CHAPTER XX 267
Mr . Rochester drew back the thick curtain , drew up the holland blind , let in all the daylight he could ; and I was surprised and cheered to see how far dawn was advanced : what rosy streaks were beginning to brighten the east . Then he approached Mason , whom the surgeon was already handling .
" Now , my good fellow , how are you ?" he asked . " She ' s done for me , I fear ," was the faint reply .
" Not a whit ! -- courage ! This day fortnight you ' ll hardly be a pin the worse of it : you ' ve lost a little blood ; that ' s all . Carter , assure him there ' s no danger ."
" I can do that conscientiously ," said Carter , who had now undone the bandages ; " only I wish I could have got here sooner : he would not have bled so much -- but how is this ? The flesh on the shoulder is torn as well as cut . This wound was not done with a knife : there have been teeth here !"
" She bit me ," he murmured . " She worried me like a tigress , when Rochester got the knife from her ."
" You should not have yielded : you should have grappled with her at once ," said Mr . Rochester .
" But under such circumstances , what could one do ?" returned Mason . " Oh , it was frightful !" he added , shuddering . " And I did not expect it : she looked so quiet at first ."
" I warned you ," was his friend ' s answer ; " I said -- be on your guard when you go near her . Besides , you might have waited till to- morrow , and had me with you : it was mere folly to attempt the interview to-night , and alone ."
" I thought I could have done some good ."