So in Love with....

Charlotte Bronte's

'Jane Eyre'

He rose, and with a stride reached me.

"My bride is here," he said, again drawing me to him, "because my equal is here, and my likeness. Jane, will you marry me?"

Still I did not answer, and still I writhed from his grasp: for I was still incredulous.

"Do you doubt me, Jane?"

"Entirely."

"You have no faith in me?"

"Not a whit."

"Am I liar in your eyes?" he asked passionately. "Little sceptic, you shall be convinced. ........ You - you strange, you almost unearthly thing! - I love as my own flesh. You - poor and obscure, and small and plain as you are - I entreat to accept me as husband."

"What, me!" I ejaculated, beginning in his earnestness - and especially in his incivility - to credit his sincerity: "me who have not a friend in the world but you - if you are my friend: not a shilling but what you have given me?"

"You, Jane, I must have you for my own - entirely my own. Will you be mine? Say yes, quickly."

"Mr Rochester, let me look at your face: turn to the moonlight."

"Why?"

"Because I want to read your countenance - turn!"

"There! you will find it scarcely more legible than a crumpled, scratched page. Read on: only make haste, for I suffer."

His face was very much agitated and very much flushed, and there were strong workings in the features, and strange gleams in the eyes.

"Oh, Jane, you torture me!" he exclaimed. "With that searching and yet faithful and generous look , you torture me!"

"How can I do that? If you are true, and your offer real, my only feelings to you must be gratitude and devotion - they cannot torture."

"Gratitude!" he ejaculated; and wildly - "Jane, accept me quickly. Say Edward - give me my name - Edward - I will marry you."

"Are you in earnest? Do you truly love me? Do you sincerely wish me to be your wife?"

"I do; and if an oath is necessary to satisfy you, I swear it."

"Then, sir, I will marry you."

"Edward - my little wife!"

"Dear Edward!"

"Come to me - come to me entirely now," said he; and added, in his deepest tone, speaking in my ear as his cheek was laid on mine, "Make my happiness - I will make yours."

"God pardon me!" he subjoined ere long; "and man meddle not with me: I have her, and will hold her."

I have read and reread, and reread this passage. The realisation of love reciprocated as Mr Rochester draws Jane out to reveal her love for him, how it makes my heart flutter , pulse quicken, my cheeks flush and oh yes, smile that small smile that will play itself out on your face. The same secretive smile which bids others in the presence of you and your Book to wonder what it is that you've discovered between it's covers.

I've flipped through the pages ahead and I know that tragedy and trial awaits , Mr Rochester and Jane, but also Joy. It so difficult to put 'Jane Eyre' down and go about my day and do what I should.

Rarely before have I been inclined to read romance, even from classic sources, but This! This is so beautiful and I'm so, so very much in love with,

'Jane Eyre'.