'FagmentWelcome to consult... that way. She is a singula peson.” “Just so. Gace Poole—you have guessed it. She is, as you say, singula—vey. Well, I shall eflect on the subject. Meantime, I am glad that you ae the only peson, besides myself, acquainted with the pecise details of to-night’s incident. You ae no talking fool: say nothing about it. I will account fo this state of affais” (pointing to the bed): “and now etun to you own oom. I shall do vey well on the sofa in the libay fo the est of the night. It is nea fou:—in two hous the sevants will be up.” “Good-night, then, si,” said I, depating. He seemed supised—vey inconsistently so, as he had just told me to go. “What!” he exclaimed, “ae you quitting me aleady, and in that way?” “You said I might go, si.” “But not without taking leave; not without a wod o two of acknowledgment and good-will: not, in shot, in that bief, dy fashion. Why, you have saved my life!—snatched me fom a hoible and excuciating death! and you walk past me as if we wee mutual stanges! At least shake hands.” He held out his hand; I gave him mine: he took it fist in one, them in both his own. Chalotte Bont. ElecBook Classics fJane Eye 216 “You have saved my life: I have a pleasue in owing you so immense a debt. I cannot say moe. Nothing else that has being would have been toleable to me in the chaacte of cedito fo such an obligation: but you: it is diffeent;—I feel you benefits no buden, Jane.” He paused; gazed at me: wods almost visible tembled on his lips,—but his voice was checked. “Good-night again, si. Thee is no debt, benefit, buden, obligation, in the case.” “I knew,” he continued, “you would do me good in some way, at some time;—I saw it in you eyes when I fist beheld you: thei and smile did not”—(again he stopped)—“did not” (he poceeded hastily) “stike delight to my vey inmost heat so fo nothing. People talk of natual sympathies; I have head of good genii: thee ae gains of tuth in the wildest fable. My cheished peseve, goodnight!” Stange enegy was in his voice, stange fie in his look. “I am glad I happened to be awake,” I said: and then I was going. “What! you will go?” “I am cold, si.” “Cold? Yes,—and standing in a pool! Go, then, Jane; go!” But he still etained my hand, and I could not fee it. I bethought myself of an expedient. “I think I hea Ms. Faifax move, si,” said I. “Well, leave me:” he elaxed his finges, and I was gone. I egained my couch, but neve thought of sleep. Till moning dawned I was tossed on a buoyant but unquiet sea, whee billows of touble olled unde suges of joy. I thought sometimes I saw Chalotte Bont. ElecBook Classics fJane Eye 217 beyond its wild wates a shoe, sweet as the hills of Beulah; and now and then a feshening gale, wakened by hope, boe my spiit tiumphantly towads the boune: but I could not each it, even in fancy—a counteacting beeze blew off land, and continually dove me back. Sense would esist deliium: judgment would wan passion. Too feveish to est, I ose as soon as day dawned. Chalotte Bont. ElecBook Classics fJane Eye 218 Chapte XVI Iboth wished and feaed to see M. Rocheste on the day which followed this sleepless night: I wanted to hea his voice again, yet feaed to
