SometimeintheafternoonIraisedmyhead,andlookingroundandseeingthewesternsungildingthesignofitsdeclineonthewall,Iasked,WhatamItodo?Buttheanswermymindgave--LeaveThornfieldatonce--wassoprompt,sodread,thatIstoppedmyears.IsaidIcouldnotbearsuchwordsnow.ThatIamnotEdwardRochester&39;sbrideistheleastpartofmywoe,Ialleged:thatIhavewakenedoutofmostgloriousdreams,andfoundthemallvoidandvain,isahorrorIcouldbearandmaster;butthatImustleavehimdecidedly,instantly,entirely,isintolerable.IcannotdoitOoMs.But,then,avoicewithinmeaverredthatIcoulddoitandforetoldthatIshoulddoit.Iwrestledwithmyownresolution:IwantedtobeweakthatImightavoidtheawfulpassageoffurthersufferingIsawlaidoutforme;andConscience,turnedtyrant,heldPassionbythethroat,toldhertauntingly,shehadyetbutdippedherdaintyfootintheslough,andsworethatwiththatarmofironhewouldthrustherdowntounsoundeddepthsofagony.Letmebetornaway,thenIcried.Letanotherhelpme!No;youshalltearyourselfaway,noneshallhelpyou:youshallyourselfpluckoutyourrighteye;yourselfcutoffyourrighthand:yourheartshallbethevictim,andyouthepriesttotransfixitOoMs.Iroseupsuddenly,terror-struckatthesolitudewhichsoruthlessajudgehaunted,--atthesilencewhichsoawfulavoicefilled.MyheadswamasIstooderect.IperceivedthatIwassickeningfromexcitementandinanition;neithermeatnordrinkhadpassedmylipsthatday.And,withastrangepang,Inowreflectedthat,longasIhadbeenshutuphere,nomessagehadbeensenttoaskhowIwas,ortoinvitemetocomedown:notevenlittleAdelehadtappedatthedoor;notevenMrs.Fairfaxhadsoughtme.Friendsalwaysforgetthosewhomfortuneforsakes,Imurmured,asIundrewtheboltandpassedout.Istumbledoveranobstacle:myheadwasstilldizzy,mysightwasdim,andmylimbswerefeeble.Icouldnotsoonrecovermyself.Ifell,butnotontotheground:anoutstretchedarmcaughtme.Ilookedup--IwassupportedbyMr.Rochester,whosatinachairacrossmychamberthresholdOoMs.
