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"Then, sir, I will marry you."

"Edward-my little wife!"

"Dear Edward!"

"Come to me-come to me entirely now," said he; and added, in his deepest tone, speaking in my ear as his cheek was laid on mine, "Make my happiness-I will make yours."

"God pardon me!" he subjoined ere long; "and man meddle not with me: I have her, and will hold her."

"There is no one to meddle, sir. I have no kindred to interfere."

"No-that is the best of it," he said.

And if I had loved him less I should have thought his accent and look of exultation savage; but, sitting by him, roused from the nightmare of parting-called to the paradise of union-I thought only of the bliss given me to drink in so abundant a flow.

Again and again he said, "Are you happy, Jane?" And again and again I answered, "Yes." After which he murmured, "It will atone-it will atone.

Have I not found her friendless, and cold, and comfortless? Will I not guard, and cherish, and solace her? Is there not love in my heart, and constancy in my resolves? It will expiate at God's tribunal.

I know my Maker sanctions what I do.

For the world's judgment-I wash my hands thereof.

For man's opinion-I defy it."

But what had befallen the night? The moon was not yet set, and we were all in shadow: I could scarcely see my master's face, near as I was. And what ailed the chestnut tree? it writhed and groaned; while wind roared in the laurel walk, and came sweeping over us.

"We must go in," said Mr. Rochester: "the weather changes. I could have sat with thee till morning, Jane."

"And so," thought I, "could I with you." I should have said so, perhaps, but a livid, vivid spark leapt out of a cloud at which I was looking, and there was a crack, a crash, and a close rattling peal; and I thought only of hiding my dazzled eyes against Mr. Rochester's shoulder.

The rain rushed down.

He hurried me up the walk, through the grounds, and into the house; but we were quite wet before we could pass the threshold.

He was taking off my shawl in the hall, and shaking the water out of my loosened hair, when Mrs. Fairfax emerged from her room.

I did not observe her at first, nor did Mr. Rochester.

The lamp was lit.

The clock was on the stroke of twelve.

"Hasten to take off your wet things," said he; "and before you go, good-night-good-night, my darling!"

He kissed me repeatedly.

When I looked up, on leaving his arms, there stood the widow, pale, grave, and amazed.

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