\'Iwishyouallgood—night，now，\'saidhe，makingamovementofthehandtowardsthedoor，intokenthathewastiredofourcompany，andwishedtodismissus。Mrs。Fairfaxfoldedupherknitting:I
tookmyportfolio:wecurtseyedtohim，receivedafrigidbowinreturn，andsowithdrew。
\'YousaidMr。Rochesterwasnotstrikinglypeculiar，Mrs。
Fairfax，\'
Iobserved，whenIrejoinedherinherroom，afterputtingAdeletobed。
\'Well，ishe？\'
\'Ithinkso:heisverychangefulandabrupt。\'
\'True:nodoubthemayappearsotoastranger，butIamsoaccustomedtohismanner，Ineverthinkofit;andthen，ifhehaspeculiaritiesoftemper，allowanceshouldbemade。\'
\'Why？\'
\'Partlybecauseitishisnature—andwecannoneofushelpournature;andpartlybecausehehaspainfulthoughts，nodoubt，toharasshim，andmakehisspiritsunequal。\'
\'Whatabout？\'
\'Familytroubles，foronething。\'
\'Buthehasnofamily。\'
\'Notnow，buthehashad—or，atleast，relatives。Helosthiselderbrotherafewyearssince。\'
\'Hiselderbrother？\'
\'Yes。ThepresentMr。Rochesterhasnotbeenverylonginpossessionoftheproperty;onlyaboutnineyears。\'
\'Nineyearsisatolerabletime。Washesoveryfondofhisbrotherastobestillinconsolableforhisloss？\'
\'Why，no—perhapsnot。Ibelievethereweresomemisunderstandingsbetweenthem。Mr。RowlandRochesterwasnotquitejusttoMr。Edward;andperhapsheprejudicedhisfatheragainsthim。Theoldgentlemanwasfondofmoney，andanxioustokeepthefamilyestatetogether。Hedidnotliketodiminishthepropertybydivision，andyethewasanxiousthatMr。Edwardshouldhavewealth，too，tokeepuptheconsequenceofthename;and，soonafterhewasofage，somestepsweretakenthatwerenotquitefair，andmadeagreatdealofmischief。OldMr。RochesterandMr。RowlandcombinedtobringMr。Edwardintowhatheconsideredapainfulposition，forthesakeofmakinghisfortune:whattheprecisenatureofthatpositionwasIneverclearlyknew，buthisspiritcouldnotbrookwhathehadtosufferinit。Heisnotveryforgiving:hebrokewithhisfamily，andnowformanyyearshehasledanunsettledkindoflife。
I
don\'tthinkhehaseverbeenresidentatThornfieldforafortnighttogether，sincethedeathofhisbrotherwithoutawilllefthimmasteroftheestate;and，indeed，nowonderheshunstheoldplace。\'
\'Whyshouldheshunit？\'
\'Perhapshethinksitgloomy。\'
Theanswerwasevasive。Ishouldhavelikedsomethingclearer;
butMrs。Fairfaxeithercouldnot，orwouldnot，givememoreexplicitinformationoftheoriginandnatureofMr。Rochester\'strials。Sheaverredtheywereamysterytoherself，andthatwhatsheknewwaschieflyfromconjecture。Itwasevident，indeed，thatshewishedmetodropthesubject，whichIdidaccordingly。
chapter14CHAPTERXIV
FORseveralsubsequentdaysIsawlittleofMr。Rochester。
Inthemorningsheseemedmuchengagedwithbusiness，and，intheafternoon，gentlemenfromMillcoteortheneighbourhoodcalled，andsometimesstayedtodinewithhim。Whenhissprainwaswellenoughtoadmitofhorseexercise，herodeoutagooddeal;probablytoreturnthesevisits，ashegenerallydidnotcomebacktilllateatnight。
Duringthisinterval，evenAdelewasseldomsentfortohispresence，andallmyacquaintancewithhimwasconfinedtoanoccasionalrencontreinthehall，onthestairs，orinthegallery，whenhewouldsometimespassmehaughtilyandcoldly，justacknowledgingmypresencebyadistantnodoracoolglance，andsometimesbowandsmilewithgentlemanlikeaffability。Hischangesofmooddidnotoffendme，becauseIsawthatIhadnothingtodowiththeiralternation;theebbandflowdependedoncausesquitedisconnectedwithme。
