Bronte_Jane_Eyre.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
's narrative,
but made no disclosure in return. coincidence struck me as too
awful and inexplicable to be communicated or discussed. told
anything, my tale would be such as must necessarily make a profound
impression on the mind of my hearer: and that mind, yet from its
sufferings too prone to gloom, needed not the deeper shade of the
supernatural. kept these things then, and pondered them in my
heart.
" cannot now wonder," continued my master, "that when you rose
upon me so unexpectedly last night, had difficulty in believing
you any other than a mere voice and vision, something that would melt
to silence and annihilation, as the midnight whisper and mountain
echo had melted before. , thank ! know it to be otherwise.
, thank !"
put me off his knee, rose, and reverently lifting his hat from
his brow, and bending his sightless eyes to the earth, he stood in
mute devotion. the last words of the worship were audible.
" thank my , that, in the midst of judgment, he has remembered
mercy. humbly entreat my to give me strength to lead
henceforth a purer life than have done hitherto!"
he stretched his hand out to be led. took that dear hand,
held it a moment to my lips, then let it pass round my shoulder:
being so much lower of stature than he, served both for his prop
and guide. entered the wood, and wended homeward.
--
, married him. quiet wedding we had: he and , the parson
and clerk, were alone present. we got back from church, went
into the kitchen of the manor-house, where was cooking
the dinner and cleaning the knives, and said -
", have been married to . this morning."
housekeeper and her husband were both of that decent phlegmatic
order of people, to whom one may at any time safely communicate
a remarkable piece of news without incurring the danger of having
one's ears pierced by some shrill ejaculation, and subsequently
stunned by a torrent of wordy wonderment. did look up, and
she did stare at me: the ladle with which she was basting a pair
of chickens roasting at the fire, did for some three minutes hang
suspended in air; and for the same space of time 's knives
also had rest from the polishing process: but , bending
again over the roast, said only -
" you, ? , for sure!"
short time after she pursued -- " seed you go out with the
master, but didn't know you were gone to church to be wed;" and
she basted away. , when turned to him, was grinning from
ear to ear.
" telled how it would be," he said: " knew what . "
( was an old servant, and had known his master when he was
the cadet of the house, therefore, he often gave him his
name) -- " knew what . would do; and was certain he would
not wait long neither: and he's done right, for aught know.
wish you joy, !" and he politely pulled his forelock.
" you, . . told me to give you and
this." put into his hand a five-pound note. waiting to
hear more, left the kitchen. passing the door of
that sanctum some time after, caught the words -
"'ll happen do better for him nor ony o't' grand ladies."
again, " she ben't one o' th' handsomest, she's noan faal and
varry good-natured; and i' his een she's fair beautiful, onybody
may see that."
wrote to and to immediately, to say what
had done: fully explaining also why had thus acted. and
approved the step unreservedly. announced that she
would just give me time to get over the honeymoon, and then she
would come and see me.
" had better not wait till then, ," said . , when
read her letter to him; "if she does, she will be too late, for
our honeymoon will shine our life long: its beams will only fade
over your grave or mine."
. received the news, don't know: he never answered
the letter in which communicated it: yet six months after he
wrote to me, without, however, mentioning . 's name or
alluding to my marriage. letter was then calm, and, though very
serious, kind. has maintained a regular, though not frequent,
correspondence ever since: he hopes am happy, and trusts am not
of those who live without in the world, and only mind earthly
things.
have not quite forgotten little , have you, reader?
had not; soon asked and obtained leave of . , to go
and see her at the school where he had placed her. frantic
joy at beholding me again moved me much. looked pale and thin:
she said she was not happy. found the rules of the establishment
were too strict, its course of study too severe for a child of her
age: took her home with me. meant to become her governess
once more, but soon found this impracticable; my time and cares
were now required by another -- my husband needed them all.
sought out a school conducted on a more indulgent system, and near
enough to permit of my visiting her often, and bringing her home
sometimes. took care she should never want for anything that
could contribute to her comfort: she soon settled in her new abode,
became very happy there, and made fair progress in her studies.
she grew up, a sound education corrected in a great
measure her defects; and when she left school, found in
her a pleasing and obliging companion: docile, good-tempered, and
well-principled. her grateful attention to me and mine, she
has long since well repaid any little kindness ever had it in my
power to offer her.
