PART THREE - A YOUNG WOMAN AT THORNFIELD
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Mr. Rochester's Story

"I believed I could. I thought that one day, I would find a woman who would understand my problem, and accept me anyway."

"Did you find one, sir?"

"No, Jane, but [-----1-----]. I tried taking mistresses. But finally, unhappy and disappointed with my life, I returned to Thornfield on a cold winter day. And when my horse slipped and fell on the ice, you came and wanted to help me. In the next weeks, I began to depend on you, a quiet, bird-like young lady, for my happiness in life. I knew you were the only one for me."

"Don't talk any more of the past, sir," I said sadly.

"Jane, you're right. [-----2-----]. You understand now, don't you? I've spent so much of my life alone, in misery. But now I've found you, and you are always in my heart. It was stupid of me to try and marry you without telling you my story. I promise to love you and stay with you forever. Jane, promise me the same."

When I said notheing, he said, "Why are you silent, Jane?"

This was one of the most terrible moments of my life. I knew that he loved me and I loved him, but I knew I could not live with Mr. Rochester. "Jane, just promise me that you will be mine."

"Mr. Rochester, I will not be yours," I said, shaking. He said nothing.

"Jane," he said, [-----3-----], "Jane, do you want us to live apart for ever?"

"Yes."

"Oh Jane, this is a terrible shock. It would not be wrong to love me."

"It would be wrong to do what you want."

Vocabulary Focus

It was stupid of me to...：我干……很愚蠢。