PARTTHREE-AYOUNGWOMANATTHORNFIELDCHAPTERSEVENTEENTheDayoftheWedding Thenhesaid,"Imusttellthetruth,Isuppose.Therewillbenoweddingtoday.Godwillpunishmeforthis.Thesemenaretellingyouthetruth.Iammarried,andmywifeisalive!IwastrickedintomarryingherwhenIwasyoung,intheWestIndies.Thereismuchmadnessinherfamily,buttheydidnottellmethat.Nowitistoolate.Formanyyears,Berthahasbeenmorelikeananimalthanahumanbeing.Ikeepherhiddeninmyhouse,andtheservantGracePoolewatchesher.Cometomyhousetoseeher,anddecidewhetherIhadtherighttoaskthisinnocentyoungwomantomarryme.Followme!"Heheldmyhandtightly,withoutspeaking,andweallleftthechurch.AtthedoorofThornfieldHall,alltheservantsandAdelewerewaitingforus."Toolate!"criedMr.Rochester. "Yourcongratulationsare15yearstoolate!"Wewentuptothetopfloor,andenteredtheroomwhereMasonhadbeenattacked.AsIwatched,Mr.Rochesteropenedthesecretdoorandshowedusalittleroominside.GracePoolewasmakingsoupoverafire,andbehindherawomancrawledonthefloor.Shegrowledlikeawildanimal,butworeclothes,andhadlong,thick,darkhair!ThiswasthewomanIhadseen!Mr.Rochester'swife!"Howareyou,Mrs.Poole?"saidMr.Rochester. "Andhowisyourpatienttoday?""Notbad,sir,"saidGrace, "butbecareful.Sheisupset,sodon'tletherseeyou!"Suddenly,thewomanturnedandattackedMr.Rochester!Irecognizedherface.Itwaspale,andIthoughtthatonce,longago,itmighthavebeenpretty.WithGracePoole'shelp,Mr.Rochesterwasabletotiethewomantoachair. growl 咆哮