PARTFIVE-THENEXTMRS.ROCHESTERCHAPTERTWENTY-FOURASurpriseatThornfield Inthemorning,ItoldDianaandMarythatIhadtogoonajourney,andthatIwouldbegoneforafewdays.Theydidnotknowthereasonformytrip,buttheydidnotaskmequestions.Afteradayandahalfoftraveling,IarrivedatthevillagenearThornfield.Iranacrossthefield,thinkingthatinafewminutes,IwouldseethemanIloved. "Hemightbewalkinginthegardens,andIcouldsurprisehim!"Ithought.ButwhenIreachedthemaingate,Ihadahorribleshock!ThornfieldHallwasnothingbutaburnedmountainofstones.Everythingwasquiet.ThiswaswhynooneatThornfieldhadansweredmyletters!Therehadbeenaterriblefire. "Isanyonehurt...ordead?"IcriedoutasIbegantorunbacktothevillage.Ihadtofindsomeonewhocouldtellmewhathadhappened.Inthevillage,Istoppedatahotelandasked."Well,Miss,"theownersaid, "OneofMr.Rochester'soldservantsisagoodfriendofmine.Theytoldmeeverything!IcantellyouthatitwasthatBerthaMasonwhostartedthefire,intheroomthatusedtobelongtothegoverness!Yousee,Rochesterwasinlovewiththisgirl,eventhoughshewasjustaplainlittlelady.Whensheleft,healmostwentmadhimself.Hiswifeknewaboutthegirlandwasveryjealous. "Whenthefirebegan,Rochesterputhislifeindanger,helpingeveryoneleavethehouse.Thenhebravelywentbacktosavehiswife,butshejumpedoutofawindowandkilledherself.Butbecausehetriedtosaveher,hewashurtbadlyinthefire.Helostonehand,andheisblindnow.It'ssad,isn'tit,Miss?""Whereishenow?"Iasked."Well,IthinkhelivesatFerndeanManor,whichisanotherhouseofhis.It'sthirtymilesaway."Ifoundacarriagetotakemethereimmediately.