Formyself，Ihadnoneedtomakeanychange;Ishouldnotbecalledupontoquitmysanctumoftheschoolroom;forasanctumitwasnowbecometome，—\'averypleasantrefugeintimeoftrouble。\'
Ithadbeenamild，serenespringday—oneofthosedayswhich，towardstheendofMarchorthebeginningofApril，riseshiningovertheearthasheraldsofsummer。Itwasdrawingtoanendnow;buttheeveningwasevenwarm，andIsatatworkintheschoolroomwiththewindowopen。
\'Itgetslate，\'saidMrs。Fairfax，enteringinrustlingstate。\'I
amgladIordereddinneranhourafterthetimeMr。Rochestermentioned;foritispastsixnow。IhavesentJohndowntothegatestoseeifthereisanythingontheroad:onecanseealongwayfromthenceinthedirectionofMillcote。\'Shewenttothewindow。
\'Hereheis！\'saidshe。\'Well，John\'（leaningout），\'anynews？\'
\'They\'recoming，ma\'am，\'wastheanswer。\'They\'llbehereintenminutes。\'
Adeleflewtothewindow。Ifollowed，takingcaretostandononeside，sothat，screenedbythecurtain，Icouldseewithoutbeingseen。
ThetenminutesJohnhadgivenseemedverylong，butatlastwheelswereheard;fourequestriansgallopedupthedrive，andafterthemcametwoopencarriages。Flutteringveilsandwavingplumesfilledthevehicles;twoofthecavalierswereyoung，dashing—lookinggentlemen;thethirdwasMr。Rochester，onhisblackhorse，Mesrour，Pilotboundingbeforehim;athissiderodealady，andheandshewerethefirstoftheparty。Herpurpleriding—habitalmostsweptthe，ground，herveilstreamedlongonthebreeze;minglingwithitstransparentfolds，andgleamingthroughthem，shonerichravenringlets。
\'MissIngram！\'exclaimedMrs。Fairfax，andawayshehurriedtoherpostbelow。
Thecavalcade，followingthesweepofthedrive，quicklyturnedtheangleofthehouse，andIlostsightofit。Adelenowpetitionedtogodown;butItookheronmyknee，andgavehertounderstandthatshemustnotonanyaccountthinkofventuringinsightoftheladies，eithernoworatanyothertime，unlessexpresslysentfor:thatMr。
Rochesterwouldbeveryangry，etc。\'Somenaturaltearssheshed\'onbeingtoldthis;butasIbegantolookverygrave，sheconsentedatlasttowipethem。
Ajoyousstirwasnowaudibleinthehall:gentlemen\'sdeeptonesandladies\'silveryaccentsblentharmoniouslytogether，anddistinguishableaboveall，thoughnotloud，wasthesonorousvoiceofthemasterofThornfieldHall，welcominghisfairandgallantguestsunderitsroof。Thenlightstepsascendedthestairs;andtherewasatrippingthroughthegallery，andsoftcheerfullaughs，andopeningandclosingdoors，and，foratime，ahush。
\'Elleschangentdetoilettes，\'saidAdele;who，listeningattentively，hadfollowedeverymovement;andshesighed。
\'Chezmaman，\'saidshe，\'quandilyavaitdumonde，jelesuivaispartout，ausalonetaleurschambres;souventjeregardaislesfemmesdechambrecoifferethabillerlesdames，etc\'etaitsiamusant:commecelaonapprend。\'
\'Don\'tyoufeelhungry，Adele？\'
\'Maisoui，mademoiselle:voilacinqousixheuresquenousn\'avonspasmange。\'
\'Wellnow，whiletheladiesareintheirrooms，Iwillventuredownandgetyousomethingtoeat。\'
Andissuingfrommyasylumwithprecaution，Isoughtabackstairswhichconducteddirectlytothekitchen。Allinthatregionwasfireandcommotion;thesoupandfishwereinthelaststageofprojection，andthecookhungoverhercruciblesinaframeofmindandbodythreateningspontaneouscombustion。Intheservants\'halltwocoachmenandthreegentlemen\'sgentlemenstoodorsatroundthefire;theabigails，Isuppose，wereupstairswiththeirmistresses;thenewservants，thathadbeenhiredfromMillcote，werebustlingabouteverywhere。Threadingthischaos，Iatlastreachedthelarder;
