Джейн Эйр / Jane Eyre

“I have to leave,” I sobbed. “I cannot bear to, but nor can I bear to stay here, to become nothing to you. Do you think I can tolerate seeing you with a wife you do not love? Do you think I have no feelings? Do you think, because I am poor and plain, that I have no soul? You are wrong!” I shouted. But before I could go on, he grabbed my arm, pulled me towards him, and kissed my face. I pulled away.

“I must go!” I cried. “I cannot watch you marry her.”

“It is not her I love. I love you. And I offer you my hand, my heart, and a share of all my possessions.”

“You play a farce, which I merely laugh at.”

“I ask you to pass through life at my side.”

“Your bride stands between us.”

“My bride is here. It is you only I intend to marry,” he gasped. “Jane, will you marry me?”

“Mr. Rochester, let me look at your face: turn to the moonlight.”

“I want to look into your face, and see that you are not lying.”

“Read on: only hurry, for I suffer.”

His face was very much agitated and very much flushed.

“Do you truly love me?”

“‘I do; and if an oath is necessary to satisfy you, I swear it.”

“Then, sir, I will marry you.”

“Edward – my little wife!”

“Dear Edward!”

We embraced tightly and kissed, as the first drops of a rainstorm began to fall around us.

We went inside, arm in arm, and Mr. Rochester kissed me again to bid me goodnight before I went up to my room. I saw Mrs. Fairfax staring at us in amazement, but I decided I would explain later.

When I awoke the next morning, before I got up, Adèle burst into my room to tell me that the great chestnut in the orchard had been struck by lightning, and had split in two.

Chapter 24

As I dressed, I thought over what had happened, and wondered if it were a dream. I could not be certain of the reality till I saw Mr. Rochester again and he repeated his oath.

I looked at my face in the glass, and felt it was no longer plain. There was hope and life in it. I felt beautiful.

I ran downstairs and out into the garden. The storm had disappeared, giving way to a fine midsummer morning, with the promise of a hot day.

Mrs. Fairfax came out to call me to breakfast, and I was surprised at how grave and gloomy she looked. I wanted to wait until I had seen Mr. Rochester before telling her the news, so I said nothing. We ate in silence, and it was clear Mrs. Fairfax was not in a good mood.

After breakfast, I went straight to the schoolroom to begin Adèle’s lessons. But before I could go in, Adèle came running gleefully out of the room to tell me that Mr. Rochester had given her a day off.

I went in, and saw him standing there.

“Jane.” he beamed. “You look truly pretty today.” He hugged and kissed me, and I knew it was true.

“Just a month from today,” he said into my ear, “You will become Mrs. Jane Rochester. This very morning I have written to my bank in London, asking them to send the Rochester family jewels from their vault – diamonds and gold for me to hang around your neck. And I will buy you beautiful dresses of satin and lace —”

“Stop,” I interrupted him. “Please, stop talking like this. It isn’t right. If you dress me up like that, I will not be myself. I am not a society lady, sir, you know that. I am just a governess.”

But he hushed me, and went on: “Today, Jane, we will go in the new carriage to Millcote; and you will choose some new clothes. We will be married in just four weeks, at eight in the morning, and you must have a wedding dress. And, as soon as we are married, we will set off for London, and go from there to France and Italy, for our honeymoon. You will need clothes and other things for the journey.”

“I am to travel?” I asked, amazed. “To France, and Italy?”

“Of course, my love,” he said. “I will show you the world, and take you to see all the sights.”

At last, I said: “I am grateful for everything you offer me. But please, do not send for the jewels, not yet. These things mean so little to me – they mean nothing, compared to what really matters.”

“What’s that?” he asked, smiling at my strangeness.

“That I can trust you, and talk to you, and that you will always be kind, and always honest with me.”

For a moment, I thought a troubled look passed across his face. Then he said: “Of course. Ask me anything, Jane. What would make you happy?”

“Well,” I said, “I want you to tell Mrs. Fairfax what is going on.”

“My beloved, if it pleases you, I will go and talk to her now, while you prepare for our shopping trip.”

I went upstairs to fetch my things, and when I came down, I saw Mr. Rochester coming out of Mrs. Fairfax’s little office. I went in to see her.

She was sitting in her chair, and when she saw me she tried to smile, but soon looked worried again. I sat down opposite her. After looking at me for a while, she finally said: “Well, I am so astonished, I think perhaps I’ve been dreaming. Has Mr. Rochester really asked you to be his wife?”

“Yes,” I said, “and I have accepted.”