Onedayhehadhadcompanytodinner，andhadsentformyportfolio;inorder，doubtless，toexhibititscontents:thegentlemenwentawayearly，toattendapublicmeetingatMillcote，asMrs。
Fairfaxinformedme;butthenightbeingwetandinclement，Mr。
Rochesterdidnotaccompanythem。Soonaftertheyweregoneherangthebell:amessagecamethatIandAdeleweretogodownstairs。I
brushedAdele\'shairandmadeherneat，andhavingascertainedthatIwasmyselfinmyusualQuakertrim，wheretherewasnothingtoretouch—allbeingtoocloseandplain，braidedlocksincluded，toadmitofdisarrangement—wedescended，Adelewonderingwhetherthepetitcoffrewasatlengthcome;for，owingtosomemistake，itsarrivalhadhithertobeendelayed。Shewasgratified:thereitstood，alittlecarton，onthetablewhenweenteredthedining—room。Sheappearedtoknowitbyinstinct。
\'Maboite！maboite！\'exclaimedshe，runningtowardsit。
\'Yes，thereisyour\"boite\"atlast:takeitintoacorner，yougenuinedaughterofParis，andamuseyourselfwithdisembowellingit，\'
saidthedeepandrathersarcasticvoiceofMr。Rochester，proceedingfromthedepthsofanimmenseeasy—chairatthefireside。
\'Andmind，\'hecontinued，\'don\'tbothermewithanydetailsoftheanatomicalprocess，oranynoticeoftheconditionoftheentrails:
letyouroperationbeconductedinsilence:tiens—toitranquille，enfant;comprends—tu？\'
Adeleseemedscarcelytoneedthewarning;shehadalreadyretiredtoasofawithhertreasure，andwasbusyuntyingthecordwhichsecuredthelid。Havingremovedthisimpediment，andliftedcertainsilveryenvelopesoftissuepaper，shemerelyexclaimed—
\'Ohciel！Quec\'estbeau！\'andthenremainedabsorbedinecstaticcontemplation。
\'IsMissEyrethere？\'nowdemandedthemaster，halfrisingfromhisseattolookroundtothedoor，nearwhichIstillstood。
\'Ah！well，comeforward;beseatedhere。\'Hedrewachairnearhisown。\'Iamnotfondoftheprattleofchildren，\'hecontinued;
\'for，oldbachelorasIam，Ihavenopleasantassociationsconnectedwiththeirlisp。Itwouldbeintolerabletometopassawholeeveningtete—a—tetewithabrat。Don\'tdrawthatchairfartheroff，MissEyre;sitdownexactlywhereIplacedit—ifyouplease，thatis。Confoundthesecivilities！Icontinuallyforgetthem。NordoIparticularlyaffectsimple—mindedoldladies。Bythebye，I
musthavemineinmind;itwon\'tdotoneglecther;sheisaFairfax，orwedtoone;andbloodissaidtobethickerthanwater。\'
Herang，anddespatchedaninvitationtoMrs。Fairfax，whosoonarrived，knitting—basketinhand。
\'Goodevening，madam;Isenttoyouforacharitablepurpose。
I
haveforbiddenAdeletotalktomeaboutherpresents，andsheisburstingwithrepletion;havethegoodnesstoserveherasauditressandinterlocutrice;itwillbeoneofthemostbenevolentactsyoueverperformed。\'
Adele，indeed，nosoonersawMrs。Fairfax，thanshesummonedhertohersofa，andtherequicklyfilledherlapwiththeporcelain，theivory，thewaxencontentsofher\'boite\';pouringout，meantime，explanationsandrapturesinsuchbrokenEnglishasshewasmistressof。
\'NowIhaveperformedthepartofagoodhost，\'pursuedMr。
Rochester，\'putmyguestsintothewayofamusingeachother，I
