\'Canyouunderstandherwhensherunsonsofast？\'askedMrs。
Fairfax。
Iunderstoodherverywell，forIhadbeenaccustomedtothefluenttongueofMadamePierrot。
\'Iwish，\'continuedthegoodlady，\'youwouldaskheraquestionortwoaboutherparents:Iwonderifsheremembersthem？\'
\'Adele，\'Iinquired，\'withwhomdidyoulivewhenyouwereinthatprettycleantownyouspokeof？\'
\'Ilivedlongagowithmama;butsheisgonetotheHolyVirgin。
Mamausedtoteachmetodanceandsing，andtosayverses。Agreatmanygentlemenandladiescametoseemama，andIusedtodancebeforethem，ortositontheirkneesandsingtothem:Ilikedit。ShallI
letyouhearmesingnow？\'
Shehadfinishedherbreakfast，soIpermittedhertogiveaspecimenofheraccomplishments。Descendingfromherchair，shecameandplacedherselfonmyknee;then，foldingherlittlehandsdemurelybeforeher，shakingbackhercurlsandliftinghereyestotheceiling，shecommencedsingingasongfromsomeopera。Itwasthestrainofaforsakenlady，who，afterbewailingtheperfidyofherlover，callspridetoheraid;desiresherattendanttodeckherinherbrightestjewelsandrichestrobes，andresolvestomeetthefalseonethatnightataball，andprovetohim，bythegaietyofherdemeanour，howlittlehisdesertionhasaffectedher。
Thesubjectseemedstrangelychosenforaninfantsinger;
butI
supposethepointoftheexhibitionlayinhearingthenotesofloveandjealousywarbledwiththelispofchildhood;andinverybadtastethatpointwas:atleastIthoughtso。
Adelesangthecanzonettetunefullyenough，andwiththenaiveteofherage。Thisachieved，shejumpedfrommykneeandsaid，\'Now，Mademoiselle，Iwillrepeatyousomepoetry。\'
Assuminganattitude，shebegan\'LaLiguedesRats:fabledeLaFontaine。\'Shethendeclaimedthelittlepiecewithanattentiontopunctuationandemphasis，aflexibilityofvoiceandanappropriatenessofgesture，veryunusualindeedatherage，andwhichprovedshehadbeencarefullytrained。
\'Wasityourmamawhotaughtyouthatpiece？\'Iasked。
\'Yes，andshejustusedtosayitinthisway:\"Qu\'avezvousdonc？luiditundecesrats;parlez！\"Shemademeliftmyhand—so—
toremindmetoraisemyvoiceatthequestion。NowshallIdanceforyou？\'
\'No，thatwilldo:butafteryourmamawenttotheHolyVirgin，asyousay，withwhomdidyoulivethen？\'
\'WithMadameFredericandherhusband:shetookcareofme，butsheisnothingrelatedtome。Ithinksheispoor，forshehadnotsofineahouseasmama。Iwasnotlongthere。Mr。RochesteraskedmeifI
wouldliketogoandlivewithhiminEngland，andIsaidyes;forI
knewMr。RochesterbeforeIknewMadameFrederic，andhewasalwayskindtomeandgavemeprettydressesandtoys:butyouseehehasnotkepthisword，forhehasbroughtmetoEngland，andnowheisgonebackagainhimself，andIneverseehim。\'
Afterbreakfast，AdeleandIwithdrewtothelibrary，whichroom，itappears，Mr。Rochesterhaddirectedshouldbeusedastheschoolroom。Mostofthebookswerelockedupbehindglassdoors;buttherewasonebookcaseleftopencontainingeverythingthatcouldbeneededinthewayofelementaryworks，andseveralvolumesoflightliterature，poetry，biography，travels，afewromances，etc。Isupposehehadconsideredthatthesewereallthegovernesswouldrequireforherprivateperusal;and，indeed，theycontentedmeamplyforthepresent;comparedwiththescantypickingsIhadnowandthenbeenabletogleanatLowood，theyseemedtoofferanabundantharvestofentertainmentandinformation。Inthisroom，too，therewasacabinetpiano，quitenewandofsuperiortone;alsoaneaselforpaintingandapairofglobes。
