Chapter-20
After St John had left for India, Jane bade goodbye to Diana, Mary and Hannah and was soon on the road to Thornfield Hall. It was a journey of thirty-six hours. At last, Jane reached near Thornfield Hill. But she was in a state of shock. Thornfield Hall was in ruins. Jane inquired of a middle-aged man about Mr Rochester.
The man said, “A fire broke out a few months ago in the dead of might. Mr Rochester was at home at that time. He got his servants out of beds and went to his mad wife’s room to save her. But his mad wife rushed towards the roof. Reaching there, she jumped off the roof and lay dead on the pavemant. After the death of his lunatic wife, Mr Rochester was out of his senses. One day, he met with an accident. He was badly hurt. He had lost both of his eyes. At present, he is a blind and crippled man.”
Hearing the pathetic fate of Mr Rochester, Jane was in tears. She came to know from the man that Mr Rochester lived at Ferndean, a Manor House, which was about thirty miles away from there. Jane headed for the Manor House and soon reached there.
The Manor-House of Ferndean was a building of considerable antiquity, moderate size, and no architectural pretensions, deep buried in a wood. Jane had heard of it before. Mr Rochester often spoke of it, and sometime went there. His father had purchased the estate for the sake of game covers. He would have let the house, but could find no tenant, in consequence of its ineligible and insalubrious site. Ferndean then remained uninhabited and unfurnished, with the exception of some two or three rooms fitted up for the accomodation of the squire when he went there in the season to shoot.
To this house Jane came just ere dark on an evening marked by the characteristics of sad sky, cold gale, and continued small penetrating rain. The last mile she performed on foot, having dismissed the chaise and driver with the double remuneration she had promised. Even when within very short distance of the Manor-House, one could see nothing of it, so thick and dark grew the timber of the gloomy wood about it. Iron gates between granite pillars showed Jane where to enter. Passing through them, she found herself at once in the twilight of close-ranked trees. There was a grass-grown track descending the forest aisle between hoar and knotty shafts and under branched arches. The house presented two pointed gables in its front; the windows were latticed and narrow; the front door was narrow too. One step led up to it. It opened slowly.
Mr Rochester was living there with one of his servants John and his wife. Jane met Mr Rochester and said, “Sir! I am back. I am your Jane .”
Mr Rochester felt sad and said, “Jane! what is the use of coming back to me now? I am a ruined man. I have lost my both eyes. I depend on others for my work.”
Jane consoled him saying, “Sir! I have faith in God; see the world through my eyes. I have now come to lend you a helping hand.”
Mr Rochester felt extremely happy hearing the words of Jane. He asked Jane to come a little closer to him. He stretched his right hand to caress Jane who was his true love. Then, Jane told him everything about her life after she had left Thornfield Hall.
Mr Rochester thank God for His mercy. He prayed for strength to lead a purer life. Now, he did not want to delay the wedding day. Mr Rochester was led into his room where he slept peacefully waiting for the following day. Jane, too, went to bed weaving dreams about their future life.
