PARTTHREE-AYOUNGWOMANATTHORNFIELDCHAPTERTENAConversationwithGracePoole "Idon'tthinkMasterEdwardwouldhavelaughed,whenhislifewasindanger,MissEyre.Youmusthavebeendreaming,"shesaid."No,Iwasn'tdreaming,Grace.AndIknowwhatMr.Edward'slaughsoundslike.Itwassomeoneelse,"Isaidveryfirmly."Didyouopenthedoor?Didyouseeanyoneinthehall?"shesaid.Shelookedangryandfrightened,likeatrappedanimal.SuddenlyIrealizedthatifGracethoughtthatIknewwhatshehaddone,shemighttrytohurtme."No,Ididn'topenmydoor.Ilockedit,"Ianswered, "andIwilllockiteverynightfromnowon.""That'sverywise,MissEyre.Theremightbeacriminalaround,youneverknow!"Iwasamazedbyhercalmness,andIcouldnotunderstandwhyMr.Rochesterhadnottakenhertothepolice,ormadeherleavethehouse.Whyhadheaskedmetokeepthefireasecret?Mr.Rochesterwasstrongandproud.Whydidhenotpunishaservantfortryingtohurthim?PerhapsGracePooleknewaterriblesecretfromhispast,andhadpromisedtotelleveryoneifhetriedtohurther.Washeinlovewithher?"No,"Ithought, "that'simpossible.Hecouldneverloveanyoneasplainandstrangeassheis.Butthen,I'mnotbeautifuleither,andsometimesIthinkhelovesme.Thethingshesaidtomelastnight!Thelookonhisface!"AndmycheekswereredasIthoughtofthosemoments.