Ifoundmypupilsufficientlydocile，thoughdisinclinedtoapply:shehadnotbeenusedtoregularoccupationofanykind。Ifeltitwouldbeinjudicioustoconfinehertoomuchatfirst;so，whenI
hadtalkedtoheragreatdeal，andgothertolearnalittle，andwhenthemorninghadadvancedtonoon，Iallowedhertoreturntohernurse。Ithenproposedtooccupymyselftilldinner—timeindrawingsomelittlesketchesforheruse。
AsIwasgoingupstairstofetchmyportfolioandpencils，Mrs。
Fairfaxcalledtome:\'Yourmorningschool—hoursareovernow，I
suppose，\'saidshe。Shewasinaroomthefoldingdoorsofwhichstoodopen:Iwentinwhensheaddressedme。Itwasalarge，statelyapartment，withpurplechairsandcurtains，aTurkeycarpet，walnut—panelledwalls，onevastwindowrichinstainedglass，andaloftyceiling，noblymoulded。Mrs。Fairfaxwasdustingsomevasesoffinepurplespar，whichstoodonasideboard。
\'Whatabeautifulroom！\'Iexclaimed，asIlookedround;
forI
hadneverbeforeseenanyhalfsoimposing。
\'Yes;thisisthedining—room。Ihavejustopenedthewindow，toletinalittleairandsunshine;foreverythinggetssodampinapartmentsthatareseldominhabited;thedrawing—roomyonderfeelslikeavault。\'
Shepointedtoawidearchcorrespondingtothewindow，andhunglikeitwithaTyrian—dyedcurtain，nowloopedup。Mountingtoitbytwobroadsteps，andlookingthrough，IthoughtIcaughtaglimpseofafairyplace，sobrighttomynovice—eyesappearedtheviewbeyond。Yetitwasmerelyaveryprettydrawing—room，andwithinitaboudoir，bothspreadwithwhitecarpets，onwhichseemedlaidbrilliantgarlandsofflowers;bothceiledwithsnowymouldingsofwhitegrapesandvine—leaves，beneathwhichglowedinrichcontrastcrimsoncouchesandottomans;whiletheornamentsonthepaleParianmantelpiecewereofsparklingBohemianglass，rubyred;andbetweenthewindowslargemirrorsrepeatedthegeneralblendingofsnowandfire。
\'Inwhatorderyoukeeptheserooms，Mrs。Fairfax！\'saidI。\'Nodust，nocanvascoverings:exceptthattheairfeelschilly，onewouldthinktheywereinhabiteddaily。\'
\'Why，MissEyre，thoughMr。Rochester\'svisitsherearerare，theyarealwayssuddenandunexpected;andasIobservedthatitputhimouttofindeverythingswathedup，andtohaveabustleofarrangementonhisarrival，Ithoughtitbesttokeeptheroomsinreadiness。\'
\'IsMr。Rochesteranexacting，fastidioussortofman？\'
\'Notparticularlyso;buthehasagentleman\'stastesandhabits，andheexpectstohavethingsmanagedinconformitytothem。\'
\'Doyoulikehim？Ishegenerallyliked？\'
\'Oh，yes;thefamilyhavealwaysbeenrespectedhere。Almostallthelandinthisneighbourhood，asfarasyoucansee，hasbelongedtotheRochesterstimeoutofmind。\'
\'Well，but，leavinghislandoutofthequestion，doyoulikehim？Ishelikedforhimself？\'
\'Ihavenocausetodootherwisethanlikehim;andIbelieveheisconsideredajustandliberallandlordbyhistenants:buthehasneverlivedmuchamongstthem。\'
\'Buthashenopeculiarities？What，inshort，ishischaracter？\'
\'Oh！hischaracterisunimpeachable，Isuppose。Heisratherpeculiar，perhaps:hehastravelledagreatdeal，andseenagreatdealoftheworld，Ishouldthink。Idaresayheisclever，butIneverhadmuchconversationwithhim。\'
\'Inwhatwayishepeculiar？\'