thereItookpossessionofacoldchicken，arollofbread，sometarts，aplateortwoandaknifeandfork:withthisbootyImadeahastyretreat。Ihadregainedthegallery，andwasjustshuttingtheback—doorbehindme，whenanacceleratedhumwarnedmethattheladieswereabouttoissuefromtheirchambers。Icouldnotproceedtotheschoolroomwithoutpassingsomeoftheirdoors，andrunningtheriskofbeingsurprisedwithmycargoofvictualage;soIstoodstillatthisend，which，beingwindowless，wasdark:quitedarknow，forthesunwassetandtwilightgathering。
Presentlythechambersgaveuptheirfairtenantsoneafteranother:eachcameoutgailyandairily，withdressthatgleamedlustrousthroughthedusk。Foramomenttheystoodgroupedtogetherattheotherextremityofthegallery，conversinginakeyofsweetsubduedvivacity:theythendescendedthestaircasealmostasnoiselesslyasabrightmistrollsdownahill。Theircollectiveappearancehadleftonmeanimpressionofhigh—bornelegance，suchasIhadneverbeforereceived。
IfoundAdelepeepingthroughtheschoolroomdoor，whichsheheldajar。\'Whatbeautifulladies！\'criedsheinEnglish。\'Oh，IwishI
mightgotothem！DoyouthinkMr。Rochesterwillsendforusbyandby，afterdinner？\'
\'No，indeed，Idon\'t;Mr。Rochesterhassomethingelsetothinkabout。Nevermindtheladiesto—night;perhapsyouwillseethemto—morrow:hereisyourdinner。\'
Shewasreallyhungry，sothechickenandtartsservedtodivertherattentionforatime。ItwaswellIsecuredthisforage，orbothshe，I，andSophie，towhomIconveyedashareofourrepast，wouldhaverunachanceofgettingnodinneratall:everyonedownstairswastoomuchengagedtothinkofus。Thedessertwasnotcarriedouttillafternine，andattenfootmenwerestillrunningtoandfrowithtraysandcoffee—cups。IallowedAdeletositupmuchlaterthanusual;forshedeclaredshecouldnotpossiblygotosleepwhilethedoorskeptopeningandshuttingbelow，andpeoplebustlingabout。
Besides，sheadded，amessagemightpossiblycomefromMr。Rochesterwhenshewasundressed;\'etalorsqueldommage！\'
Itoldherstoriesaslongasshewouldlistentothem;
andthenforachangeItookheroutintothegallery。Thehalllampwasnowlit，anditamusedhertolookoverthebalustradeandwatchtheservantspassingbackwardsandforwards。Whentheeveningwasfaradvanced，asoundofmusicissuedfromthedrawing—room，whitherthepianohadbeenremoved;AdeleandIsatdownonthetopstepofthestairstolisten。Presentlyavoiceblentwiththerichtonesoftheinstrument;itwasaladywhosang，andverysweethernoteswere。Thesoloover，aduetfollowed，andthenaglee:ajoyousconversationalmurmurfilleduptheintervals。Ilistenedlong:suddenlyIdiscoveredthatmyearwaswhollyintentonanalysingthemingledsounds，andtryingtodiscriminateamidsttheconfusionofaccentsthoseofMr。
Rochester;andwhenitcaughtthem，whichitsoondid，itfoundafurthertaskinframingthetones，renderedbydistanceinarticulate，intowords。
Theclockstruckeleven。IlookedatAdele，whoseheadleantagainstmyshoulder;hereyeswerewaxingheavy，soItookherupinmyarmsandcarriedherofftobed。Itwasnearonebeforethegentlemenandladiessoughttheirchambers。
