Chapter-12
Jane Eyre slept a few minutes ago when a cry roused her from her sleep at midnight. She rushed out of her room. The cry seemed to have come from the third storey. All the guests woke up and came out of their respective rooms. Mr Rochester appeared there with a candle and said to all of them, “A servant has had a nightmare. There is nothing to worry.”
“That is all. She is an excitable, nervous person. She construed her dream into an apparition or something of that sort, no doubt. She has taken a fit with fright. Now then, I must see you all back into your rooms. Till the house is settled, she can’t be looked after. Gentlemen, have the goodness to set the ladies the example. Miss Ingram, I am sure you will not fail in evincing superiority to idle terrors. Amy and Louisa, return to your nests like a pair of doves, as you are. Mesdames (to the Dowagers), you will take cold to a dead certainty, if you stay in this chill gallery any longer.” By dint of alternate coaxing and commanding, he contrived to get them all once more enclosed in their separate dormitories.
Everyone returned to his/her room. No sooner did Jane reach her room than there was a slight knock at the door. It was Mr Rochester who carried Jane to a room. As asked by Mr Rochester, Jane had a sponge and volatile salts with her. When Jane entered the room, she saw a man lying in led. One of his arms was soaked in blood.
She walked round to the other side of a large bed, which with its drawn curtains concealed, considerable portion of the chamber. An easy-chair was near the bed-head. The man was dressed with the exception of his coat. He was still. His head leant back. His eyes were closed. Mr Rochester held the candle over him. Jane recognized him in his pale and seemingly lifeless face.
The man was none other than Mr Mason, the friend of Mr Rochester. “Hold the candle,” said Mr Rochester to Jane who took it in her hand at once. Then, he fetched a basin of water from the washstand. “Hold this,” said he. Jane obeyed. He took the sponge, dipped it in and moistened the corpse-like face. He asked for Jane’s smelling-bottle and applied in to the nostrils. Mr Mason shortly unclosed his eyes; he groaned. Mr Rochester opened the shirt of the wounded Mr Mason, whose arm and shoulder were bandaged. He sponged away blood, tricking fast down. The man was attacked by a woman last night. Then, he said to Mr Mason, “Friend! she is Jane. She will take care of you till I return. I am going to fetch a surgeon.”
Saying these words Mr Rochester went away. After an hour or so, Mr Rochester returned with the surgeon whose name was Carter. The surgeon dressed Mr Mason’s wound and fastened the bandages. Mr Rochester helped Mr Mason sit up for a short while. Supported by him and the surgeon, Mason walked with ease. They brought him downstairs. Handing Mr Mason over to the surgeon, Mr Rochester said, “Mr Carter, take care of him and keep him at you house till he is quite well.”
After both had left Thornfield Hall, Mr Rochester said to Jane, “I am in danger till Mr Mason is out of England. Any carelessness on his part can destroy my happiness. Are you with me?”
Jane replied, “I would like to serve and obey you for ever. I shall stand by you in your hard times.”
Then, Mr Rochester changed the subject and said, “O Jane! I am now a changed man. I suffered heavily in my life and paid price for it. Now, I seek happiness. I am finding a cure for my troubled mind. I am in search of a friend who can bring peace and happiness to me. Truly speaking, I have found the instruments for my cure in you only. You can restore my peace and bring happiness in my life.”
Jane kept on listening to the words of Mr Rochester. She could not utter a single word. She rushed back to her room saying good night to Mr Rochester.