第14章

Meantime，Mr。Rochesterhadagainsummonedtheladiesroundhim，andwasselectingcertainoftheirnumbertobeofhisparty。“MissIngramismine，ofcourse，”saidhe:afterwardshenamedthetwoMissesEshton，andMrs。Dent。Helookedatme:Ihappenedtobenearhim，asIhadbeenfasteningtheclaspofMrs。Dent’sbracelet，whichhadgotloose。

“Willyouplay？”heasked。Ishookmyhead。Hedidnotinsist，whichIratherfearedhewouldhavedone;heallowedmetoreturnquietlytomyusualseat。

Heandhisaidsnowwithdrewbehindthecurtain:theotherparty，whichwasheadedbyColonelDent，satdownonthecrescentofchairs。Oneofthegentlemen，Mr。Eshton，observingme，seemedtoproposethatIshouldbeaskedtojointhem;butLadyIngraminstantlynegativedthenotion。

“No，”Iheardhersay:“shelookstoostupidforanygameofthesort。”

Erelongabelltinkled，andthecurtaindrewup。Withinthearch，thebulkyfigureofSirGeorgeLynn，whomMr。Rochesterhadlikewisechosen，wasseenenvelopedinawhitesheet:beforehim，onatable，layopenalargebook;andathissidestoodAmyEshton，drapedinMr。Rochester’scloak，andholdingabookinherhand。Somebody，unseen，rangthebellmerrily;thenAdèle（whohadinsistedonbeingoneofherguardian’sparty），boundedforward，scatteringroundherthecontentsofabasketofflowersshecarriedonherarm。ThenappearedthemagnificentfigureofMissIngram，cladinwhite，alongveilonherhead，andawreathofrosesroundherbrow;byhersidewalkedMr。Rochester，andtogethertheydrewnearthetable。Theyknelt;whileMrs。DentandLouisaEshton，dressedalsoinwhite，tookuptheirstationsbehindthem。Aceremonyfollowed，indumbshow，inwhichitwaseasytorecognisethepantomimeofamarriage。Atitstermination，ColonelDentandhispartyconsultedinwhispersfortwominutes，thentheColonelcalledout—

“Bride！”Mr。Rochesterbowed，andthecurtainfell。

Aconsiderableintervalelapsedbeforeitagainrose。Itssecondrisingdisplayedamoreelaboratelypreparedscenethanthelast。Thedrawing—room，asIhavebeforeobserved，wasraisedtwostepsabovethedining—room，andonthetopoftheupperstep，placedayardortwobackwithintheroom，appearedalargemarblebasin—whichIrecognisedasanornamentoftheconservatory—whereitusuallystood，surroundedbyexotics，andtenantedbygoldfish—andwhenceitmusthavebeentransportedwithsometrouble，onaccountofitssizeandweight。

Seatedonthecarpet，bythesideofthisbasin，wasseenMr。Rochester，costumedinshawls，withaturbanonhishead。HisdarkeyesandswarthyskinandPaynimfeaturessuitedthecostumeexactly:helookedtheverymodelofanEasternemir，anagentoravictimofthebowstring。PresentlyadvancedintoviewMissIngram。She，too，wasattiredinorientalfashion:acrimsonscarftiedsash—likeroundthewaist:anembroideredhandkerchiefknottedabouthertemples;herbeautifully—mouldedarmsbare，oneofthemupraisedintheactofsupportingapitcher，poisedgracefullyonherhead。Bothhercastofformandfeature，hercomplexionandhergeneralair，suggestedtheideaofsomeIsraelitishprincessofthepatriarchaldays;andsuchwasdoubtlessthecharactersheintendedtorepresent。

Sheapproachedthebasin，andbentoveritasiftofillherpitcher;sheagainliftedittoherhead。Thepersonageonthewell—brinknowseemedtoaccosther;tomakesomerequest:—“Shehasted，letdownherpitcheronherhand，andgavehimtodrink。”Fromthebosomofhisrobehethenproducedacasket，openeditandshowedmagnificentbraceletsandearrings;sheactedastonishmentandadmiration;kneeling，helaidthetreasureatherfeet;incredulityanddelightwereexpressedbyherlooksandgestures;thestrangerfastenedthebraceletsonherarmsandtheringsinherears。ItwasEliezerandRebecca:thecamelsonlywerewanting。

Thediviningpartyagainlaidtheirheadstogether:apparentlytheycouldnotagreeaboutthewordorsyllablethesceneillustrated。ColonelDent，theirspokesman，demanded“thetableauofthewhole;”whereuponthecurtainagaindescended。

