Jane Eyre

Jane is awakened in the middle of the night by a terrifying scream that pierces through Thornfield Hall. The cry comes from the third floor, followed by sounds of struggle and desperate calls for Rochester's help. The entire household is roused, with guests running about in confusion and terror, demanding to know what has happened. Rochester appears with a candle, having descended from the upper floor, and calmly dismisses the incident as merely a servant having a nightmare. He manages to persuade all the guests to return to their rooms, claiming that an excitable servant had a bad dream and took a fit from fright. However, Jane is not convinced by this explanation. She knows the sounds she heard were real and came from directly above her room. Rather than returning to bed, she dresses carefully and waits by her window, sensing that more events will follow. After the house settles back into silence, Rochester quietly summons Jane from her room. He leads her up to the mysterious third floor, asking her to bring a sponge and smelling salts. When he asks if she can bear the sight of blood, Jane realizes she is about to witness something serious. Rochester unlocks one of the small black doors on the third floor, revealing a room Jane had seen before but which now has a concealed door standing open. From within comes the sound of Grace Poole's distinctive laughter. Rochester briefly enters the inner room to make some arrangement with Grace Poole, then emerges and leads Jane to the other side of a large bed. There, in an easy chair, sits the mysterious stranger Mason, pale and seemingly lifeless, with his clothing and arm soaked in blood. Rochester begins to tend to Mason's wounds, asking Jane to assist him by holding the candle and basin.