Джейн Эйр / Jane Eyre

�Oh!’ I thought, �she is not going to die; they are mistaken; she could not speak and look so calmly if she were.’

I got on to her crib and kissed her. Her forehead was cold, and her cheek both cold and thin, and so were her hand and wrist; but she smiled as of old.

�Why are you come here, Jane? It is past eleven o’clock; I heard it strike some minutes since.’

�I came to see you, Helen; I heard you were very ill, and I could not sleep till I had spoken to you.

�You came to bid me goodbye, then; you are just in time probably.’

�Are you going somewhere, Helen? Are you going home?’

�Yes; to my long home – my last home.’

�No, no, Helen!’ I stopped, distressed. While I tried to devour my tears, a fit of coughing seized Helen; it did not, however, wake the nurse; when it was over, she lay some minutes exhausted; then she whispered:

�Jane, your little feet are bare; lie down and cover yourself with my quilt.

I did so; she put her arm over me, and I nestled close to her. After a long silence, she resumed, still whispering:

�I am very happy, Jane; and when you hear that I am dead, you must be sure and not grieve; there is nothing to grieve about. We all must die one day, and the illness which is removing me is not painful; it is gentle and gradual; my mind is at rest. I leave no one to regret me much; I have only a father; and he is lately married, and will not miss me.

�But where are you going to, Helen? Can you see? Do you know?’

�I believe; I have faith; I am going to God.’

�Where is God? What is God?’

�My Maker and yours, who will never destroy what He created. I rely implicitly on His power, and confide wholly in His goodness; I count the hours till that eventful one arrives which shall restore me to Him, reveal Him to me.

�You are sure, then, Helen, that there is such a place as heaven, and that our souls can get to it when we die?’

�I am sure there is a future state; I believe God is good; I can resign my immortal part to Him without any misgiving. God is my father; God is my friend; I love Him; I believe He loves me.