eep…　thrilling　chord—to　open　no　fresh　well　of　emotion　in　his　heart：　my　sole　present　aim　was　to　cheer　him。　Cheered；　as　I　have　said；　he　was：　and　yet　but　by　fits。　If　a　moment’s　silence　broke　the　conversation；　he　would　turn　restless；　touch　me；　then　say；　“Jane。”

“You　are　altogether　a　human　being；　Jane？　You　are　certain　of　that？”

“I　conscientiously　believe　so；　Mr。　Rochester。”

“Yet　how；　on　this　dark　and　doleful　evening；　could　you　so　suddenly　rise　on　my　lone　hearth？　I　stretched　my　hand　to　take　a　glass　of　water　from　a　hireling；　and　it　was　given　me　by　you：　I　asked　a　question；　expecting　John’s　wife　to　answer　me；　and　your　voice　spoke　at　my　ear。”

“Because　I　had　e　in；　in　Mary’s　stead；　with　the　tray。”

“And　there　is　enchantment　in　the　very　hour　I　am　now　spending　with　you。　Who　can　tell　what　a　dark；　dreary；　hopeless　life　I　have　dragged　on　for　months　past？　Doing　nothing；　expecting　nothing；　merging　night　in　day；　feeling　but　the　sensation　of　cold　when　I　let　the　fire　go　out；　of　hunger　when　I　forgot　to　eat：　and　then　a　ceaseless　sorrow；　and；　at　times；　a　very　delirium　of　desire　to　behold　my　Jane　again。　Yes：　for　her　restoration　I　longed；　far　more　than　for　that　of　my　lost　sight。　How　can　it　be　that　Jane　is　with　me；　and　says　she　loves　me？　Will　she　not　depart　as　suddenly　as　she　came？　To…morrow；　I　fear　I　shall　find　her　no　more。”

A　monplace；　practical　reply；　out　of　the　train　of　his　own　disturbed　ideas；　was；　I　was　sure；　the　best　and　most　reassuring　for　him　in　this　frame　of　mind。　I　passed　my　finger　over　his　eyebrows；　and　remarked　that　they　were　scorched；　and　that　I　would　apply　something　which　would　make　them　grow　as　broad　and　black　as　ever。

“Where　is　the　use　of　doing　me　good　in　any　way；　beneficent　spirit；　when；　at　some　fatal　moment；　you　will　again　desert　m