CHAPTER XXVI 373
" You , madam ," said he , " are cleared from all blame : your uncle will be glad to hear it -- if , indeed , he should be still living -- when Mr . Mason returns to Madeira ."
" My uncle ! What of him ? Do you know him ?"
" Mr . Mason does . Mr . Eyre has been the Funchal correspondent of his house for some years . When your uncle received your letter intimating the contemplated union between yourself and Mr . Rochester , Mr . Mason , who was staying at Madeira to recruit his health , on his way back to Jamaica , happened to be with him . Mr . Eyre mentioned the intelligence ; for he knew that my client here was acquainted with a gentleman of the name of Rochester . Mr . Mason , astonished and distressed as you may suppose , revealed the real state of matters . Your uncle , I am sorry to say , is now on a sick bed ; from which , considering the nature of his disease -- decline -- and the stage it has reached , it is unlikely he will ever rise . He could not then hasten to England himself , to extricate you from the snare into which you had fallen , but he implored Mr . Mason to lose no time in taking steps to prevent the false marriage . He referred him to me for assistance . I used all despatch , and am thankful I was not too late : as you , doubtless , must be also . Were I not morally certain that your uncle will be dead ere you reach Madeira , I would advise you to accompany Mr . Mason back ; but as it is , I think you had better remain in England till you can hear further , either from or of Mr . Eyre . Have we anything else to stay for ?" he inquired of Mr . Mason .
" No , no -- let us be gone ," was the anxious reply ; and without waiting to take leave of Mr . Rochester , they made their exit at the hall door . The clergyman stayed to exchange a few sentences , either of admonition or reproof , with his haughty parishioner ; this duty done , he too departed .
I heard him go as I stood at the half-open door of my own room , to which I had now withdrawn . The house cleared , I shut myself in , fastened the bolt that none might intrude , and proceeded -- not to weep , not to mourn , I was yet too calm for that , but -- mechanically to take off the wedding dress , and replace it by the stuff gown I had worn yesterday , as I thought , for the last