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