“Not at first。 But presently she took my veil from its place; she held it up; gazed at it long; and then she threw it over her own head; and turned to the mirror。 At that moment I saw the reflection of the visage and features quite distinctly in the dark oblong glass。”
“And how were they?”
“Fearful and ghastly to me—oh; sir; I never saw a face like it! It was a discoloured face—it was a savage face。 I wish I could forget the roll of the red eyes and the fearful blackened inflation of the lineaments!”
“Ghosts are usually pale; Jane。”
“This; sir; was purple: the lips were swelled and dark; the brow furrowed: the black eyebrows widely raised over the bloodshot eyes。 Shall I tell you of what it reminded me?”
“You may。”
“Of the foul German spectre—the Vampyre。”
“Ah!—what did it do?”
“Sir; it removed my veil from its gaunt head; rent it in two parts; and flinging both on the floor; trampled on them。”
“Afterwards?”
“It drew aside the window…curtain and looked out; perhaps it saw dawn approaching; for; taking the candle; it retreated to the door。 Just at my bedside; the figure stopped: the fiery eyes glared upon me—she thrust up her candle close to my face; and extinguished it under my eyes。 I was aware her lurid visage flamed over mine; and I lost consciousness: for the second time in my life—only the second time—I became insensible from terror。”
“Who was with you when you revived?”
“No one; sir; but the broad day。 I rose; bathed my head and face in water; drank a long draught; felt that though enfeebled I was not ill; and determined that to none but you would I impart this vision。 Now; sir; tell me who and what that woman was?”
“The creature of an over…stimulated brain; that is certain。 I must be careful of you; my treasure: nerves like yours were not made for rough handling。”
“Sir; depend on it; my nerves were not in fault; the thing was real: the transaction actually took place。”
“And your previous dreams; were they real too? Is Thornfield Hall a ruin? Am I severed from you by insuperable obstacles? Am I leaving you without a tear—without a kiss—without a word?”
“Not yet。”
“Am I about to do it? Why; the day is already menced which is to bind us indissolubly; and when we are once united; there shall be no recurrence of these mental terrors: I guarantee that。”
“Mental terrors; sir! I wish I could believe them to be only such: I wish it more now than ever; since even you cannot explain to me the mystery of that awful visitant。”
“And since I cannot do it; Jane; it must have been unreal。”
“But; sir; when I said so to mysel
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