f　my　loosened　hair；　when　Mrs。　Fairfax　emerged　from　her　room。　I　did　not　observe　her　at　first；　nor　did　Mr。　Rochester。　The　lamp　was　lit。　The　clock　was　on　the　stroke　of　twelve。

“Hasten　to　take　off　your　wet　things；”　said　he；　“and　before　you　go；　good…night—good…night；　my　darling！”

He　kissed　me　repeatedly。　When　I　looked　up；　on　leaving　his　arms；　there　stood　the　widow；　pale；　grave；　and　amazed。　I　only　smiled　at　her；　and　ran　upstairs。　“Explanation　will　do　for　another　time；”　thought　I。　Still；　when　I　reached　my　chamber；　I　felt　a　pang　at　the　idea　she　should　even　temporarily　misconstrue　what　she　had　seen。　But　joy　soon　effaced　every　other　feeling；　and　loud　as　the　wind　blew；　near　and　deep　as　the　thunder　crashed；　fierce　and　frequent　as　the　lightning　gleamed；　cataract…like　as　the　rain　fell　during　a　storm　of　two　hours’　duration；　I　experienced　no　fear　and　little　awe。　Mr。　Rochester　came　thrice　to　my　door　in　the　course　of　it；　to　ask　if　I　fort；　that　was　strength　for　anything。

Before　I　left　my　bed　in　the　morning；　little　Adèle　came　running　in　to　tell　me　that　the　great　horse…chestnut　at　the　bottom　of　the　orchard　had　been　struck　by　lightning　in　the　night；　and　half　of　it　split　away。

Chapter　24

As　I　rose　and　dressed；　I　thought　over　what　had　happened；　and　wondered　if　it　were　a　dream。　I　could　not　be　certain　of　the　reality　till　I　had　seen　Mr。　Rochester　again；　and　heard　him　renew　his　words　of　love　and　promise。

While　arranging　my　hair；　I　looked　at　my　face　in　the　glass；