ersonage；　bs　and　white　cheeks；　showing　you　what　a　stout　heart　men　may　bear。　Cheer　up；　Dick！—never　fear　me！—I’d　almost　as　soon　strike　a　woman　as　you。　Bertha　Mason　is　mad；　and　she　came　of　a　mad　family；　idiots　and　maniacs　through　three　generations？　Her　mother；　the　Creole；　was　both　a　madwoman　and　a　drunkard！—as　I　found　out　after　I　had　wed　the　daughter：　for　they　were　silent　on　family　secrets　before。　Bertha；　like　a　dutiful　child；　copied　her　parent　in　both　points。　I　had　a　charming　partner—pure；　wise；　modest：　you　can　fancy　I　was　a　happy　man。　I　went　through　rich　scenes！　Oh！　my　experience　has　been　heavenly；　if　you　only　knew　it！　But　I　owe　you　no　further　explanation。　Briggs；　Wood；　Mason；　I　invite　you　all　to　e　up　to　the　house　and　visit　Mrs。　Poole’s　patient；　and　my　wife！　You　shall　see　what　sort　of　a　being　I　was　cheated　into　espousing；　and　judge　whether　or　not　I　had　a　right　to　break　the　pact；　and　seek　sympathy　with　something　at　least　human。　This　girl；”　he　continued；　looking　at　me；　“knew　no　more　than　you；　Wood；　of　the　disgusting　secret：　she　thought　all　was　fair　and　legal　and　never　dreamt　she　was　going　to　be　entrapped　into　a　feigned　union　with　a　defrauded　wretch；　already　bound　to　a　bad；　mad；　and　embruted　partner！　e　all　of　you—follow！”

Still　holding　me　fast；　he　left　the　church：　the　three　gentlemen　came　after。　At　the　front　door　of　the　hall　we　found　the　carriage。

“Take　it　back　to　the　coach…house；　John；”　said　Mr。　Rochester　coolly；　“it　will　not　be　wanted　to…day。”

At　our　entran