CHAPTER XXIII 323
supposed, and after that I presented myself to see the result; it was coldness both from her and her mother. I would not-- I could not-- marry Miss Ingram. You-- you strange, you almost unearthly thing!-- I love as my own flesh. You-- poor and obscure, and small and plain as you are-- I entreat to accept me as a husband."
" What, me!" I ejaculated, beginning in his earnestness-- and especially in his incivility-- to credit his sincerity: " me who have not a friend in the world but you-- if you are my friend: not a shilling but what you have given me?"
" You, Jane, I must have you for my own-- entirely my own. Will you be mine? Say yes, quickly."
" Mr. Rochester, let me look at your face: turn to the moonlight." " Why?" " Because I want to read your countenance-- turn!"
" There! you will find it scarcely more legible than a crumpled, scratched page. Read on: only make haste, for I suffer."
His face was very much agitated and very much flushed, and there were strong workings in the features, and strange gleams in the eyes
" Oh, Jane, you torture me!" he exclaimed. " With that searching and yet faithful and generous look, you torture me!"
" How can I do that? If you are true, and your offer real, my only feelings to you must be gratitude and devotion-- they cannot torture."
" Gratitude!" he ejaculated; and added wildly-- " Jane accept me quickly. Say, Edward-- give me my name-- Edward-- I will marry you."