\'Idon\'tknow—itisnoteasytodescribe—nothingstriking，butyoufeelitwhenhespeakstoyou;youcannotbealwayssurewhetherheisinjestorearnest，whetherheispleasedorthecontrary;youdon\'tthoroughlyunderstandhim，inshort—atleast，Idon\'t:butitisofnoconsequence，heisaverygoodmaster。\'
ThiswasalltheaccountIgotfromMrs。Fairfaxofheremployerandmine。Therearepeoplewhoseemtohavenonotionofsketchingacharacter，orobservinganddescribingsalientpoints，eitherinpersonsorthings:thegoodladyevidentlybelongedtothisclass;
myqueriespuzzled，butdidnotdrawherout。Mr。RochesterwasMr。
Rochesterinhereyes;agentleman，alandedproprietor—nothingmore:
sheinquiredandsearchednofurther，andevidentlywonderedatmywishtogainamoredefinitenotionofhisidentity。
Whenweleftthedining—roomsheproposedtoshowmeovertherestofthehouse;andIfollowedherupstairsanddownstairs，admiringasIwent;forallwaswellarrangedandhandsome。ThelargefrontchambersIthoughtespeciallygrand:andsomeofthethird—storeyrooms，thoughdarkandlow，wereinterestingfromtheirairofantiquity。Thefurnitureonceappropriatedtothelowerapartmentshadfromtimetotimebeenremovedhere，asfashionschanged:andtheimperfectlightenteringbytheirnarrowcasementshowedbed—steadsofahundredyearsold;chestsinoakorwalnut，looking，withtheirstrangecarvingsofpalmbranchesandcherubs\'
heads，liketypesoftheHebrewark;rowsofvenerablechairs，high—backedandnarrow;stoolsstillmoreantiquated，onwhosecushionedtopswereyetapparenttracesofhalf—effacedembroideries，wroughtbyfingersthatfortwogenerationshadbeencoffin—dust。AlltheserelicsgavetothethirdstoreyofThornfieldHalltheaspectofahomeofthepast:ashrineofmemory。Ilikedthehush，thegloom，thequaintnessoftheseretreatsintheday;butI
bynomeanscovetedanight\'sreposeononeofthosewideandheavybeds:
shutin，someofthem，withdoorsofoak;shaded，others，withwroughtoldEnglishhangingscrustedwiththickwork，portrayingeffigiesofstrangeflowers，andstrangerbirds，andstrangesthumanbeings，—
allwhichwouldhavelookedstrange，indeed，bythepallidgleamofmoonlight。
\'Dotheservantssleepintheserooms？\'Iasked。
\'No;theyoccupyarangeofsmallerapartmentstotheback;
nooneeversleepshere:onewouldalmostsaythat，iftherewereaghostatThornfieldHall，thiswouldbeitshaunt。\'
\'SoIthink:youhavenoghost，then？\'
\'NonethatIeverheardof，\'returnedMrs。Fairfax，smiling。
\'Noranytraditionsofone？nolegendsorghoststories？\'
\'Ibelievenot。AndyetitissaidtheRochestershavebeenratheraviolentthanaquietraceintheirtime:perhaps，though，thatisthereasontheyresttranquillyintheirgravesnow。\'
\'Yes—\"afterlife\'sfitfulfevertheysleepwell，\"\'Imuttered。
\'Whereareyougoingnow，Mrs。Fairfax？\'forshewasmovingaway。
\'Ontotheleads;willyoucomeandseetheviewfromthence？\'
I
followedstill，upaverynarrowstaircasetotheattics，andthencebyaladderandthroughatrap—doortotheroofofthehall。Iwasnowonalevelwiththecrowcolony，andcouldseeintotheirnests。
Leaningoverthebattlementsandlookingfardown，Isurveyedthegroundslaidoutlikeamap:thebrightandvelvetlawncloselygirdlingthegreybaseofthemansion;thefield，wideasapark，dottedwithitsancienttimber;thewood，dunandsere，dividedbyapathvisiblyovergrown，greenerwithmossthanthetreeswerewithfoliage;thechurchatthegates，theroad，thetranquilhills，allreposingintheautumnday\'ssun;thehorizonboundedbyapropitioussky，azure，marbledwithpearlywhite。Nofeatureinthescenewasextraordinary，butallwaspleasing。WhenIturnedfromitandrepassedthetrap—door，Icouldscarcelyseemywaydowntheladder;theatticseemedblackasavaultcomparedwiththatarchofblueairtowhichIhadbeenlookingup，andtothatsunlitsceneofgrove，pasture，andgreenhill，ofwhichthehallwasthecentre，andoverwhichIhadbeengazingwithdelight。