Thenextdaywasasfineasitspredecessor:itwasdevotedbythepartytoanexcursiontosomesiteintheneighbourhood。Theysetoutearlyintheforenoon，someonhorseback，therestincarriages;Iwitnessedboththedepartureandthereturn。MissIngram，asbefore，wastheonlyladyequestrian;and，asbefore，Mr。Rochestergallopedatherside;thetworodealittleapartfromtherest。I
pointedoutthiscircumstancetoMrs。Fairfax，whowasstandingatthewindowwithme—
\'Yousaiditwasnotlikelytheyshouldthinkofbeingmarried，\'
saidI，\'butyouseeMr。Rochesterevidentlyprefershertoanyoftheotherladies。\'
\'Yes，Idaresay:nodoubtheadmiresher。\'
\'Andshehim，\'Iadded;\'lookhowsheleansherheadtowardshimasifshewereconversingconfidentially;IwishIcouldseeherface;
Ihaveneverhadaglimpseofityet。\'
\'Youwillseeherthisevening，\'answeredMrs。Fairfax。
\'IhappenedtoremarktoMr。RochesterhowmuchAdelewishedtobeintroducedtotheladies，andhesaid:\"Oh！lethercomeintothedrawing—roomafterdinner;andrequestMissEyretoaccompanyher。\"\'
\'Yes;hesaidthatfrommerepoliteness:Ineednotgo，Iamsure，\'
Ianswered。
\'Well，Iobservedtohimthatasyouwereunusedtocompany，I
didnotthinkyouwouldlikeappearingbeforesogayaparty—allstrangers;andhereplied，inhisquickway—\"Nonsense！Ifsheobjects，tellheritismyparticularwish;andifsheresists，sayIshallcomeandfetchherincaseofcontumacy。\"\'
\'Iwillnotgivehimthattrouble，\'Ianswered。\'Iwillgo，ifnobettermaybe;butIdon\'tlikeit。Shallyoubethere，Mrs。Fairfax？\'
\'No;Ipleadedoff，andheadmittedmyplea。I\'lltellyouhowtomanagesoastoavoidtheembarrassmentofmakingaformalentrance，whichisthemostdisagreeablepartofthebusiness。Youmustgointothedrawing—roomwhileitisempty，beforetheladiesleavethedinner—table;chooseyourseatinanyquietnookyoulike;youneednotstaylongafterthegentlemencomein，unlessyouplease:justletMr。Rochesterseeyouarethereandthenslipaway—nobodywillnoticeyou。\'
\'Willthesepeopleremainlong，doyouthink？\'
\'Perhapstwoorthreeweeks，certainlynotmore。AftertheEasterrecess，SirGeorgeLynn，whowaslatelyelectedmemberforMillcote，willhavetogouptotownandtakehisseat;IdaresayMr。
Rochesterwillaccompanyhim:itsurprisesmethathehasalreadymadesoprotractedastayatThornfield。\'
ItwaswithsometrepidationthatIperceivedthehourapproachwhenIwastorepairwithmychargetothedrawing—room。Adelehadbeeninastateofecstasyallday，afterhearingshewastobepresentedtotheladiesintheevening;anditwasnottillSophiecommencedtheoperationofdressingherthatshesobereddown。Thentheimportanceoftheprocessquicklysteadiedher，andbythetimeshehadhercurlsarrangedinwell—smoothed，droopingclusters，herpinksatinfrockputon，herlongsashtied，andherlacemittensadjusted，shelookedasgraveasanyjudge。Noneedtowarnhernottodisarrangeherattire:whenshewasdressed，shesatdemurelydowninherlittlechair，takingcarepreviouslytoliftupthesatinskirtforfearsheshouldcreaseit，andassuredmeshewouldnotstirthencetillIwasready。ThisIquicklywas:mybestdress（thesilver—greyone，purchasedforMissTemple\'swedding，andneverwornsince）wassoonputon;myhairwassoonsmoothed;mysoleornament，thepearlbrooch，soonassumed。Wedescended。
Fortunatelytherewasanotherentrancetothedrawing—roomthanthatthroughthesaloonwheretheywereallseatedatdinner。Wefoundtheapartmentvacant;alargefireburningsilentlyonthemarblehearth，andwaxcandlesshininginbrightsolitude，amidtheexquisiteflowerswithwhichthetableswereadorned。Thecrimsoncurtainhungbeforethearch:slightaswastheseparationthisdraperyformedfromthepartyintheadjoiningsaloon，theyspokeinsolowakeythatnothingoftheirconversationcouldbedistinguishedbeyondasoothingmurmur。
