CHAPTER XX 276
what remains to you of days in a way more worthy of an immortal being . To attain this end , are you justified in overleaping an obstacle of custom -- a mere conventional impediment which neither your conscience sanctifies nor your judgment approves ?"
He paused for an answer : and what was I to say ? Oh , for some good spirit to suggest a judicious and satisfactory response ! Vain aspiration ! The west wind whispered in the ivy round me ; but no gentle Ariel borrowed its breath as a medium of speech : the birds sang in the tree-tops ; but their song , however sweet , was inarticulate .
Again Mr . Rochester propounded his query :
" Is the wandering and sinful , but now rest-seeking and repentant , man justified in daring the world ' s opinion , in order to attach to him for ever this gentle , gracious , genial stranger , thereby securing his own peace of mind and regeneration of life ?"
" Sir ," I answered , " a wanderer ' s repose or a sinner ' s reformation should never depend on a fellow-creature . Men and women die ; philosophers falter in wisdom , and Christians in goodness : if any one you know has suffered and erred , let him look higher than his equals for strength to amend and solace to heal ."
" But the instrument -- the instrument ! God , who does the work , ordains the instrument . I have myself -- I tell it you without parable -- been a worldly , dissipated , restless man ; and I believe I have found the instrument for my cure in -- "
He paused : the birds went on carolling , the leaves lightly rustling . I almost wondered they did not check their songs and whispers to catch the suspended revelation ; but they would have had to wait many minutes -- so long was the silence protracted . At last I looked up at the tardy speaker : he was looking eagerly at me .