y　your　appetite？”

“I　cannot　see　my　prospects　clearly　to…night；　sir；　and　I　hardly　know　what　thoughts　I　have　in　my　head。　Everything　in　life　seems　unreal。”

“Except　me：　I　am　substantial　enough—touch　me。”

“You；　sir；　are　the　most　phantom…like　of　all：　you　are　a　mere　dream。”

He　held　out　his　hand；　laughing。　“Is　that　a　dream？”　said　he；　placing　it　close　to　my　eyes。　He　had　a　rounded；　muscular；　and　vigorous　hand；　as　well　as　a　long；　strong　arm。

“Yes；　though　I　touch　it；　it　is　a　dream；”　said　I；　as　I　put　it　down　from　before　my　face。　“Sir；　have　you　finished　supper？”

“Yes；　Jane。”

I　rang　the　bell　and　ordered　away　the　tray。　When　we　were　again　alone；　I　stirred　the　fire；　and　then　took　a　low　seat　at　my　master’s　knee。

“It　is　near　midnight；”　I　said。

“Yes：　but　remember；　Jane；　you　promised　to　wake　with　me　the　night　before　my　wedding。”

“I　did；　and　I　will　keep　my　promise；　for　an　hour　or　two　at　least：　I　have　no　wish　to　go　to　bed。”

“Are　all　your　arrangements　plete？”

“All；　sir。”

“And　on　my　part　likewise；”　he　returned；　“I　have　settled　everything；　and　we　shall　leave　Thornfield　to…morrow；　within　half…an…hour　after　our　return　from　church。”

“Very　well；　sir。”

“With　what　an　extraordinary　smile　you　uttered　that　word—‘very　well；’　Jane！　What　a　bright　spot　of　colour　you　have　on　each　cheek！　and　how　strangely　your　eyes　glitter！　Are　you　well？”

“I　believe　I　am。”

“Believe！　What　is　the　matter？　Tell　me　what　you　feel。”

“I　could　not；　sir：　no　words　could　tell　you　what　I　feel。　I　wish　this　present　hour　would　never　end：　who　knows　with　what　fate　the　next　may　e　charged？”

“This　is　hypochondria；　Jane。　You　have　been　over…excited；　or　over…　fatigued。”

“Do　you；　sir；　feel　calm　and　happy？”

“