|
Jane
Eyre,
Two Years Later |
|
"Jane!" Mr. Rochester called nervously. "What is it, Edward?" Jane walked into the room, tying an apron about her waist. Her husband was sitting in his rocker by the fire. "Tell me, dear, is that a brown apron you’re wearing?" Mr. Rochester asked. He had been blind ever since a fire that had burned down his home a little while before he and Jane had gotten married. Two years have passed since their wedding. Jane looked up in surprise. "Why, why, yes. Yes, it is!" she said excitedly. "Darling, has your sight returned?" Mr. Rochester stared at her for a moment. "I...I’m not sure. It’s blurry, but I think I can make you out. You’re wearing a necklace, a bonnet and a blue dress. Is that right?" "Yes! Oh, Edward! We must go to London and get the advice of an eminent oculist!" Jane said joyfully. "And, I must write to Adele and tell her the good news–she’ll be so glad to hear it!" So, Jane wrote letters to her cousins, Maria, Diana, and St. John, and to Adele before she and Mr. Rochester set out for London the next day to visit Dr. Darrell. Dr. Darrel gave Mr. Rochester an eye exam. "It seems to me that your eyesight is indeed returning, at least a little," Dr. Darrel said, to the joy of the listeners. "Thank you, Doctor," Jane answered, glancing lovingly at her husband. "I’m so happy for you," she told him. They stayed in London for a fortnight before returning home. Jane realized a change in Mr. Rochester. He didn’t need her to guide him around so much, even though his vision was still off. She was happy for him, but she felt that they were no longer as close as they used to be. Mr. Rochester used to need her, and now Jane felt as if he didn’t need her anymore. She was reluctant to talk to her husband about it, but finally she felt she couldn’t wait any longer and approached him. "Edward, do you still need me?" Jane asked. "Of course I do, dear. What do you mean?" Mr. Rochester looked up. "Well," Jane went on listlessly. "Ever since you got your sight back, I feel like you don’t rely on me anymore; that I’m just here." "That’s ridiculous!" Mr. Rochester said, laughing. "You know how much I love you, even though I don’t need you to guide me around like an old dog anymore." "Oh, of course I know. I don’t know what got into me," Jane said, relieved. She felt sheepish now for even thinking that he wouldn’t need her anymore, just because he wasn’t blind. The next
day, a letter came from Adele. "She’s coming for a visit next
week!" Jane cried excitedly. It had been at least a
year since the girl had visited the Rochesters. Jane told the maids to
make Adele’s old bedroom ready, for she would arrive on Sunday. |