[33]Herepliednot: heseemedserious—abstracted; hesighed; hehalf-openedhislipsasiftospeak: ; andhe, , : anexpectation, notthelesscertainbecauseunexpressed, hadbuoyedmeup, , IsuddenlyrememberedthatImighthavebeenallwrong, andwasperhapsplayingthefoolunwittingly; andIbegangentlytowithdrawmyselffromhisarms—butheeagerlysnatchedmecloser.
[34]“No—no—Jane; —Ihavetouchedyou, heardyou, feltthecomfortofyourpresence—thesweetnessofyourconsolation: ——maycallmeabsurd, selfish—: itwillbesatisfied, oritwilltakedeadlyvengeanceonitsframe.”
[35]“Well, sir, Iwillstaywithyou: Ihavesaidso.”
[36]“Yes—butyouunderstandonethingbystayingwithme; , perhaps, couldmakeupyourmindtobeaboutmyhandandchair—towaitonmeasakindlittlenurse (foryouhaveanaffectionateheartandagenerousspirit, whichpromptyoutomakesacrificesforthoseyoupity), : doyouthinkso? Come—tellme.”
[37]“Iwillthinkwhatyoulike, sir: Iamcontenttobeonlyyournurse, ifyouthinkitbetter.”
[38]“Butyoucannotalwaysbemynurse, Janet: youareyoung—youmustmarryoneday.”
[39]“Idon’tcareaboutbeingmarried.”
[40]“Youshouldcare, Janet: ifIwerewhatIoncewas, Iwouldtrytomakeyoucare—but—asightlessblock!”
[41]Herelapsedagainintogloom.I, onthecontrary, becamemorecheerful, andtookfreshcourage: theselastwordsgavemeaninsightastowherethedifficultylay; andasitwasnodifficultywithme, .
AfterYouRead
KnowledgeFocus
: Discussthefollowingquestionswithyourpartner.
1)WhydidJanereturntoseeRochester?
2)WasRochesterawareofJane’spresenceimmediately? Whyorwhynot?
3)HowdidRochesterreacttoJane’scomingbacktohim?