oughttobeatlibertytoattendtomyownpleasure。MissEyre，drawyourchairstillalittlefartherforward:youareyettoofarback;
I
cannotseeyouwithoutdisturbingmypositioninthiscomfortablechair，whichIhavenomindtodo。\'
IdidasIwasbid，thoughIwouldmuchratherhaveremainedsomewhatintheshade;butMr。Rochesterhadsuchadirectwayofgivingorders，itseemedamatterofcoursetoobeyhimpromptly。
Wewere，asIhavesaid，inthedining—room:thelustre，whichhadbeenlitfordinner，filledtheroomwithafestalbreadthoflight;thelargefirewasallredandclear;thepurplecurtainshungrichandamplebeforetheloftywindowandloftierarch;
everythingwasstill，savethesubduedchatofAdele（shedarednotspeakloud），and，fillingupeachpause，thebeatingofwinterrainagainstthepanes。
Mr。Rochester，ashesatinhisdamask—coveredchair，lookeddifferenttowhatIhadseenhimlookbefore;notquitesostern—muchlessgloomy。Therewasasmileonhislips，andhiseyessparkled，whetherwithwineornot，Iamnotsure;butIthinkitveryprobable。
Hewas，inshort，inhisafterdinnermood;moreexpandedandgenial，andalsomoreself—indulgentthanthefrigidandrigidtemperofthemorning;stillhelookedpreciouslygrim，cushioninghismassiveheadagainsttheswellingbackofhischair，andreceivingthelightofthefireonhisgranite—hewnfeatures，andinhisgreat，darkeyes;forhehadgreat，darkeyes，andveryfineeyes，too—notwithoutacertainchangeintheirdepthssometimes，which，ifitwasnotsoftness，remindedyou，atleast，ofthatfeeling。
Hehadbeenlookingtwominutesatthefire，andIhadbeenlookingthesamelengthoftimeathim，when，turningsuddenly，hecaughtmygazefastenedonhisphysiognomy。
\'Youexamineme，MissEyre，\'saidhe:\'doyouthinkmehandsome？\'
Ishould，ifIhaddeliberated，haverepliedtothisquestionbysomethingconventionallyvagueandpolite;buttheanswersomehowslippedfrommytonguebeforeIwasaware—\'No，sir。\'
\'Ah！Bymyword！thereissomethingsingularaboutyou，\'
saidhe:
\'youhavetheairofalittlenonnette;quaint，quiet，grave，andsimple，asyousitwithyourhandsbeforeyou，andyoureyesgenerallybentonthecarpet（except，bythebye，whentheyaredirectedpiercinglytomyface;asjustnow，forinstance）;andwhenoneasksyouaquestion，ormakesaremarktowhichyouareobligedtoreply，yourapoutaroundrejoinder，which，ifnotblunt，isatleastbrusque。Whatdoyoumeanbyit？\'
\'Sir，Iwastooplain;Ibegyourpardon。Ioughttohaverepliedthatitwasnoteasytogiveanimpromptuanswertoaquestionaboutappearances;thattastesmostlydiffer;andthatbeautyisoflittleconsequence，orsomethingofthatsort。\'
\'Yououghttohaverepliednosuchthing。Beautyoflittleconsequence，indeed！Andso，underpretenceofsofteningthepreviousoutrage，ofstrokingandsoothingmeintoplacidity，youstickaslypenknifeundermyear！Goon:whatfaultdoyoufindwithme，pray？IsupposeIhaveallmylimbsandallmyfeatureslikeanyotherman？\'
\'Mr。Rochester，allowmetodisownmyfirstanswer:Iintendednopointedrepartee:itwasonlyablunder。\'
\'Justso:Ithinkso:andyoushallbeanswerableforit。
Criticiseme:doesmyforeheadnotpleaseyou？\'
Heliftedupthesablewavesofhairwhichlayhorizontallyoverhisbrow，andshowedasolidenoughmassofintellectualorgans，butanabruptdeficiencywherethesuavesignofbenevolenceshouldhaverisen。
\'Now，ma\'am，amIafool？\'
\'Farfromit，sir。Youwould，perhaps，thinkmerudeifI
