was　at　perfect　ease；　because　I　knew　I　suited　him；　all　I　said　or　did　seemed　either　to　console　or　revive　him。　Delightful　consciousness！　It　brought　to　life　and　light　my　whole　nature：　in　his　presence　I　thoroughly　lived；　and　he　lived　in　mine。　Blind　as　he　was；　smiles　played　over　his　face；　joy　dawned　on　his　forehead：　his　lineaments　softened　and　warmed。

After　supper；　he　began　to　ask　me　many　questions；　of　where　I　had　been；　what　I　had　been　doing；　how　I　had　found　him　out；　but　I　gave　him　only　very　partial　replies：　it　was　too　late　to　enter　into　particulars　that　night。　Besides；　I　wished　to　touch　no　deep…　thrilling　chord—to　open　no　fresh　well　of　emotion　in　his　heart：　my　sole　present　aim　was　to　cheer　him。　Cheered；　as　I　have　said；　he　was：　and　yet　but　by　fits。　If　a　moment’s　silence　broke　the　conversation；　he　would　turn　restless；　touch　me；　then　say；　“Jane。”

“You　are　altogether　a　human　being；　Jane？　You　are　certain　of　that？”

“I　conscientiously　believe　so；　Mr。　Rochester。”

“Yet　how；　on　this　dark　and　doleful　evening；　could　you　so　suddenly　rise　on　my　lone　hearth？　I　stretched　my　hand　to　take　a　glass　of　water　from　a　hireling；　and　it　was　given　me　by　you：　I　asked　a　question；　expecting　John’s　wife　to　answer　me；　and　your　voice　spoke　at　my　ear。”

“Because　I　had　e　in；　in　Mary’s　stead；　with　the　tray。”

“And　there　is　enchantment　in　the　very　hour　I　am　now　spending　with　you。　Who　can　tell　what　a　dark；　dreary；　hopeless　life　I　have　dragged　on　for　months　past？　Doing　nothing；　e