As my visitors continued their stay at Thornfield, Jane seemed to distance herself more from me and it was clear the feelings she thought I had for Miss Ingram were effecting her spirits. During our conversation on the pervious night, I felt her uneasy manners and longed to put her worried mind at rest but I knew it was too soon for me to act, especially with a house full of people. I knew Jane would be joining us after tea so I made up my mind to play charades to see if I could get her to reveal any more of her feelings. I consulted Eshton about my plan. He warned me to be careful about the lady's feelings and assured him I was doing everything in my power to make sure my Jane would be unharmed.
When Jane came in the room, I prepared for our game along with Eshton and Dent. I saw Jane helping Mrs Dent and went over to her and said "Will you play?" She shook her head and I knew I would be unable to change her mind. I went behind the curtain and prepared.
I rang the bell for our play to begin. Sir George went on stage and I watched from the background. As I watched I felt Blanche come near me. When I saw her standing next to me in her bridal costume I almost ended the charade there because I did not want Blanche to be my bride that night. Still I let things continue and followed Blanche on stage.
We played the marriage play. I watched Jane attentively who seemed saddened by what we were doing. Before I completely came out of character, Dent called, "Bride!" I bowed and the curtain came down.
For the next scene we created the conservatory. I dressed in a turban and felt Jane's eyes piercing into me. Before I could catch my breath, Blanche entered in her crimson costume, again distracting me from my beloved. She performed her dance as Rebecca and I tried not to let the character of Eliezer overpower me.
Again the curtain fell and I dressed myself in disheveled attire. As I took on my next character I thought about my darkness trying not to let it overpower me and completely distract me from the play. With that Dent said, "Bridwell!" There was applause all around.
Blanche came in and said, "Do you know that, of the three characters, I liked you in the last best? Oh, had you but lived a few years earlier, what a gallant gentleman-highwayman you would have made!" Her comments annoyed me so I changed the subject.
"Is all the soot washed from my face?" I replied.
"Alas! yes: the more's the pity! Nothing could be more becoming to your complexion than that ruffian's rouge."
"You would like a hero of the road then?"
"An English hero of the road would be the next best thing to an Italian bandit; and that could only be surpassed by a Levantine pirate." I thought about when I had first met my beloved on the roadside. Little did Blanche know that roads had a special significance to me.
I said, "Well, whatever I am, remember you are my wife; we were married an hour since, in the presence of all these witnesses." The words pained me to say because I hated the disgusting idea of her as my bride. There was only one bride I wanted and she was sitting in the audience. I saw tears well up in her eyes as I left the stage. I had gone too far but hopefully my friend's play would calm her spirits.
"Now Dent!" I said. "It is your turn," and I left. I had overstepped my boundaries and had hurt her but why didn't she beg me to stop? If she felt the way I feel, she surely would have asked us to stop. She did not though and I was still uncertain if her feelings were as strong as mine.
For the rest of the evening I pranced around with Blanche at my side. Whenever I looked at Jane I saw nothing but conflict in her telling eyes. Perhaps she did love me as I loved her but then why did she not beg me to stop our charade. I went to bed that night and thought only of her. She had feelings for me, that was one thing I knew for certain but I could not ascertain how strong they were. I thought about how I could possibly find out what she was feeling. My acting skills failed me on that evening but perhaps if I took them one step further I could really find out. I would need to obtain her confidence without being myself. As I lay in bed, I created my plan for the following day. A gypsy was the only person I could think of that can easily obtain confidences.