Onitsthirdrisingonlyaportionofthedrawing—roomwasdisclosed;therestbeingconcealedbyascreen，hungwithsomesortofdarkandcoarsedrapery。Themarblebasinwasremoved;initsplace，stoodadealtableandakitchenchair:theseobjectswerevisiblebyaverydimlightproceedingfromahornlantern，thewaxcandlesbeingallextinguished。

Amidstthissordidscene，satamanwithhisclenchedhandsrestingonhisknees，andhiseyesbentontheground。IknewMr。Rochester;thoughthebegrimedface，thedisordereddress（hiscoathangingloosefromonearm，asifithadbeenalmosttornfromhisbackinascuffle），thedesperateandscowlingcountenance，therough，bristlinghairmightwellhavedisguisedhim。Ashemoved，achainclanked;tohiswristswereattachedfetters。

“Bridewell！”exclaimedColonelDent，andthecharadewassolved。

Asufficientintervalhavingelapsedfortheperformerstoresumetheirordinarycostume，theyre—enteredthedining—room。Mr。RochesterledinMissIngram;shewascomplimentinghimonhisacting。

“Doyouknow，”saidshe，“that，ofthethreecharacters，Ilikedyouinthelastbest？Oh，hadyoubutlivedafewyearsearlier，whatagallantgentleman—highwaymanyouwouldhavemade！”

“Isallthesootwashedfrommyface？”heasked，turningittowardsher。

“Alas！yes:themore’sthepity！Nothingcouldbemorebecomingtoyourcomplexionthanthatruffian’srouge。”

“Youwouldlikeaherooftheroadthen？”

“AnEnglishherooftheroadwouldbethenextbestthingtoanItalianbandit;andthatcouldonlybesurpassedbyaLevantinepirate。”

“Well，whateverIam，rememberyouaremywife;weweremarriedanhoursince，inthepresenceofallthesewitnesses。”Shegiggled，andhercolourrose。

“Now，Dent，”continuedMr。Rochester，“itisyourturn。”Andastheotherpartywithdrew，heandhisbandtookthevacatedseats。MissIngramplacedherselfatherleader’srighthand;theotherdivinersfilledthechairsoneachsideofhimandher。Ididnotnowwatchtheactors;Inolongerwaitedwithinterestforthecurtaintorise;myattentionwasabsorbedbythespectators;myeyes，erewhilefixedonthearch，werenowirresistiblyattractedtothesemicircleofchairs。WhatcharadeColonelDentandhispartyplayed，whatwordtheychose，howtheyacquittedthemselves，Inolongerremember;butIstillseetheconsultationwhichfollowedeachscene:IseeMr。RochesterturntoMissIngram，andMissIngramtohim;Iseeherinclineherheadtowardshim，tillthejettycurlsalmosttouchhisshoulderandwaveagainsthischeek;Iheartheirmutualwhisperings;Irecalltheirinterchangedglances;andsomethingevenofthefeelingrousedbythespectaclereturnsinmemoryatthismoment。

Ihavetoldyou，reader，thatIhadlearnttoloveMr。Rochester:Icouldnotunlovehimnow，merelybecauseIfoundthathehadceasedtonoticeme—becauseImightpasshoursinhispresence，andhewouldneveronceturnhiseyesinmydirection—becauseIsawallhisattentionsappropriatedbyagreatlady，whoscornedtotouchmewiththehemofherrobesasshepassed;who，ifeverherdarkandimperiouseyefellonmebychance，wouldwithdrawitinstantlyasfromanobjecttoomeantomeritobservation。Icouldnotunlovehim，becauseIfeltsurehewouldsoonmarrythisverylady—becauseIreaddailyinheraproudsecurityinhisintentionsrespectingher—becauseIwitnessedhourlyinhimastyleofcourtshipwhich，ifcarelessandchoosingrathertobesoughtthantoseek，wasyet，initsverycarelessness，captivating，andinitsverypride，irresistible。

