Meantime，Mr. Rochester affirmed I was wearing him to skin and bone，and threatened awful vengeance for my present conduct at some period fast ing. I laughed in my sleeve at his menaces. "I can keep you in reasonable check now," I reflected; "and I don"t doubt to be able to do it hereafter: if one expedient loses its virtue，another must be devised."

Yet after all my task was not an easy one; often I would rather have pleased than teased him. My future husband was being to me my whole world; and more than the world: almost my hope of heaven.

He stood between me and every thought of religion，as an eclipse intervenes between man and the broad sun. I could not，in those days，see God for His creature: of whom I had made an idol.