，andpretty，”saidhe：“trulyprettythismorning.isthismypale，littleelf？isthismymustard-seed？thislittlesunny-facedgirlwiththedimpledcheekandrosylips；thesatin-smoothhazelhair，andtheradianthazeleyes？”(ihadgreeneyes，reader；butyoumustexcusethemistake：forhimtheywerenew-dyed，isuppose.)

“itisjaneeyre，sir.”

“soontobejanerochester，”headded：“infourweeks，janet；notadaymore.doyouhearthat？”

idid，andicouldnotquitecomprehendit：itmademegiddy.thefeeling，theannouncementsentthroughme，wassomethingstrongerthanwasconsistentwithjoy—somethingthatsmoteandstunned.itwas，ithinkalmostfear.

“youblushed，andnowyouarewhite，jane：whatisthatfor？”

“becauseyougavemeanewname—janerochester；anditseemssostrange.”

“yes，mrs.rochester，”saidhe；“youngmrs.rochester—fairfaxrochester’sgirl-bride.”

“itcanneverbe，sir；itdoesnotsoundlikely.humanbeingsneverenjoycompletehappinessinthisworld.iwasnotbornforadifferentdestinytotherestofmyspecies：toimaginesuchalotbefallingmeisafairytale—aday-dream.”

“whichicanandwillrealise.ishallbeginto-day.thismorningiwrotetomybankerinlondontosendmecertainjewelshehasinhiskeeping，—heirloomsfortheladiesofthornfield.inadayortwoihopetopourthemintoyourlap：foreveryprivilege，everyattentionshallbeyoursthatiwouldaccordapeer’sdaughter，ifabouttomarryher.”

“oh，sir！—neverrainjewels！idon’tliketohearthemspokenof.jewelsforjaneeyresoundsunnaturalandstrange：iwouldrathernothavethem.”

“iwillmyselfputthediamondchainroundyourneck，andthecircletonyourforehead，—whichitwillbecome：fornature，atleast，hasstampedherpatentofnobilityonthisbrow，jane；andiwillclaspthebraceletsonthesefinewrists，andloadthesefairy-likefingerswithrings.”

“no，no，sir！thinkofothersubjects，andspeakofotherthings，andinanotherstrain.don’taddressmeasifiwereabeauty；iamyourplain，quakerishgoverness.”

“youareabeautyinmyeyes，andabeautyjustafterthedesireofmyheart，—delicateandaerial.”

“punyandinsignificant，youmean.youaredreaming，sir，—oryouaresneering.forgod’ssakedon’tbeironical！”

“iwillmaketheworldacknowledgeyouabeauty，too，”hewenton，whileireallybecameuneasyatthestrainhehadadopted，becauseifelthewaseitherdeludinghimselfortryingtodeludeme.“iwillattiremyjaneinsatinandlace，andsheshallhaverosesinherhair；andiwillcovertheheadilovebestwithapricelessveil.”

“andthenyouwon’tknowme，sir；andishallnotbeyourjaneeyreanylonger，butanapeinaharlequin’sjacket—ajayinborrowedplumes.iwouldassoonseeyou，mr.rochester，trickedoutinstage-trappings，asmyselfcladinacourt-lady’srobe；andidon’tcallyouhandsome，sir，thoughiloveyoumostdearly：fartoodearlytoflatteryou.don’tflatterme.”

hepursuedhistheme，however，withoutnoticingmydeprecation.“thisverydayishalltakeyouinthecarriagetomillcote，andyoumustchoosesomedressesforyourself.itoldyouweshallbemarriedinfourweeks.theweddingistotakeplacequietly，inthechurchdownbelowyonder；andthenishallwaftyouawayatoncetotown.afterabriefstaythere，ishallbearmytreasuretoregionsnearerthesun：tofrenchvineyardsanditalianplains；andsheshallseewhateverisfamousinoldstoryandinmodernrecord：sheshalltaste，too，ofthelifeofcities；andsheshalllearntovalueherselfbyjustcomparisonwithothers.”

“shallitravel？—andwithyou，sir？”