inquiredinreturnwhetheryouareaphilanthropist？\'
\'Thereagain！Anotherstickofthepenknife，whenshepretendedtopatmyhead:andthatisbecauseIsaidIdidnotlikethesocietyofchildrenandoldwomen（lowbeitspoken！）。No，younglady，Iamnotageneralphilanthropist;butIbearaconscience\';andhepointedtotheprominenceswhicharesaidtoindicatethatfaculty，andwhich，fortunatelyforhim，weresufficientlyconspicuous;giving，indeed，amarkedbreadthtotheupperpartofhishead:\'and，besides，Ioncehadakindofrudetendernessofheart。WhenIwasasoldasyou，Iwasafeelingfellowenough;partialtotheunfledged，unfostered，andunlucky;butFortunehasknockedmeaboutsince:shehasevenkneadedmewithherknuckles，andnowIflattermyselfIamhardandtoughasanIndia—rubberball;pervious，though，throughachinkortwostill，andwithonesentientpointinthemiddleofthelump。Yes:doesthatleavehopeforme？\'
\'Hopeofwhat，sir？\'
\'Ofmyfinalre—transformationfromIndia—rubberbacktoflesh？\'
\'Decidedlyhehashadtoomuchwine，\'Ithought;andI
didnotknowwhatanswertomaketohisqueerquestion:howcouldItellwhetherhewascapableofbeingre—transformed？
\'Youlookedverymuchpuzzled，MissEyre;andthoughyouarenotprettyanymorethanIamhandsome，yetapuzzledairbecomesyou;
besides，itisconvenient，foritkeepsthosesearchingeyesofyoursawayfrommyphysiognomy，andbusiesthemwiththeworstedflowersoftherug;sopuzzleon。Younglady，Iamdisposedtobegregariousandcommunicativetonight。\'
Withthisannouncementherosefromhischair，andstood，leaninghisarmonthemarblemantelpiece:inthatattitudehisshapewasseenplainlyaswellashisface;hisunusualbreadthofchest，disproportionatealmosttohislengthoflimb。Iamsuremostpeoplewouldhavethoughthimanuglyman;yettherewassomuchunconsciousprideinhisport;somucheaseinhisdemeanour;suchalookofcompleteindifferencetohisownexternalappearance;sohaughtyarelianceonthepowerofotherqualities，intrinsicoradventitious，toatoneforthelackofmerepersonalattractiveness，that，inlookingathim，oneinevitablysharedtheindifference，and，eveninablind，imperfectsense，putfaithintheconfidence。
\'Iamdisposedtobegregariousandcommunicativetonight，\'
herepeated，\'andthatiswhyIsentforyou:thefireandthechandelierwerenotsufficientcompanyforme;norwouldPilothavebeen，fornoneofthesecantalk。Adeleisadegreebetter，butstillfarbelowthemark;Mrs。Fairfaxditto;you，Iampersuaded，cansuitmeifyouwill:youpuzzledmethefirsteveningIinvitedyoudownhere。
Ihavealmostforgottenyousince:otherideashavedrivenyoursfrommyhead;butto—nightIamresolvedtobeatease;todismisswhatimportunes，andrecallwhatpleases。Itwouldpleasemenowtodrawyouout—tolearnmoreofyou—thereforespeak。\'
Insteadofspeaking，Ismiled;andnotaverycomplacentorsubmissivesmileeither。
\'Speak，\'heurged。
\'Whatabout，sir？\'
\'Whateveryoulike。Ileaveboththechoiceofsubjectandthemanneroftreatingitentirelytoyourself。\'
AccordinglyIsatandsaidnothing:\'Ifheexpectsmetotalkforthemeresakeoftalkingandshowingoff，hewillfindhehasaddressedhimselftothewrongperson，\'Ithought。
\'Youaredumb，MissEyre。\'
Iwasdumbstill。Hebenthisheadalittletowardsme，andwithasinglehastyglanceseemedtodiveintomyeyes。
\'Stubborn？\'hesaid，\'andannoyed。Ah！itisconsistent。
