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together somewhere under the shelter of his protection； and not quite exiled from the sunshine of his presence。
A fortnight of dubious calm succeeded my return to Thornfield Hall。 Nothing was said of the master’s marriage； and I saw no preparation going on for such an event。 Almost every day I asked Mrs。 Fairfax if she had yet heard anything decided： her answer was always in the negative。 Once she said she had actually put the question to Mr。 Rochester as to when he was going to bring his bride home； but he had answered her only by a joke and one of his queer looks； and she could not tell what to make of him。
One thing specially surprised me； and that was； there were no journeyings backward and forward； no visits to Ingram Park： to be sure it was twenty miles off； on the borders of another county； but what was that distance to an ardent lover？ To so practised and indefatigable a horseman as Mr。 Rochester； it would be but a morning’s ride。 I began to cherish hopes I had no right to conceive： that the match was broken off； that rumour had been mistaken； that one or both parties had changed their minds。 I used to look at my master’s face to see if it were sad or fierce； but I could not remember the time when it had been so uniformly clear of clouds or evil feelings。 If； in the moments I and my pupil spent with him； I lacked spirits and sank into inevitable dejection； he became even gay。 Never had he called me more frequently to his presence； never been kinder to me when there—and； alas！ never had I loved him so well。
Chapter 23
A splendid Midsummer shone over England： skies so pure； suns so radiant as were then seen in long succession； seldom favour even singly； our wave…girt land。 It was as if a band of Italian days had e from the South； like a flock of glorious passenger birds； and lighted to rest them on the cliffs of Albion。 The hay was all got in； the fields round Thornfield were green and shorn； the roads white and baked； the trees were in their dark prime； hedge and wood； full…leaved and deeply tinted； contrasted well with the sunny hue of the cleared meadows between。
On Midsummer…eve； Adèle； weary with gathering wild strawberries in Hay Lane half the day； had gone to bed with the sun。 I watched her drop asleep； and when I left her； I sought the garden。
It was now the sweetest hour of the twenty…four：… “Day its fervid fires had wasted；” and dew fell cool on panting plain and scorched summit。 Where the sun had gone down in simple state—pure of the pomp of clouds—spread a solemn purple； burning with the light of red jewel and furnace flame at one point； on one hill…peak； and extending high and wide； soft and still softer； over half heaven。 The east had its own charm or fine deep blue； and its own modest gem； a casino and solitary star： soon it would boast the moon； but she was yet beneath the horizon。
I walked a while on the pavement； but a subtle； well…known scent— that of a cigar—stole from some window； I saw the library casement open a handbreadth； I knew I might be watched thence； so I went apart into the orchard。 No nook in the grounds more sheltered and more Eden…like； it was full of trees； it bloomed with flowers： a very high wall shut it out from the court； on one side； on the other； a beech avenue screened it from the lawn。 At the bottom was a sunk fence； its sole separation from lonely fields： a winding walk； bordered with laurels and terminating in a giant horse… chestnut； circled at the base by a seat； led down to the fence。 Here one could wander unseen。 While such honey…dew fell； such silence reigned； such gloaming gathered； I felt as if I could haunt such shade for ever； but in threading the flower and fruit parterres at the upper part of the enclosure； enticed there by the light the now rising moon cast on this more open quarter； my step is stayed— not by sound； not by sight； but once more by a warning fragrance。
Sweet…briar and southernwood； jasmine； pink； and rose have long been yielding their evening sacrifice of incense： this new scent is neither of shrub nor flower； it is—I know it well—it is Mr。 Rochester’s cigar。 I look round and I listen。 I see trees laden with ripening fruit。 I hear a nightingale warbling in a wood half a mile off； no moving form is visible； no ing step audible； but that perfume increases： I must flee。 I make for the wicket leading to the shrubbery； and I see Mr。 Rochester entering。 I step aside into the ivy recess； he will not stay long： he will soon return whence he came； and if I sit still he will never see me。
But no—eventide is as pleasant to him as to me； and this antique garden as attractive； and he strolls on； now lifting the gooseberry… tree branches to look at the fruit； large as plums； with which they are laden； now taking a ripe cherry from the wall； now stooping towards a knot of flowers； either to inhale their fragrance or to admire the dew…beads on their petals。 A great moth goes humming by me； it alights on a plant at Mr。 Rochester’s foot： he sees it； and bends to examine it。
“Now； he has his back towards me；” thought I； “and he is occupied too； perhaps； if I walk softly； I can slip away unnoticed。”
I trode on an edging of turf that the crackle of the pebbly gravel might not betray me： he was standing among the beds at a yard or two distant from where I had to pass； the moth apparently engaged him。 “I shall get by very well；” I meditated。 As I crossed his shadow； thrown long over the garden by the moon； not yet risen high； he said quietly； without turning—
“Jane； e and look at this fellow。”
I had made no noise： he had not eyes behind—could his shadow feel？ I started at first； and then I approached him。
“Look at his wings；” said he； “he reminds me rather of a West Indian insect； one does not often see so large and gay a night…rover in England； there！ he is flown。”
The moth roamed away。 I was sheepishly retreating also； but Mr。 Rochester followed me； and when we reached the wicket； he said—
“Turn back： on so lovely a night it is a shame to sit in the house； and surely no one can wish to go to bed while sunset is thus at meeting with moonrise。”
It is one of my faults； that though my tongue is sometimes prompt enough at an answer； there are times when it sadly fails me in framing an excuse； and always the lapse occurs at some crisis； when a facile word or plausible pretext is specially wanted to get me out of painful embarrassment。 I did not like to walk at this hour alone with Mr。 Rochester in the shadowy orchard； but I could not find a reason to allege for leaving him。 I followed with lagging step； and thoughts busily bent on discovering a means of extrication； but he himself looked so posed and so grave also； I became ashamed of feeling any confusion： the evil—if evil existent or prospective there was—seemed to lie with me only； his mind was unconscious and quiet。
“Jane；” he remenced； as we entered the laurel walk； and slowly strayed down in the direction of the sunk fence and the horse… chestnut； “Thornfield is a pleasant place in summer； is it not？”
“Yes； sir。”
“You must have bee in some degree attached to the house；—you； who have an eye for natural beauties； and a good deal of the organ of Adhesiveness？”
“I am attached to it； indeed。”
“And though I don’t prehend how it is； I perceive you have acquired a degree of regard for that foolish little child Adèle； too； and even for simple dame Fairfax？”
“Yes； sir； in different ways； I have an affection for both。”
“And would be sorry to part with them？”
“Yes。”
“Pity！” he said； and sighed and paused。 “It is always the way of events in this life；” he continued presently： “no sooner have you got settled in a pleasant resting…place； than a voice calls out to you to rise and move on； for the hour of repose is expired。”
“Must I move on； sir？” I asked。 “Must I leave Thornfield？”
“I believe you must； Jane。 I am sorry； Ja； but I believe indeed you must。”
This was a blow： but I did not let it prostrate me。
“Well； sir； I shall be ready when the order to march es。”
“It is e now—I must give it to…night。”
“Then you are going to be married； sir？”
“Ex…act…ly—pre…cise…ly： with your usual acuteness； you have hit the nail straight on the head