。　I　had　dared　and　baffled　his　fury；　I　must　elude　his　sorrow：　I　retired　to　the　door。

“You　are　going；　Jane？”

“I　am　going；　sir。”

“You　are　leaving　me？”

“Yes。”

“You　will　not　e？　You　will　not　be　my　forter；　my　rescuer？　My　deep　love；　my　wild　woe；　my　frantic　prayer；　are　all　nothing　to　you？”

What　unutterable　pathos　was　in　his　voice！　How　hard　it　was　to　reiterate　firmly；　“I　am　going。”

“Jane！”

“Mr。　Rochester！”

“Withdraw；　then；—I　consent；　but　remember；　you　leave　me　here　in　anguish。　Go　up　to　your　own　room；　think　over　all　I　have　said；　and；　Jane；　cast　a　glance　on　my　sufferings—think　of　me。”

He　turned　away；　he　threw　himself　on　his　face　on　the　sofa。　“Oh；　Jane！　my　hope—my　love—my　life！”　broke　in　anguish　from　his　lips。　Then　came　a　deep；　strong　sob。

I　had　already　gained　the　door；　but；　reader；　I　walked　back—walked　back　as　determinedly　as　I　had　retreated。　I　knelt　down　by　him；　I　turned　his　face　from　the　cushion　to　me；　I　kissed　his　cheek；　I　smoothed　his　hair　with　my　hand。

“God　bless　you；　my　dear　master！”　I　said。　“God　keep　you　from　harm　and　wrong—direct　you；　solace　you—reward　you　well　for　your　past　kindness　to　me。”

“Little　Jane’s　love　would　have　been　my　best　reward；”　he　answered；　“without　it；　my　heart　is　broken。　But　Jane　will　give　me　her　love：　yes—nobly；　generously。”

Up　the　blood　rushed　to　his　face；　forth　flashed　the　fire　from　his　eyes；　erect　he　sprang；　he　held　his　arms　out；　but　I　evaded　the　embrace；　an