Iputmyrequestinanabsurd，almostinsolentform。MissEyre，Ibegyourpardon。Thefactis，onceforall，Idon\'twishtotreatyoulikeaninferior:thatis\'（correctinghimself），\'Iclaimonlysuchsuperiorityasmustresultfromtwentyyears\'differenceinageandacentury\'sadvanceinexperience。Thisislegitimate，etj\'ytiens，asAdelewouldsay;anditisbyvirtueofthissuperiority，andthisalone，thatIdesireyoutohavethegoodnesstotalktomealittlenow，anddivertmythoughts，whicharegalledwithdwellingononepoint—cankeringasarustynail。\'
Hehaddeignedanexplanation，almostanapology，andI
didnotfeelinsensibletohiscondescension，andwouldnotseemso。
\'Iamwillingtoamuseyou，ifIcan，sir—quitewilling;
butI
cannotintroduceatopic，becausehowdoIknowwhatwillinterestyou？Askmequestions，andIwilldomybesttoanswerthem。\'
\'Then，inthefirstplace，doyouagreewithmethatI
havearighttobealittlemasterful，abrupt，perhapsexacting，sometimes，onthegroundsIstated，namely，thatIamoldenoughtobeyourfather，andthatIhavebattledthroughavariedexperiencewithmanymenofmanynations，androamedoverhalftheglobe，whileyouhavelivedquietlywithonesetofpeopleinonehouse？\'
\'Doasyouplease，sir。\'
\'Thatisnoanswer;orratheritisaveryirritating，becauseaveryevasiveone。Replyclearly。\'
\'Idon\'tthink，sir，youhavearighttocommandme，merelybecauseyouareolderthanI，orbecauseyouhaveseenmoreoftheworldthanIhave;yourclaimtosuperioritydependsontheuseyouhavemadeofyourtimeandexperience。\'
\'Humph！Promptlyspoken。ButIwon\'tallowthat，seeingthatitwouldneversuitmycase，asIhavemadeanindifferent，nottosayabad，useofbothadvantages。Leavingsuperiorityoutofthequestion，then，youmuststillagreetoreceivemyordersnowandthen，withoutbeingpiquedorhurtbythetoneofcommand。Willyou？\'
Ismiled:IthoughttomyselfMr。Rochesterispeculiar—
heseemstoforgetthathepaysmeL30perannumforreceivinghisorders。
\'Thesmileisverywell，\'saidhe，catchinginstantlythepassingexpression;\'butspeaktoo。\'
\'Iwasthinking，sir，thatveryfewmasterswouldtroublethemselvestoinquirewhetherornottheirpaidsubordinateswerepiquedandhurtbytheirorders。\'
\'Paidsubordinates！What！youaremypaidsubordinate，areyou？
Ohyes，Ihadforgottenthesalary！Wellthen，onthatmercenaryground，willyouagreetoletmehectoralittle？\'
\'No，sir，notonthatground;but，onthegroundthatyoudidforgetit，andthatyoucarewhetherornotadependantiscomfortableinhisdependency，Iagreeheartily。\'
\'Andwillyouconsenttodispensewithagreatmanyconventionalformsandphrases，withoutthinkingthattheomissionarisesfrominsolence？\'
\'Iamsure，sir，Ishouldnevermistakeinformalityforinsolence:oneIratherlike，theothernothingfree—bornwouldsubmitto，evenforasalary。\'
\'Humbug！Mostthingsfree—bornwillsubmittoanythingforasalary;therefore，keeptoyourself，anddon\'tventureongeneralitiesofwhichyouareintenselyignorant。However，Imentallyshakehandswithyouforyouranswer，despiteitsinaccuracy;andasmuchforthemannerinwhichitwassaid，asforthesubstanceofthespeech;
