“Something of daylight still lingered, and the moon was waxing bright: I could see him plainly. His figure was enveloped in a riding cloak, fur collared, and steel clasped; its details were not apparent, but I traced the general points of middle height, and considerable breadth of chest. He had a dark face, with stern features and a heavy brow; his eyes and gathered eyebrows looked ireful and thwarted just now; he was past youth, but had not reached middle age; perhaps he might be thirty-five. I felt no fear of him, and but little shyness. Had he been a handsome, heroic-looking young gentleman, I should not have dared to stand thus questioning him against his will, and offering my services unasked. I had hardly ever seen a handsome youth; never in my life spoken to one. I had a theoretical reverence and homage for beauty, elegance, gallantry, fascination; but had I met those qualities incarnate in masculine shape, I should have known instinctively that they neither had nor could have sympathy with anything in me, and should have shunned them as one would fire, lightning, or anything else that is bright but antipathetic. “
“If even this stranger had smiled and been good-humoured to me when I addressed him; if he had put off my offer of assistance gaily and with thanks, I should have gone on my way and not felt any vocation to renew inquiries: but the frown, the roughness of the traveller set me at my ease: I retained my station when he waved to me to go, and announced: — “
“I cannot think of leaving you, sir at so late an hour, in this solitary lane, till I see you are fit to mount your horse.”
— Jane Eyre, p. 83 of the Random House 1943 edition, by Charlotte Brontë with wood engravings by Fritz Eichenberg.
And so you may read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë online; audio book versions are available, too. There is yet another film version appearing, following some 18 other film versions (reportedly initiated by a 1910 silent movie, and 9 made-for-television programs). This stars Mia Wasikowska as Jane, who is best remembered for her role as a 19-year old Alice in Wonderland. Michael Fassbender plays Mr. Rochester.
The Bronte Society is holding a summer conference at Homerton College, Cambridge, just one of a number of events this year:
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