Thornfield。 “Was it known how it originated？” I demanded。
“They guessed； ma’am： they guessed。 Indeed； I should say it was ascertained beyond a doubt。 You are not perhaps aware；” he continued； edging his chair a little nearer the table； and speaking low； “that there was a lady—a—a lunatic； kept in the house？”
“I have heard something of it。”
“She was kept in very close confinement； ma’am： people even for some years was not absolutely certain of her existence。 No one saw her： they only knew by rumour that such a person was at the Hall； and who or what she was it was difficult to conjecture。 They said Mr。 Edward had brought her from abroad； and some believed she had been his mistress。 But a queer thing happened a year since—a very queer thing。”
I feared now to hear my own story。 I endeavoured to recall him to the main fact。
“And this lady？”
“This lady； ma’am；” he answered； “turned out to be Mr。 Rochester’s wife！ The discovery was brought about in the strangest way。 There was a young lady； a governess at the Hall； that Mr。 Rochester fell in—”
“But the fire；” I suggested。
“I’m ing to that； ma’am—that Mr。 Edward fell in love with。 The servants say they never saw anybody so much in love as he was： he was after her continually。 They used to watch him—servants will； you know； ma’am—and he set store on her past everything： for all； nobody but him thought her so very handsome。 She was a little small thing； they say； almost like a child。 I never saw her myself； but I’ve heard Leah； the house…maid； tell of her。 Leah liked her well enough。 Mr。 Rochester was about forty； and this governess not twenty； and you see； when gentlemen of his age fall in love with girls； they are often like as if they were bewitched。 Well； he would marry