Therewasnothingtocoolorbanishloveinthesecircumstances，thoughmuchtocreatedespair。Muchtoo，youwillthink，reader，toengenderjealousy:ifawoman，inmyposition，couldpresumetobejealousofawomaninMissIngram’s。ButIwasnotjealous:orveryrarely;—thenatureofthepainIsufferedcouldnotbeexplainedbythatword。MissIngramwasamarkbeneathjealousy:shewastooinferiortoexcitethefeeling。Pardontheseemingparadox;ImeanwhatIsay。Shewasveryshowy，butshewasnotgenuine:shehadafineperson，manybrilliantattainments;buthermindwaspoor，herheartbarrenbynature:nothingbloomedspontaneouslyonthatsoil;nounforcednaturalfruitdelightedbyitsfreshness。Shewasnotgood;shewasnotoriginal:sheusedtorepeatsoundingphrasesfrombooks:sheneveroffered，norhad，anopinionofherown。Sheadvocatedahightoneofsentiment;butshedidnotknowthesensationsofsympathyandpity;tendernessandtruthwerenotinher。Toooftenshebetrayedthis，bytheundueventshegavetoaspitefulantipathyshehadconceivedagainstlittleAdèle:pushingherawaywithsomecontumeliousepithetifshehappenedtoapproachher;sometimesorderingherfromtheroom，andalwaystreatingherwithcoldnessandacrimony。Othereyesbesidesminewatchedthesemanifestationsofcharacter—watchedthemclosely，keenly，shrewdly。Yes;thefuturebridegroom，Mr。Rochesterhimself，exercisedoverhisintendedaceaselesssurveillance;anditwasfromthissagacity—thisguardednessofhis—thisperfect，clearconsciousnessofhisfairone’sdefects—thisobviousabsenceofpassioninhissentimentstowardsher，thatmyever—torturingpainarose。

Isawhewasgoingtomarryher，forfamily，perhapspoliticalreasons，becauseherrankandconnectionssuitedhim;Ifelthehadnotgivenherhislove，andthatherqualificationswereilladaptedtowinfromhimthattreasure。Thiswasthepoint—thiswaswherethenervewastouchedandteased—thiswaswherethefeverwassustainedandfed:shecouldnotcharmhim。

Ifshehadmanagedthevictoryatonce，andhehadyieldedandsincerelylaidhisheartatherfeet，Ishouldhavecoveredmyface，turnedtothewall，and（figuratively）havediedtothem。IfMissIngramhadbeenagoodandnoblewoman，endowedwithforce，fervour，kindness，sense，Ishouldhavehadonevitalstrugglewithtwotigers—jealousyanddespair:then，myhearttornoutanddevoured，Ishouldhaveadmiredher—acknowledgedherexcellence，andbeenquietfortherestofmydays:andthemoreabsolutehersuperiority，thedeeperwouldhavebeenmyadmiration—themoretrulytranquilmyquiescence。Butasmattersreallystood，towatchMissIngram’seffortsatfascinatingMr。Rochester，towitnesstheirrepeatedfailure—herselfunconsciousthattheydidfail;vainlyfancyingthateachshaftlaunchedhitthemark，andinfatuatedlyplumingherselfonsuccess，whenherprideandself—complacencyrepelledfurtherandfurtherwhatshewishedtoallure—towitnessthis，wastobeatonceunderceaselessexcitationandruthlessrestraint。

Because，whenshefailed，Isawhowshemighthavesucceeded。ArrowsthatcontinuallyglancedofffromMr。Rochester’sbreastandfellharmlessathisfeet，might，Iknew，ifshotbyasurerhand，havequiveredkeeninhisproudheart—havecalledloveintohissterneye，andsoftnessintohissardonicface;or，betterstill，withoutweaponsasilentconquestmighthavebeenwon。

“Whycanshenotinfluencehimmore，whensheisprivilegedtodrawsoneartohim？”Iaskedmyself。“Surelyshecannottrulylikehim，ornotlikehimwithtrueaffection！Ifshedid，sheneednotcoinhersmilessolavishly，flashherglancessounremittingly，manufactureairssoelaborate，gracessomultitudinous。Itseemstomethatshemight，bymerelysittingquietlyathisside，sayinglittleandlookingless，getnigherhisheart。Ihaveseeninhisfaceafardifferentexpressionfromthatwhichhardensitnowwhilesheissovivaciouslyaccostinghim;butthenitcameofitself:itwasnotelicitedbymeretriciousartsandcalculatedmanoeuvres;andonehadbuttoacceptit—toanswerwhatheaskedwithoutpretension，toaddresshimwhenneedfulwithoutgrimace—anditincreasedandgrewkinderandmoregenial，andwarmedonelikeafosteringsunbeam。Howwillshemanagetopleasehimwhentheyaremarried？Idonotthinkshewillmanageit;andyetitmightbemanaged;andhiswifemight，Iverilybelieve，betheveryhappiestwomanthesunshineson。”

