“If all these people came in a body and spat at me； what would you do； Jane？”
“Turn them out of the room； sir； if I could。”
He half smiled。 “But if I were to go to them； and they only looked at me coldly； and whispered sneeringly amongst each other； and then dropped off and left me one by one； what then？ Would you go with them？”
“I rather think not； sir： I should have more pleasure in staying with you。”
“To fort me？”
“Yes； sir； to fort you； as well as I could。”
“And if they laid you under a ban for adhering to me？”
“I； probably； should know nothing about their ban； and if I did； I should care nothing about it。”
“Then； you could dare censure for my sake？”
“I could dare it for the sake of any friend who deserved my adherence； as you； I am sure； do。”
“Go back now into the room； step quietly up to Mason； and whisper in his ear that Mr。 Rochester is e and wishes to see him： show him in here and then leave me。”
“Yes； sir。”
I did his behest。 The pany all stared at me as I passed straight among them。 I sought Mr。 Mason； delivered the message； and preceded him from the room： I ushered him into the library； and then I went upstairs。
At a late hour； after I had been in bed some time； I heard the visitors repair to their chambers： I distinguished Mr。 Rochester’s voice； and heard him say； “This way； Mason； this is your room。”
He spoke cheerfully： the gay tones set my heart at ease。 I was soon asleep。
Chapter 20
I had forgotten to draw my curtain； which I usually did； and also to let down my window…blind。 The consequence was； that when the moon； which was full and bright （for the night was fine）； came in her course to that space in the sky opposite my casement； and looked in at me through the unveiled panes； her glorious gaze roused me。 Awaking in the dead of night； I opened my eyes on her disk—silver… white and crystal clear。 It was beautiful； but too solemn； I half rose； and stretched my arm to draw the curtain。
Good God！ What a cry！
The night—its silence—its rest； was rent in twain by a savage； a sharp； a shrilly sound that ran from end to end of Thornfield Hall。
My pulse stopped： my heart stood still； my stretched arm was paralysed。 The cry died； and was not renewed。 Indeed； whatever being uttered that fearful shriek could not soon repeat it： not the widest…winged condor on the Andes could； twice in succession； send out such a yell from the cloud shrouding his eyrie。 The thing delivering such utterance must rest ere it could repeat the effort。
It came out of the third storey； for it passed overhead。 And overhead—yes； in the room just above my chamber…ceiling—I now heard a struggle： a deadly one it seemed from the noise； and a half…smothered voice shouted—
“Help！ help！ help！” three times rapidly。
“Will no one e？” it cried； and then； while the staggering and stamping went on wildly； I distinguished through plank and plaster：—
“Rochester！ Rochester！ for God’s sake； e！”
A chamber…door opened： some one ran； or rushed； along the gallery。 Another step stamped on the flooring above and something fell； and there was silence。
I had put on some clothes； though horror shook all my limbs； I issued from my apartment。 The sleepers were all aroused： ejaculations； terrified murmurs sounded in every room； door after door unclosed； one looked out and another looked out； the gallery filled。 Gentlemen and ladies alike had quitted their beds； and “Oh！ what is it？”—“Who is hurt？”—“What has happened？”—“Fetch a light！”—“Is it fire？”—“Are there robbers？”—“Where shall we run？” was demanded confusedly on all hands。 But for the moonlight they would have been in plete darkness。 They ran to and fro； they crowded together： some sobbed； some stumbled： the confusion was inextricable。
“Where the devil is Rochester？” cried Colonel Dent。 “I cannot find him in his bed。”
“Here！ here！” was shouted in return。 “Be posed； all of you： I’m ing。”
And the door at the end of the gallery opened； and Mr。 Rochester advanced with a candle： he had just descended from the upper storey。 One of the ladies ran to him directly； she seized his arm： it was Miss Ingram。
“What awful event has taken place？” said she。 “Speak！ let us know the worst at once！”
“But don’t pull me down or strangle me；” he replied： for the Misses Eshton were clinging about him now； and the two dowagers； in vast white wrappers； were bearing down on him like ships in full sail。
“All’s right！—all’s right！” he cried。 “It’s a mere rehearsal of Much Ado about Nothing。 Ladies； keep off； or I shall wax dangerous。”
And dangerous he looked： his black eyes darted sparks。 Calming himself by an effort； he added—
“A servant has had the nightmare； that is all。 She’s an excitable； nervous person： she construed her dream into an apparition； or something of that sort； no doubt； and has taken a fit with fright。 Now； then； I must see you all back into your rooms； for； till the house is settled； she cannot be looked after。 Gentlemen； have the goodness to set the ladies the example。 Miss Ingram； I am sure you will not fail in evincing superiority to idle terrors。 Amy and Louisa； return to your nests like a pair of doves； as you are。 Mesdames” （to the dowagers）； “you will take cold to a dead certainty； if you stay in this chill gallery any longer。”
And so； by dint of alternate coaxing and manding； he contrived to get them all once more enclosed in their separate dormitories。 I did not wait to be ordered back to mine； but retreated unnoticed； as unnoticed I had left it。
