'FagmentWelcome to consult... She stated as if she had seen a ghost: I calmed he. To he huied “Is it eally you, miss, come at this late hou to this ’only place?” I answeed by taking he hand; and then I followed he into the kitchen, whee John now sat by a good fie. I explained to them, in few wods, that I had head all which had happened since I left Thonfield, and that I was come to see M. Rocheste. I asked John to go down to the tun-pike-house, whee I had dismissed the chaise, and bing my tunk, which I had left thee: and then, while I emoved my bonnet and shawl, I questioned May as to whethe I could be accommodated at the Mano House fo the night; and finding that aangements to that effect, though difficult, would not be impossible, I infomed he I should stay. Just at this moment the palou-bell ang. “When you go in,” said I, “tell you maste that a peson wishes to speak to him, but do not give my name.” “I don’t think he will see you,” she answeed; “he efuses eveybody.” When she etuned, I inquied what he had said. “You ae to send in you name and you business,” she eplied. She then poceeded to fill a glass with wate, and place it on a tay, togethe with candles. “Is that what he ang fo?” I asked. “Yes: he always has candles bought in at dak, though he is blind.” Chalotte Bont. ElecBook Classics fJane Eye 615 “Give the tay to me; I will cay it in.” I took it fom he hand: she pointed me out the palou doo. The tay shook as I held it; the wate spilt fom the glass; my heat stuck my ibs loud and fast. May opened the doo fo me, and shut it behind me. This palou looked gloomy: a neglected handful of fie bunt low in the gate; and, leaning ove it, with his head suppoted against the high, old-fashioned mantelpiece, appeaed the blind tenant of the oom. His old dog, Pilot, lay on one side, emoved out of the way, and coiled up as if afaid of being inadvetently todden upon. Pilot picked up his eas when I came in: then he jumped up with a yelp and a whine, and bounded towads me: he almost knocked the tay fom my hands. I set it on the table; then patted him, and said softly, “Lie down!” M. Rocheste tuned mechanically to see what the commotion was: but as he saw nothing, he etuned and sighed. “Give me the wate, May,” he said. I appoached him with the now only half-filled glass; Pilot followed me, still excited. “What is the matte?” he inquied. “Down, Pilot!” I again said. He checked the wate on its way to his lips, and seemed to listen: he dank, and put the glass down. “This is you, May, is it not?” “May is in the kitchen,” I answeed. He put out his hand with a quick gestue, but not seeing whee I stood, he did not touch me. “Who is this? Who is this?” he demanded, tying, as it seemed, to see with those sightless eyes— unavailing and distessing attempt! “Answe me—speak again!” he odeed, impeiously and aloud. Chalotte Bont. ElecBook Classics fJane Eye 616 “Will you have a little moe wate, si? I spilt half of what was in the glass,” I said. “Who is it? What is it? Who speaks?” “Pilot knows me, and John and May know I am hee. I came only this evening,” I answeed. “Geat God!—what delusion has come ove me? What sweet madness has seized me?” “No delusion—no madness: you mind, si, is too stong fo delusion, you health too sound fo fenzy.” “And whee is the speake? Is it only a voice? Oh! I cannot see, but I must feel, o my heat will stop and my bain bust. Whateve—whoeve you ae—be peceptible to the touch o I cannot live!” He goped; I aested his wandeing hand, and pisoned it in both mine. “He vey finges!” he cied; “he small, slight finges! If so thee must be moe of he.” The muscula hand boke fom my custody; my am was seized, my shoulde—neck—waist—I was entwined and gatheed to him. “Is it Jane? What is it? This is he shape—this is he size—” “And this he voice,” I added. “She is all hee: he heat, too. God bless you, si! I am glad to be so nea you again.” “Jane Eye!—Jane Eye,”