IhavenotyetsaidanythingcondemnatoryofMr。Rochester’sprojectofmarryingforinterestandconnections。ItsurprisedmewhenIfirstdiscoveredthatsuchwashisintention:Ihadthoughthimamanunlikelytobeinfluencedbymotivessocommonplaceinhischoiceofawife;butthelongerIconsideredtheposition，education，&c。，oftheparties，thelessIfeltjustifiedinjudgingandblamingeitherhimorMissIngramforactinginconformitytoideasandprinciplesinstilledintothem，doubtless，fromtheirchildhood。Alltheirclassheldtheseprinciples:Isupposed，then，theyhadreasonsforholdingthemsuchasIcouldnotfathom。Itseemedtomethat，wereIagentlemanlikehim，IwouldtaketomybosomonlysuchawifeasIcouldlove;buttheveryobviousnessoftheadvantagestothehusband’sownhappinessofferedbythisplanconvincedmethattheremustbeargumentsagainstitsgeneraladoptionofwhichIwasquiteignorant:otherwiseIfeltsurealltheworldwouldactasIwishedtoact。

Butinotherpoints，aswellasthis，Iwasgrowingverylenienttomymaster:Iwasforgettingallhisfaults，forwhichIhadoncekeptasharplook—out。Ithadformerlybeenmyendeavourtostudyallsidesofhischaracter:totakethebadwiththegood;andfromthejustweighingofboth，toformanequitablejudgment。NowIsawnobad。Thesarcasmthathadrepelled，theharshnessthathadstartledmeonce，wereonlylikekeencondimentsinachoicedish:theirpresencewaspungent，buttheirabsencewouldbefeltascomparativelyinsipid。Andasforthevaguesomething—wasitasinisterorasorrowful，adesigningoradespondingexpression？—thatopeneduponacarefulobserver，nowandthen，inhiseye，andclosedagainbeforeonecouldfathomthestrangedepthpartiallydisclosed;thatsomethingwhichusedtomakemefearandshrink，asifIhadbeenwanderingamongstvolcanic—lookinghills，andhadsuddenlyfeltthegroundquiverandseenitgape:thatsomething，I，atintervals，beheldstill;andwiththrobbingheart，butnotwithpalsiednerves。Insteadofwishingtoshun，Ilongedonlytodare—todivineit;andIthoughtMissIngramhappy，becauseonedayshemightlookintotheabyssatherleisure，exploreitssecretsandanalysetheirnature。

Meantime，whileIthoughtonlyofmymasterandhisfuturebride—sawonlythem，heardonlytheirdiscourse，andconsideredonlytheirmovementsofimportance—therestofthepartywereoccupiedwiththeirownseparateinterestsandpleasures。TheLadiesLynnandIngramcontinuedtoconsortinsolemnconferences，wheretheynoddedtheirtwoturbansateachother，andhelduptheirfourhandsinconfrontinggesturesofsurprise，ormystery，orhorror，accordingtothethemeonwhichtheirgossipran，likeapairofmagnifiedpuppets。MildMrs。Denttalkedwithgood—naturedMrs。Eshton;andthetwosometimesbestowedacourteouswordorsmileonme。SirGeorgeLynn，ColonelDent，andMr。Eshtondiscussedpolitics，orcountyaffairs，orjusticebusiness。LordIngramflirtedwithAmyEshton;LouisaplayedandsangtoandwithoneoftheMessrs。Lynn;andMaryIngramlistenedlanguidlytothegallantspeechesoftheother。Sometimesall，aswithoneconsent，suspendedtheirby—playtoobserveandlistentotheprincipalactors:for，afterall，Mr。Rochesterand—becausecloselyconnectedwithhim—MissIngramwerethelifeandsouloftheparty。Ifhewasabsentfromtheroomanhour，aperceptibledulnessseemedtostealoverthespiritsofhisguests;andhisre—entrancewassuretogiveafreshimpulsetothevivacityofconversation。

ThewantofhisanimatinginfluenceappearedtobepeculiarlyfeltonedaythathehadbeensummonedtoMillcoteonbusiness，andwasnotlikelytoreturntilllate。Theafternoonwaswet:awalkthepartyhadproposedtotaketoseeagipsycamp，latelypitchedonacommonbeyondHay，wasconsequentlydeferred。Someofthegentlemenweregonetothestables:theyoungerones，togetherwiththeyoungerladies，wereplayingbilliardsinthebilliard—room。ThedowagersIngramandLynnsoughtsolaceinaquietgameatcards。BlancheIngram，afterhavingrepelled，bysupercilioustaciturnity，someeffortsofMrs。DentandMrs。Eshtontodrawherintoconversation，hadfirstmurmuredoversomesentimentaltunesandairsonthepiano，andthen，havingfetchedanovelfromthelibrary，hadflungherselfinhaughtylistlessnessonasofa，andpreparedtobeguile，bythespelloffiction，thetedioushoursofabsence。Theroomandthehouseweresilent:onlynowandthenthemerrimentofthebilliard—playerswasheardfromabove。