Adele，whoappearedtobestillundertheinfluenceofamostsolemnisingimpression，satdown，withoutaword，onthefootstoolI
pointedouttoher。Iretiredtoawindow—seat，andtakingabookfromatablenear，endeavouredtoread。Adelebroughtherstooltomyfeet;
erelongshetouchedmyknee。
\'Whatisit，Adele？\'
\'Est—cequejenepuispasprendreuneseuledecesfleursmagnifiques，mademoiselle？Seulementpourcompletermatoilette。\'
\'Youthinktoomuchofyour\"toilette，\"Adele:butyoumayhaveaflower。\'AndItookarosefromavaseandfasteneditinhersash。
Shesighedasighofineffablesatisfaction，asifhercupofhappinesswerenowfull。IturnedmyfaceawaytoconcealasmileI
couldnotsuppress:therewassomethingludicrousaswellaspainfulinthelittleParisienne\'searnestandinnatedevotiontomattersofdress。
Asoftsoundofrisingnowbecameaudible;thecurtainwassweptbackfromthearch;throughitappearedthedining—room，withitslitlustrepouringdownlightonthesilverandglassofamagnificentdessert—servicecoveringalongtable;abandofladiesstoodintheopening;theyentered，andthecurtainfellbehindthem。
Therewerebuteight;yet，somehow，astheyflockedin，theygavetheimpressionofamuchlargernumber。Someofthemwereverytall;
manyweredressedinwhite;andallhadasweepingamplitudeofarraythatseemedtomagnifytheirpersonsasamistmagnifiesthemoon。Iroseandcurtseyedtothem:oneortwobenttheirheadsinreturn，theothersonlystaredatme。
Theydispersedabouttheroom，remindingme，bythelightnessandbuoyancyoftheirmovements，ofaflockofwhiteplumybirds。Someofthemthrewthemselvesinhalf—recliningpositionsonthesofasandottomans:somebentoverthetablesandexaminedtheflowersandbooks:therestgatheredinagrouproundthefire:alltalkedinalowbutcleartonewhichseemedhabitualtothem。Iknewtheirnamesafterwards，andmayaswellmentionthemnow。
First，therewasMrs。Eshtonandtwoofherdaughters。
Shehadevidentlybeenahandsomewoman，andwaswellpreservedstill。Ofherdaughters，theeldest，Amy，wasratherlittle:naive，andchild—likeinfaceandmanner，andpiquantinform;herwhitemuslindressandbluesashbecameherwell。Thesecond，Louisa，wastallerandmoreelegantinfigure;withaveryprettyface，ofthatordertheFrenchtermminoischiffone:bothsisterswerefairaslilies。
LadyLynnwasalargeandstoutpersonageofaboutforty，veryerect，veryhaughty—looking，richlydressedinasatinrobeofchangefulsheen:herdarkhairshoneglossilyundertheshadeofanazureplume，andwithinthecircletofabandofgems。
Mrs。ColonelDentwaslessshowy;but，Ithought，morelady—like。
Shehadaslightfigure，apale，gentleface，andfairhair。Herblacksatindress，herscarfofrichforeignlace，andherpearlornaments，pleasedmebetterthantherainbowradianceofthetitleddame。
