in　this　neighbourhood；　sir；　and　I　never　heard　of　a　Mrs。　Rochester　at　Thornfield　Hall。”

I　saw　a　grim　smile　contort　Mr。　Rochester’s　lips；　and　he　muttered—

“No；　by　God！　I　took　care　that　none　should　hear　of　it—or　of　her　under　that　name。”　He　mused—for　ten　minutes　he　held　counsel　with　himself：　he　formed　his　resolve；　and　announced　it—

“Enough！　all　shall　bolt　out　at　once；　like　the　bullet　from　the　barrel。　Wood；　close　your　book　and　take　off　your　surplice；　John　Green　（to　the　clerk）；　leave　the　church：　there　will　be　no　wedding　to…day。”　The　man　obeyed。

Mr。　Rochester　continued；　hardily　and　recklessly：　“Bigamy　is　an　ugly　word！—I　meant；　however；　to　be　a　bigamist；　but　fate　has　out…　manoeuvred　me；　or　Providence　has　checked　me；—perhaps　the　last。　I　am　little　better　than　a　devil　at　this　moment；　and；　as　my　pastor　there　would　tell　me；　deserve　no　doubt　the　sternest　judgments　of　God；　even　to　the　quenchless　fire　and　deathless　worm。　Gentlemen；　my　plan　is　broken　up：…　what　this　lawyer　and　his　client　say　is　true：　I　have　been　married；　and　the　woman　to　whom　I　was　married　lives！　You　say　you　never　heard　of　a　Mrs。　Rochester　at　the　house　up　yonder；　Wood；　but　I　daresay　you　have　many　a　time　inclined　your　ear　to　gossip　about　the　mysterious　lunatic　kept　there　under　watch　and　ward。　Some　have　whispered　to　you　that　she　is　my　bastard　half…sister：　some；　my　cast…　off　mistress。　I　now　inform　you　that　she　is　my　wife；　whom　I　married　fifteen　years　ago；—Bertha　Mason　by　name；　sister　of　this　resolute　p