"His name is Mason，sir; and he es from the West Indies; from Spanish Town，in Jamaica，I think."

Mr. Rochester was standing near me; he had taken my hand，as if to lead me to a chair. As I spoke he gave my wrist a convulsive grip; the smile on his lips froze: apparently a spasm caught his breath.

"Mason!- the West Indies!" he said，in the tone one might fancy a speaking automaton to enounce its single words; "Mason!- the West Indies!" he reiterated; and he went over the syllables three times，growing，in the intervals of speaking，whiter than ashes: he hardly seemed to know what he was doing.

"Do you feel ill，sir?" I inquired.

"Jane，I"ve got a blow; I"ve got a blow，Jane!" He staggered.

"Oh，lean on me，sir."

"Jane，you offered me your shoulder once before; let me have it now."

"Yes，sir，yes; and my arm."

He sat down，and made me sit beside him. Holding my hand in both his own，he chafed it; gazing on me，at the same time，with the most troubled and dreary look.

"My little friend!" said he，"I wish I were in a quiet island with only you; and trouble，and danger，and hideous recollections removed from me."

"Can I help you，sir?- I"d give my life to serve you."

"Jane，if aid is wanted，I"ll seek it at your hands; I promise you that."

"Thank you，sir. Tell me what to do,- I"ll try，at least，to do it."

"Fetch me now，Jane，a glass of wine from the dining-room: they will be at supper there; and tell me if Mason is with them，and what he is doing."

I went. I found all the party in the dining-room at supper，as Mr. Rochester had said; they were not seated at table,- the supper was arranged on the sideboard; each had taken what he chose，and they stood about here and there in groups，their plates and glasses in their hands. Every one seemed in high glee; laughter and conversation were general and animated. Mr. Mason stood near the fire，talking to Colonel and Mrs. Dent，and appeared as merry as any of them. I filled a wine-glass (I saw Miss Ingram watch me frowningly as I did so: she thought I was taking a liberty，I daresay)，and I returned to the library.