Jane Eyre Page #3

Take it away and

disembowel it.

- Beautiful.

- Miss Eyre.

I'm not fond

of children.

Nor do I particularly enjoy

simple-minded old ladies.

But you might suit me,

if you would.

How, sir?

By distracting me from

the mire of my thoughts.

That is how Maman

used to say.

Precisely.

And that's how she

charmed my English gold

out of my English pocket.

Let's go

and try it on, shall we?

Your gaze is very

direct, Miss Eyre.

Do you think me handsome?

No, sir.

What fault do

you find with me?

I have all my limbs

and features.

I beg your pardon, sir.

I ought to have replied that

beauty is of little consequence.

You're blushing, Miss Eyre.

And though you're not pretty

any more than I am handsome,

I must say it becomes you.

And now I see you're fascinated

by the flowers on the rug.

Come, speak to me.

Fact is, Miss Eyre,

I'd like to draw you out.

You have rather the look

of another world about you.

I don't wish to treat

you as inferior.

Yet you'd command

me to speak?

Are you very hurt by

my tone of command?

There are few masters

who'd trouble to enquire

whether their paid

subordinates

were hurt by their commands.

Paid subordinate?

I'd forgotten the salary.

Well, on that

mercenary ground,

will you consent

to speak as my equal

without thinking that the

request arises from insolence?

I'd never mistake informality

for insolence, sir.

One, I rather like. The other,

nothing freeborn should ever submit to.

Humbug.

Even for a salary.

Most free-born things would

submit to anything for a salary.

But I mentally shake hands

with you for your answer.

Not three in 3,000

schoolgirl governesses

would have answered me

as you've just done.

Then you've not spent much

time in our company, sir.

I'm the same plain kind

of bird as all the rest,

with my common tale of woe.

I envy you.

How?

Your openness,

your unpolluted mind.

When I was your age,

fate dealt me a blow.

And since happiness

is denied me,

I've a right to get

pleasure in its stead.

And I will get it,

cost what it may.

Then you'll degenerate

still more.

But, Miss Eyre,

if the pleasure I was

seeking was sweet and fresh,

if it was an inspiration, if it

wore the robes of an angel of light,

what then?

To speak truth, sir,

I don't understand you at all.

I fear the conversation

has got out of my depth.

You're afraid of me.

I'm not afraid. I've simply

no wish to talk nonsense.

Do you never laugh,

Miss Eyre?

Only rarely, perhaps.

But you're not

naturally austere,

any more than

I'm naturally vicious.

I can see in you the glance

of a curious sort of bird

through the close-set

bars of a cage,

a vivid, restless captive.

Were it but free,

it would soar, cloud-high.

Leah,

have you seen Mrs. Poole?

Yes, ma'am.

The master's in no mood

for any more mistakes.

Who's there?

Wake up, sir! Wake up! Sir! Wake up!

The quilt!

Give it here!

A noise aroused me

from my sleep.

What noise?

There was someone

at my door.

Stay here.

Don't make a sound.

Say nothing about this.

You're no talking fool.

- But...

- I'll account for this state of affairs.

Say nothing.

Yes, sir.

Is that how you

would leave me?

Jane, fire is

a horrible death.

You've saved my life.

Don't walk past me

as if we were strangers.

But what am I to do then?

I've a pleasure in

owing you my life.

There is no debt.

I knew you would do me

good in some way.

I saw it in your eyes

when I first beheld you.

Their expression did not strike my

very inmost being so for nothing.

People talk of natural

sympathies. You...

Good night then, sir.

You will leave me, then?

I am cold.

Go.

Has Mr. Rochester

not sent for us today?

Why, he's gone away.

Were you not aware?

He left after breakfast.

He's gone to the Leas.

It's Mr. Eshton's place.

I believe Blanche

Ingram is there.

She's a great

favorite of his.

I saw her two years ago when

Mr. Rochester gave a party here.

She's a most

elegant girl.

They sang a duet together.

They made a lovely harmony.

I was quite surprised

he didn't make a proposal,

but she has no fortune.

In every other way they'd

make a splendid match.

Perhaps it's his

intention now.

He's far more likely to

have gone off to Europe.

He often goes without so

much as a fare-you-well,

and I don't see

him for a year.

I collected the burnt

linen from the master's room.

That's fine.

Just go make up the bed.

England is

a great power, Adle.

British ships set sail from here

to the outer limits of our empire,

navigating the five oceans

and four corners of our world.

From Canada, here, all the

way to the south of Africa

and the Cape of Good Hope.

Across the Indian Ocean,

to Australia and New Zealand,

and on to Burma, China,

India and Malaya.

Nothing.

On these distant horizons, you

will find all manner of men.

He's coming

back tomorrow.

He's given me directions

to prepare all the rooms.

I'm to get more staff

from the George Inn.

Miss Ingram's coming.

Supplies to be got,

the linen, mattresses...

I'll go to the George now.

No, no, I'll tell Martha...

May I assist you,

Mrs. Fairfax?

Oh...

South-facing rooms for

Lady Ingram and Miss Ingram.

Colonel Dent and Mrs. Dent

must have the river view.

I reckon master's taken

a fancy to that Miss Ingram.

He may well have

asked her already.

I'll wager

he will by end of week.

You mark my words.

Adle.

What's she saying?

Mr. Rochester is here.

Everybody out.

Edward.

Allow me,

Miss Ingram.

I'd forgotten

how masculine Thornfield is

I think

you need more flowers.

I have

the fairest of all on my arm.

Come away, Adle.

Tonight, he wants both of you

in the drawing room after dinner.

Not me, surely.

I'm instructed to tell you,

if you resist,

he'll come up

and get you himself.

But I don't have a dress.

Don't worry, child,

who'll notice?

Mademoiselle!

I thought you were

not fond of children, Mr. Rochester.

Nor am I, Lady Ingram.

What induced

you to take charge of her?

She was

left on my hands.

Why don't you

send her to school?

She has a governess.

Poor child. I had about

half a dozen in my day,

all detestable incubi.

It's true.

Mr. Rochester,

beware the governess.

Mama thinks

they're generally hysterics.

Or degenerates.

I thank heaven

I have done with them.

It's a miracle

I survived my education.

I remember Miss Wilson

screaming, "You villainous child!"

That's right. She tried

to set her hair on fire.

Frequently, I might add.

Anyway, enough

of this dreary race.

We shall have music

and a new subject.

Signor Eduardo,

what shall it be?

I give you beauty.

There's nothing new to be said.

I give you back

male beauty.

Well,

that's my son.

Hear hear.

A man should pay

no heed to his looks.

He should possess

only strength and valor.

Gentleman or highwayman,

his beauty lies

in his power.

Then a pirate

would do for you?

Why did you

leave the room?

I am tired, sir.

Why didn't you come

and speak to me?

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