Itwasvergingondusk，andtheclockhadalreadygivenwarningofthehourtodressfordinner，whenlittleAdèle，whokneltbymeinthedrawing—roomwindow—seat，suddenlyexclaimed—

“Voile，MonsieurRochester，quirevient！”

Iturned，andMissIngramdartedforwardsfromhersofa:theothers，too，lookedupfromtheirseveraloccupations;foratthesametimeacrunchingofwheelsandasplashingtrampofhorse—hoofsbecameaudibleonthewetgravel。Apost—chaisewasapproaching。

“Whatcanpossesshimtocomehomeinthatstyle？”saidMissIngram。“HerodeMesrour（theblackhorse），didhenot，whenhewentout？andPilotwaswithhim:—whathashedonewiththeanimals？”

Asshesaidthis，sheapproachedhertallpersonandamplegarmentssonearthewindow，thatIwasobligedtobendbackalmosttothebreakingofmyspine:inhereagernessshedidnotobservemeatfirst，butwhenshedid，shecurledherlipandmovedtoanothercasement。Thepost—chaisestopped;thedriverrangthedoor—bell，andagentlemanalightedattiredintravellinggarb;butitwasnotMr。Rochester;itwasatall，fashionable—lookingman，astranger。

“Howprovoking！”exclaimedMissIngram:“youtiresomemonkey！”（apostrophisingAdèle），“whoperchedyouupinthewindowtogivefalseintelligence？”andshecastonmeanangryglance，asifIwereinfault。

Someparleyingwasaudibleinthehall，andsoonthenew—comerentered。HebowedtoLadyIngram，asdeeminghertheeldestladypresent。

“ItappearsIcomeataninopportunetime，madam，”saidhe，“whenmyfriend，Mr。Rochester，isfromhome;butIarrivefromaverylongjourney，andIthinkImaypresumesofaronoldandintimateacquaintanceastoinstalmyselfheretillhereturns。”

Hismannerwaspolite;hisaccent，inspeaking，struckmeasbeingsomewhatunusual，—notpreciselyforeign，butstillnotaltogetherEnglish:hisagemightbeaboutMr。Rochester’s，—betweenthirtyandforty;hiscomplexionwassingularlysallow:otherwisehewasafine—lookingman，atfirstsightespecially。Oncloserexamination，youdetectedsomethinginhisfacethatdispleased，orratherthatfailedtoplease。Hisfeatureswereregular，buttoorelaxed:hiseyewaslargeandwellcut，butthelifelookingoutofitwasatame，vacantlife—atleastsoIthought。

Thesoundofthedressing—belldispersedtheparty。ItwasnottillafterdinnerthatIsawhimagain:hethenseemedquiteathisease。ButIlikedhisphysiognomyevenlessthanbefore:itstruckmeasbeingatthesametimeunsettledandinanimate。Hiseyewandered，andhadnomeaninginitswandering:thisgavehimanoddlook，suchasIneverrememberedtohaveseen。Forahandsomeandnotanunamiable—lookingman，herepelledmeexceedingly:therewasnopowerinthatsmooth—skinnedfaceofafullovalshape:nofirmnessinthataquilinenoseandsmallcherrymouth;therewasnothoughtonthelow，evenforehead;nocommandinthatblank，browneye。

AsIsatinmyusualnook，andlookedathimwiththelightofthegirandolesonthemantelpiecebeamingfulloverhim—forheoccupiedanarm—chairdrawnclosetothefire，andkeptshrinkingstillnearer，asifhewerecold，IcomparedhimwithMr。Rochester。Ithink（withdeferencebeitspoken）thecontrastcouldnotbemuchgreaterbetweenasleekganderandafiercefalcon:betweenameeksheepandtherough—coatedkeen—eyeddog，itsguardian。

HehadspokenofMr。Rochesterasanoldfriend。Acuriousfriendshiptheirsmusthavebeen:apointedillustration，indeed，oftheoldadagethat“extremesmeet。”

Twoorthreeofthegentlemensatnearhim，andIcaughtattimesscrapsoftheirconversationacrosstheroom。AtfirstIcouldnotmakemuchsenseofwhatIheard;forthediscourseofLouisaEshtonandMaryIngram，whosatnearertome，confusedthefragmentarysentencesthatreachedmeatintervals。Theselastwerediscussingthestranger;theybothcalledhim“abeautifulman。”Louisasaidhewas“aloveofacreature，”andshe“adoredhim;”andMaryinstancedhis“prettylittlemouth，andnicenose，”asheridealofthecharming。

