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ey doing; jane?”
“laughing and talking; sir。”
“they don’t look grave and mysterious; as if they had heard something strange?”
“not at all: they are full of jests and gaiety。”
“and mason?”
“he was laughing too。”
“if all these people came in a body and spat at me; what would you do; jane?”
“turn them out of the room; sir; if i could。”
he half smiled。 “but if i were to go to them; and they only looked at me coldly; and whispered sneeringly amongst each other; and then dropped off and left me one by one; what then? would you go with them?”
“i rather think not; sir: i should have more pleasure in staying with you。”
“to fort me?”
“yes; sir; to fort you; as well as i could。”
“and if they laid you under a ban for adhering to me?”
“i; probably; should know nothing about their ban; and if i did; i should care nothing about it。”
“then; you could dare censure for my sake?”
“i could dare it for the sake of any friend who deserved my adherence; as you; i am sure; do。”
“go back now into the room; step quietly up to mason; and whisper in his ear that mr。 rochester is e and wishes to see him: show him in here and then leave me。”
“yes; sir。”
i did his behest。 the pany all stared at me as i passed straight among them。 i sought mr。 mason; delivered the message; and preceded him from the room: i ushered him into the library; and then i went upstairs。
at a late hour; after i had been in bed some time; i heard the visitors repair to their chambers: i distinguished mr。 rochester’s voice; and heard him say; “this way; mason; this is your room。”
he spoke cheerfully: the gay tones set my heart at ease。 i was soon asleep。
%%。
Chapter 20
~
i had forgotten to draw my curtain; which i usually did; and also to let down my window…blind。 the consequence was; that when the moon; which was full and bright (for the night was fine); came in her course to that space in the sky opposite my casement; and looked in at me through the unveiled panes; her glorious gaze roused me。 awaking in the dead of night; i opened my eyes on her disk—silver… white and crystal clear。 it was beautiful; but too solemn; i half rose; and stretched my arm to draw the curtain。
good god! what a cry!
the night—its silence—its rest; was rent in twain by a savage; a sharp; a shrilly sound that ran from end to end of thornfield hall。
my pulse stopped: my heart stood still; my stretched arm was paralysed。 the cry died; and was not renewed。 indeed; whatever being uttered that fearful shriek could not soon repeat it: not the widest…winged condor on the andes could; twice in succession; send out such a yell from the cloud shrouding his eyrie。 the thing delivering such utterance must rest ere it could repeat the effort。
it came out of the third storey; for it passed overhead。 and overhead—yes; in the room just above my chamber…ceiling—i now heard a struggle: a deadly one it seemed from the noise; and a half…smothered voice shouted—
“help! help! help!” three times rapidly。
“will no one e?” it cried; and then; while the staggering and stamping went on wildly; i distinguished through plank and plaster:—
“rochester! rochester! for god’s sake; e!”
a chamber…door opened: some one ran; or rushed; along the gallery。 another step stamped on the flooring above and something fell; and there was silence。
i had put on some clothes; though horror shook all my limbs; i issued from my apartment。 the sleepers were all aroused: ejaculations; terrified murmurs sounded in every room; door after door unclosed; one looked out and another looked out; the gallery filled。 gentlemen and ladies alike had quitted their beds; and “oh! what is it?”—“who is hurt?”—“what has happened?”—“fetch a light!”—“is it fire?”—“are there robbers?”—“where shall we run?” was demanded confusedly on all hands。 but for the moonlight they would have been in plete darkness。 they ran to and fro; they crowded together: some sobbed; some stumbled: the confusion was inextricable。
“where the devil is rochester?” cried colonel dent。 “i cannot find him in his bed。”
“here! here!” was shouted in return。 “be posed; all of you: i’m ing。”
and the door at the end of the gallery opened; and mr。 rochester advanced with a candle: he had just descended from the upper storey。 one of the ladies ran to him directly; she seized his arm: it was miss ingram。
“what awful event has taken place?” said she。 “speak! let us know the worst at once!”
“but don’t pull me down or strangle me;” he replied: for the misses eshton were clinging about him now; and the two dowagers; in vast white wrappers; were bearing down on him like ships in full sail。
“all’s right!—all’s right!” he cried。 “it’s a mere rehearsal of much ado about nothing。 ladies; keep off; or i shall wax dangerous。”
and dangerous he looked: his black eyes darted sparks。 calming himself by an effort; he added—
“a servant has had the nightmare; that is all。 she’s an excitable; nervous person: she construed her dream into an apparition; or something of that sort; no doubt; and has taken a fit with fright。 now; then; i must see you all back into your rooms; for; till the house is settled; she cannot be looked after。 gentlemen; have the goodness to set the ladies the example。 miss ingram; i am sure you will not fail in evincing superiority to idle terrors。 amy and louisa; return to your nests like a pair of doves; as you are。 mesdames” (to the dowagers); “you will take cold to a dead certainty; if you stay in this chill gallery any longer。”
and so; by dint of alternate coaxing and manding; he contrived to get them all once more enclosed in their separate dormitories。 i did not wait to be ordered back to mine; but retreated unnoticed; as unnoticed i had left it。
not; however; to go to bed: on the contrary; i began and dressed myself carefully。 the sounds i had heard after the scream; and the words that had been uttered; had probably been heard only by me; for they had proceeded from the room above mine: but they assured me that it was not a servant’s dream which had thus struck horror through the house; and that the explanation mr。 rochester had given was merely an invention framed to pacify his guests。 i dressed; then; to be ready for emergencies。 when dressed; i sat a long time by the window looking out over the silent grounds and silvered fields and waiting for i knew not what。 it seemed to me that some event must follow the strange cry; struggle; and call。
no: stillness returned: each murmur and movement ceased gradually; and in about an hour thornfield hall was again as hushed as a desert。 it seemed that sleep and night had resumed their empire。 meantime the moon declined: she was about to set。 not liking to sit in the cold and darkness; i thought i would lie down on my bed; dressed as i was。 i left the window; and moved with little noise across the carpet; as i stooped to take off my shoes; a cautious hand tapped low at the door。
“am i wanted?” i asked。
“are you up?” asked the voice i expected to hear; viz。; my master’s。
“yes; sir。”
“and dressed?”
“yes。”
“e