Look at Charlotte Brontë's handwriting - small and neat although a few letters are not so easy to read. You will notice some differences in punctuation style between the original and the printed version: colons and semi-colons used instead of dashes. But where does her vocabulary come from? What are the origins of the words in this emotional passage?

Charlotte Brontë's novel was immediately popular when it was published in 1847 and this is one of the more dramatic scenes from it. Jane Eyre had woken in the night to hear a 'demonic laugh' outside her bedroom door. On investigation she discovered smoke coming from Mr Rochester's room. Her employer lay unconscious, overcome by the fumes in his sleep. She rushed for water to extinguish the fire which could easily have killed him.

'You have saved my life: I have a pleasure in owing you so immense a debt. I cannot say more. Nothing else that has being would have been tolerable to me in the character of creditor for such an obligation: but you: it is different;- I feel your benefits no burden, Jane.'
He paused; gazed at me: words almost visible trembled on his lips,- but his voice was checked.
'Good-night again, sir. There is no debt, benefit, burden, obligation, in the case.'
'I knew,' he continued, you would do me good in some way, at some time;- I saw it in your eyes when I first beheld you: their expression and smile did not'- (again he stopped)- 'did not' (he proceeded hastily) 'strike delight to my very inmost heart so for nothing. People talk of natural sympathies; I have heard of good genii*: there are grains of truth in the wildest fable. My cherished preserver, good-night!'
Strange energy was in his voice, strange fire in his look.
'I am glad I happened to be awake,' I said: and then I was going.
'What! you will go?'
'I am cold, sir.'
'Cold? Yes,- and standing in a pool! Go, then, Jane; go!' But he still retained my hand, and I could not free it. I bethought myself of an expedient.
'I think I hear Mrs. Fairfax move, sir,' said I.