“Andwhatasweet—temperedforeheadhehas！”criedLouisa，—“sosmooth—noneofthosefrowningirregularitiesIdislikesomuch;andsuchaplacideyeandsmile！”

Andthen，tomygreatrelief，Mr。HenryLynnsummonedthemtotheothersideoftheroom，tosettlesomepointaboutthedeferredexcursiontoHayCommon。

Iwasnowabletoconcentratemyattentiononthegroupbythefire，andIpresentlygatheredthatthenew—comerwascalledMr。Mason;thenIlearnedthathewasbutjustarrivedinEngland，andthathecamefromsomehotcountry:whichwasthereason，doubtless，hisfacewassosallow，andthathesatsonearthehearth，andworeasurtoutinthehouse。PresentlythewordsJamaica，Kingston，SpanishTown，indicatedtheWestIndiesashisresidence;anditwaswithnolittlesurpriseIgathered，erelong，thathehadtherefirstseenandbecomeacquaintedwithMr。Rochester。Hespokeofhisfriend’sdislikeoftheburningheats，thehurricanes，andrainyseasonsofthatregion。IknewMr。Rochesterhadbeenatraveller:Mrs。Fairfaxhadsaidso;butIthoughtthecontinentofEuropehadboundedhiswanderings;tillnowIhadneverheardahintgivenofvisitstomoredistantshores。

Iwasponderingthesethings，whenanincident，andasomewhatunexpectedone，brokethethreadofmymusings。Mr。Mason，shiveringassomeonechancedtoopenthedoor，askedformorecoaltobeputonthefire，whichhadburntoutitsflame，thoughitsmassofcinderstillshonehotandred。Thefootmanwhobroughtthecoal，ingoingout，stoppednearMr。Eshton’schair，andsaidsomethingtohiminalowvoice，ofwhichIheardonlythewords，“oldwoman，”—“quitetroublesome。”

“Tellhersheshallbeputinthestocksifshedoesnottakeherselfoff，”repliedthemagistrate。

“No—stop！”interruptedColonelDent。“Don’tsendheraway，Eshton;wemightturnthethingtoaccount;betterconsulttheladies。”Andspeakingaloud，hecontinued—“Ladies，youtalkedofgoingtoHayCommontovisitthegipsycamp;SamheresaysthatoneoftheoldMotherBunchesisintheservants’hallatthismoment，andinsistsuponbeingbroughtinbefore‘thequality，’totellthemtheirfortunes。Wouldyouliketoseeher？”

“Surely，colonel，”criedLadyIngram，“youwouldnotencouragesuchalowimpostor？Dismissher，byallmeans，atonce！”

“ButIcannotpersuadehertogoaway，mylady，”saidthefootman;“norcananyoftheservants:Mrs。Fairfaxiswithherjustnow，entreatinghertobegone;butshehastakenachairinthechimney—comer，andsaysnothingshallstirherfromittillshegetsleavetocomeinhere。”

“Whatdoesshewant？”askedMrs。Eshton。

“‘Totellthegentrytheirfortunes，’shesays，ma’am;andsheswearsshemustandwilldoit。”

“Whatisshelike？”inquiredtheMissesEshton，inabreath。

“Ashockinglyuglyoldcreature，miss;almostasblackasacrock。”

“Why，she’sarealsorceress！”criedFrederickLynn。“Letushaveherin，ofcourse。”

“Tobesure，”rejoinedhisbrother;“itwouldbeathousandpitiestothrowawaysuchachanceoffun。”

“Mydearboys，whatareyouthinkingabout？”exclaimedMrs。Lynn。

“Icannotpossiblycountenanceanysuchinconsistentproceeding，”chimedintheDowagerIngram。

“Indeed，mama，butyoucan—andwill，”pronouncedthehaughtyvoiceofBlanche，assheturnedroundonthepiano—stool;wheretillnowshehadsatsilent，apparentlyexaminingsundrysheetsofmusic。“Ihaveacuriositytohearmyfortunetold:therefore，Sam，orderthebeldameforward。”

“MydarlingBlanche！recollect—”

“Ido—Irecollectallyoucansuggest;andImusthavemywill—quick，Sam！”

“Yes—yes—yes！”criedallthejuveniles，bothladiesandgentlemen。“Lethercome—itwillbeexcellentsport！”

