Chapter 18

  MerrydaysweretheseatThornfieldHall;andbusydaystoo:howdifferentfromthefirstthreemonthsofstillness,monotony,andsolitudeIhadpassedbehitsroof!Allsadfeelingsseemednowdrivenfromthehouse,allgloomyassociationsfotten:therewaslifeeverywhere,movementalldaylong.Youcouldnotnowtraversethegallery,oncesohushed,erthefrontchambers,oenantless,withoutenteringasmartlady’s-maidoradandyvalet.

  Thekit,thebutler’spantry,theservants’hall,theentrancehall,wereequallyalive;andthesaloonswereovoidandstillwhentheblueskyandhalsunshihegenialsprihercalledtheiroctsoutintothegrounds.Evehatweatherwasbroken,andtinuousraiinforsomedays,nodampseemedcastoverenjoyment:indooramusementsonlybecamemorelivelyandvaried,insequehestopputtooutdaiety.

  Iwonderedwhattheyweregoingtodothefirsteveningageofeairoposed:theyspokeof“playingcharades,”butinmyignoranceIdidnotuaerm.Theservantswerecalledin,thedining-roomtableswheeledaway,thelightsotherwisedisposed,thechairsplaasemicircleoppositethearch.WhileMr.Rochesterahergentlemeedthesealterations,theladieswererunningupanddownstairsringingfortheirmaids.Mrs.Fairfaxwassummoogiveinformationrespegtheresourcesofthehouseinshawls,dresses,draperiesofanykind;aainwardrobesofthethirdstoreywereransacked,andtheirtents,intheshapeofbrocadedandhoopedpetticoats,satinsacques,blackmodes,lacelappets,&c.,werebroughtdowninarmfulsbytheabigails;theionwasmade,andsuchthingsaswerechosenwerecarriedtotheboudoirwithinthedrawing-room.

  Meantime,Mr.Rochesterhadagainsummoheladiesroundhim,andwasselegcertainoftheirobeofhisparty.“MissIngramismine,ofcourse,”saidhe:afterwardshehetwoMissesEshton,andMrs.Dent.Helookedatme:Ihappeobenearhim,asIhadbeenfasteningtheclaspofMrs.Dent’sbracelet,whichhadgotloose.

  “Willyouplay?”heasked.Ishookmyhead.Hedidnotinsist,whichIratherfearedhewouldhavedone;heallowedmetoreturomyusualseat.

  Heandhisaidsnowwithdrewbehiaiherparty,whichwasheadedbyelDent,satdownonthecrestofchairs.Ohegentlemen,Mr.Eshton,me,seemedtoproposethatIshouldbeaskedtojointhem;butLadyIngraminstantlyivedthenotion.

  “No,”Iheardhersay:“shelookstoostupidfameofthesort.”

  Ereloinkled,aaindrewup.Withinthearch,thebulkyfigureeeLynn,whomMr.Rochesterhadlikewisechosen,wasseenenvelopedinawhitesheet:beforehim,onatable,layopenalargebook;andathissidestoodAmyEshton,drapedinMr.Rochester’scloak,andholdingabookinherhand.Somebody,unseen,rangthebellmerrily;thenAdèle(whohadinsistedonbeingoneuardian’sparty),boundedforward,scatteringrouhetentsofabasketofflowersshecarriedonherarm.ThenappearedthemagnifitfigureofMissIngram,cladinwhite,alongveilonherhead,andawreathofrosesroundherbrow;byhersidewalkedMr.Rochester,andtogethertheydrewhetable.Theyk;whileMrs.DentandLouisaEshton,dressedalsoinwhite,tookuptheirstationsbehindthem.Aceremonyfollowed,indumbshow,inwhichitwaseasythepantomimeofamarriage.Atitstermination,elDentandhispartysultedinwhispersfortwomihentheelcalledout—

  “Bride!”Mr.Rochesterbowed,aainfell.

  Asiderableintervalelapsedbeforeitagaissedrisingdisplayedamoreelaboratelypreparedsetha.Thedrawing-room,asIhavebeforeobserved,wasraisedtwostepsabovethedining-room,andoopoftheupperstep,placedayardortwobackwithintheroom,appearedalargemarblebasin—whichIreisedasanoroftheservatory—whereitusuallystood,surroundedbyexotidtenantedbygoldfish—andwhemusthavebeentransportedwithsometrouble,onatofitssizea.

