Page 474 - jane-eyre

devious through all its lands. My fixed desire was to seek
and find a good and intelligent woman, whom I could love:
a contrast to the fury I left at Thornfield—‘
‘But you could not marry, sir.’
‘I had determined and was convinced that I could and
ought. It was not my original intention to deceive, as I have
deceived you. I meant to tell my tale plainly, and make my
proposals openly: and it appeared to me so absolutely ra-
tional that I should be considered free to love and be loved,
I never doubted some woman might be found willing and
able to understand my case and accept me, in spite of the
curse with which I was burdened.’
‘Well, sir?’
‘When you are inquisitive, Jane, you always make me
smile. You open your eyes like an eager bird, and make
every now and then a restless movement, as if answers in
speech did not flow fast enough for you, and you wanted
to read the tablet of one’s heart. But before I go on, tell me
what you mean by your ‘Well, sir?’ It is a small phrase very
frequent with you; and which many a time has drawn me on
and on through interminable talk: I don’t very well know
why.’
‘I mean,—What next? How did you proceed? What came
of such an event?’
‘Precisely! and what do you wish to know now?’
‘Whether you found any one you liked: whether you
asked her to marry you; and what she said.’
‘I can tell you whether I found any one I liked, and
whether I asked her to marry me: but what she said is yet to