Mrs。Fairfaxstayedbehindamomenttofastenthetrap—door;
I，bydintofgroping，foundtheoutletfromtheattic，andproceededtodescendthenarrowgarretstaircase。Ilingeredinthelongpassagetowhichthisled，separatingthefrontandbackroomsofthethirdstorey:narrow，low，anddim，withonlyonelittlewindowatthefarend，andlooking，withitstworowsofsmallblackdoorsallshut，likeacorridorinsomeBluebeard\'scastle。
WhileIpacedsoftlyon，thelastsoundIexpectedtohearinsostillaregion，alaugh，struckmyear。Itwasacuriouslaugh;
distinct，formal，mirthless。Istopped:thesoundceased，onlyforaninstant;itbeganagain，louder:foratfirst，thoughdistinct，itwasverylow。Itpassedoffinaclamorouspealthatseemedtowakeanechoineverylonelychamber;thoughitoriginatedbutinone，andIcouldhavepointedoutthedoorwhencetheaccentsissued。
\'Mrs。Fairfax！\'Icalledout:forInowheardherdescendingthegreatstairs。\'Didyouhearthatloudlaugh？Whoisit？\'
\'Someoftheservants，verylikely，\'sheanswered:\'perhapsGracePoole。\'
\'Didyouhearit？\'Iagaininquired。
\'Yes，plainly:Ioftenhearher:shesewsinoneoftheserooms。
SometimesLeahiswithher;theyarefrequentlynoisytogether。\'
Thelaughwasrepeatedinitslow，syllabictone，andterminatedinanoddmurmur。
\'Grace！\'exclaimedMrs。Fairfax。
IreallydidnotexpectanyGracetoanswer;forthelaughwasastragic，aspreternaturalalaughasanyIeverheard;and，butthatitwashighnoon，andthatnocircumstanceofghostlinessaccompaniedthecuriouscachinnation;butthatneitherscenenorseasonfavouredfear，Ishouldhavebeensuperstitiouslyafraid。However，theeventshowedmeIwasafoolforentertainingasenseevenofsurprise。
Thedoornearestmeopened，andaservantcameout，—awomanofbetweenthirtyandforty;aset，square—madefigure，red—haired，andwithahard，plainface:anyapparitionlessromanticorlessghostlycouldscarcelybeconceived。
\'Toomuchnoise，Grace，\'saidMrs。Fairfax。\'Rememberdirections！\'Gracecurtseyedsilentlyandwentin。
\'SheisapersonwehavetosewandassistLeahinherhousemaid\'swork，\'continuedthewidow;\'notaltogetherunobjectionableinsomepoints，butshedoeswellenough。Bythebye，howhaveyougotonwithyournewpupilthismorning？\'
Theconversation，thusturnedonAdele，continuedtillwereachedthelightandcheerfulregionbelow。Adelecamerunningtomeetusinthehall，exclaiming—
\'Mesdames，vousetesservies！\'adding，\'J\'aibienfaim，moi！\'
Wefounddinnerready，andwaitingforusinMrs。Fairfax\'sroom。
chapter12
CHAPTERXII
THEpromiseofasmoothcareer，whichmyfirstcalmintroductiontoThornfieldHallseemedtopledge，wasnotbeliedonalongeracquaintancewiththeplaceanditsinmates。Mrs。Fairfaxturnedouttobewhatsheappeared，aplacid—tempered，kind—naturedwoman，ofcompetenteducationandaverageintelligence。Mypupilwasalivelychild，whohadbeenspoiltandindulged，andthereforewassometimeswayward;butasshewascommittedentirelytomycare，andnoinjudiciousinterferencefromanyquartereverthwartedmyplansforherimprovement，shesoonforgotherlittlefreaks，andbecameobedientandteachable。