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Very soon, mythat is, Miss Eyre: and youll remember, Jane, the first time I, or Rumour, plainly intimated to you that it was my intention to put my old bachelors neck into the sacred noose, to enter into the holy estate of matrimonyto take Miss Ingram to my bosom, in short (shes an extensive armful: but thats not to the pointone cant have too much of such a very excellent thing as my beautiful Blanche): well, as I was sayinglisten to me, Jane! Youre not turning your head to look after more moths, are you? That was only a lady-clock, child, flying away home. I wish to remind you that it was you who first said to me, with that discretion I respect in youwith that foresight, prudence, and humility which befit your responsible and dependent positionthat in case I married Miss Ingram, both you and little Adèle had better trot forthwith. I pass over the sort of slur conveyed in this suggestion on the character of my beloved; indeed, when you are far away, Janet, Ill try to forget it: I shall notice only its wisdom; which is such that I have made it my law of action. Adèle must go to school; and you, Miss Eyre, must get a new situation. Yes, sir, I will advertise immediately: and meantime, I suppose I was going to say, I suppose I may stay here, till I find another shelter to betake myself to: but I stopped, feeling it would not do to risk a long sentence, for my voice was not quite under command. In about a month I hope to be a bridegroom, continued Mr. Rochester; and in the interim, I shall myself look out for employment and an asylum for you. Thank you, sir; I am sorry to give Oh, no need to apologise! I consider that when a dependent does her duty as well as you have done yours, she has a sort of claim upon her employer for any little assistance he can conveniently render her; indeed I have already, through my future mother-in-law, heard of a place that I think will suit: it is to undertake the education of the five daughters of Mrs. Dionysius OGall of Bitternutt Lodge, Connaught, Ireland. Youll like Ireland, I think: theyre such warm-hearted people there, they say. It is a long way off, sir. No mattera girl of your sense will not object to the voyage or the distance. Not the voyage, but the distance: and then the sea is a barrier From what, Jane? From England and from Thornfield: and Well? From you, sir. I said this almost involuntarily, and, with as little sanction of free will, my tears gushed out. I did not cry so as to be heard, however; I avoided sobbing. The thought of Mrs. OGall and Bitternutt Lodge struck cold to my heart; and colder the thought of all the brine and foam, destined, as it seemed, to rush between me and the master at whose side I now walked, and coldest the remembrance of the wider oceanwealth, caste, custom intervened between me and what I naturally and inevitably loved. It is a long way, I again said. It is, to be sure; and when you get to Bitternutt Lodge, Connaught, Ireland, I shall never see you again, Jane: thats morally certain. I never go over to Ireland, not having myself much of a fancy for the country. We have been good friends, Jane; have we not? Yes, sir. |
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