"She sucked the blood: she said she"d drain my heart," said Mason.

I saw Mr. Rochester shudder: a singularly marked expression of disgust，horror，hatred，warped his countenance almost to distortion，but he only said-

"e，be silent，Richard，and never mind her gibberish: don"t repeat it."

"I wish I could forget it," was the answer.

"You will when you are out of the country: when you get back to Spanish Town，you may think of her as dead and buried- or rather，you need not think of her at all."

"Impossible to forget this night!"

"It is not impossible: have some energy，man. You thought you were as dead as a herring two hours since，and you are all alive and talking now. There!- Carter has done with you or nearly so; I"ll make you decent in a trice. Jane" (he turned to me for the first time since his re-entrance)，"take this key: go down into my bedroom，and walk straight forward into my dressing-room: open the top drawer of the wardrobe and take out a clean shirt and neck-handkerchief: bring them here; and be nimble."

I went; sought the repository he had mentioned，found the articles named，and returned with them.

"Now," said he，"go to the other side of the bed while I order his toilet; but don"t leave the room: you may be wanted again."

I retired as directed.

"Was anybody stirring below when you went down，Jane?" inquired Mr. Rochester presently.

"No，sir; all was very still."

"We shall get you off cannily，Dick: and it will be better，both for your sake，and for that of the poor creature in yonder. I have striven long to avoid exposure，and I should not like it to e at last. Here，Carter，help him on with his waistcoat. Where did you leave your furred cloak? You can"t travel a mile without that，I know，in this damned cold climate. In your room?- Jane，run down to Mr. Mason"s room,- the one next mine,- and fetch a cloak you will see there."

Again I ran，and again returned，bearing an immense mantle lined and edged with fur.