Jane Eyre Page #5

Far more than I'm prepared for.

Who's that riding with Mr. Rochester?

Why, that's Blanche lngram, my dear.

Haven't you heard about Miss lngram

and Mr. Rochester?

She's quite an old flame of his.

it wouldn't surprise me if it came to

an engagement one of these days.

Such a beautiful girl, isn't she?

Where's Miss lngram's bath?

Coming as quickly as we can.

Adele, why aren't you in the nursery?

Oh, mademoiselle, let me look.

No, dear. You're in the way.

Didn't I tell you that Blanche had

set her cap at him?

Well, he's very romantic

and enormously rich.

Oh, Miss Eyre, Mr. Rochester

wishes you to bring Adele to

the drawing room after dinner.

Oh, please send Adele by herself.

He only asked me out of politeness.

That's what I thought.

I told him you weren't used to copany.

''Nonsense,'' he said.

''If she objects, I'll come

and fetch her myself.''

Oh course, you must wear your very best

my dear. I...I think the black.

Then I got 2 more birds with

my spare gun.

Well, perhaps we'd better leave

the gentlemen to their port.

They're coming, mademoiselle.

Bonsoir, madame.

What's your name?

Adele.

Now, Blanche, stop teasing

Mr. Rochester.

Come along, my angel.

(Singing in foreign language)

Splendid match, Sir George.

What a striking couple.

Very fortunate, isn't it?

Fine shoulders, eh, Ned?

(French)

Monsieur Rochester, may I sing now?

I think we've heard enough music.

Edward, I thought you weren't fond

of children.

No. Nor am I. Run along, dear.

Who introduced you to take charge of

such a little puppet?

Where did you pick her up?

I did not pick her up.

She was left on my hands.

Well, I suppose you have

a governess for her.

I saw a person with her just now.

Is she gone?

Oh, no, there she is.

Still hiding in the corner.

You should hear mama on

the subject of governesses.

Governesses?

Don't speak to me of governesses.

The martyrdom I've endured

with those creatures.

The clever ones are detestable,

while the others are grotesque.

How do you do?

Very well, sir.

Why did you not come speak to me in

the drawing room?

I didn't wish to disturb you as

you seemed engaged.

What have you been going

while I've been away?

Teaching Adele as usual.

Yes, and getting a good deal paler

than you were.

What's the matter?

Nothing.

Take cold the night of the fire.

No, sir.

Go back to the drawing room.

You're leaving too early.

I'm a little tired, sir.

Yes, and a little depressed.

What about?

I'm not depressed, sir.

But I tell you you are.

So much depressed that a few words more

and there'll be tears in your eyes.

See? They're there now.

Shining, swimming.

who the devil's that?

I wish to see Mr. Rochester.

What name shall I say, sir.

Tell him Mr. Mason--

Mr. Mason of Spanish town, Jamaica.

Very good, sir.

Mason.

Spanish town.

I wish I were on a quiet island with

only you;

trouble and danger

and hideous recollection far away.

Can I help you, sir?

If help is needed,

I'll seek it at your hands.

I promise you that.

Jane, if all the people in that room

came and spat on me, what would you do?

I'd turn them out of the room,

if I could.

If I were to go to them,

and they only looked coldly at me

and dropped off and left me,

one by one, what then?

Would you go with them?

I would stay with you, sir.

To comfort me?

Yes, sir.

To comfort you as well as I could.

Edward.

I shall not be so hypocritical as to

say you are welcome in this house.

Follow me, Mason.

Aah!

What is it? What's happened?

The noise came from down there.

Where the devil's Edward,

I'd like to know.

Here he is.

Edward!

Edward, you haven't been hurt,have you?

Put that pistol away, colonel.

Artillery's no good for nightmares.

Nightmares?

That's all it was. One of the maids

had a bad dream, woke up screaming.

Moral of that is, don't eat toasted

cheese for supper.

Now, ladies, you all go to your rooms.

Lady Ingram, you set the good example.

I'll declare I'm quite disappointed.

I was so looking forward to seeing

Uncle Percy shoot a robber.

Now, Blanche, less of your levity.

Good night, Edward.

Sweet dreams, my courageous Blanche.

Jane, are you awake?

Yes, sir.

Come out then quietly.

Come this way and make no noise.

You don't turn sick at the sight of

blood, do you?

I've never been tried.

Give me your hand.

Won't do to risk a fainting fit.

Warm and steady.

Jane, what you see may shcok

and frighten and confuse you.

I beg you not to seek an explanation.

Don't try to understand.

Whatever the appearance,

you must trust me.

Jane, I'm going to leave you in

this room with this gentleman

while I fetch a surgeon.

You will sponge the blood as I do now.

If he comes to, do not speak to him on

any account.

Do you understand me?

Whatever happens, do not move from here

Whatever happens, do not open a door.

Either door.

Now, doctor, be on the alert.

I give you half an hour for dressing

the wound

and getting the patient downstairs

and all.

Edward, I'm done for, I fear.

Nonsense. Lost a little blood

that's all.

She sank her teeth into me

like a tigress.

She said she'd drain my heart's blood

Be silent, Mason, Forget it.

Aha!

Jane.

Yes, sir.

Go and get some things on.

Go down the back stairs and bolt

the side-passage door.

You'll find a carriage waiting.

See if the driver's ready.

I shall be down in a moment.

Mason, I told you not to come up here!

I thought I could have done some good.

You thought! You thought!

Come, doctor. Hurry.

We must have him off.

I've tried so long to avoid exposure.

I shall make very certain

it doesn't come now.

Take care of him, doctor.

don't let him leave your house

until he's quite well.

Edward.

Well, what is it?

Let her be taken care of.

Let her be treated as tenderly

as may be.

I do my best and have done it

and will do it.

Jane, come here a few minutes

where there's some freshness.

That house is a dungeon, a sepulcher.

Here everything is fresh

and real and pure.

We passed a strange night, Jane.

You're a little pale.

Mr. Rochester,

will Grace Poole live here still?

Yes, Grace Poole will stay.

After last night?

Don't ask for explanations.

Just believe me when I tell you that

there are reasons for it. Good reasons.

You're my little friend, Jane,

aren't you?

I like to serve you, sir,

in everything that's right.

But if I asked you to do something you

thought was wrong, what then?

My little friend would turn to

be very quiet and pale,

and say,''Oh, no, sir, it's impossible.''

Am I right?

Jane, I want you to use your fancy.

Suppose yourself a boy,

a thoughtless, impetuous boy indulged

from childhood upwards.

Imagine yourself in some remote,

foreign land.

Conceive that you there commit

a capital error,

one that cuts you off from

the possibility of all human joys!

You're in despair.

You wan der about vainly seeking

contentment and empty plea sure.

Then, suddenly,

fate offers you the chance of

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