Butthethreemostdistinguished—partly，perhaps，becausethetallestfiguresoftheband—weretheDowagerLadyIngramandherdaughters，BlancheandMary。Theywereallthreeoftheloftieststatureofwomen。TheDowagermightbebetweenfortyandfifty:hershapewasstillfine;herhair（bycandlelightatleast）stillblack;herteeth，too，werestillapparentlyperfect。Mostpeoplewouldhavetermedherasplendidwomanofherage:andsoshewas，nodoubt，physicallyspeaking;butthentherewasanexpressionofalmostinsupportablehaughtinessinherbearingandcountenance。ShehadRomanfeaturesandadoublechin，disappearingintoathroatlikeapillar:thesefeaturesappearedtomenotonlyinflatedanddarkened，butevenfurrowedwithpride;andthechinwassustainedbythesameprinciple，inapositionofalmostpreternaturalerectness。Shehad，likewise，afierceandahardeye:itremindedmeofMrs。Reed\'s;shemouthedherwordsinspeaking;hervoicewasdeep，itsinflectionsverypompous，verydogmatical，—veryintolerable，inshort。Acrimsonvelvetrobe，andashawlturbanofsomegold—wroughtIndianfabric，investedher（Isupposeshethought）withatrulyimperialdignity。
BlancheandMarywereofequalstature，—straightandtallaspoplars。Marywastooslimforherheight，butBlanchewasmouldedlikeaDian。Iregardedher，ofcourse，withspecialinterest。
First，IwishedtoseewhetherherappearanceaccordedwithMrs。
Fairfax\'sdescription;secondly，whetheritatallresembledthefancyminiatureIhadpaintedofher;andthirdly—itwillout！—whetheritweresuchasIshouldfancylikelytosuitMr。Rochester\'staste。
Asfaraspersonwent，sheansweredpointforpoint，bothtomypictureandMrs。Fairfax\'sdescription。Thenoblebust，theslopingshoulders，thegracefulneck，thedarkeyesandblackringletswereallthere;—butherface？Herfacewaslikehermother\'s;ayouthfulunfurrowedlikeness:thesamelowbrow，thesamehighfeatures，thesamepride。Itwasnot，however，sosaturnineapride！shelaughedcontinually;herlaughwassatirical，andsowasthehabitualexpressionofherarchedandhaughtylip。
Geniusissaidtobeself—conscious。IcannottellwhetherMissIngramwasagenius，butshewasself—conscious—remarkablyself—consciousindeed。SheenteredintoadiscourseonbotanywiththegentleMrs。Dent。ItseemedMrs。Denthadnotstudiedthatscience:
though，asshesaid，shelikedflowers，\'especiallywildones\';MissIngramhad，andsheranoveritsvocabularywithanair。Ipresentlyperceivedshewas（whatisvernacularlytermed）trailingMrs。Dent;
thatis，playingonherignorance:hertrailmightbeclever，butitwasdecidedlynotgood—natured。Sheplayed:herexecutionwasbrilliant;shesang，hervoicewasfine;shetalkedFrenchaparttohermama;andshetalkeditwell，withfluencyandwithagoodaccent。
MaryhadamilderandmoreopencountenancethanBlanche;
softerfeaturestoo，andaskinsomeshadesfairer（MissIngramwasdarkasaSpaniard）—butMarywasdeficientinlife:herfacelackedexpression，hereyelustre;shehadnothingtosay，andhavingoncetakenherseat，remainedfixedlikeastatueinitsniche。Thesisterswerebothattiredinspotlesswhite。
AnddidInowthinkMissIngramsuchachoiceasMr。Rochesterwouldbelikelytomake？Icouldnottell—Ididnotknowhistasteinfemalebeauty。Ifhelikedthemajestic，shewastheverytypeofmajesty:thenshewasaccomplished，sprightly。Mostgentlemenwouldadmireher，Ithought;andthathedidadmireher，Ialreadyseemedtohaveobtainedproof:toremovethelastshadeofdoubt，itremainedbuttoseethemtogether。
Youarenottosuppose，reader，thatAdelehasallthistimebeensittingmotionlessonthestoolatmyfeet:no;whentheladiesentered，sherose，advancedtomeetthem，madeastatelyreverence，andsaidwithgravity—
\'Bonjour，mesdames。\'
AndMissIngramhadlookeddownatherwithamockingair，andexclaimed，\'Oh，whatalittlepuppet！\'
LadyLynnhadremarked，\'ItisMr。Rochester\'sward，I
suppose—thelittleFrenchgirlhewasspeakingof。\'
