Mrs. Fairfax surprised me by looking out of the window with a sad countenance, and saying gravely —­ “Miss Eyre, will you come to breakfast?” During the meal she was quiet and cool:  but I could not undeceive her then.  I must wait for my master to give explanations; and so must she.  I ate what I could, and then I hastened upstairs.  I met Adele leaving the schoolroom.

“Where are you going?  It is time for lessons.”

“Mr. Rochester has sent me away to the nursery.”

“Where is he?”

“In there,” pointing to the apartment she had left; and I went in, and there he stood.

“Come and bid me good-morning,” said he.  I gladly advanced; and it was not merely a cold word now, or even a shake of the hand that I received, but an embrace and a kiss.  It seemed natural:  it seemed genial to be so well loved, so caressed by him.

“Jane, you look blooming, and smiling, and pretty,” said he:  “truly pretty this morning.  Is this my pale, little elf?  Is this my mustard-seed?  This little sunny-faced girl with the dimpled cheek and rosy lips; the satin-smooth hazel hair, and the radiant hazel eyes?” (I had green eyes, reader; but you must excuse the mistake:  for him they were new-dyed, I suppose.)

“It is Jane Eyre, sir.”

“Soon to be Jane Rochester,” he added:  “in four weeks, Janet; not a day more.  Do you hear that?”

I did, and I could not quite comprehend it:  it made me giddy.  The feeling, the announcement sent through me, was something stronger than was consistent with joy —­ something that smote and stunned.  It was, I think almost fear.

“You blushed, and now you are white, Jane:  what is that for?”

“Because you gave me a new name —­ Jane Rochester; and it seems so strange.”

“Yes, Mrs. Rochester,” said he; “young Mrs. Rochester —­ Fairfax Rochester’s girl-bride.”

“It can never be, sir; it does not sound likely.  Human beings never enjoy complete happiness in this world.  I was not born for a different destiny to the rest of my species:  to imagine such a lot befalling me is a fairy tale —­ a day-dream.”

“Which I can and will realise.  I shall begin to-day.  This morning I wrote to my banker in London to send me certain jewels he has in his keeping, —­ heirlooms for the ladies of Thornfield.  In a day or two I hope to pour them into your lap:  for every privilege, every attention shall be yours that I would accord a peer’s daughter, if about to marry her.”

“Oh, sir! —­ never rain jewels!  I don’t like to hear them spoken of.  Jewels for Jane Eyre sounds unnatural and strange:  I would rather not have them.”

“I will myself put the diamond chain round your neck, and the circlet on your forehead, —­ which it will become:  for nature, at least, has stamped her patent of nobility on this brow, Jane; and I will clasp the bracelets on these fine wrists, and load these fairy-like fingers with rings.”