‘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 come 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.
‘Now, I’ve another errand for you,’ said my untiring master; ‘you must away to my room again. What a mercy you are shod with velvet, Jane! – a clod-hopping messenger would never do at this juncture. You must open the middle drawer of my toilet-table and take out a little phial and a little glass you will find there – quick!’
I flew thither and back, bringing the desired vessels.
‘That’s well! Now, doctor, I shall take the liberty of administering a dose myself, on my own responsibility. I got this cordial at Rome, of an Italian charlatan – a fellow you would have kicked, Carter. It is not a thing to be used indiscriminately, but it is good upon occasion: as now, for instance. Jane, a little water.’
He held out the tiny glass, and I half filled it from the water-bottle on the washstand.
‘That will do: now wet the lip of the phial.’
I did so; he measured twelve drops of a crimson liquid, and presented it to Mason.
‘Drink, Richard: it will give you the heart you lack, for an hour or so.’
‘But will it hurt me – is it inflammatory?’
‘Drink! drink! drink!’
Mr Mason obeyed, because it was evidently useless to resist. He was dressed now: he still looked pale, but he was no longer gory and sullied. Mr Rochester let him sit three minutes after he had swallowed the liquid; he then took his arm –
‘Now I am sure you can get on your feet,’ he said; ‘try.’ The patient rose.
‘Carter, take him under the other shoulder. Be of good cheer, Richard; step out – that’s it!’
‘I do feel better,’ remarked Mr Mason.
‘I am sure you do. Now, Jane, trip on before us away to the back-stairs; unbolt the side-passage door, and tell the driver of the post-chaise you will see in the yard – or just outside, for I told him not to drive his rattling wheels over the pavement – to be ready; we are coming: and, Jane, if anyone is about, come to the foot of the stairs and hem.’
It was by this time half-past five, and the sun was on the point of rising; but I found the kitchen still dark and silent. The side-passage door was fastened; I opened it with as little noise as possible: all the yard was quiet; but the gates stood wide open, and there was a post-chaise, with horses ready harnessed, and driver seated on the box, stationed outside. I approached him, and said the gentlemen were coming; he nodded: then I looked carefully round and listened. The stillness of early morning slumbered everywhere; the curtains were yet drawn over the servants’ chamber windows; little birds were just twittering in the