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He paused, as the custom is When is the pause after that sentence

ever broken by reply? Not, perhaps, once in a hundred years And

the clergyman, who had not lifted his eyes from his book, and had

held his breath but for a : his hand was

already stretched towards Mr Rochester, as his lips unclosed to

ask, "Wilt thou have this woman for thy wedded wife?"--when a

distinct and near voice said "The o on: I declare the existence of an

iyman looked up at the speaker and stood htly, as if an earthquake had

rolled under his feet: taking a fir his

head or eyes, he said, "Proceed"

Profound silence fell when he had uttered that word, with deep but

low intonation Presently Mr Wood said "I cannot proceed without soation into what has been

asserted, and evidence of its truth or falsehood"

"The ceremony is quite broken off," subjoined the voice behind us

"I aation: an insuperable

ie exists"