Not； however； to go to bed： on the contrary； I began and dressed myself carefully。 The sounds I had heard after the scream； and the words that had been uttered； had probably been heard only by me； for they had proceeded from the room above mine： but they assured me that it was not a servant’s dream which had thus struck horror through the house； and that the explanation Mr。 Rochester had given was merely an invention framed to pacify his guests。 I dressed； then； to be ready for emergencies。 When dressed； I sat a long time by the window looking out over the silent grounds and silvered fields and waiting for I knew not what。 It seemed to me that some event must follow the strange cry； struggle； and call。
No： stillness returned： each murmur and movement ceased gradually； and in about an hour Thornfield Hall was again as hushed as a desert。 It seemed that sleep and night had resumed their empire。 Meantime the moon declined： she was about to set。 Not liking to sit in the cold and darkness； I thought I would lie down on my bed； dressed as I was。 I left the window； and moved with little noise across the carpet； as I stooped to take off my shoes； a cautious hand tapped low at the door。
“Am I wanted？” I asked。
“Are you up？” asked the voice I expected to hear； viz。； my master’s。
“Yes； sir。”
“And dressed？”
“Yes。”
“e out； then； quietly。”
I obeyed。 Mr。 Rochester stood in the gallery holding a light。
“I want you；” he said： “e this way： take your time； and make no noise。”
My slippers were thin： I could walk the matted floor as softly as a cat。 He glided up the gallery and up the stairs； and stopped in the dark； low corridor of the fateful third storey： I had followed and stood at his side。
“Have you a sponge in your room？” he asked in a whisper。
“Yes； sir。”
“Have you any salts—volatile salts？ Yes。”
“Go back and fetch both。”
I returned； sought the sponge on the washstand； the salts in my drawer； and once more retraced my steps。 He still waited； he held a key in his hand： approaching one of the small； black doors； he put it in the lock； he paused； and addressed me again。
“You don’t turn sick at the sight of blood？”
“I think I shall not： I have never been tried yet。”
I felt a thrill while I answered him； but no coldness； and no faintness。
“Just give me your hand；” he said： “it will not do to risk a fainting fit。”
I put my fingers into his。 “Warm and steady；” was his remark： he turned the key and opened the door。
I saw a room I remembered to have seen before； the day Mrs。 Fairfax showed me over the house： it was hung with tapestry； but the tapestry was now looped up in one part； and there was a door apparent； which had then been concealed。 This door was open； a light shone out of the room within： I heard thence a snarling； snatching sound； almost like a dog quarrelling。 Mr。 Rochester； putting down his candle； said to me； “Wait a minute；” and he went forward to the inner apartment。 A shout of laughter greeted his entrance； noisy at first； and terminating in Grace Poole’s own goblin ha！ ha！ She then was there。 He made some sort of arrangement without speaking； though I heard a low voice address him： he came out and closed the door behind him。
“Here； Jane！” he said； and I walked round to the other side of a large bed； which with its drawn curtains concealed a considerable portion of the chamber。 An easy…chair was near the bed…head： a man sat in it； dressed with the exception of his coat； he was still； his head leant back； his eyes were closed。 Mr。 Rochester held the candle over him； I recognised in his pale and seemingly lifeless face—the stranger； Mason： I saw too that his linen on one side； and one arm； was almost soaked in blood。
“Hold the candle；” said Mr。 Rochester； and I took it： he fetched a basin of water from the washstand： “Hold that；” said he。 I obeyed。 He took the sponge； dipped it in； and moistened the corpse…like face； he asked for my smelling…bottle； and applied it to the nostrils。 Mr。 Mason shortly unclosed his eyes； he groaned。 Mr。 Rochester opened the shirt of the wounded man； whose arm and shoulder were bandaged： he sponged away blood； trickling fast down。
“Is there immediate danger？” murmured Mr。 Mason。
“Pooh！ No—a mere scratch。 Don’t be so overe； man： bear up！ I’ll fetch a surgeon for you now； myself： you’ll be able to be removed by morning； I hope。 Jane；” he continued。
“Sir？”
“I shall have to leave you in this room with this gentleman； for an hour； or perhaps two hours： you will sponge the blood as I do when it returns： if he feels faint； you will put the glass of water on that stand to his lips； and your salts to his nose。 You will not speak to him on any pretext—and—Richard； it will be at the peril of your life if you speak to her： open your lips—agitate yourself—and I’ll not answer for the consequences。”
Again the poor man groaned； he looked as if he dared not move； fear； either of death or of something else； appeared almost to paralyse him。 Mr。 Rochester put the now bloody sponge into my hand； and I proceeded to use it as he had done。 He watched me a second； then saying； “Remember！—No conversation；” he left the room。 I experienced a strange feeling as the key grated in the lock； and the sound of his retreating step ceased to be heard。
Here then I was in the third storey； fastened into one of its mystic cells； night around me； a pale and bloody spectacle under my eyes and hands； a murderess hardly separated from me by a single door： yes—that was appalling—the rest I could bear； but I shuddered at the thought of Grace Poole bursting out upon me。
I must keep to my post； however。 I must watch this ghastly countenance—these blue； still lips forbidden to unclose—these eyes now