Thefootmanstilllingered。“Shelookssucharoughone，”saidhe。

“Go！”ejaculatedMissIngram，andthemanwent。

Excitementinstantlyseizedthewholeparty:arunningfireofrailleryandjestswasproceedingwhenSamreturned。

“Shewon’tcomenow，”saidhe。“Shesaysit’snothermissiontoappearbeforethe‘vulgarherd’（them’sherwords）。Imustshowherintoaroombyherself，andthenthosewhowishtoconsulthermustgotoheronebyone。”

“Youseenow，myqueenlyBlanche，”beganLadyIngram，“sheencroaches。Beadvised，myangelgirl—and—”

“Showherintothelibrary，ofcourse，”cutinthe“angelgirl。”“Itisnotmymissiontolistentoherbeforethevulgarherdeither:Imeantohaveheralltomyself。Isthereafireinthelibrary？”

“Yes，ma’am—butshelookssuchatinkler。”

“Ceasethatchatter，blockhead！anddomybidding。”

AgainSamvanished;andmystery，animation，expectationrosetofullflowoncemore。

“She’sreadynow，”saidthefootman，ashereappeared。“Shewishestoknowwhowillbeherfirstvisitor。”

“IthinkIhadbetterjustlookinuponherbeforeanyoftheladiesgo，”saidColonelDent。

“Tellher，Sam，agentlemaniscoming。”

Samwentandreturned。

“Shesays，sir，thatshe’llhavenogentlemen;theyneednottroublethemselvestocomenearher;nor，”headded，withdifficultysuppressingatitter，“anyladieseither，excepttheyoung，andsingle。”

“ByJove，shehastaste！”exclaimedHenryLynn。

MissIngramrosesolemnly:“Igofirst，”shesaid，inatonewhichmighthavebefittedtheleaderofaforlornhope，mountingabreachinthevanofhismen。

“Oh，mybest！oh，mydearest！pause—reflect！”washermama’scry;butshesweptpastherinstatelysilence，passedthroughthedoorwhichColonelDentheldopen，andweheardherenterthelibrary。

Acomparativesilenceensued。LadyIngramthoughtit“lecas”towringherhands:whichshedidaccordingly。MissMarydeclaredshefelt，forherpart，sheneverdaredventure。AmyandLouisaEshtontitteredundertheirbreath，andlookedalittlefrightened。

Theminutespassedveryslowly:fifteenwerecountedbeforethelibrary—dooragainopened。MissIngramreturnedtousthroughthearch。

Wouldshelaugh？Wouldshetakeitasajoke？Alleyesmetherwithaglanceofeagercuriosity，andshemetalleyeswithoneofrebuffandcoldness;shelookedneitherflurriednormerry:shewalkedstifflytoherseat，andtookitinsilence。

“Well，Blanche？”saidLordIngram。

“Whatdidshesay，sister？”askedMary。

“Whatdidyouthink？Howdoyoufeel？—Isshearealfortune—teller？”demandedtheMissesEshton。

“Now，now，goodpeople，”returnedMissIngram，“don’tpressuponme。Reallyyourorgansofwonderandcredulityareeasilyexcited:youseem，bytheimportanceofyouall—mygoodmamaincluded—ascribetothismatter，absolutelytobelievewehaveagenuinewitchinthehouse，whoisinclosealliancewiththeoldgentleman。Ihaveseenagipsyvagabond;shehaspractisedinhackneyedfashionthescienceofpalmistryandtoldmewhatsuchpeopleusuallytell。Mywhimisgratified;andnowIthinkMr。Eshtonwilldowelltoputthehaginthestocksto—morrowmorning，ashethreatened。”

MissIngramtookabook，leantbackinherchair，andsodeclinedfurtherconversation。Iwatchedherfornearlyhalf—an—hour:duringallthattimesheneverturnedapage，andherfacegrewmomentlydarker，moredissatisfied，andmoresourlyexpressiveofdisappointment。Shehadobviouslynotheardanythingtoheradvantage:anditseemedtome，fromherprolongedfitofgloomandtaciturnity，thatsheherself，notwithstandingherprofessedindifference，attachedundueimportancetowhateverrevelationshadbeenmadeher。

Meantime，MaryIngram，AmyandLouisaEshton，declaredtheydarednotgoalone;andyettheyallwishedtogo。Anegotiationwasopenedthroughthemediumoftheambassador，Sam;andaftermuchpacingtoandfro，till，Ithink，thesaidSam’scalvesmusthaveachedwiththeexercise，permissionwasatlast，withgreatdifficulty，extortedfromtherigorousSibyl，forthethreetowaituponherinabody。