themannerwasfrankandsincere;onedoesnotoftenseesuchamanner:no，onthecontrary，affectation，orcoldness，orstupid，coarse—mindedmisapprehensionofone\'smeaningaretheusualrewardsofcandour。Notthreeinthreethousandrawschool—girl—governesseswouldhaveansweredmeasyouhavejustdone。ButIdon\'tmeantoflatteryou:ifyouarecastinadifferentmouldtothemajority，itisnomeritofyours:Naturedidit。Andthen，afterall，Igotoofastinmyconclusions:forwhatIyetknow，youmaybenobetterthantherest;youmayhaveintolerabledefectstocounterbalanceyourfewgoodpoints。\'
\'Andsomayyou，\'Ithought。Myeyemethisastheideacrossedmymind:heseemedtoreadtheglance，answeringasifitsimporthadbeenspokenaswellasimagined—
\'Yes，yes，youareright，\'saidhe;\'Ihaveplentyoffaultsofmyown:Iknowit，andIdon\'twishtopalliatethem，Iassureyou。
GodwotIneednotbetoosevereaboutothers;Ihaveapastexistence，aseriesofdeeds，acolouroflifetocontemplatewithinmyownbreast，whichmightwellcallmysneersandcensuresfrommyneighbourstomyself。Istarted，orrather（forlikeotherdefaulters，Iliketolayhalftheblameonillfortuneandadversecircumstances）
wasthrustontoawrongtackattheageofone—and—twenty，andhaveneverrecoveredtherightcoursesince:butImighthavebeenverydifferent;Imighthavebeenasgoodasyou—wiser—almostasstainless。Ienvyyouyourpeaceofmind，yourcleanconscience，yourunpollutedmemory。Littlegirl，amemorywithoutblotorcontaminationmustbeanexquisitetreasure—aninexhaustiblesourceofpurerefreshment:isitnot？\'
\'Howwasyourmemorywhenyouwereeighteen，sir？\'
\'Allrightthen;limpid，salubrious:nogushofbilgewaterhadturnedittofetidpuddle。Iwasyourequalateighteen—quiteyourequal。Naturemeantmetobe，onthewhole，agoodman，MissEyre;oneofthebetterkind，andyouseeIamnotso。Youwouldsayyoudon\'tseeit;atleastIflattermyselfIreadasmuchinyoureye（beware，bythebye，whatyouexpresswiththatorgan;Iamquickatinterpretingitslanguage）。Thentakemywordforit，—Iamnotavillain:youarenottosupposethat—nottoattributetomeanysuchbademinence;but，owing，Iverilybelieve，rathertocircumstancesthantomynaturalbent，Iamatritecommonplacesinner，hackneyedinallthepoorpettydissipationswithwhichtherichandworthlesstrytoputonlife。DoyouwonderthatIavowthistoyou？Know，thatinthecourseofyourfuturelifeyouwilloftenfindyourselfelectedtheinvoluntaryconfidantofyouracquaintances\'secrets:peoplewillinstinctivelyfindout，asI
havedone，thatitisnotyourfortetotellofyourself，buttolistenwhileotherstalkofthemselves;theywillfeel，too，thatyoulistenwithnomalevolentscornoftheirindiscretion，butwithakindofinnatesympathy;notthelesscomfortingandencouragingbecauseitisveryunobtrusiveinitsmanifestations。\'
\'Howdoyouknow？—howcanyouguessallthis，sir？\'
\'Iknowitwell;thereforeIproceedalmostasfreelyasifI
werewritingmythoughtsinadiary。Youwouldsay，Ishouldhavebeensuperiortocircumstances;soIshould—soIshould;butyouseeIwasnot。Whenfatewrongedme，Ihadnotthewisdomtoremaincool:I
turneddesperate;thenIdegenerated。Now，whenanyvicioussimpletonexcitesmydisgustbyhispaltryribaldry，IcannotflattermyselfthatIambetterthanhe:IamforcedtoconfessthatheandIareonalevel。IwishIhadstoodfirm—GodknowsIdo！
Dreadremorsewhenyouaretemptedtoerr，MissEyre;remorseisthepoisonoflife。\'
\'Repentanceissaidtobeitscure，sir。\'
\'Itisnotitscure。Reformationmaybeitscure;andI
