CHAPTER XXIII 324
" Are you in earnest ? Do you truly love me ? Do you sincerely wish me to be your wife ?"
" I do ; and if an oath is necessary to satisfy you , I swear it ." " Then , sir , I will marry you ." " Edward -- my little wife !" " Dear Edward !"
" Come to me -- come to me entirely now ," said he ; and added , in his deepest tone , speaking in my ear as his cheek was laid on mine , " Make my happiness -- I will make yours ."
" God pardon me !" he subjoined ere long ; " and man meddle not with me : I have her , and will hold her ."
" There is no one to meddle , sir . I have no kindred to interfere ."
" No -- that is the best of it ," he said . And if I had loved him less I should have thought his accent and look of exultation savage ; but , sitting by him , roused from the nightmare of parting -- called to the paradise of union -- I thought only of the bliss given me to drink in so abundant a flow . Again and again he said , " Are you happy , Jane ?" And again and again I answered , " Yes ." After which he murmured , " It will atone -- it will atone . Have I not found her friendless , and cold , and comfortless ? Will I not guard , and cherish , and solace her ? Is there not love in my heart , and constancy in my resolves ? It will expiate at God ' s tribunal . I know my Maker sanctions what I do . For the world ' s judgment -- I wash my hands thereof . For man ' s opinion -- I defy it ."
But what had befallen the night ? The moon was not yet set , and we were all in shadow : I could scarcely see my master ' s face , near as I was . And what ailed the chestnut tree ? it writhed and groaned ; while wind roared in the laurel walk , and came sweeping over us .