Jane Eyre

jubilee. The rooks cawed, and blither birds sang; but nothing was so merry or so musical as my own rejoicing heart.
    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 up stairs. I met Adèle leaving the school-room.
    »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 daydream.«
    »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, – heir-looms 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 mind 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.«
    »No, no, sir! think of other subjects, and speak of other things, and in another strain. Don't address me as if I were a beauty; I am your plain, Quakerish governess.«
    »You are a beauty, in my eyes; and a beauty just after the desire of my heart, – delicate and aërial.«
    »Puny and insignificant, you mean. You are dreaming, sir – or you are sneering. For God's sake, don't be ironical!«
    »I will make the world acknowledge you a beauty, too,« he went on, while I really became uneasy at the strain he had adopted; because I felt he was either deluding himself, or trying to delude me. »I will attire my Jane in satin and lace, and she shall have roses in her hair; and I will cover the head I love best with a priceless veil.«
    »And then you won't know me, sir; and I shall not be your Jane Eyre any longer, but an ape in a harlequin's jacket, – a jay in borrowed plumes. I would as soon see you, Mr. Rochester, tricked out in stage-trappings, as myself clad in a court-lady's robe; and I don't call you handsome, sir, though I love you most dearly: far too dearly to flatter you. Don't flatter me.«
    He pursued his theme, however, without noticing my deprecation. »This very day I shall take you in the carriage to Millcote, and you must choose some dresses for yourself. I told you we shall be married in four weeks. The wedding is to take place quietly, in the church down below yonder; and then I shall waft you away at once to town. After a brief stay there, I shall bear my treasure to