“Go back now into the room; step quietly up to Mason, and whisper in his ear that Mr. Rochester is come and wishes to see him:  show him in here and then leave me.”

“Yes, sir.”

I did his behest.  The company all stared at me as I passed straight among them.  I sought Mr. Mason, delivered the message, and preceded him from the room:  I ushered him into the library, and then I went upstairs.

At a late hour, after I had been in bed some time, I heard the visitors repair to their chambers:  I distinguished Mr. Rochester’s voice, and heard him say, “This way, Mason; this is your room.”

He spoke cheerfully:  the gay tones set my heart at ease.  I was soon asleep.

CHAPTER XX

I had forgotten to draw my curtain, which I usually did, and also to let down my window-blind.  The consequence was, that when the moon, which was full and bright (for the night was fine), came in her course to that space in the sky opposite my casement, and looked in at me through the unveiled panes, her glorious gaze roused me.  Awaking in the dead of night, I opened my eyes on her disk —­ silver-white and crystal clear.  It was beautiful, but too solemn; I half rose, and stretched my arm to draw the curtain.

Good God!  What a cry!

The night —­ its silence —­ its rest, was rent in twain by a savage, a sharp, a shrilly sound that ran from end to end of Thornfield Hall.

My pulse stopped:  my heart stood still; my stretched arm was paralysed.  The cry died, and was not renewed.  Indeed, whatever being uttered that fearful shriek could not soon repeat it:  not the widest-winged condor on the Andes could, twice in succession, send out such a yell from the cloud shrouding his eyrie.  The thing delivering such utterance must rest ere it could repeat the effort.

It came out of the third storey; for it passed overhead.  And overhead —­ yes, in the room just above my chamber-ceiling —­ I now heard a struggle:  a deadly one it seemed from the noise; and a half-smothered voice shouted —

“Help! help! help!” three times rapidly.

“Will no one come?” it cried; and then, while the staggering and stamping went on wildly, I distinguished through plank and plaster:-

“Rochester!  Rochester! for God’s sake, come!”

A chamber-door opened:  some one ran, or rushed, along the gallery.  Another step stamped on the flooring above and something fell; and there was silence.

I had put on some clothes, though horror shook all my limbs; I issued from my apartment.  The sleepers were all aroused:  ejaculations, terrified murmurs sounded in every room; door after door unclosed; one looked out and another looked out; the gallery filled.  Gentlemen and ladies alike had quitted their beds; and “Oh! what is it?” —­ “Who is hurt?” —­ “What has happened?” —­ “Fetch a light!” —­ “Is it fire?” —­ “Are there robbers?” —­ “Where shall we run?” was demanded confusedly on all hands.  But for the moonlight they would have been in complete darkness.  They ran to and fro; they crowded together:  some sobbed, some stumbled:  the confusion was inextricable.