no　energy　was　found　to　express　them—

“Be　not　far　from　me；　for　trouble　is　near：　there　is　none　to　help。”

It　was　near：　and　as　I　had　lifted　no　petition　to　Heaven　to　avert　it—as　I　had　neither　joined　my　hands；　nor　bent　my　knees；　nor　moved　my　lips—it　came：　in　full　heavy　swing　the　torrent　poured　over　me。　The　whole　consciousness　of　my　life　lorn；　my　love　lost；　my　hope　quenched；　my　faith　death…struck；　swayed　full　and　mighty　above　me　in　one　sullen　mass。　That　bitter　hour　cannot　be　described：　in　truth；　“the　waters　came　into　my　soul；　I　sank　in　deep　mire：　I　felt　no　standing；　I　came　into　deep　waters；　the　floods　overflowed　me。”

Chapter　27

Some　time　in　the　afternoon　I　raised　my　head；　and　looking　round　and　seeing　the　western　sun　gilding　the　sign　of　its　decline　on　the　wall；　I　asked；　“What　am　I　to　do？”

But　the　answer　my　mind　gave—“Leave　Thornfield　at　once”—was　so　prompt；　so　dread；　that　I　stopped　my　ears。　I　said　I　could　not　bear　such　words　now。　“That　I　am　not　Edward　Rochester’s　bride　is　the　least　part　of　my　woe；”　I　alleged：　“that　I　have　wakened　out　of　most　glorious　dreams；　and　found　them　all　void　and　vain；　is　a　horror　I　could　bear　and　master；　but　that　I　must　leave　him　decidedly；　instantly；　entirely；　is　intolerable。　I　cannot　do　it。”

But；　then；　a　voice　within　me　averred　that　I　could　do　it　and　foretold　that　I　should　do　it。　I　wrestled　with　my　own　resolution：　I　wanted　to　be　weak　that　I　might　avoid　the　awful　passage　of　further　suffering　I　saw　laid　out　for　me；　an