couldreform—Ihavestrengthyetforthat—if—butwhereistheuseofthinkingofit，hampered，burdened，cursedasIam？Besides，sincehappinessisirrevocablydeniedme，Ihavearighttogetpleasureoutoflife:andIwillgetit，costwhatitmay。\'
\'Thenyouwilldegeneratestillmore，sir。\'
\'Possibly:yetwhyshouldI，ifIcangetsweet，freshpleasure？
AndImaygetitassweetandfreshasthewildhoneythebeegathersonthemoor。\'
\'Itwillsting—itwilltastebitter，sir。\'
\'Howdoyouknow？—younevertriedit。Howveryserious—
howverysolemnyoulook:andyouareasignorantofthematterasthiscameohead\'（takingonefromthemantelpiece）。\'Youhavenorighttopreachtome，youneophyte，thathavenotpassedtheporchoflife，andareabsolutelyunacquaintedwithitsmysteries。\'
\'Ionlyremindyouofyourownwords，sir:yousaiderrorbroughtremorse，andyoupronouncedremorsethepoisonofexistence。\'
\'Andwhotalksoferrornow？Iscarcelythinkthenotionthatflitteredacrossmybrainwasanerror。Ibelieveitwasaninspirationratherthanatemptation:itwasverygenial，verysoothing—Iknowthat。Hereitcomesagain！Itisnodevil，Iassureyou;orifitbe，ithasputontherobesofanangeloflight。I
thinkImustadmitsofairaguestwhenitasksentrancetomyheart。\'
\'Distrustit，sir;itisnotatrueangel。\'
\'Oncemore，howdoyouknow？Bywhatinstinctdoyoupretendtodistinguishbetweenafallenseraphoftheabyssandamessengerfromtheeternalthrone—betweenaguideandaseducer？\'
\'Ijudgedbyyourcountenance，sir，whichwastroubledwhenyousaidthesuggestionhadreturneduponyou。Ifeelsureitwillworkyoumoremiseryifyoulistentoit。\'
\'Notatall—itbearsthemostgraciousmessageintheworld:fortherest，youarenotmyconscience—keeper，sodon\'tmakeyourselfuneasy。Here，comein，bonnywanderer！\'
Hesaidthisasifhespoketoavision，viewlesstoanyeyebuthisown;then，foldinghisarms，whichhehadhalfextended，onhischest，heseemedtoencloseintheirembracetheinvisiblebeing。
\'Now，\'hecontinued，againaddressingme，\'Ihavereceivedthepilgrim—adisguiseddeity，asIverilybelieve。Alreadyithasdonemegood:myheartwasasortofcharnel;itwillnowbeashrine。\'
\'Tospeaktruth，sir，Idon\'tunderstandyouatall:I
cannotkeepuptheconversation，becauseithasgotoutofmydepth。Onlyonething，Iknow:yousaidyouwerenotasgoodasyoushouldliketobe，andthatyouregrettedyourownimperfection;—onethingIcancomprehend:youintimatedthattohaveasulliedmemorywasaperpetualbane。Itseemstome，thatifyoutriedhard，youwouldintimefinditpossibletobecomewhatyouyourselfwouldapprove;andthatiffromthisdayyoubeganwithresolutiontocorrectyourthoughtsandactions，youwouldinafewyearshavelaidupanewandstainlessstoreofrecollections，towhichyoumightrevertwithpleasure。\'
\'Justlythought;rightlysaid，MissEyre;and，atthismoment，Iampavinghellwithenergy。\'
\'Sir？\'
\'Iamlayingdowngoodintentions，whichIbelievedurableasflint。Certainly，myassociatesandpursuitsshallbeotherthantheyhavebeen。\'
\'Andbetter？\'
\'Andbetter—somuchbetteraspureoreisthanfouldross。
Youseemtodoubtme;Idon\'tdoubtmyself:Iknowwhatmyaimis，whatmymotivesare;andatthismomentIpassalaw，unalterableasthatoftheMedesandPersians，thatbothareright。\'
\'Theycannotbe，sir，iftheyrequireanewstatutetolegalisethem。\'
\'Theyare，MissEyre，thoughtheyabsolutelyrequireanewstatute:
unheard—ofcombinationsorcircumstancesdemandunheard—ofrules。\'
