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solitary lane； till I see you are fit to mount your horse。'
He looked at me when I said this； he had hardly turned his eyes
in my direction before。
'I should think you ought to be at home yourself；' said he； 'if you
have a home in this neighbourhood： where do you come from？'
'From just below； and I am not at all afraid of being out late when
it is moonlight： I will run over to Hay for you with pleasure； if
you wish it： indeed； I am going there to post a letter。'
'You live just below… do you mean at that house with the
battlements？' pointing to Thornfield Hall； on which the moon cast a
hoary gleam； bringing it out distinct and pale from the woods； that；
by contrast with the western sky； now seemed one mass of shadow。
'Yes； sir。'
'Whose house is it？'
'Mr。 Rochester's。'
'Do you know Mr。 Rochester？'
'No； I have never seen him。'
'He is not resident； then？'
'No。'
'Can you tell me where he is？'
'I cannot。'
'You are not a servant at the hall； of course。 You are…' He
stopped； ran his eye over my dress； which； as usual； was quite simple：
a black merino cloak； a black beaver bonnet； neither of them half fine
enough for a lady's…maid。 He seemed puzzled to decide what I was； I
helped him。
'I am the governess。'
'Ah； the governess！' he repeated； 'deuce take me； if I had not
forgotten！ The governess！' and again my raiment underwent scrutiny。 In
two minutes he rose from the stile： his face expressed pain when he
tried to move。
'I cannot commission you to fetch help；' he said； 'but you may help
me a little yourself； if you will be so kind。'
'Yes； sir。'
'You have not an umbrella that I can use as a stick？'
'No。'
'Try to get hold of my horse's bridle and lead him to me： you are
not afraid？'
I should have been afraid to touch a horse when alone； but when
told to do it； I was disposed to obey。 I put down my muff on the
stile； and went up to the tall steed； I endeavoured to catch the
bridle； but it was a spirited thing； and would not let me come near
its head； I made effort on effort； though in vain： meantime； I was
mortally afraid of its trampling forefeet。 The traveller waited and
watched for some time； and at last he laughed。
'I see；' he said； 'the mountain will never be brought to Mahomet；
so all you can do is to aid Mahomet to go to the mountain； I must
beg of you to come here。'
I came。 'Excuse me；' he continued： 'necessity compels me to make
you useful。' He laid a heavy hand on my shoulder； and leaning on me
with some stress； limped to his horse。 Having once caught the
bridle； he mastered it directly and sprang to his saddle； grimacing
grimly as he made the effort； for it wrenched his sprain。
'Now；' said he； releasing his under lip from a hard bite； 'just
hand me my whip； it lies there under the hedge。'
I sought it and found it。
'Thank you； now make haste with the letter to Hay； and return as
fast as you can。'
A touch of a spurred heel made his horse first start and rear；
and then bound away； the dog rushed in his traces； all three vanished；
'Like heath that； in the wilderness；
The wild wind whirls away。'
I took up my muff and walked on。 The incident had occurred and
was gone for me： it was an incident of no moment； no romance； no
interest in a sense； yet it marked with change one single hour of a
monotonous life。 My help had been needed and claimed； I had given
it： I was pleased to have done something； trivial； transitory though
the deed was； it was yet an active thing； and I was weary of an
existence all passive。 The new face； too； was like a new picture
introduced to the gallery of memory； and it was dissimilar to all
the others hanging there： firstly； because it was masculine； and；
secondly； because it was dark； strong； and stern。 I had it still
before me when I entered Hay； and slipped the letter into the
post…office； I saw it as I walked fast down…hill all the way home。
When I came to the stile； I stopped a minute； looked round and
listened； with an idea that a horse's hoofs might ring on the causeway
again； and that a rider in a cloak； and a Gytrash…like Newfoundland
dog； might be again apparent： I saw only the hedge and a pollard
willow before me； rising up still and straight to meet the
moonbeams； I heard only the faintest waft of wind roaming fitful among
the trees round Thornfield； a mile distant； and when I glanced down in
the direction of the murmur； my eye； traversing the hall…front； caught
