es　were　some　yards　off　where　he　stood。　He　relinquished　the　endeavour；　folded　his　arms；　and　stood　quiet　and　mute　in　the　rain；　now　falling　fast　on　his　uncovered　head。　At　this　moment　John　approached　him　from　some　quarter。

“Will　you　take　my　arm；　sir？”　he　said；　“there　is　a　heavy　shower　ing　on：　had　you　not　better　go　in？”

“Let　me　alone；”　was　the　answer。

John　withdrew　without　having　observed　me。　Mr。　Rochester　now　tried　to　walk　about：　vainly；—all　was　too　uncertain。　He　groped　his　way　back　to　the　house；　and；　re…entering　it；　closed　the　door。

I　now　drew　near　and　knocked：　John’s　wife　opened　for　me。　“Mary；”　I　said；　“how　are　you？”

She　started　as　if　she　had　seen　a　ghost：　I　calmed　her。　To　her　hurried　“Is　it　really　you；　miss；　e　at　this　late　hour　to　this　lonely　place？”　I　answered　by　taking　her　hand；　and　then　I　followed　her　into　the　kitchen；　where　John　now　sat　by　a　good　fire。　I　explained　to　them；　in　few　words；　that　I　had　heard　all　which　had　happened　since　I　left　Thornfield；　and　that　I　was　e　to　see　Mr。　Rochester。　I　asked　John　to　go　down　to　the　turn…pike…house；　where　I　had　dismissed　the　chaise；　and　bring　my　trunk；　which　I　had　left　there：　and　then；　while　I　removed　my　bon　and　shaary　as　to　whether　I　could　be　acmodated　at　the　Manor　House　for　the　night；　and　finding　that　arrangements　to　that　effect；　though　difficult；　would　not　be　impossible；　I　informed　her　I　should　stay。　Just　at　this　moment　the　parlour…bell　rang。

“When　you　go　in；”　said　I；　“tell　your　master　that　a