CHAPTER NINE

Mr. Rochester's Secrets

"Mr. Rochester! Wake up! Wake up!" I screamed, throwing water on the bed to put out the fire. Not until the fire was almost out did he wake up. He wassurprised to see that he was wet.

"Jane, what is going on? Is there a [-----1-----] in this house?"he said.

"No, sir,"I answered, "there's been a fire!"

"Jane Eyre, is it you and your magic?"he asked. "Did you put a [-----2-----] on me again? Did you want to [-----3-----] me this time?"

I did not answer this. "Sir, please get up. Someone has tried to kill you!" I told him about the strange sounds I had heard outside my room and about the fire. He turned very pale, and thought for a few moments.

"Do you want to talk to Mrs. Fairfax, or the other servants, sir?" I asked.

"No, we shouldn't wake them. Wait here for a moment. I'm going up to the top floor. I'll be back soon."

I waited in his room for what seemed like a very long time. When he came back, be looked worried.

"Jane, did you see anything when you opened your bedroom door?" he asked, lookingcarefully at me.

"No sir."

"But you heard a strange laugh?"

"Yes, I've heard it before. It was like a strange laugh I heard once. I think it is Grace Poole, she laughs like that."

"Well, perhaps it was Grace Poole who started this fire. I must think about what to do. I'm glad you're the only person who knows about this. Don't tell anyone! Now, go back to your room."