Jane Eyre Page #4

I haven't seen you

for weeks.

It would have been normal and

polite to wish me good evening.

You seemed engaged.

You look pale.

I am well.

What have you been doing

while I've been away?

Teaching Adle.

You're depressed.

What's the meaning of this?

Your eyes are full...

What is it?

There's a gentleman

to see you, sir.

From Spanish Town,

Jamaica.

And indeed I think he does

come from some hot place

because he won't

take off his coat.

Mr. Richard Mason.

I've put him in

the morning room.

Have I done wrong?

Bring him to my study.

Jane, this is a blow.

If I were to go

to those people

and they looked at me

coldly and sneered,

and then left me

one by one,

what would you do?

Would you go with them?

No, sir.

I'd stay with you.

You'd dare condemnation

for my sake?

For the sake of any friend

who deserved it.

Richard.

Fairfax.

How the devil are you?

Splendid.

I'm sorry. I see

you have guests.

'Tis no trouble. Come.

What on Earth was that?

- Where is Rochester?

- Wait for me.

I'm here. Be composed. A servant

has had a nightmare, that's all.

I must see you back

into your rooms

because until

the house is settled,

she can't be

properly looked after.

Is there

anything I might do?

Miss Ingram,

ladies, please,

return to your nests

like the doves that you are.

I assure you,

all is well.

Noisy old house.

Come, my lily flower.

I told you

it was nothing.

Please.

Come with me.

Can you clean this?

Yes.

Drink, Richard. It will

give you the strength you lack.

- Will it hurt me?

- Drink!

I must go for the doctor.

Sponge the blood

away when it returns.

Give him water

if he wants it.

Do not speak to him

for any reason.

And, Richard,

on pain of death,

do not speak to her.

How does he?

He is sleeping.

Hurry, Carter.

Be on alert.

The sun will soon rise

and he must be gone.

Let's have a look,

shall we?

Flesh is torn

as well as cut.

Very, very unpleasant.

- Fairfax.

- Drive!

It's a strange night

you've passed.

Yes, sir.

You showed no fear.

I was afraid of

the inner room.

You were in no danger.

Mr. Rochester,

who did that violence?

I cannot tell you.

Why do you protect them?

I drag through life

a capital error.

Its consequence

blights my existence.

For years, I've sought

to escape it.

This spring, I came home

heart-sore and soul-withered.

And I met a gentle stranger

whose society revives me.

With her, I feel

I could live again

in a higher, purer way.

Tell me,

am I justified in overleaping an

obstacle of custom to attain her?

There is an obstacle?

A mere conventional

impediment.

But what can it be?

If you cherish

an affection, sir,

then fortune alone

cannot impede you.

Yes.

And if the lady

is of noble stock

and has indicated that

she may reciprocate...

Jane, of whom do

you think I speak?

Of Miss Ingram.

I'm asking what Jane Eyre

would do to secure my happiness?

I would do

anything for you, sir.

Anything that was right.

You transfix me quite.

I feel I can speak

to you now

of my lovely one,

for you've met her

and you know her.

She's a rare one,

isn't she?

Fresh and healthy,

without soil or taint.

I'm sure she'll regenerate

me with a vengeance.

You look

ridiculous.

This game is ridiculous.

Excuse me, sir.

Does that creeping

creature want you?

Excuse me.

This is from my

old nurse, Bessie.

She says my cousin

John Reed is dead.

He squandered his fortune

and has committed suicide.

The news has so

shocked my aunt,

it's brought on a stroke.

What, the aunt

who cast you out?

She's been asking for me.

I parted from her badly and I

can't neglect her wishes now.

Promise me

you won't stay long.

Mr. Rochester,

I've had no wages.

I need funds for my journey.

How much do I owe you?

Thirty pounds.

Here's 50.

That's too much.

Take your wages, Jane.

I cannot.

Then I only have 10.

Now you owe me.

Indeed I do.

Meantime, I shall

safeguard it here.

Do you trust me

to keep it?

Not a whit, sir.

You are not to be

trusted at all.

Jane Eyre.

I've twice done

you wrong.

And I broke the vow

I made to Reed.

Please, don't think of it.

Open that box.

Take out the letter

and read it.

"Madam,

"will you have the goodness

to send me

"the address of my

niece, Jane Eyre?

"I desire her to come

to me at Madeira.

"Fortune has blessed

my endeavors,

"and as I am childless,

I wish to adopt her

"and bequeath her at my death

whatever I may have to leave.

"Yours, John Eyre, Madeira."

This is dated three years ago.

Why did I never hear of it?

Because I wrote

and told him

you'd died of typhus

at Lowood School.

You called the names of

the dead down upon me.

You cursed me.

I would have loved you

if you'd let me.

You were born

to be my torment.

Then love me or

hate me as you will.

You have my full

and free forgiveness.

Be at peace.

My dear uncle,

Some years ago, my Aunt Reed mistakenly

informed you that I had died.

I am writing to tell you

that I'm very much alive

and gratified to find

I have a relative.

I look forward to

our correspondence,

hoping one day we may meet.

I'm currently living

at Thornfield Hall,

where I am governess to the ward of

Mr. Edward Fairfax Rochester.

Ah. There you are.

Just like one

of your tricks,

to steal in along

with the twilight.

If I dared I'd touch you

to see if you were real.

Come, Jane.

Stay your wandering feet

at a friend's threshold.

Thank you, Mr. Rochester,

for your great kindness.

I'm strangely glad

to get back again.

There's been

nothing official yet,

but he's ordered

jewels from his bank

and he's making preparations

to travel to Europe.

Mademoiselle.

He's taken to singing,

the operas Miss Ingram

favors so well.

We'll hear their

announcement soon, I'm sure.

You are to be married.

I see Mrs. Fairfax has

intimated my intention

to put my neck

into the sacred noose.

Adle should

go to school,

and I must seek

another situation.

Congratulations, sir.

Thornfield is a pleasant

place in spring, isn't it?

Yes, sir.

You'll be sorry

to part with it.

It's always the way

with events in life.

No sooner

have you got settled

than a voice cries,

"Rise and move on!"

I'll find you

a new situation, Jane,

one I hope

that you'll accept.

I shall be ready when

your order to march comes.

Must I really lose a faithful

paid subordinate such as yourself?

You must.

We've been good friends,

haven't we?

Yes, sir.

I've a strange feeling

with regard to you,

as if I had a string

somewhere under my left ribs,

tightly knotted to

a similar string in you.

And if you were to leave,

I'm afraid that cord

of communion would snap.

And I've a notion that I'd

take to bleeding inwardly.

As for you,

you'd forget me.

How?

I have lived

a full life here.

I have not been

trampled on.

I have not

been petrified.

I have not been excluded from

every glimpse of what is bright.

I have known you,

Mr. Rochester,

and it strikes me with

anguish to be torn from you.

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