第13章

“Well，Iobservedtohimthatasyouwereunusedtocompany，Ididnotthinkyouwouldlikeappearingbeforesogayaparty—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。Adèlehadbeeninastateofecstasyallday，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。

Adèle，whoappearedtobestillundertheinfluenceofamostsolemnisingimpression，satdown，withoutaword，onthefootstoolIpointedouttoher。Iretiredtoawindow—seat，andtakingabookfromatablenear，endeavouredtoread。Adèlebroughtherstooltomyfeet;erelongshetouchedmyknee。

“Whatisit，Adèle？”

“Est—cequejenepuispasprendrieuneseuledecesfleursmagnifiques，mademoiselle？Seulementpourcompletermatoilette。”

“Youthinktoomuchofyour‘toilette，’Adèle:butyoumayhaveaflower。”AndItookarosefromavaseandfasteneditinhersash。Shesighedasighofineffablesatisfaction，asifhercupofhappinesswerenowfull。IturnedmyfaceawaytoconcealasmileIcouldnotsuppress: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，ofthatordertheFrenchtermminoischiffoné: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（bycandle—lightatleast）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;shetalkedFrenchaparttohermamma;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，thatAdèlehasallthistimebeensittingmotionlessonthestoolatmyfeet:no;whentheladiesentered，sherose，advancedtomeetthem，madeastatelyreverence，andsaidwithgravity—

“Bonjour，mesdames。”

AndMissIngramhadlookeddownatherwithamockingair，andexclaimed，“Oh，whatalittlepuppet！”

LadyLynnhadremarked，“ItisMr。Rochester’sward，Isuppose—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“pèrenobledethéatre。”LordIngram，likehissisters，isverytall;likethem，also，heishandsome;buthesharesMary’sapatheticandlistlesslook:heseemstohavemorelengthoflimbthanvivacityofbloodorvigourofbrain。

AndwhereisMr。Rochester？

Hecomesinlast:Iamnotlookingatthearch，yetIseehimenter。Itrytoconcentratemyattentiononthosenetting—needles，onthemeshesofthepurseIamforming—IwishtothinkonlyoftheworkIhaveinmyhands，toseeonlythesilverbeadsandsilkthreadsthatlieinmylap;whereas，Idistinctlybeholdhisfigure，andIinevitablyrecallthemomentwhenIlastsawit;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;ImeanonlythatIhavecertaintastesandfeelingsincommonwithhim。Imust，then，repeatcontinuallythatweareforeversundered:—andyet，whileIbreatheandthink，Imustlovehim。”

Coffeeishanded。Theladies，sincethegentlemenentered，havebecomelivelyaslarks;conversationwaxesbriskandmerry。ColonelDentandMr。Eshtonargueonpolitics;theirwiveslisten。Thetwoprouddowagers，LadyLynnandLadyIngram，confabulatetogether。SirGeorge—whom，by—the—bye，Ihaveforgottentodescribe，—averybig，andveryfresh—lookingcountrygentleman，standsbeforetheirsofa，coffee—cupinhand，andoccasionallyputsinaword。Mr。FrederickLynnhastakenaseatbesideMaryIngram，andisshowinghertheengravingsofasplendidvolume:shelooks，smilesnowandthen，butapparentlysayslittle。ThetallandphlegmaticLordIngramleanswithfoldedarmsonthechair—backofthelittleandlivelyAmyEshton;sheglancesupathim，andchatterslikeawren:shelikeshimbetterthanshedoesMr。Rochester。HenryLynnhastakenpossessionofanottomanatthefeetofLouisa:Adèlesharesitwithhim:heistryingtotalkFrenchwithher，andLouisalaughsathisblunders。WithwhomwillBlancheIngrampair？Sheisstandingaloneatthetable，bendinggracefullyoveranalbum。Sheseemswaitingtobesought;butshewillnotwaittoolong:sheherselfselectsamate。

Mr。Rochester，havingquittedtheEshtons，standsonthehearthassolitaryasshestandsbythetable:sheconfrontshim，takingherstationontheoppositesideofthemantelpiece。

“Mr。Rochester，Ithoughtyouwerenotfondofchildren？”

“NoramI。”

“Then，whatinducedyoutotakechargeofsuchalittledollasthat？”（pointingtoAdèle）。“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。Dentherebentovertothepiousladyandwhisperedsomethinginherear;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;distractionsandconsequentneglectofdutyonthepartoftheattached—mutualallianceandreliance;confidencethenceresulting—insolenceaccompanying—mutinyandgeneralblow—up。AmIright，BaronessIngram，ofIngramPark？”