Shehadnogreattalents，nomarkedtraitsofcharacter，nopeculiardevelopmentoffeelingortastewhichraisedheroneinchabovetheordinarylevelofchildhood;butneitherhadsheanydeficiencyorvicewhichsunkherbelowit。Shemadereasonableprogress，entertainedformeavivacious，thoughperhapsnotveryprofound，affection;andbyhersimplicity，gayprattle，andeffortstoplease，inspiredme，inreturn，withadegreeofattachmentsufficienttomakeusbothcontentineachother\'ssociety。
This，parparenthese，willbethoughtcoollanguagebypersonswhoentertainsolemndoctrinesabouttheangelicnatureofchildren，andthedutyofthosechargedwiththeireducationtoconceiveforthemanidolatrousdevotion:butIamnotwritingtoflatterparentalegotism，toechocant，orpropuphumbug;Iammerelytellingthetruth。IfeltaconscientioussolicitudeforAdele\'swelfareandprogress，andaquietlikingforherlittleself:justasI
cherishedtowardsMrs。Fairfaxathankfulnessforherkindness，andapleasureinhersocietyproportionatetothetranquilregardshehadforme，andthemoderationofhermindandcharacter。
Anybodymayblamemewholikes，whenIaddfurther，that，nowandthen，whenItookawalkbymyselfinthegrounds;whenIwentdowntothegatesandlookedthroughthemalongtheroad;orwhen，whileAdeleplayedwithhernurse，andMrs。Fairfaxmadejelliesinthestoreroom，Iclimbedthethreestaircases，raisedthetrap—dooroftheattic，andhavingreachedtheleads，lookedoutafaroversequesteredfieldandhill，andalongdimsky—line—thatthenIlongedforapowerofvisionwhichmightoverpassthatlimit;whichmightreachthebusyworld，towns，regionsfulloflifeIhadheardofbutneverseen—thatthenI
desiredmoreofpracticalexperiencethanIpossessed;moreofintercoursewithmykind，ofacquaintancewithvarietyofcharacter，thanwasherewithinmyreach。IvaluedwhatwasgoodinMrs。Fairfax，andwhatwasgoodinAdele;butIbelievedintheexistenceofotherandmorevividkindsofgoodness，andwhatIbelievedinIwishedtobehold。
Whoblamesme？Many，nodoubt;andIshallbecalleddiscontented。Icouldnothelpit:therestlessnesswasinmynature;itagitatedmetopainsometimes。Thenmysolereliefwastowalkalongthecorridorofthethirdstorey，backwardsandforwards，safeinthesilenceandsolitudeofthespot，andallowmymind\'seyetodwellonwhateverbrightvisionsrosebeforeit—and，certainly，theyweremanyandglowing;toletmyheartbeheavedbytheexultantmovement，which，whileitswelleditintrouble，expandeditwithlife;and，bestofall，toopenmyinwardeartoatalethatwasneverended—atalemyimaginationcreated，andnarratedcontinuously;quickenedwithallofincident，life，fire，feeling，thatIdesiredandhadnotinmyactualexistence。
Itisinvaintosayhumanbeingsoughttobesatisfiedwithtranquillity:theymusthaveaction;andtheywillmakeitiftheycannotfindit。Millionsarecondemnedtoastillerdoomthanmine，andmillionsareinsilentrevoltagainsttheirlot。Nobodyknowshowmanyrebellionsbesidespoliticalrebellionsfermentinthemassesoflifewhichpeopleearth。Womenaresupposedtobeverycalmgenerally:butwomenfeeljustasmenfeel;theyneedexercisefortheirfaculties，andafieldfortheirefforts，asmuchastheirbrothersdo;theysufferfromtoorigidarestraint，tooabsoluteastagnation，preciselyasmenwouldsuffer;anditisnarrow—mindedintheirmoreprivilegedfellow—creaturestosaythattheyoughttoconfinethemselvestomakingpuddingsandknittingstockings，toplayingonthepianoandembroideringbags。Itisthoughtlesstocondemnthem，orlaughatthem，iftheyseektodomoreorlearnmorethancustomhaspronouncednecessaryfortheirsex。
