Jane Eyre

however, you have suffered, and are likely to suffer enough for not taking my advice; so I'll say no more. Carter – hurry! – hurry! The sun will soon rise, and I must have him off.«
    »Directly, sir; the shoulder is just bandaged. I must look to this other wound in the arm: she has had her teeth here too, I think.«
    »She sucked the blood: she said she'd drain my heart,« said Mason.
    I saw Mr. Rochester shudder: a singularly marked expression of disgust, horror, hatred, warped his countenance almost to distortion; but he only said: –
    »Come, be silent, Richard, and never mind her gibberish: don't repeat it.«
    »I wish I could forget it,« was the answer.
    »You will when you are out of the country: when you get back to Spanish Town, you may think of her as dead and buried – or rather, you need not think of her at all.«
    »Impossible to forget this night!«
    »It is not impossible: have some energy, man. You thought you were as dead as a herring two hours since, and you are all alive and talking now. There! – Carter has done with you or nearly so; I'll make you decent in a trice. Jane,« (he turned to me for the first time since his re-entrance) »take this key: go down into my bed-room, and walk straight forward into my dressing-room; open the top drawer of the wardrobe and take out a clean shirt and neck-handkerchief: bring them here; and be nimble.«
    I went; sought the repository he had mentioned, found the articles named, and returned with them.
    »Now,« said he, »go to the other side of the bed while I order his toilet; but don't leave the room: you may be wanted again.«
    I retired as directed.
    »Was anybody stirring below when you went down, Jane?« inquired Mr. Rochester, presently.
    »No, sir; all was very still.«
    »We shall get you off cannily, Dick: and it will be better, both for your sake, and for that of the poor creature in yonder. I have striven long to avoid exposure, and I should not like it to come at last. Here, Carter, help him on with his waistcoat. Where did you leave your furred cloak? You can't travel a mile without that, I know, in this damned cold climate. In your room? – Jane, run down to Mr. Mason's room, – the one next mine, – and fetch a cloak you will see there.«
    Again I ran, and again returned, bearing an immense mantle lined and edged with fur.
    »Now, I've another errand for you,« said my untiring master; »you must away to my room again. What a mercy you are shod with velvet, Jane! – a clod-hopping messenger would never do at this juncture. You must open the middle drawer of my toilet-table and take out a little phial and a little glass you will find there, – quick!«
    I flew thither and back, bringing the desired vessels.
    »That's well! Now, doctor, I shall take the liberty of administering a dose myself; on my own responsibility. I got this cordial at Rome, of an Italian charlatan – a fellow you would have kicked, Carter. It is not a thing to be used indiscriminately, but it is good upon occasion: as now, for instance. Jane, a little water.«
    He held out the tiny glass, and I half filled it from the water bottle on the wash-stand.
    »That will do: – now wet the lip of the phial.«
    I did so: he measured twelve drops of a crimson liquid, and presented it to Mason.
    »Drink, Richard: it will give you the heart you lack, for an hour or so.«
    »But will it hurt me? – is it inflammatory?«
    »Drink! drink! drink!«
    Mr. Mason obeyed, because it was evidently useless to resist. He was dressed now: he still looked pale, but he was no longer gory and sullied. Mr. Rochester let him sit three minutes after he had swallowed the liquid; he then took his arm: –
    »Now I am sure you can get on your feet,« he said: – »try.«
    The patient rose.
    »Carter, take him under the other shoulder. Be of good cheer, Richard; step out: – that's it!«
    »I do feel better,« remarked Mr. Mason.
    »I am sure you do. Now, Jane, trip on before us away to the backstairs; unbolt the side-passage door, and tell the driver of the post-chaise you will see in the yard – or just outside, for I told him not to drive his rattling wheels over the pavement – to be ready; we are coming: and, Jane, if any one is about, come to the foot of the stairs and hem.«
    It was by this time half-past five, and the sun was on the point of rising; but I found the kitchen still dark and silent. The side-passage door was fastened; I opened it with as little noise as possible: all