Mrs。Denthadkindlytakenherhand，andgivenherakiss。
AmyandLouisaEshtonhadcriedoutsimultaneously—
\'Whataloveofachild！\'
Andthentheyhadcalledhertoasofa，whereshenowsat，ensconcedbetweenthem，chatteringalternatelyinFrenchandbrokenEnglish;absorbingnotonlytheyoungladies\'attention，butthatofMrs。EshtonandLadyLynn，andgettingspoilttoherheart\'scontent。
Atlastcoffeeisbroughtin，andthegentlemenaresummoned。
Isitintheshade—ifanyshadetherebeinthisbrilliantly—litapartment;
thewindow—curtainhalfhidesme。Againthearchyawns;theycome。Thecollectiveappearanceofthegentlemen，likethatoftheladies，isveryimposing:theyareallcostumedinblack;mostofthemaretall，someyoung。HenryandFrederickLynnareverydashingsparksindeed;andColonelDentisafinesoldierlyman。Mr。Eshton，themagistrateofthedistrict，isgentleman—like:hishairisquitewhite，hiseyebrowsandwhiskersstilldark，whichgiveshimsomethingoftheappearanceofa\'perenobledetheatre。\'LordIngram，likehissisters，isverytall;likethem，also，heishandsome;buthesharesMary\'sapatheticandlistlesslook:heseemstohavemorelengthoflimbthanvivacityofbloodorvigourofbrain。
AndwhereisMr。Rochester？
Hecomesinlast:Iamnotlookingatthearch，yetIseehimenter。Itrytoconcentratemyattentiononthosenetting—needles，onthemeshesofthepurseIamforming—IwishtothinkonlyoftheworkIhaveinmyhands，toseeonlythesilverbeadsandsilkthreadsthatlieinmylap;whereas，Idistinctlybeholdhisfigure，andI
inevitablyrecallthemomentwhenIlastsawit;justafterIhadrenderedhim，whathedeemed，anessentialservice，andhe，holdingmyhand，andlookingdownonmyface，surveyedmewitheyesthatrevealedaheartfullandeagertooverflow;inwhoseemotionsIhadapart。
HownearhadIapproachedhimatthatmoment！Whathadoccurredsince，calculatedtochangehisandmyrelativepositions？Yetnow，howdistant，howfarestrangedwewere！Sofarestranged，thatIdidnotexpecthimtocomeandspeaktome。Ididnotwonder，when，withoutlookingatme，hetookaseatattheothersideoftheroom，andbeganconversingwithsomeoftheladies。
NosoonerdidIseethathisattentionwasrivetedonthem，andthatImightgazewithoutbeingobserved，thanmyeyesweredrawninvoluntarilytohisface;Icouldnotkeeptheirlidsundercontrol:theywouldrise，andtheiridswouldfixonhim。Ilooked，andhadanacutepleasureinlooking，—apreciousyetpoignantpleasure;puregold，withasteelypointofagony:apleasurelikewhatthethirst—perishingmanmightfeelwhoknowsthewelltowhichhehascreptispoisoned，yetstoopsanddrinksdivinedraughtsnevertheless。
Mosttrueisitthat\'beautyisintheeyeofthegazer。\'
Mymaster\'scolourless，oliveface，square，massivebrow，broadandjettyeyebrows，deepeyes，strongfeatures，firm，grimmouth，—allenergy，decision，will，—werenotbeautiful，accordingtorule;buttheyweremorethanbeautifultome;theywerefullofaninterest，aninfluencethatquitemasteredme，—thattookmyfeelingsfrommyownpowerandfetteredtheminhis。Ihadnotintendedtolovehim;thereaderknowsIhadwroughthardtoextirpatefrommysoulthegermsoflovetheredetected;andnow，atthefirstrenewedviewofhim，theyspontaneouslyarrived，greenandstrong！Hemademelovehimwithoutlookingatme。