  Seatedonthecarpet,bythesideofthisbasin,wasseenMr.Rochester,edinshawls,withaturbanonhishead.HisdarkeyesandswarthyskinandPayuressuitedtheeexactly:helookedtheverymodelofaernemir,aoravictimoftheb.PresentlyadvaoviewMissIngram.She,too,wasattiredialfashion:acrimsonscarftiedsash-likeroundthewaist:anembroideredhandkerchiefknottedabouthertemples;herbeautifully-mouldedarmsbare,ohemupraisediofsuppapitcher,poisedgracefullyonherhead.Bothhercastofformaure,herplexionandhergeneralair,suggestedtheideaofsomeIsraelitishprincessofthepatriarchaldays;andsuchwasdoubtlessthecharactersheinteorepresent.

  Sheapproachedthebasin,aoveritasiftofillherpitcher;sheagainliftedittoherhead.Thepersohewell-brinknowseemedtoaccosther;tomakesomerequest:-“Shehasted,letdowcheronherhand,andgavehimtodrink.”Fromthebosomofhisrobehethenproducedacasket,opeandshowedmagnifitbraceletsandearrings;sheactedastonishmentandadmiration;kneeling,helaidthetreasureatherfeet;incredulityanddelightwereexpressedbyherlooksaures;thestrangerfastehebraceletsonherarmsandtheringsinherears.ItwasEliezerandRebecca:thecamelsonlywerewanting.

  Thediviningpartyagainlaidtheirheadstogether:apparentlytheycouldnotagreeaboutthewordorsyllabletheseillustrated.elDent,theirspokesman,demahetableauofthewhole;”whereupoainagaindesded.

  Onitsthirdrisingonlyaportionofthedrawing-roomwasdisclosed;therestbeingcealedbyas,hungwithsomesortofdarkandcoarsedrapery.Themarblebasinwasremoved;initsplace,stoodadealtableandakitchair:theseobjectswerevisiblebyaverydimlightproceedingfromahornlahewaxdlesbeingallextinguished.

  Amidstthissordidse,satamanwithhischedhaingonhisknees,andhiseyesbentontheground.IknewMr.Rochester;thoughthebegrimedface,thedisordereddress(hiscoathangingloosefromonearm,asifithadbeenalmosttornfromhisbaascuffle),thedesperateandscowlingteherough,bristlinghairmightwellhavedisguisedhim.Ashemoved,aked;tohiswristswereattachedfetters.

  “Bridewell!”exclaimedelDent,andthecharadewassolved.

  Asuffitintervalhavingelapsedfortheperformerstoresumetheirordinarye,theyre-ehedining-room.Mr.RochesterledinMissIngram;shewasplimentinghimonhisag.

  “Doyouknow,”saidshe,“that,ofthethreecharacters,Ilikedyouibest?Oh,hadyoubutlivedafewyearsearlier,whatagallaleman-highwaymanyouwouldhavemade!”

  “Isallthesootwashedfrommyface?”heasked,turningittowardsher.

  “Alas!yes:themore’sthepity!Nothingcouldbemorebeingtoyourplexionthanthatruffian’srouge.”

  “Youwouldlikeaherooftheroadthen?”

  “AnEnglishherooftheroadwouldbethebestthingtoanItalianbandit;andthatcouldonlybesurpassedbyaLevantinepirate.”

  “Well,whateverIam,rememberyouaremywife;weweremarriedanhoursihepresenceofallthesewitnesses.”Shegiggled,andhercolourrose.

  “Now,Dent,”tinuedMr.Rochester,“itisyourturn.”Andastheotherpartywithdrew,heandhisbandtookthevacatedseats.MissIngramplacedherselfatherleader’srighthand;theotherdivinersfilledthechairsoneachsideofhimandher.Ididnotnowwatchtheactors;Inolongerwaitedwithiforthecurtaintorise;myattentionwasabsorbedbythespeyeyes,erewhilefixedonthearch,werenowirresistiblyattractedtothesemicircleofchairs.WhatcharadeelDentandhispartyplayed,whatwordtheychose,howtheyacquittedthemselves,Inolongerremember;butIstillseethesultationwhichfollowedeachse:IseeMr.RochesterturntoMissIngram,andMissIngramtohim;Iseeherineherheadtowardshim,tillthejettycurlsalmosttouchhisshoulderandwaveagainsthischeek;Iheartheirmutualwhisperings;Irecalltheirintergedglances;andsomethihefeelingrousedbythespectaclereturnsinmemoryatthismoment.

