“I　am　a　fool！”　cried　Mr。　Rochester　suddenly。　“I　keep　telling　her　I　am　not　married；　and　do　not　explain　to　her　why。　I　forget　she　knows　nothing　of　the　character　of　that　woman；　or　of　the　circumstances　attending　my　infernal　union　with　her。　Oh；　I　am　certain　Jane　will　agree　with　me　in　opinion；　when　she　knows　all　that　I　know！　Just　put　your　hand　in　mine；　Ja—that　I　may　have　the　evidence　of　touch　as　well　as　sight；　to　prove　you　are　near　me—and　I　will　in　a　few　words　show　you　the　real　state　of　the　case。　Can　you　listen　to　me

“Yes；　sir；　for　hours　if　you　will。”

“I　ask　only　minutes。　Jane；　did　you　ever　hear　or　know　at　I　was　not　the　eldest　son　of　my　house：　that　I　had　once　a　brother　older　than　I？”

“I　remember　Mrs。　Fairfax　told　me　so　once。”

“And　did　you　ever　hear　that　my　father　was　an　avaricious；　grasping　man？”

“I　have　understood　something　to　that　effect。”

“Well；　Jane；　being　so；　it　was　his　resolution　to　keep　the　property　together；　he　could　not　bear　the　idea　of　dividing　his　estate　and　leaving　me　a　fair　portion：　all；　he　resolved；　should　go　to　my　brother；　Rowland。　Yet　as　little　could　he　endure　that　a　son　of　his　should　be　a　poor　man。　I　must　be　provided　for　by　a　wealthy　marriage。　He　sought　me　a　partner　betimes。　Mr。　Mason；　a　West　India　planter　and　merchant；　was　his　old　acquaintance。　He　was　certain　his　possessions　were　real　and　vast：　he　made　inquiries。　Mr。　Mason；　he　found；　had　a　son　and　daughter；　and　he　learned　from　him　that　he　could　and　would　give　the　latter