"One instant, Jane. Give one glance to my horrible life when you are
gone. All happiness will be torn away with you. What then is left? For
a wife I have but the maniac upstairs: as well might you refer me to some
corpse in yonder churchyard. What shall I do, Jane? Where turn for a
companion and for some hope?"
"Do as I do: trust in God and yourself. Believe in heaven. Hope to meet
again there."
"Then you will not yield?"
"No."
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"Then you condemn me to live wretched and to die accursed?" His voice
rose.
"I advise you to live sinless, and I wish you to die tranquil."
"Then you snatch love and innocence from me? You fling me back on lust
for a passion--vice for an occupation?"
"Mr. Rochester, I no more assign this fate to you than I grasp at it for
myself. We were born to strive and endure--you as well as I: do so. You
will forget me before I forget you."
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