  Ihavetoldyou,reader,thatIhadlearnttoloveMr.Rochester:Icouldnotunlovehimnow,merelybecauseIfoundthathehadceasedtonoticeme—becauseImightpasshoursinhispresendhewouldneverournhiseyesinmydire—becauseIsawallhisattentionsappropriatedbyagreatlady,whosedtotouchmewiththehemofherrobesasshepassed;who,ifeverherdarkandimperiouseyefellonmebyce,wouldwithdrawitinstantlyasfromaoomeaobservation.Icouldnotunlovehim,becauseIfeltsurehewouldsoonmarrythisverylady—becauseIreaddailyinheraproudsecurityinhisiionsrespegher—becauseIwitnessedhourlyinhimastyleofcourtshipwhich,ifcarelessandchoosingrathertobesoughtthantoseek,wasyet,initsverycarelessness,captivating,andinitsverypride,irresistible.

  Therewasnothingtocoolorbanishloveinthesecircumstahoughmuchtocreatedespair.Muchtoo,youwillthink,reader,toengenderjealousy:ifawoman,inmyposition,couldpresumetobejealousofawomaninMissIngram’s.ButIwasnotjealous:orveryrarely;—thenatureofthepainIsufferedcouldnotbeexplaihatword.MissIngramwasamarkbehjealousy:shewastooinferiortoexcitethefeeling.Pardontheseemingparadox;ImeanwhatIsay.Shewasveryshowy,butshewasnotgenuine:shehadafineperson,manybrilliantattais;buthermindoor,herheartbarrenbynature:nothingbloomedspontaneouslyonthatsoil;nounforaturalfruitdelightedbyitsfreshness.Shewasnotgood;shewasninal:sheusedtorepeatsoundingphrasesfrombooks:sheneveroffered,norhad,anopinionofherown.Sheadvocatedahightoneofse;butshedidnotknowthesensationsofsympathyandpity;tendernessandtruthwerenotiooofterayedthis,bytheushegavetoaspitefulantipathyshehadceivedagainstlittleAdèle:pushingherawaywithsomeeliousepithetifshehappeoapproachher;sometimesherfromtheroom,andalwaystreatihessandacrimony.Othereyesbesidesmichedthesemaionsofcharacter—watchedthemclosely,keenly,shrewdly.Yes;thefuturebridegroom,Mr.Rochesterhimself,exercisedoverhisintendedaceaselesssurveillanditwasfromthissagacity—thisguardednessofhis—thisperfect,clearsciousnessofhisfairone’sdefects—thisobviousabsenceofpassioninhisseowardsher,thatmyever-tpainarose.

  Isawhewasgoingtomarryher,forfamily,perhapspoliticalreasons,becauseherrankandessuitedhim;Ifelthehadnotgivenherhislove,andthatherqualificationswereilladaptedtowinfromhimthattreasure.Thiswasthepoint—thiswaswheretheouchedandteased—thiswaswherethefeverwassustainedandfed:shecouldnotcharmhim.

  Ifshehadmahevictoryatondhehadyieldedandsincerelylaidhisheartatherfeet,Ishouldhavecoveredmyface,turhewall,and(figuratively)havediedtothem.IfMissIngramhadbeenagoodandnoblewoman,ehforce,fervour,kindness,sense,Ishouldhavehadoalstrugglewithtwotigers—jealousyanddespair:then,myhearttornoutanddevoured,Ishouldhaveadmiredher—aowledgedherexcellendbeefortherestofmydays:andthemoreabsolutehersuperiority,thedeeperwouldhavebeenmyadmiration—themoretrulytranquilmyquiesce.Butasmattersreallystood,towatchMissIngram’seffortsatfasatingMr.Rochester,towitheirrepeatedfailure—herselfunsciousthattheydidfail;vainlyfangthateachshaftlauthemark,andinfatuatedlyplumingherselfonsuccess,whenherprideandself-placyrepelledfurtherandfurtherwhatshewishedtoallure—towithis,wastobeatonderceaselessexcitationandruthlessrestraint.

  Because,whenshefailed,Isawhowshemighthavesucceeded.ArrowsthattinuallyglancedofffromMr.Rochester’sbreastandfellharmlessathisfeet,might,Iknew,ifshotbyasurerhand,havequiveredkeeninhisproudheart—havecalledloveintohissterneye,andsoftnessintohissardonicface;or,betterstill,withoutonsasilentquestmighthavebeenwon.

