e　said　to　this　last：　“I　give　you　but　half…an…hour　for　dressing　the　wound；　fastening　the　bandages；　getting　the　patient　downstairs　and　all。”

“But　is　he　fit　to　move；　sir？”

“No　doubt　of　it；　it　is　nothing　serious；　he　is　nervous；　his　spirits　must　be　kept　up。　e；　set　to　work。”

Mr。　Rochester　drew　back　the　thick　curtain；　drew　up　the　holland　blind；　let　in　all　the　daylight　he　could；　and　I　was　surprised　and　cheered　to　see　how　far　dawn　was　advanced：　what　rosy　streaks　were　beginning　to　brighten　the　east。　Then　he　approached　Mason；　whom　the　surgeon　was　already　handling。

“Now；　my　good　fellow；　how　are　you？”　he　asked。

“She’s　done　for　me；　I　fear；”　was　the　faint　reply。

“Not　a　whit！—courage！　This　day　fortnight　you’ll　hardly　be　a　pin　the　worse　of　it：　you’ve　lost　a　little　blood；　that’s　all　Carter；　assure　him　there’s　no　danger。”

“I　can　do　that　conscientiously；”　said　Carter；　who　had　now　undone　the　bandages；　“only　I　wish　I　could　have　got　here　sooner：　he　would　not　have　bled　so　much—but　how　is　this？　The　flesh　on　the　shoulder　is　torn　as　well　as　cut。　This　wound　was　not　done　with　a　knife：　there　have　been　teeth　here！”

“She　bit　me；”　he　murmured。　“She　worried　me　like　a　tigress；　when　Rochester　got　the　knife　from　her。”

“You　should　not　have　yielded：　you　should　have　grappled　with　her　at　once；”　said　Mr。　Rochester。

“But　under　such　circumstances；　what　could　one　do？”　returned　Mason。　“Oh；　it　was　frightful！”　he　added；　shuddering。　“And　I　did　not　expect