ugh　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