“Mylily—flower，youarerightnow，asalways。”

“Thennomoreneedbesaid:changethesubject。”

AmyEshton，nothearingornotheedingthisdictum，joinedinwithhersoft，infantinetone:“LouisaandIusedtoquizourgovernesstoo;butshewassuchagoodcreature，shewouldbearanything:nothingputherout。Shewasnevercrosswithus;wasshe，Louisa？”

“No，never:wemightdowhatwepleased;ransackherdeskandherworkbox，andturnherdrawersinsideout;andshewassogood—natured，shewouldgiveasanythingweaskedfor。”

“Isuppose，now，”saidMissIngram，curlingherlipsarcastically，“weshallhaveanabstractofthememoirsofallthegovernessesextant:inordertoavertsuchavisitation，Iagainmovetheintroductionofanewtopic。Mr。Rochester，doyousecondmymotion？”

“Madam，Isupportyouonthispoint，asoneveryother。”

“Thenonmebetheonusofbringingitforward。SigniorEduardo，areyouinvoiceto—night？”

“DonnaBianca，ifyoucommandit，Iwillbe。”

“Then，signior，Ilayonyoumysovereignbehesttofurbishupyourlungsandothervocalorgans，astheywillbewantedonmyroyalservice。”

“WhowouldnotbetheRizzioofsodivineaMary？”

“AfigforRizzio！”criedshe，tossingherheadwithallitscurls，asshemovedtothepiano。“ItismyopinionthefiddlerDavidmusthavebeenaninsipidsortoffellow;IlikeblackBothwellbetter:tomymindamanisnothingwithoutaspiceofthedevilinhim;andhistorymaysaywhatitwillofJamesHepburn，butIhaveanotion，hewasjustthesortofwild，fierce，banditherowhomIcouldhaveconsentedtogiftwithmyhand。”

“Gentlemen，youhear！NowwhichofyoumostresemblesBothwell？”criedMr。Rochester。

“Ishouldsaythepreferencelieswithyou，”respondedColonelDent。

“Onmyhonour，Iammuchobligedtoyou，”wasthereply。

MissIngram，whohadnowseatedherselfwithproudgraceatthepiano，spreadingouthersnowyrobesinqueenlyamplitude，commencedabrilliantprelude;talkingmeantime。Sheappearedtobeonherhighhorseto—night;bothherwordsandherairseemedintendedtoexcitenotonlytheadmiration，buttheamazementofherauditors:shewasevidentlybentonstrikingthemassomethingverydashinganddaringindeed。

“Oh，Iamsosickoftheyoungmenofthepresentday！”exclaimedshe，rattlingawayattheinstrument。“Poor，punythings，notfittostirastepbeyondpapa’sparkgates:nortogoevensofarwithoutmama’spermissionandguardianship！Creaturessoabsorbedincareabouttheirprettyfaces，andtheirwhitehands，andtheirsmallfeet;asifamanhadanythingtodowithbeauty！Asiflovelinesswerenotthespecialprerogativeofwoman—herlegitimateappanageandheritage！Igrantanuglywomanisablotonthefairfaceofcreation;butastothegentlemen，letthembesolicitoustopossessonlystrengthandvalour:lettheirmottobe:—Hunt，shoot，andfight:therestisnotworthafillip。Suchshouldbemydevice，wereIaman。”

“WheneverImarry，”shecontinuedafterapausewhichnoneinterrupted，“Iamresolvedmyhusbandshallnotbearival，butafoiltome。Iwillsuffernocompetitornearthethrone;Ishallexactanundividedhomage:hisdevotionsshallnotbesharedbetweenmeandtheshapeheseesinhismirror。Mr。Rochester，nowsing，andIwillplayforyou。”

“Iamallobedience，”wastheresponse。

“HerethenisaCorsair—song。KnowthatIdoatonCorsairs;andforthatreason，singitconspirito。”

“CommandsfromMissIngram’slipswouldputspiritintoamugofmilkandwater。”

“Takecare，then:ifyoudon’tpleaseme，Iwillshameyoubyshowinghowsuchthingsshouldbedone。”

“Thatisofferingapremiumonincapacity:Ishallnowendeavourtofail。”

“Gardez—vousenbien！Ifyouerrwilfully，Ishalldeviseaproportionatepunishment。”

“MissIngramoughttobeclement，forshehasitinherpowertoinflictachastisementbeyondmortalendurance。”

“Ha！explain！”commandedthelady。

“Pardonme，madam:noneedofexplanation;yourownfinesensemustinformyouthatoneofyourfrownswouldbeasufficientsubstituteforcapitalpunishment。”