tale draws to its close: one word respecting my experience of
married life, and one brief glance at the fortunes of those whose
names have most frequently recurred in this narrative, and have
done.
have now been married ten years. know what it is to live
entirely for and with what love best on earth. hold myself
supremely blest -- blest beyond what language can express; because
am my husband's life as fully is he is mine. woman was ever
nearer to her mate than am: ever more absolutely bone of his
bone and flesh of his flesh. know no weariness of my 's
society: he knows none of mine, any more than we each do of the
pulsation of the heart that beats in our separate bosoms; consequently,
we are ever together. be together is for us to be at once as
free as in solitude, as gay as in company. talk, believe,
all day long: to talk to each other is but a more animated and an
audible thinking. my confidence is bestowed on him, all his
confidence is devoted to me; we are precisely suited in character
-- perfect concord is the result.
. continued blind the first two years of our union;
perhaps it was that circumstance that drew us so very near -- that
knit us so very close: for was then his vision, as am still
his right hand. , was (what he often called me) the
apple of his eye. saw nature -- he saw books through me; and
never did weary of gazing for his behalf, and of putting into
words the effect of field, tree, town, river, cloud, sunbeam -- of
the landscape before us; of the weather round us -- and impressing
by sound on his ear what light could no longer stamp on his eye.
did weary of reading to him; never did weary of conducting
him where he wished to go: of doing for him what he wished to be
done. there was a pleasure in my services, most full, most
exquisite, even though sad -- because he claimed these services
without painful shame or damping humiliation. loved me so truly,
that he knew no reluctance in profiting by my attendance: he felt
loved him so fondly, that to yield that attendance was to indulge
my sweetest wishes.
morning at the end of the two years, as was writing a letter
to his dictation, he came and bent over me, and said -- ", have
you a glittering ornament round your neck?"
had a gold watch-chain: answered "."
" have you a pale blue dress on?"
had. informed me then, that for some time he had fancied the
obscurity clouding one eye was becoming less dense; and that now
he was sure of it.
and went up to . had the advice of an eminent oculist;
and he eventually recovered the sight of that one eye. cannot
now see very distinctly: he cannot read or write much; but he can
find his way without being led by the hand: the sky is no longer
a blank to him -- the earth no longer a void. his first-born
was put into his arms, he could see that the boy had inherited his
own eyes, as they once were -- large, brilliant, and black.
that occasion, he again, with a full heart, acknowledged that
had tempered judgment with mercy.
and , then, are happy: and the more so, because those
we most love are happy likewise. and are both
married: alternately, once every year, they come to see us, and
we go to see them. 's husband is a captain in the navy, a
gallant officer and a good man. 's is a clergyman, a college
friend of her brother's, and, from his attainments and principles,
worthy of the connection. and .
love their wives, and are loved by them.
to . , he left : he went to .
entered on the path he had marked for himself; he pursues it still.
more resolute, indefatigable pioneer never wrought amidst rocks
and dangers. , faithful, and devoted, full of energy, and
zeal, and truth, he labours for his race; he clears their painful
way to improvement; he hews down like a giant the prejudices of creed
and caste that encumber it. may be stern; he may be exacting;
he may be ambitious yet; but his is the sternness of the warrior
, who guards his pilgrim convoy from the onslaught of
. is the exaction of the apostle, who speaks but for
, when he says -- " will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross and follow me." is the ambition
of the high master-spirit, which aims to fill a place in the first
rank of those who are redeemed from the earth -- who stand without
fault before the throne of , who share the last mighty victories
of the , who are called, and chosen, and faithful.
. is unmarried: he never will marry now. has
hitherto sufficed to the toil, and the toil draws near its close:
his glorious sun hastens to its setting. last letter received
from him drew from my eyes human tears, and yet filled my heart
with divine joy: he anticipated his sure reward, his incorruptible
crown. know that a stranger's hand will write to me next, to say
that the good and faithful servant has been called at length into
the joy of his . why weep for this? fear of death
will darken . 's last hour: his mind will be unclouded, his
heart will be undaunted, his hope will be sure, his faith
steadfast. own words are a pledge of this -
" ," he says, "has forewarned me. announces more
distinctly, -- ' come quickly!' and hourly more eagerly
respond, -- '; even so come, !'"