\'Thatsoundsadangerousmaxim，sir;becauseonecanseeatoncethatitisliabletoabuse。\'
\'Sententioussage！soitis:butIswearbymyhouseholdgodsnottoabuseit。\'
\'Youarehumanandfallible。\'
\'Iam:soareyou—whatthen？\'
\'Thehumanandfallibleshouldnotarrogateapowerwithwhichthedivineandperfectalonecanbesafelyintrusted。\'
\'Whatpower？\'
\'Thatofsayingofanystrange，unsanctionedlineofaction，—
\"Letitberight。\"\'
\'\"Letitberight\"—theverywords:youhavepronouncedthem。\'
\'Mayitberightthen，\'Isaid，asIrose，deemingituselesstocontinueadiscoursewhichwasalldarknesstome;and，besides，sensiblethatthecharacterofmyinterlocutorwasbeyondmypenetration;atleast，beyonditspresentreach;andfeelingtheuncertainty，thevaguesenseofinsecurity，whichaccompaniesaconvictionofignorance。
\'Whereareyougoing？\'
\'ToputAdeletobed:itispastherbedtime。\'
\'Youareafraidofme，becauseItalklikeaSphynx。\'
\'Yourlanguageisenigmatical，sir:butthoughIambewildered，I
amcertainlynotafraid。\'
\'Youareafraid—yourself—lovedreadsablunder。\'
\'InthatsenseIdofeelapprehensive—Ihavenowishtotalknonsense。\'
\'Ifyoudid，itwouldbeinsuchagrave，quietmanner，Ishouldmistakeitforsense。Doyouneverlaugh，MissEyre？Don\'ttroubleyourselftoanswer—Iseeyoulaughrarely;butyoucanlaughverymerrily:believeme，youarenotnaturallyaustere，anymorethanI
amnaturallyvicious。TheLowoodconstraintstillclingstoyousomewhat;
controllingyourfeatures，mufflingyourvoice，andrestrictingyourlimbs;andyoufearinthepresenceofamanandabrother—orfather，ormaster，orwhatyouwill—tosmiletoogaily，speaktoofreely，ormovetooquickly:but，intime，Ithinkyouwilllearntobenaturalwithme，asIfinditimpossibletobeconventionalwithyou;andthenyourlooksandmovementswillhavemorevivacityandvarietythantheydareoffernow。Iseeatintervalstheglanceofacurioussortofbirdthroughtheclose—setbarsofacage:avivid，restless，resolutecaptiveisthere;wereitbutfree，itwouldsoarcloud—high。Youarestillbentongoing？\'
\'Ithasstrucknine，sir。\'
\'Nevermind，—waitaminute:Adeleisnotreadytogotobedyet。
Myposition，MissEyre，withmybacktothefire，andmyfacetotheroom，favoursobservation。Whiletalkingtoyou，IhavealsooccasionallywatchedAdele（Ihavemyownreasonsforthinkingheracuriousstudy，—reasonsthatImay，nay，thatIshall，imparttoyousomeday）。Shepulledoutofherbox，abouttenminutesago，alittlepinksilkfrock;rapturelitherfaceassheunfoldedit;
coquetryrunsinherblood，blendswithherbrains，andseasonsthemarrowofherbones。\"Ilfautquejel\'essaie！\"criedshe，\"etal\'instantmeme！\"andsherushedoutoftheroom。SheisnowwithSophie，undergoingarobingprocess:inafewminutesshewillre—enter;andIknowwhatIshallsee，—aminiatureofCelineVarens，assheusedtoappearontheboardsattherisingof—。Butnevermindthat。However，mytenderestfeelingsareabouttoreceiveashock:suchismypresentiment;staynow，toseewhetheritwillberealised。\'
Erelong，Adele\'slittlefootwasheardtrippingacrossthehall。
Sheentered，transformedasherguardianhadpredicted。Adressofrose—colouredsatin，veryshort，andasfullintheskirtasitcouldbegathered，replacedthebrownfrockshehadpreviouslyworn;
awreathofrosebudscircledherforehead;herfeetweredressedinsilkstockingsandsmallwhitesatinsandals。