CHAPTER XXXVII 550
" Can you see me ?"
" No , my fairy : but I am only too thankful to hear and feel you ." " When do you take supper ?" " I never take supper ."
" But you shall have some to-night . I am hungry : so are you , I daresay , only you forget ."
Summoning Mary , I soon had the room in more cheerful order : I prepared him , likewise , a comfortable repast . My spirits were excited , and with pleasure and ease I talked to him during supper , and for a long time after . There was no harassing restraint , no repressing of glee and vivacity with him ; for with him I was at perfect ease , because I knew I suited him ; all I said or did seemed either to console or revive him . Delightful consciousness ! It brought to life and light my whole nature : in his presence I thoroughly lived ; and he lived in mine . Blind as he was , smiles played over his face , joy dawned on his forehead : his lineaments softened and warmed .
After supper , he began to ask me many questions , of where I had been , what I had been doing , how I had found him out ; but I gave him only very partial replies : it was too late to enter into particulars that night . Besides , I wished to touch no deep-thrilling chord -- to open no fresh well of emotion in his heart : my sole present aim was to cheer him . Cheered , as I have said , he was : and yet but by fits . If a moment ' s silence broke the conversation , he would turn restless , touch me , then say , " Jane ."
" You are altogether a human being , Jane ? You are certain of that ?" " I conscientiously believe so , Mr . Rochester ."
" Yet how , on this dark and doleful evening , could you so suddenly rise on my lone hearth ? I stretched my hand to take a glass of water from a