I nodded and rose. There were no bridesmaids and no guests: none but Mr. Rochester and I. Mrs. Fairfax stood in the hall as we passed out.

Mr. Rochester paused at the churchyard gate. The grey old house of God rose calm before me. A rook was wheeling round the steeple, and the morning sky was red beyond. I noticed the figures of two strangers straying amongst the mossy headstones. Mr. Rochester led me up the path to the porch.

We entered the quiet church. The priest was waiting in his white surplice at the lowly altar, the clerk beside him. All was still: two shadows only moved in a far corner. The strangers had slipped in before us, and now stood with their backs to us, looking at an old tomb.

We took our place at the communion rail. I heard a quiet step behind me and glanced over my shoulder. One of the strangers was coming up the chancel. The service began; went on. At last the clergyman put out his hand to Mr. Rochester and asked: "Wilt thou have this woman for thy wedded wife?"

ТРЕК 13_02

Before Mr. Rochester could answer, a near voice said:

"The marriage cannot go on. It must be stopped at once."

The clergyman looked up at the speaker, and stood mute. Mr. Rochester moved slightly, as if an earthquake had rolled under his feet, and then, without turning his head or eyes, he said: "Go on!"

There was a little silence. Mr. Rochester took my hand. The man who had spoken from behind us came forward and leaned on the rails.

"The marriage cannot go on," he said, calmly and steadily. "Mr. Rochester has a wife now living."

My nerves shook to those low-spoken words. I looked at Mr. Rochester: I made him look at me. His face was pale and as hard as rock. He twined my waist with his arm, and turned to the stranger.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"My name is Briggs. I am a solicitor, and my offices are in London."

"And you tell me that I already have a wife? Tell me also her name and where she lives."

"Certainly," said Mr. Briggs, and he calmly took a paper from his pocket.

"You were married fifteen years ago," he said, "to Bertha Antoinette Mason, at Jamaica, in the West Indies. I have a copy of the record of the marriage."

"That does not prove that my wife is still living."

"She was living three months ago," returned the solicitor.

"How do you know?"

"I have a witness to the fact."

"Produce him."

"I will - he is on the spot. Mr. Mason, have the goodness to step forward."

Mr. Rochester, on hearing the name, set his teeth. The second stranger, who had waited in the background, now drew near. Yes, it was Mason himself. Mr. Rochester turned and glared at him, and lifted his strong arm. Mason shrank away in fright.

"Well?" asked Mr. Rochester. "What have you to say?"

"Your wife is now living at Thornfield Hall," said Mason. "I saw her there last April." He turned to the clergyman. "I am her brother," he said.

"At Thornfield Hall!" exclaimed the clergyman. "Impossible! I never heard of a Mrs. Rochester at Thornfield."

I saw a grim smile twist Mr. Rochester's lips.

ТРЕК 13_03

"No," he said, "I took care that none should hear of her under that name. Enough! Wood, take off your surplice. There will be no wedding today."

The man obeyed. Mr. Rochester went on.

"Gentlemen, I did not mean to do wrong. What this lawyer and his client say is truethe woman to whom I was married lives. You've never heard of a Mrs. Rochester, Wood; but I daresay you've heard the gossip about the mysterious lunatic at the Hall, who is kept under lock and key. I now tell you that she is my wife. Bertha Mason is mad, however, and she came of a mad familysomething I found out only after we were married. Briggs, Wood, Mason I invite you all to come up to the house and visit Mrs. Poole's patient. This girl," he went on, looking at me, "knew nothing of my disgusting secret. Come, all of you, follow!"

Still holding me fast, he left the church, the three gentlemen coming after. At the front door of the hall we found the carriage.

"Take it back to the coach-house, John," said Mr. Rochester coolly. "It will not be wanted today."

He passed into the house and went up the stairs, still holding my hand, and with the other gentlemen following. We mounted the first staircase, went on to the third storey. Mr. Rochester took out a key and opened a low, black door. We went into the tapestried room, with its great bed.

"You know this place, Mason," said our guide. "She bit and stabbed you here."

He lifted the hangings from the hall, uncovering the second door: this, too, he opened. In a room without a window there burnt a fire. Grace Poole bent over it, cooking something in a saucepan. In the deep shadow at the far end a figure ran backwards and forwards. It growled like some strange wild animal; but it was covered with clothing, and a wild mane of hair hid its head and face.

The creature suddenly gave a fierce cry.

"Sir! she sees you!" exclaimed Grace. "You'd better not stay. Take care, sir!"

The three gentlemen stepped back. Mr. Rochester flung me behind him. The lunatic sprang.

She was a big woman, and strong. He could have settled her with a blow, but he would not strike her. At last he mastered her arms. Grace Poole gave him a cord, and he tied them behind her; with more rope he bound her to a chair. She struggled all the time, and kept giving the fiercest yells. Mr. Rochester turned to the horrified watchers with a twisted smile.

"Gentlemen," he said, "that is my wife!"

ТРЕК 14_01

Chapter Fourteen

Flight

Some time in the afternoon I raised my head and saw the western sun gilding the walls of my room. There I had lain since I left the room on the third floor, asking myself the same question over again and over again: "What am I to do?"

At last I made up my mind. I would leave Thornfield at once. I rose and stumbled to the door. I drew the bolt and passed out. I stumbled: my head was dizzy, my sight dim, and my limbs feeble. I fell, but not to the ground, for an outstretched arm caught me. I looked upI was held by Mr. Rochester, who sat in a chair across the threshold of my room.

"I've been waiting for you," he said. "Jane, will you ever forgive me? I did not mean to hurt you!"