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way。 John； when I turned to him； was grinning from ear to ear。
“I telled Mary how it would be；” he said： “I knew what Mr。 Edward” （John was an old servant； and had known his master when he was the cadet of the house； therefore； he often gave him his Christian name）—“I knew what Mr。 Edward would do； and I was certain he would not wait long neither： and he’s done right； for aught I know。 I wish you joy； Miss！” and he politely pulled his forelock。
“Thank you； John。 Mr。 Rochester told me to give you and Mary this。” I put into his hand a five…pound note。 Without waiting to hear more； I left the kitchen。 In passing the door of that sanctum some time after； I caught the words—
“She’ll happen do better for him nor ony o’t’ grand ladies。” And again； “If she ben’t one o’ th’ handsomest； she’s noan faal and varry good…natured； and i’ his een she’s fair beautiful； onybody may see that。”
I wrote to Moor House and to Cambridge immediately； to say what I had done： fully explaining also why I had thus acted。 Diana and Mary approved the step unreservedly。 Diana announced that she would just give me time to get over the honeymoon； and then she would e and see me。
“She had better not wait till then； Jane；” said Mr。 Rochester； when I read her letter to him； “if she does； she will be too late； for our honeymoon will shine our life long： its beams will only fade over your grave or mine。”
How St。 John received the news； I don’t know： he never answered the letter in which I municated it： yet six months after he wrote to me； without； however； mentioning Mr。 Rochester’s name or alluding to my marriage。 His letter was then calm； and； though very serious； kind。 He has maintained a regular； though not frequent； correspondence ever since： he hopes I am happy； and trusts I am not of those who live without God in the world； and only mind earthly things。
You have not quite forgotten little Adèle； have you； reader？ I had not； I soon asked and obtained leave of Mr。 Rochester； to go and see her at the school where he had placed her。 Her frantic joy at beholding me again moved me much。 She looked pale and thin： she said she was not happy。 I found the rules of the establishment were too strict； its course of study too severe for a child of her age： I took her home with me。 I meant to bee her governess once more； but I soon found this impracticable； my time and cares y husband needed them all。 So I sought out a school conducted on a more indulgent system； and near enough to permit of my visiting her often； and bringing her home sometimes。 I took care she should never want for anything that could contribute to her fort： she soon settled in her new abode； became very happy there； and made fair progress in her studies。 As she grew up； a sound English education corrected in a great measure her French defects； and when she left school； I found in her a pleasing and obliging panion： docile； good…tempered； and well…principled。 By her grateful attention to me and mine； she has long since well repaid any little kindness I ever had it in my power to offer her。
My tale draws to its close： one word respecting my experience of married life； and one brief glance at the fortunes of those whose names have most frequently recurred in this narrative； and I have done。
I have now been married ten years。 I know what it is to live entirely for and with what I love best on earth。 I hold myself supremely blest—blest beyond what language can express； because I am my husband’s life as fully is he is mine。 No woman was ever nearer to her mate than I am： ever more absolutely bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh。 I know no weariness of my Edward’s society： he knows none of mine； any more than we each do of the pulsation of the heart that beats in our separate bosoms； consequently； we are ever together。 To be together is for us to be at once as free as in solitude； as gay as in pany。 We talk； I believe； all day long： to talk to each other is but a more animated and an audible thinking。 All my confidence is bestowed on him； all his confidence is devoted to me； we are precisely suited in character—perfect concord is the result。
Mr。 Rochester continued blind the first two years of our union； perhaps it was that circumstance that drew us so very near—that knit us so very close： for I was then his vision； as I am still his right hand。 Literally； I was （what he often called me） the apple of his eye。 He saw nature—he saw books through me； and never did I weary of gazing for his behalf； and of putting into words the effect of field； tree； town； river； cloud； sunbeam—of the landscape before us； of the weather round us—and impressing by sound on his ear what light could no longer stamp on his eye。 Never did I weary of reading to him； never did I weary of conducting him where he wished to go： of doing for him what he wished to be done。 And there was a pleasure in my services； most full； most exquisite； even though sad—because he claimed these services without painful shame or damping humiliation。 He loved me so truly； that he knew no reluctance in profiting by my attendance： he felt I loved him so fondly； that to yield that attendance was to indulge my sweetest wishes。
One morning at the end of the two years； as I was writing a letter to his dictation； he came and bent over me； and said—“Jane； have you a glittering ornament round your neck？”
I had a gold watch…chain： I answered “Yes。”
“And have you a pale blue dress on？”
I had。 He informed me then； that for some time he had fancied the obscurity clouding one eye was being less dense； and that now he was sure of it。
He and I went up to London。 He had the advice of an eminent oculist； and he eventually recovered the sight of that one eye。 He cannot now see very distinctly： he cannot read or write much； but he can find his way without being led by the hand： the sky is no longer a blank to him—the earth no longer a void。 When his first… born was put into his arms； he could see that the boy had inherited his own eyes； as they once were—large； brilliant； and black。 On that occasion； he again； with a full heart； acknowledged that God had tempered judgment with mercy。
My Edward and I； then； are h