“Sing！”saidshe，andagaintouchingthepiano，shecommencedanaccompanimentinspiritedstyle。

“Nowismytimetoslipaway，”thoughtI:butthetonesthatthenseveredtheairarrestedme。Mrs。FairfaxhadsaidMr。Rochesterpossessedafinevoice:hedid—amellow，powerfulbass，intowhichhethrewhisownfeeling，hisownforce;findingawaythroughtheeartotheheart，andtherewakingsensationstrangely。Iwaitedtillthelastdeepandfullvibrationhadexpired—tillthetideoftalk，checkedaninstant，hadresumeditsflow;Ithenquittedmyshelteredcornerandmademyexitbytheside—door，whichwasfortunatelynear。Thenceanarrowpassageledintothehall:incrossingit，Iperceivedmysandalwasloose;Istoppedtotieit，kneelingdownforthatpurposeonthematatthefootofthestaircase。Iheardthedining—roomdoorunclose;agentlemancameout;risinghastily，Istoodfacetofacewithhim:itwasMr。Rochester。

“Howdoyoudo？”heasked。

“Iamverywell，sir。”

“Whydidyounotcomeandspeaktomeintheroom？”

IthoughtImighthaveretortedthequestiononhimwhoputit:butIwouldnottakethatfreedom。Ianswered—

“Ididnotwishtodisturbyou，asyouseemedengaged，sir。”

“Whathaveyoubeendoingduringmyabsence？”

“Nothingparticular;teachingAdèleasusual。”

“Andgettingagooddealpalerthanyouwere—asIsawatfirstsight。Whatisthematter？”

“Nothingatall，sir。”

“Didyoutakeanycoldthatnightyouhalfdrownedme？”

“Notsheleast。”

“Returntothedrawing—room:youaredesertingtooearly。”

“Iamtired，sir。”

Helookedatmeforaminute。

“Andalittledepressed，”hesaid。“Whatabout？Tellme。”

“Nothing—nothing，sir。Iamnotdepressed。”

“ButIaffirmthatyouare:somuchdepressedthatafewmorewordswouldbringtearstoyoureyes—indeed，theyaretherenow，shiningandswimming;andabeadhasslippedfromthelashandfallenontotheflag。IfIhadtime，andwasnotinmortaldreadofsomepratingprigofaservantpassing，Iwouldknowwhatallthismeans。Well，to—nightIexcuseyou;butunderstandthatsolongasmyvisitorsstay，Iexpectyoutoappearinthedrawing—roomeveryevening;itismywish;don’tneglectit。Nowgo，andsendSophieforAdèle。Good—night，my—”Hestopped，bithislip，andabruptlyleftme。

Chapter18

MerrydaysweretheseatThornfieldHall;andbusydaystoo:howdifferentfromthefirstthreemonthsofstillness，monotony，andsolitudeIhadpassedbeneathitsroof！Allsadfeelingsseemednowdrivenfromthehouse，allgloomyassociationsforgotten:therewaslifeeverywhere，movementalldaylong。Youcouldnotnowtraversethegallery，oncesohushed，norenterthefrontchambers，oncesotenantless，withoutencounteringasmartlady’s—maidoradandyvalet。

Thekitchen，thebutler’spantry，theservants’hall，theentrancehall，wereequallyalive;andthesaloonswereonlyleftvoidandstillwhentheblueskyandhalcyonsunshineofthegenialspringweathercalledtheiroccupantsoutintothegrounds。Evenwhenthatweatherwasbroken，andcontinuousrainsetinforsomedays，nodampseemedcastoverenjoyment:indooramusementsonlybecamemorelivelyandvaried，inconsequenceofthestopputtooutdoorgaiety。

Iwonderedwhattheyweregoingtodothefirsteveningachangeofentertainmentwasproposed:theyspokeof“playingcharades，”butinmyignoranceIdidnotunderstandtheterm。Theservantswerecalledin，thedining—roomtableswheeledaway，thelightsotherwisedisposed，thechairsplacedinasemicircleoppositethearch。WhileMr。Rochesterandtheothergentlemendirectedthesealterations，theladieswererunningupanddownstairsringingfortheirmaids。Mrs。Fairfaxwassummonedtogiveinformationrespectingtheresourcesofthehouseinshawls，dresses，draperiesofanykind;andcertainwardrobesofthethirdstoreywereransacked，andtheircontents，intheshapeofbrocadedandhoopedpetticoats，satinsacques，blackmodes，lacelappets，&c。，werebroughtdowninarmfulsbytheabigails;thenaselectionwasmade，andsuchthingsaswerechosenwerecarriedtotheboudoirwithinthedrawing—room。