CHAPTER TEN
A Conversation with Grace Poole
"I don't think Master Edward would have laughed, when his life was in danger, Miss Eyre. You must have been dreaming," she said.
"No, I wasn't dreaming, Grace. And I know what Mr. Edward's laugh sounds like. It was someone else," I said very firmly.
"Did you open the door? Did you see anyone in the hall?" she said. She looked angry and frightened, like a [-----1-----] animal. Suddenly I realized that if Grace thought that I knew what she had done, she might try to hurt me.
"No, I didn't open my door. I locked it," I answered, "and I will lock it every night from now on."
"That's very wise, Miss Eyre. There might be a [-----2-----] around, you never know!"
I was amazed by her [-----3-----], and I could not understand why Mr. Rochester had not taken her to the police, or made her leave the house. Why had he asked me to keep the fire a secret? Mr. Rochester was strong and proud. Why did he not punish a servant for trying to hurt him? Perhaps Grace Poole knew a terrible secret from his past, and had promised to tell everyone if he tried to hurt her. Was he in love with her?
"No," I thought, "that's impossible. He could never love anyone as plain and strange as she is. But then, I'm not beautiful either, and sometimes I think he loves me. The things he said to me last night! The look on his face!" And my cheeks were red as I thought of those moments.
