unclose—these eyes now shut； now opening； now wandering through the room； now fixing on me； and ever glazed with the dulness of horror。 I must dip my hand again and again in the basin of blood and water； and wipe away the trickling gore。 I must see the light of the unsnuffed candle wane on my employment； the shadows darken on the e； and grow black under the hangings of the vast old bed； and quiver strangely over the doors of a great cabi opposite—whose front； divided into twelve panels； bore； in grim design； the heads of the twelve apostles； each enclosed in its separate panel as in a frame； while above them at the top rose an ebon crucifix and a dying Christ。
According as the shifting obscurity and flickering gleam hovered here or glanced there； it was now the bearded physician； Luke； that bent his brow； now St。 John’s long hair that waved； and anon the devilish face of Judas； that grew out of the panel； and seemed gathering life and threatening a revelation of the arch…traitor—of Satan himself—in his subordinate’s form。
Amidst all this； I had to listen as well as watch： to listen for the movements of the wild beast or the fiend in yonder side den。 But since Mr。 Rochester’s visit it seemed spellbound： all the night I heard but three sounds at three long intervals；—a step creak； a momentary renewal of the snarling； canine noise； and a deep human groan。
Then my own thoughts worried me。 What crime was this that lived incarnate in this sequestered mansion； and could neither be expelled nor subdued by the owner？—what mystery； that broke out now in fire and now in blood； at the deadest hours of night？ What creature was it； that； masked in an ordinary woman’s face and shape； uttered the voice； now of a mocking demon； and anon of a carrion…seeking bird of prey？
And this man I bent over—this monplace； quiet stranger—how had he bee involved in the web of horror？ and why had the Fury flown at him？ What made him seek this quarter of the house at an untimely season； when he should have been asleep in bed？ I had heard Mr。 Rochester assign him an apartment below—what brought him here！ And why； now； was he so tame under the violence or treachery done him？ it to the concealment Mr。 Rochester enforced？ Why did Mr。 Rochester enforce this concealment？ His guest had been outraged； his own life on a former occasion had been hideously plotted against； and both attempts he smothered in secrecy and sank in oblivion！ ly； I saw Mr。 Mason was submissive to Mr。 Rochester； that the impetuous will of the latter held plete sway over the inertness of the former： the few words which had passed between them assured me of this。 It was evident that in their former intercourse； the passive disposition of the one had been habitually influenced by the active energy of the other： whence then had arisen Mr。 Rochester’s dismay when he heard of Mr。 Mason’s arrival？ Why had the mere name of this unresisting individual—whom his word now sufficed to control like a child—fallen on him； a few hours since； as a thunderbolt might fall on an oak？
Oh！ I could not forget his look and his paleness when he whispered： “Jane； I have got a blow—I have got a blow； Jane。” I could not forget how the arm had trembled which he rested on my shoulder： and it was no light matter which could thus bow the resolute spirit and thrill the vigorous frame of Fairfax Rochester。
“When will he e？ When will he e？” I cried inwardly； as the night lingered and lingered—as my bleeding patient drooped； moaned； sickened： and neither day nor aid arrived。 I had； again and again； held the water to Mason’s white lips； again and again offered him the stimulating salts： my efforts seemed ineffectual： either bodily or mental suffering； or loss of blood； or all three bined； were fast prostrating his strength。 He moaned so； and looked so weak； wild； and lost； I feared he was dying； ant I might not even speak to him。
The candle； wasted at last； went out； as it expired； I perceived streaks of grey light edging the window curtains： dawn was then approaching。 Presently I heard Pilot bark far below； out of his distant kennel in the courtyard： hope revived。 Nor was it unwarranted： in five minutes more the grating key； the yielding lock； warned me my watch was relieved。 It could not have lasted more than two hours： many a week has seemed shorter。
Mr。 Rochester entered； and with him the surgeon he had been to fetch。
“Now； Carter； be on the alert；” he said to this last： “I give you but half…an…hour for dressing the wound； fastening the bandages； getting the patient downstairs and all。”
“But is he fit to move； sir？”
“No doubt of it； it is nothing serious； he is nervous； his spirits must be kept up。 e； set to work。”
Mr。 Rochester drew back the thick curtain； drew up the holland blind； let in all the daylight he could； and I was surprised and cheered to see how far dawn was advanced： what rosy streaks were beginning to brighten the east。 Then he approached Mason； whom the surgeon was already handling。
“Now； my good fellow； how are you？” he asked。
“She’s done for me； I fear；” was the faint reply。
“Not a whit！—courage！ This day fortnight you’ll hardly be a pin the worse of it： you’ve lost a little blood； that’s all Carter； assure him there’s no danger。”
“I can do that conscientiously；” said Carter； who had now undone the bandages； “only I wish I could have got here sooner： he would not have bled so much—but how is this？ The flesh on the shoulder is torn as well as cut。 This wound was not done with a knife： there have been teeth here！”