Whenthusalone，InotunfrequentlyheardGracePoole\'slaugh:
thesamepeal，thesamelow，slowha！ha！which，whenfirstheard，hadthrilledme:Iheard，too，hereccentricmurmurs;strangerthanherlaugh。Thereweredayswhenshewasquitesilent;buttherewereotherswhenIcouldnotaccountforthesoundsshemade。SometimesI
sawher:shewouldcomeoutofherroomwithabasin，oraplate，oratrayinherhand，godowntothekitchenandshortlyreturn，generally（oh，romanticreader，forgivemefortellingtheplaintruth！）bearingapotofporter。Herappearancealwaysactedasadampertothecuriosityraisedbyheroraloddities:hard—featuredandstaid，shehadnopointtowhichinterestcouldattach。Imadesomeattemptstodrawherintoconversation，butsheseemedapersonoffewwords:amonosyllabicreplyusuallycutshorteveryeffortofthatsort。
Theothermembersofthehousehold，viz。，Johnandhiswife，Leahthehousemaid，andSophietheFrenchnurse，weredecentpeople;butinnorespectremarkable;withSophieIusedtotalkFrench，andsometimesIaskedherquestionsabouthernativecountry;butshewasnotofadescriptiveornarrativeturn，andgenerallygavesuchvapidandconfusedanswersaswerecalculatedrathertocheckthanencourageinquiry。
October，November，Decemberpassedaway。OneafternooninJanuary，Mrs。FairfaxhadbeggedaholidayforAdele，becauseshehadacold;and，asAdelesecondedtherequestwithanardourthatremindedmehowpreciousoccasionalholidayshadbeentomeinmyownchildhood，Iaccordedit，deemingthatIdidwellinshowingpliabilityonthepoint。Itwasafine，calmday，thoughverycold;
Iwastiredofsittingstillinthelibrarythroughawholelongmorning:Mrs。Fairfaxhadjustwrittenaletterwhichwaswaitingtobeposted，soIputonmybonnetandcloakandvolunteeredtocarryittoHay;thedistance，twomiles，wouldbeapleasantwinterafternoonwalk。HavingseenAdelecomfortablyseatedinherlittlechairbyMrs。Fairfax\'sparlourfireside，andgivenherherbestwaxdoll（whichIusuallykeptenvelopedinsilverpaperinadrawer）toplaywith，andastory—bookforachangeofamusement;andhavingrepliedtoher\'Revenezbientot，mabonneamie，machereMdlle。
Jeannette，\'withakissIsetout。
Thegroundwashard，theairwasstill，myroadwaslonely;
I
walkedfasttillIgotwarm，andthenIwalkedslowlytoenjoyandanalysethespeciesofpleasurebroodingformeinthehourandsituation。Itwasthreeo\'clock;thechurchbelltolledasIpassedunderthebelfry:thecharmofthehourlayinitsapproachingdimness，inthelow—glidingandpale—beamingsun。IwasamilefromThornfield，inalanenotedforwildrosesinsummer，fornutsandblackberriesinautumn，andevennowpossessingafewcoraltreasuresinhipsandhaws，butwhosebestwinterdelightlayinitsuttersolitudeandleaflessrepose。Ifabreathofairstirred，itmadenosoundhere;fortherewasnotaholly，notanevergreentorustle，andthestrippedhawthornandhazelbusheswereasstillasthewhite，wornstoneswhichcausewayedthemiddleofthepath。Farandwide，oneachside，therewereonlyfields，wherenocattlenowbrowsed;andthelittlebrownbirds，whichstirredoccasionallyinthehedge，lookedlikesinglerussetleavesthathadforgottentodrop。