a light kindling in a window： it reminded me that I was late； and I
hurried on。
I did not like re…entering Thornfield。 To pass its threshold was to
return to stagnation； to cross the silent hall； to ascend the darksome
staircase； to seek my own lonely little room； and then to meet
tranquil Mrs。 Fairfax； and spend the long winter evening with her； and
her only； was to quell wholly the faint excitement wakened by my
walk；… to slip again over my faculties the viewless fetters of an
uniform and too still existence； of an existence whose very privileges
of security and ease I was becoming incapable of appreciating。 What
good it would have done me at that time to have been tossed in the
storms of an uncertain struggling life； and to have been taught by
rough and bitter experience to long for the calm amidst which I now
repined！ Yes； just as much good as it would do a man tired of
sitting still in a 'too easy chair' to take a long walk： and just as
natural was the wish to stir； under my circumstances； as it would be
under his。
I lingered at the gates； I lingered on the lawn； I paced
backwards and forwards on the pavement； the shutters of the glass door
were closed； I could not see into the interior； and both my eyes and
spirit seemed drawn from the gloomy house… from the grey hollow filled
with rayless cells； as it appeared to me… to that sky expanded
before me；… a blue sea absolved from taint of cloud； the moon
ascending it in solemn march； her orb seeming to look up as she left
the hill…tops； from behind which she had come； far and farther below
her； and aspired to the zenith； midnight dark in its fathomless
depth and measureless distance； and for those trembling stars that
followed her course； they made my heart tremble； my veins glow when
I viewed them。 Little things recall us to earth； the clock struck in
the hall； that sufficed； I turned from moon and stars； opened a
side…door； and went in。
The hall was not dark； nor yet was it lit； only by the high…hung
bronze lamp； a warm glow suffused both it and the lower steps of the
oak staircase。 This ruddy shine issued from the great dining…room；
whose two…leaved door stood open； and showed a genial fire in the
grate； glancing on marble hearth and brass fire…irons； and revealing
purple draperies and polished furniture； in the most pleasant
radiance。 It revealed； too； a group near the mantelpiece： I had
scarcely caught it； and scarcely become aware of a cheerful mingling
of voices； amongst which I seemed to distinguish the tones of Adele；
when the door closed。
I hastened to Mrs。 Fairfax's room； there was a fire there too；
but no candle； and no Mrs。 Fairfax。 Instead； all alone； sitting
upright on the rug； and gazing with gravity at the blaze； I beheld a
great black and white long…haired dog； just like the Gytrash of the
lane。 It was so like it that I went forward and said… 'Pilot；' and the
thing got up and came to me and snuffed me。 I caressed him； and he
wagged his great tail； but he looked an eerie creature to be alone
with； and I could not tell whence he had come。 I rang the bell； for
I wanted a candle； and I wanted； too； to get an account of this
visitant。 Leah entered。
'What dog is this？'
'He came with master。'
'With whom？'
'With master… Mr。 Rochester… he is just arrived。'
'Indeed！ and is Mrs。 Fairfax with him？'
'Yes； and Miss Adele； they are in the dining…room； and John is gone
for a surgeon； for master has had an accident； his horse fell and
his ankle is sprained。'
'Did the horse fall in Hay Lane？'
'Yes； coming down…hill； it slipped on some ice。'
'Ah！ Bring me a candle； will you； Leah？'
Leah brought it； she entered； followed by Mrs。 Fairfax； who
repeated the news； adding that Mr。 Carter the surgeon was come； and
was now with Mr。 Rochester： then she hurried out to give orders
about tea； and I went upstairs to take off my things。
CHAPTER XIII
MR。 ROCHESTER； it seems； by the surgeon's orders； went to bed early
that night； nor did he rise soon next morning。 When he did come
down； it was to attend to business： his agent and some of his
tenants were arrived； and waiting to speak with him。
Adele and I had now to vacate the library： it would be in daily
requisition as a reception…room for callers。 A fire was lit in an
apartment upstairs； and there I carried our books； and arranged it for
the future schoolroom。 I discerned in the course of the morning that
Thornfield Hall was a changed pl