“She bit me；” he murmured。 “She worried me like a tigress； when Rochester got the knife from her。”
“You should not have yielded： you should have grappled with her at once；” said Mr。 Rochester。
“But under such circumstances； what could one do？” returned Mason。 “Oh； it was frightful！” he added； shuddering。 “And I did not expect it： she looked so quiet at first。”
“I warned you；” was his friend’s answer； “I said—be on your guard when you go near her。 Besides； you might have waited till to… morrow； and had me with you： it was mere folly to attempt the interview to…night； and alone。”
“I thought I could have done some good。”
“You thought！ you thought！ Yes； it makes me impatient to hear you： but； however； you have suffered； and are likely to suffer enough for not taking my advice； so I’ll say no more。 Carter—hurry！—hurry！ The sun will soon rise； and I must have him off。”
“Directly； sir； the shoulder is just bandaged。 I must look to this other wound in the arm： she has had her teeth here too； I think。”
“She sucked the blood： she said she’d drain my heart；” said Mason。
I saw Mr。 Rochester shudder： a singularly marked expression of disgust； horror； hatred； warped his countenance almost to distortion； but he only said—
“e； be silent； Richard； and never mind her gibberish： don’t repeat it。”
“I wish I could forget it；” was the answer。
“You will when you are out of the country： when you get back to Spanish Town； you may think of her as dead and buried—or rather； you need not think of her at all。”
“Impossible to forget this night！”
“It is not impossible： have some energy； man。 You thought you were as dead as a herring two hours since； and you are all alive and talking now。 There！—Carter has done with you or nearly so； I’ll make you decent in a trice。 Jane” （he turned to me for the first time since his re…entrance）； “take this key： go down into my bedroom； and walk straight forward into my dressing…room： open the top drawer of the wardrobe and take out a clean shirt and neck… handkerchief： bring them here； and be nimble。”
I went； sought the repository he had mentioned； found the articles named； and returned with them。
“Now；” said he； “go to the other side of the bed while I order his toilet； but don’t leave the room： you may be wanted again。”
I retired as directed。
“Was anybody stirring below when you r。 Rochester presently。
“No； sir； all was very still。”
“We shall get you off cannily； Dick： and it will be better； both for your sake； and for that of the poor creature in yonder。 I have striven long to avoid exposure； and I should not like it to e at last。 Here； Carter； help him on with his waist…coat。 Where did you leave your furred cloak？ You can’t travel a mile without that； I know； in this damned cold climate。 In your room？—Jane； run down to Mr。 Mason’s room；—the one next mine；—and fetch a cloak you will see there。”
Again I ran； and again returned； bearing an immense mantle lined and edged with fur。
“Now； I’ve another errand for you；” said my untiring master； “you must away to my room again。 What a mercy you are shod with velvet； Jane！—a clod…hopping messenger would never do at this juncture。 You must open the middle drawer of my toilet…table and take out a little phial and a little glass you will find there；—quick！”
I flew thither and back； bringing the desired vessels。
“That’s well！ Now； doctor； I shall take the liberty of administering a dose myself； on my own responsibility。 I got this cordial at Rome； of an Italian charlatan—a fellow you would have kicked； Carter。 It is not a thing to be used indiscriminately； but it is good upon occasion： as now； for instance。 Jane； a little water。”
He held out the tiny glass； and I half filled it from the water… bottle on the washstand。
“That will do；—now wet the lip of the phial。”
I did so； he measured twelve drops of a crimson liquid； and presented it to Mason。
“Drink； Richard： it will give you the heart you lack； for an hour or so。”
“But will it hurt me？—is it inflammatory？”
“Drink！ drink！ drink！”
Mr。 Mason obeyed； because it was evidently useless to resist。 He was dressed now： he still looked pale； but he was no longer gory and sullied。 Mr。 Rochester let him sit three minutes after he had swallowed the liquid； he then took his arm—
“Now I am sure you can get on your feet；” he said—“try。”
The patient rose。
“Carter； take him under the other shoulder。 Be of good cheer； Richard； step out—that’s it！”
“I do feel better；” remarked Mr。 Mason。
“I am sure you do。 Now； Jane； trip on before us away to the backstairs； unbolt the side…passage door； and tell the driver of the post…chaise you will see in the yard—or just outside； for I told him not to drive his rattling wheels over the pavement—to be ready； we are ing： and； Jane； if any one is about； e to the foot of the stairs and hem。”
It was by this time half…past five； and the sun was on the point of rising； but I found the kitchen still dark and silent。 The side… passage door was fastened； I opened it with as little noise as possible： all the yard was quiet； but the gates stood wide open； and there was a post…chaise； with horses ready harnessed； and driver seated on the box； stationed outside。 I approached him； and said the gentlemen were ing； he nodded： then I looked carefully round and listened。 The stillness of early morning slumbered everywhere； the curtains were yet drawn over the servants’ chamber windows； little birds were just twittering in the blossom…blanched orchard trees； whose boughs drooped like white garlands over the wall enclosing one side of the yard； the carriage horses stamped from time to time in their closed stables： all else was s