Thislaneinclinedup—hillallthewaytoHay;havingreachedthemiddle，Isatdownonastilewhichledthenceintoafield。Gatheringmymantleaboutme，andshelteringmyhandsinmymuff，Ididnotfeelthecold，thoughitfrozekeenly;aswasattestedbyasheetoficecoveringthecauseway，wherealittlebrooklet，nowcongealed，hadoverflowedafterarapidthawsomedayssince。FrommyseatIcouldlookdownonThornfield:thegreyandbattlementedhallwastheprincipalobjectinthevalebelowme;itswoodsanddarkrookeryroseagainstthe，west。Ilingeredtillthesunwentdownamongstthetrees，andsankcrimsonandclearbehindthem。Ithenturnedeastward。
Onthehill—topabovemesattherisingmoon;paleyetasacloud，butbrighteningmomentarily，shelookedoverHay，which，halflostintrees，sentupabluesmokefromitsfewchimneys:itwasyetamiledistant，butintheabsolutehushIcouldhearplainlyitsthinmurmursoflife。Myear，too，felttheflowofcurrents;inwhatdalesanddepthsIcouldnottell:butthereweremanyhillsbeyondHay，anddoubtlessmanybecksthreadingtheirpasses。Thateveningcalmbetrayedalikethetinkleoftheneareststreams，thesoughofthemostremote。
Arudenoisebrokeonthesefineripplingsandwhisperings，atoncesofarawayandsoclear:apositivetramp，tramp，ametallicclatter，whicheffacedthesoftwave—wanderings;as，inapicture，thesolidmassofacrag，ortheroughbolesofagreatoak，drawnindarkandstrongontheforeground，effacetheaerialdistanceofazurehill，sunnyhorizon，andblendedcloudswheretintmeltsintotint。
Thedinwasonthecauseway:ahorsewascoming;thewindingsofthelaneyethidit，butitapproached。Iwasjustleavingthestile;yet，asthepathwasnarrow，Isatstilltoletitgoby。InthosedaysIwasyoung，andallsortsoffanciesbrightanddarktenantedmymind:thememoriesofnurserystorieswerethereamongstotherrubbish;andwhentheyrecurred，maturingyouthaddedtothemavigourandvividnessbeyondwhatchildhoodcouldgive。Asthishorseapproached，andasIwatchedforittoappearthroughthedusk，I
rememberedcertainofBessie\'stales，whereinfiguredaNorth—of—Englandspiritcalleda\'Gytrash，\'which，intheformofhorse，mule，orlargedog，hauntedsolitaryways，andsometimescameuponbelatedtravellers，asthishorsewasnowcominguponme。
Itwasverynear，butnotyetinsight;when，inadditiontothetramp，tramp，Iheardarushunderthehedge，andclosedownbythehazelstemsglidedagreatdog，whoseblackandwhitecolourmadehimadistinctobjectagainstthetrees。ItwasexactlyoneformofBessie\'sGytrash—alion—likecreaturewithlonghairandahugehead:
itpassedme，however，quietlyenough;notstayingtolookup，withstrangepretercanineeyes，inmyface，asIhalfexpecteditwould。
Thehorsefollowed，—atallsteed，andonitsbackarider。Theman，thehumanbeing，brokethespellatonce。NothingeverrodetheGytrash:itwasalwaysalone;andgoblins，tomynotions，thoughtheymighttenantthedumbcarcassesofbeasts，couldscarcecovetshelterinthecommonplacehumanform。NoGytrashwasthis，—onlyatravellertakingtheshortcuttoMillcote。Hepassed，andIwenton;afewsteps，andIturned:aslidingsoundandanexclamationof\'Whatthedeuceistodonow？\'andaclatteringtumble，arrestedmyattention。Manandhorseweredown;theyhadslippedonthesheetoficewhichglazedthecauseway。Thedogcameboundingback，andseeinghismasterinapredicament，andhearingthehorsegroan，barkedtilltheeveninghillsechoedthesound，whichwasdeepinproportiontohismagnitude。Hesnuffedroundtheprostrategroup，andthenheranuptome;itwasallhecoulddo，—therewasnootherhelpathandtosummon。Iobeyedhim，andwalkeddowntothetraveller，bythistimestrugglinghimselffreeofhissteed。Hiseffortsweresovigorous，Ithoughthecouldnotbemuchhurt;butIaskedhimthequestion—
