"What is it, Jane?" he asked when I saw him. We had left the guests and were sitting alone in the library. "Well, sir, I would like to visit my aunt, who is ill, for a week or two." "Jane, I thought you had no family!" "I have no family who loves or cares about me, sir. This woman is Mrs. Reed, my uncle's wife. She is dying, and wants to see me. I can't say no to a dying woman." "Well, Jane, I see you are determined to go. Where does she live, and how long will you stay?" "She lives at Gateshead, sir. It is one hundred miles away. I'll come back as soon as I can." "You must promise me to stay only a week," Mr. Rochester said. I wondered why he looked so worried. "I can't promise you that, sir. I might have to stay longer, but I'll come back soon." "But you can't travel a hundred miles all alone, can you?" "My cousins sent a carriage for me, sir, so I can leave tomorrow." Mr. Rochester did not say anything for a moment.