[18]“Neverwill, saysthevision? ButIalwayswokeandfounditanemptymockery; andIwasdesolateandabandoned—mylifedark, lonely, hopeless—mysoulathirstandforbiddentodrink—, softdream, nestlinginmyarmsnow, youwillfly, too, asyoursistershaveallfledbeforeyou: butkissmebeforeyougo—embraceme, Jane.”
[19]“There, sir—andthere!”
[20]Ipressedmylipstohisoncebrilliantandnowraylesseyes—Iswepthishairfromhisbrow, : theconvictionoftherealityofallthisseizedhim.
[21]“Itisyou—isit, Jane? Youarecomebacktomethen?”
[22]“Iam.”
[23]“Andyoudonotliedeadinsomeditchundersomestream? Andyouarenotapiningoutcastamongststrangers?”
[24]“No, sir! Iamanindependentwomannow.”
[25]“Independent! Whatdoyoumean, Jane?”
[26]“MyuncleinMadeiraisdead, andheleftmefivethousandpounds.”
[27]“Ah! Thisispractical—thisisreal!”hecried: “, thereisthatpeculiarvoiceofhers, soanimatingandpiquant, aswellassoft: itcheersmywitheredheart; itputslifeintoit.—What, Janet! Areyouanindependentwoman? Arichwoman?”
[28]“Quiterich, ’tletmelivewithyou, Icanbuildahouseofmyowncloseuptoyourdoor, andyoumaycomeandsitinmyparlourwhenyouwantcompanyofanevening.”
[29]“Butasyouarerich, Jane, youhavenow, nodoubt, friendswhowilllookafteryou, andnotsufferyoutodevoteyourselftoablindlameterlikeme?”
[30]“ItoldyouIamindependent, sir, aswellasrich: Iammyownmistress.”
[31]“Andyouwillstaywithme?”
[32]“Certainly—, yournurse, : Iwillbeyourcompanion—toreadtoyou, towalkwithyou, tositwithyou, towaitonyou, , mydearmaster; youshallnotbeleftdesolate, solongasIlive.”
