[00:01.04] Chapter 25, The Vale.
[00:04.72] It was the day before our wedding.
[00:07.94] My boxes were all packed and ready to go to our London hotel, Mr.
[00:14.23] Rochester himself having written out the labels with Mrs.
[00:18.74] Rochester and the address.
[00:23.14] Clothes for Mrs.
[00:27.19] Rochester hung in my wardrobe, but as long as I remained Jane Air, I would not wear them.
[00:36.04] I was restless and anxious that day, and Edward was not at home.
[00:44.42] When it grew late, I ran down the road to meet him, happy to hear Mezro's hoof beats and see Pilot running ahead, and even happier to be lifted into the saddle and ride back with him.
[01:00.10] It was not only that I missed him.
[01:04.67] Something had happened the night before to terrify and disturb me.
[01:14.55] We sat up late together in the evening.
[01:18.90] He reminded me that I had promised to sit up with him the night before his wedding.
[01:25.97] You are worried, Jane, he said.
[01:29.62] Has something happened while I was away?
[01:36.69] It was last night, I said.
[01:39.53] I had a restless night, full of bad dreams about being separated from you.
[01:45.83] You are over excited.
[01:49.25] Was that all?
[01:52.78] When I woke, there was a light in my room and I thought it was morning, but it was candlelight.
[02:03.42] Something rustled near the wardrobe.
[02:07.79] I had hung my wedding dress on the door with that beautiful veil you sent from London.
[02:14.35] I sat up and I saw, one of the servants, said Mr.
[02:20.53] Rochester, as I hesitated.
[02:23.70] No, I said and shuddered.
[02:28.74] It was a woman, tall and large with thick dark hair.
[02:35.52] She threw my veil over her head and looked in the mirror, and I saw, oh, the most horrible face, discolored, almost purple and savage.
[02:49.98] She had bloodshot eyes and swollen lips, and she glared into the mirror.
[02:57.65] He was attending closely to all I said with a frown of disquiet.
[03:03.67] Then what happened? he demanded.
[03:10.23] She ripped the veil in two, trampled on it and took the candle away.
[03:19.59] But then she stopped.
[03:22.35] She saw me.
[03:25.66] She bent over me, that horrible face.
[03:33.08] I lost consciousness.
[03:38.41] What was it, sir?
[03:41.86] The result of nerves, Jane, no more.
[03:46.68] It was real.
[03:48.91] The veil lies on my bedroom floor, ripped in two.
[03:56.78] There was a gasp and a shudder from Mr.
[04:01.18] Rochester, and he threw his arms around me.
[04:08.47] Thank God it was only the veil, he said and held me tightly.
[04:15.33] Yes, Jane, he said at last.
[04:20.86] Grace Pool came to you last night, but because you had been having nightmares, you saw her as a specter.
[04:32.16] I know you wonder why I keep her here.
[04:36.88] A year from our wedding, Jane, I will explain.
[04:45.59] I was not satisfied with this explanation, but I knew it was the only one he would give.
[04:53.62] It was late and I wanted to go to bed.
[04:58.35] Jane, he said.
[05:01.56] Sleep in the nursery with Adele tonight.
[05:05.47] You should not be alone.
[05:07.97] Lock yourself in.
[05:12.64] He lifted the curtain.
[05:15.07] It was a lovely night.
[05:19.23] Good night, he said, sweet dreams.
[05:25.65] But I was too excited to sleep at all.