Icomparedhimwithhisguests。WhatwasthegallantgraceoftheLynns，thelanguideleganceofLordIngram，—eventhemilitarydistinctionofColonelDent，contrastedwithhislookofnativepithandgenuinepower？Ihadnosympathyintheirappearance，theirexpression:yetIcouldimaginethatmostobserverswouldcallthemattractive，handsome，imposing;whiletheywouldpronounceMr。
Rochesteratonceharsh—featuredandmelancholy—looking。Isawthemsmile，laugh—itwasnothing;thelightofthecandleshadasmuchsoulinitastheirsmile;thetinkleofthebellasmuchsignificanceastheirlaugh。IsawMr。Rochestersmile:—hissternfeaturessoftened;hiseyegrewbothbrilliantandgentle，itsraybothsearchingandsweet。Hewastalking，atthemoment，toLouisaandAmyEshton。Iwonderedtoseethemreceivewithcalmthatlookwhichseemedtomesopenetrating:Iexpectedtheireyestofall，theircolourtoriseunderit;yetIwasgladwhenIfoundtheywereinnosensemoved。\'Heisnottothemwhatheistome，\'Ithought:\'heisnotoftheirkind。Ibelieveheisofmine;—Iamsureheis—Ifeelakintohim—Iunderstandthelanguageofhiscountenanceandmovements:thoughrankandwealthseveruswidely，Ihavesomethinginmybrainandheart，inmybloodandnerves，thatassimilatesmementallytohim。DidIsay，afewdayssince，thatIhadnothingtodowithhimbuttoreceivemysalaryathishands？DidIforbidmyselftothinkofhiminanyotherlightthanasapaymaster？Blasphemyagainstnature！Everygood，true，vigorousfeelingIhavegathersimpulsivelyroundhim。IknowImustconcealmysentiments:Imustsmotherhope;Imustrememberthathecannotcaremuchforme。ForwhenIsaythatIamofhiskind，IdonotmeanthatIhavehisforcetoinfluence，andhisspelltoattract;ImeanonlythatI
havecertaintastesandfeelingsincommonwithhim。Imust，then，repeatcontinuallythatweareforeversundered:—andyet，whileI
breatheandthink，Imustlovehim。\'
Coffeeishanded。Theladies，sincethegentlemenentered，havebecomelivelyaslarks;conversationwaxesbriskandmerry。ColonelDentandMr。Eshtonargueonpolitics;theirwiveslisten。Thetwoprouddowagers，LadyLynnandLadyIngram，confabulatetogether。SirGeorge—whom，bythebye，Ihaveforgottentodescribe，—averybig，andveryfresh—lookingcountrygentleman，standsbeforetheirsofa，coffee—cupinhand，andoccasionallyputsinaword。Mr。FrederickLynnhastakenaseatbesideMaryIngram，andisshowinghertheengravingsofasplendidvolume:shelooks，smilesnowandthen，butapparentlysayslittle。ThetallandphlegmaticLordIngramleanswithfoldedarmsonthechair—backofthelittleandlivelyAmyEshton;sheglancesupathim，andchatterslikeawren:shelikeshimbetterthanshedoesMr。Rochester。HenryLynnhastakenpossessionofanottomanatthefeetofLouisa:Adelesharesitwithhim:heistryingtotalkFrenchwithher，andLouisalaughsathisblunders。
WithwhomwillBlancheIngrampair？Sheisstandingaloneatthetable，bendinggracefullyoveranalbum。Sheseemswaitingtobesought;butshewillnotwaittoolong:sheherselfselectsamate。
Mr。Rochester，havingquittedtheEshtons，standsonthehearthassolitaryasshestandsbythetable:sheconfrontshim，takingherstationontheoppositesideofthemantelpiece。
\'Mr。Rochester，Ithoughtyouwerenotfondofchildren？\'
\'NoramI。\'
\'Then，whatinducedyoutotakechargeofsuchalittledollasthat？\'（pointingtoAdele）。\'Wheredidyoupickherup？\'
\'Ididnotpickherup;shewasleftonmyhands。\'
\'Youshouldhavesenthertoschool。\'
\'Icouldnotaffordit:schoolsaresodear。\'
\'Why，Isupposeyouhaveagovernessforher:Isawapersonwithherjustnow—isshegone？Oh，no！theresheisstill，behindthewindow—curtain。Youpayher，ofcourse;Ishouldthinkitquiteasexpensive，—moreso;foryouhavethembothtokeepinaddition。\'