TheirvisitwasnotsostillasMissIngram’shadbeen:weheardhystericalgigglingandlittleshrieksproceedingfromthelibrary;andattheendofabouttwentyminutestheyburstthedooropen，andcamerunningacrossthehall，asiftheywerehalf—scaredoutoftheirwits。

“Iamsuresheissomethingnotright！”theycried，oneandall。“Shetoldussuchthings！Sheknowsallaboutus！”andtheysankbreathlessintothevariousseatsthegentlemenhastenedtobringthem。

Pressedforfurtherexplanation，theydeclaredshehadtoldthemofthingstheyhadsaidanddonewhentheyweremerechildren;describedbooksandornamentstheyhadintheirboudoirsathome:keepsakesthatdifferentrelationshadpresentedtothem。Theyaffirmedthatshehadevendivinedtheirthoughts，andhadwhisperedintheearofeachthenameofthepersonshelikedbestintheworld，andinformedthemofwhattheymostwishedfor。

Herethegentlemeninterposedwithearnestpetitionstobefurtherenlightenedonthesetwolast—namedpoints;buttheygotonlyblushes，ejaculations，tremors，andtitters，inreturnfortheirimportunity。Thematrons，meantime，offeredvinaigrettesandwieldedfans;andagainandagainreiteratedtheexpressionoftheirconcernthattheirwarninghadnotbeentakenintime;andtheeldergentlemenlaughed，andtheyoungerurgedtheirservicesontheagitatedfairones。

Inthemidstofthetumult，andwhilemyeyesandearswerefullyengagedinthescenebeforeme，Iheardahemcloseatmyelbow:Iturned，andsawSam。

“Ifyouplease，miss，thegipsydeclaresthatthereisanotheryoungsingleladyintheroomwhohasnotbeentoheryet，andsheswearsshewillnotgotillshehasseenall。Ithoughtitmustbeyou:thereisnooneelseforit。WhatshallItellher？”

“Oh，Iwillgobyallmeans，”Ianswered:andIwasgladoftheunexpectedopportunitytogratifymymuch—excitedcuriosity。Islippedoutoftheroom，unobservedbyanyeye—forthecompanyweregatheredinonemassaboutthetremblingtriojustreturned—andIclosedthedoorquietlybehindme。

“Ifyoulike，miss，”saidSam，“I’llwaitinthehallforyou;andifshefrightensyou，justcallandI’llcomein。”

“No，Sam，returntothekitchen:Iamnotintheleastafraid。”NorwasI;butIwasagooddealinterestedandexcited。

Chapter19

ThelibrarylookedtranquilenoughasIenteredit，andtheSibyl—ifSibylshewere—wasseatedsnuglyenoughinaneasy—chairatthechimney—corner。Shehadonaredcloakandablackbonnet:orrather，abroad—brimmedgipsyhat，tieddownwithastripedhandkerchiefunderherchin。Anextinguishedcandlestoodonthetable;shewasbendingoverthefire，andseemedreadinginalittleblackbook，likeaprayer—book，bythelightoftheblaze:shemutteredthewordstoherself，asmostoldwomendo，whilesheread;shedidnotdesistimmediatelyonmyentrance:itappearedshewishedtofinishaparagraph。

Istoodontherugandwarmedmyhands，whichwererathercoldwithsittingatadistancefromthedrawing—roomfire。IfeltnowascomposedaseverIdidinmylife:therewasnothingindeedinthegipsy’sappearancetotroubleone’scalm。Sheshutherbookandslowlylookedup;herhat—brimpartiallyshadedherface，yetIcouldsee，assheraisedit，thatitwasastrangeone。Itlookedallbrownandblack:elf—locksbristledoutfrombeneathawhitebandwhichpassedunderherchin，andcamehalfoverhercheeks，orratherjaws:hereyeconfrontedmeatonce，withaboldanddirectgaze。

“Well，andyouwantyourfortunetold？”shesaid，inavoiceasdecidedasherglance，asharshasherfeatures。

“Idon’tcareaboutit，mother;youmaypleaseyourself:butIoughttowarnyou，Ihavenofaith。”

“It’slikeyourimpudencetosayso:Iexpecteditofyou;Ihearditinyourstepasyoucrossedthethreshold。”

“Didyou？You’veaquickear。”

“Ihave;andaquickeyeandaquickbrain。”

“Youneedthemallinyourtrade。”

“Ido;especiallywhenI’vecustomerslikeyoutodealwith。Whydon’tyoutremble？”

“I’mnotcold。”

“Whydon’tyouturnpale？”

“Iamnotsick。”

“Whydon’tyouconsultmyart？”

“I’mnotsilly。”