CHAPTER XXIV 327
" Where is he ?"
" In there ," pointing to the apartment she had left ; and I went in , and there he stood .
" Come and bid me good-morning ," said he . I gladly advanced ; and it was not merely a cold word now , or even a shake of the hand that I received , but an embrace and a kiss . It seemed natural : it seemed genial to be so well loved , so caressed by him .
" Jane , you look blooming , and smiling , and pretty ," said he : " truly pretty this morning . Is this my pale , little elf ? Is this my mustard-seed ? This little sunny-faced girl with the dimpled cheek and rosy lips ; the satin-smooth hazel hair , and the radiant hazel eyes ?" ( I had green eyes , reader ; but you must excuse the mistake : for him they were new-dyed , I suppose .)
" It is Jane Eyre , sir ."
" Soon to be Jane Rochester ," he added : " in four weeks , Janet ; not a day more . Do you hear that ?"
I did , and I could not quite comprehend it : it made me giddy . The feeling , the announcement sent through me , was something stronger than was consistent with joy -- something that smote and stunned . It was , I think almost fear .
" You blushed , and now you are white , Jane : what is that for ?"
" Because you gave me a new name -- Jane Rochester ; and it seems so strange ."
" Yes , Mrs . Rochester ," said he ; " young Mrs . Rochester -- Fairfax Rochester ' s girl-bride ."
" It can never be , sir ; it does not sound likely . Human beings never enjoy complete happiness in this world . I was not born for a different destiny to