Ifeared—orshouldIsay，hoped？—theallusiontomewouldmakeMr。Rochesterglancemyway;andIinvoluntarilyshrankfartherintotheshade:butheneverturnedhiseyes。
\'Ihavenotconsideredthesubject，\'saidheindifferently，lookingstraightbeforehim。
\'No，youmenneverdoconsidereconomyandcommonsense。
Youshouldhearmamaonthechapterofgovernesses:MaryandIhavehad，Ishouldthink，adozenatleastinourday;halfofthemdetestableandtherestridiculous，andallincubi—weretheynot，mama？\'
\'Didyouspeak，myown？\'
Theyoungladythusclaimedasthedowager\'sspecialproperty，reiteratedherquestionwithanexplanation。
\'Mydearest，don\'tmentiongovernesses;thewordmakesmenervous。Ihavesufferedamartyrdomfromtheirincompetencyandcaprice。IthankHeavenIhavenowdonewiththem！\'
Mrs。Dentherebentovertothepiouslady，andwhisperedsomethinginhercar;Isuppose，fromtheanswerelicited，itwasareminderthatoneoftheanathematisedracewaspresent。
\'Tantpis！\'saidherladyship，\'Ihopeitmaydohergood！\'
Then，inalowertone，butstillloudenoughformetohear，\'Inoticedher;
Iamajudgeofphysiognomy，andinhersIseeallthefaultsofherclass。\'
\'Whatarethey，madam？\'inquiredMr。Rochesteraloud。
\'Iwilltellyouinyourprivateear，\'repliedshe，waggingherturbanthreetimeswithportentoussignificancy。
\'Butmycuriositywillbepastitsappetite;itcravesfoodnow。\'
\'AskBlanche;sheisneareryouthanI。\'
\'Oh，don\'treferhimtome，mama！Ihavejustonewordtosayofthewholetribe;theyareanuisance。NotthatIeversufferedmuchfromthem;Itookcaretoturnthetables。WhattricksTheodoreandIusedtoplayonourMissWilsons，andMrs。Greys，andMadameJouberts！Marywasalwaystoosleepytojoininaplotwithspirit。
ThebestfunwaswithMadameJoubert:MissWilsonwasapoorsicklything，lachrymoseandlow—spirited，notworththetroubleofvanquishing，inshort;andMrs。Greywascoarseandinsensible;noblowtookeffectonher。ButpoorMadameJoubert！Iseeheryetinherragingpassions，whenwehaddrivenhertoextremities—spiltourtea，crumbledourbreadandbutter，tossedourbooksuptotheceiling，andplayedacharivariwiththeruleranddesk，thefenderandfire—irons。
Theodore，doyourememberthosemerrydays？\'
\'Yaas，tobesureIdo，\'drawledLordIngram;\'andthepooroldstickusedtocryout\"Ohyouvillainschilds！\"—andthenwesermonisedheronthepresumptionofattemptingtoteachsuchcleverbladesaswewere，whenshewasherselfsoignorant。\'
\'Wedid;and，Tedo，youknow，Ihelpedyouinprosecuting（orpersecuting）yourtutor，whey—facedMr。Vining—theparsoninthepip，asweusedtocallhim。HeandMissWilsontookthelibertyoffallinginlovewitheachother—atleastTedoandIthoughtso;wesurprisedsundrytenderglancesandsighswhichweinterpretedastokensof\"labellepassion，\"andIpromiseyouthepublicsoonhadthebenefitofourdiscovery;weemployeditasasortoflevertohoistourdead—weightsfromthehouse。Dearmama，there，assoonasshegotaninklingofthebusiness，foundoutthatitwasofanimmoraltendency。Didyounot，mylady—mother？\'
\'Certainly，mybest。AndIwasquiteright:dependonthat:
thereareathousandreasonswhyliaisonsbetweengovernessesandtutorsshouldneverbetoleratedamomentinanywell—regulatedhouse;
firstly—\'
\'Oh，gracious，mama！Spareustheenumeration！Aureste，weallknowthem:dangerofbadexampletoinnocenceofchildhood;