Most of the morning was spent in the open air. I led him out of the. wet and wild wood into some cheerful fields: I described to him how brilliantly green they were; how the flowers and hedges looked refreshed; how sparklingly blue was the sky. I sought a seat for him in a hidden and lovely spot，a dry stump of a tree; nor did I refuse to let him，when seated，place me on his knee. Why should I，when both he and I were happier near than apart? pilot lay beside us: all was quiet. He broke out suddenly while clasping me in his arms-

"Cruel，cruel deserter! Oh，Jane，what did I feel when I discovered you had fled from Thornfield，and when I could nowhere find you; and，after examining your apartment，ascertained that you had taken no money，nor anything which could serve as an equivalent! A pearl necklace I had given you lay untouched in its little casket; your trunks were left corded and locked as they had been prepared for the bridal tour. What could my darling do，I asked，left destitute and penniless? And what did she do? Let me hear now."

Thus urged，I began the narrative of my experience for the last year. I softened considerably what related to the three days of wandering and starvation，because to have told him all would have been to inflict unnecessary pain: the little I did say lacerated his faithful heart deeper than I wished.

I should not have left him thus，he said，without any means of making my way: I should have told him my intention. I should have confided in him: he would never have forced me to be his mistress.