\'Areyouinjured，sir？\'
Ithinkhewasswearing，butamnotcertain;however，hewaspronouncingsomeformulawhichpreventedhimfromreplyingtomedirectly。
\'CanIdoanything？\'Iaskedagain。
\'Youmustjuststandononeside，\'heansweredasherose，firsttohisknees，andthentohisfeet。Idid;whereuponbeganaheaving，stamping，clatteringprocess，accompaniedbyabarkingandbayingwhichremovedmeeffectuallysomeyards\'distance;butIwouldnotbedrivenquiteawaytillIsawtheevent。Thiswasfinallyfortunate;
thehorsewasre—established，andthedogwassilencedwitha\'Down，Pilot！\'Thetravellernow，stooping，felthisfootandleg，asiftryingwhethertheyweresound;apparentlysomethingailedthem，forhehaltedtothestilewhenceIhadjustrisen，andsatdown。
Iwasinthemoodforbeinguseful，oratleastofficious，Ithink，forInowdrewnearhimagain。
\'Ifyouarehurt，andwanthelp，sir，IcanfetchsomeoneeitherfromThornfieldHallorfromHay。\'
\'Thankyou:Ishalldo:Ihavenobrokenbones，—onlyasprain;\'
andagainhestoodupandtriedhisfoot，buttheresultextortedaninvoluntary\'Ugh！\'
Somethingofdaylightstilllingered，andthemoonwaswaxingbright:Icouldseehimplainly。Hisfigurewasenvelopedinaridingcloak，furcollaredandsteelclasped;itsdetailswerenotapparent，butItracedthegeneralpointsofmiddleheightandconsiderablebreadthofchest。Hehadadarkface，withsternfeaturesandaheavybrow;hiseyesandgatheredeyebrowslookedirefulandthwartedjustnow;hewaspastyouth，buthadnotreachedmiddle—age;perhapshemightbethirty—five。Ifeltnofearofhim，andbutlittleshyness。Hadhebeenahandsome，heroic—lookingyounggentleman，Ishouldnothavedaredtostandthusquestioninghimagainsthiswill，andofferingmyservicesunasked。Ihadhardlyeverseenahandsomeyouth;neverinmylifespokentoone。Ihadatheoreticalreverenceandhomageforbeauty，elegance，gallantry，fascination;buthadImetthosequalitiesincarnateinmasculineshape，Ishouldhaveknowninstinctivelythattheyneitherhadnorcouldhavesympathywithanythinginme，andshouldhaveshunnedthemasonewouldfire，lightning，oranythingelsethatisbrightbutantipathetic。
Ifeventhisstrangerhadsmiledandbeengood—humouredtomewhenIaddressedhim;ifhehadputoffmyofferofassistancegailyandwiththanks，Ishouldhavegoneonmywayandnotfeltanyvocationtorenewinquiries:butthefrown，theroughnessofthetraveller，setmeatmyease:Iretainedmystationwhenhewavedtometogo，andannounced—
\'Icannotthinkofleavingyou，sir，atsolateanhour，inthissolitarylane，tillIseeyouarefittomountyourhorse。\'
HelookedatmewhenIsaidthis;hehadhardlyturnedhiseyesinmydirectionbefore。
\'Ishouldthinkyououghttobeathomeyourself，\'saidhe，\'ifyouhaveahomeinthisneighbourhood:wheredoyoucomefrom？\'
\'Fromjustbelow;andIamnotatallafraidofbeingoutlatewhenitismoonlight:IwillrunovertoHayforyouwithpleasure，ifyouwishit:indeed，Iamgoingtheretopostaletter。\'
\'Youlivejustbelow—doyoumeanatthathousewiththebattlements？\'pointingtoThornfieldHall，onwhichthemooncastahoarygleam，bringingitoutdistinctandpalefromthewoods，that，bycontrastwiththewesternsky，nowseemedonemassofshadow。