  “Whyshenotinfluencehimmore,whensheisprivilegedtodrawsoohim?”Iaskedmyself.“Surelysheottrulylikehim,ornotlikehimwithtrueaffe!Ifshedid,shehersmilessolavishly,flashherglancessouingly,manufactureairssoelaborate,graultitudinous.Itseemstomethatshemight,bymerelysittingquietlyathisside,sayinglittleandlookingless,getnigherhisheart.Ihaveseeninhisfaceafardifferentexpressionfromthatwhichhardensitnowwhilesheissovivaciouslyaccostinghim;butthenitcameofitself:itwasnotelicitedbymeretriciousartsandcalculatedmanoeuvres;andonehadbuttoacceptit—toanswerwhatheaskedwithoutpretension,toaddresshimwhenneedfulwithoutgrimaditincreasedandgrewkinderandmenial,andwarmedonelikeafsunbeam.Howwillshemaopleasehimwhentheyaremarried?Idonotthinkshewillma;amightbemanaged;andhiswifemight,Iverilybelieve,betheveryhappiestwomanthesunshineson.”

  IhavesaidanythingnatoryofMr.Rochester’sprojearryingforiandes.ItsurprisedmewhenIfirstdiscoveredthatsuchwashisiion:Ihadthoughthimamanuobeinfluencedbymotivessoonplahischoiceofawife;butthelongerIsideredtheposition,education,&c.,oftheparties,thelessIfeltjustifiedinjudgingandblamiherhimorMissIngramforaginitytoideasandprinciplesinstilledintothem,doubtless,fromtheirchildhood.Alltheirclassheldtheseprinciples:Isupposed,then,theyhadreasonsforholdingthemsuchasIcouldnotfathom.Itseemedtomethat,wereIagentlemanlikehim,IwouldtaketomybosomonlysuchawifeasIcouldlove;buttheveryobviousnessoftheadvahehusband’soinessofferedbythisplanvihattheremustbeargumentsagainstitsgeneraladoptionofwhichIwasquiteignorant:otherwiseIfeltsurealltheworldwouldactasIwishedtoact.

  Butinotherpoints,aswellasthis,Iwasgrowingveryleomymaster:Iwasfettingallhisfaults,forwhichIhadoasharplook-out.Ithadformerlybeenmyendeavourtostudyallsidesofhischaracter:totakethebadwiththegood;andfromthejustweighingofboth,toformaablejudgment.NowIsawnobad.Thesarcasmthathadrepelled,theharshhathadstartledmeonce,wereonlylikekeenentsinachoicedish:theirpresenceu,buttheirabsencewouldbefeltasparativelyinsipid.Andasforthevaguesomething—wasitasinisterorasorrowful,adesigningoradespondingexpression?—thatopeneduponacarefulobserver,nowandthen,inhiseye,andclosedagainbeforeonecouldfathomthestrahpartiallydisclosed;thatsomethingwhichusedtomakemefearandshrink,asifIhadbeenwanderingamongstvolic-lookinghills,andhadsuddehegroundquiveragape:thatsomething,I,atintervals,beheldstill;andwiththrobbi,butnotwithpalsiednerves.Insteadofwishingtoshun,Ilongedonlytodare—todivi;andIthoughtMissIngramhappy,becauseonedayshemightlookintotheabyssatherleisure,exploreitssecretsandanalysetheirnature.

  Meantime,whileIthoughtonlyofmymasterandhisfuturebride—sawonlythem,heardonlytheirdiscourse,andsideredonlytheirmovementsofimportaherestofthepartywereoccupiedwiththeirownseparateisandpleasures.TheLadiesLynnandIngramtiosortinsolemnferences,wheretheyheirtwoturbansateachother,andhelduptheirfourhandsinfrontiuresofsurprise,ormystery,orhorror,acctothethemeonwhichtheirgossipran,likeapairofmagnifiedpuppets.MildMrs.Denttalkedwithgood-naturedMrs.Eshton;awosometimesbestowedacourteouswordorsmileonme.SirGeeLynn,elDent,andMr.Eshtondiscussedpolitics,ortyaffairs,orjusticebusiness.LramflirtedwithAmyEshton;LouisaplayedandsangtoandwithoheMessrs.Lynn;andMaryIngramlistenedlanguidlytothegallantspeechesoftheother.Sometimesall,aswithonesent,suspeheirby-playtoobserveandlistentotheprincipalactors:for,afterall,Mr.Rochesterand—becausecloselyectedwithhim—MissIngramwerethelifeandsouloftheparty.Ifhewasabsentfromtheroomanhour,aperceptibledulnessseemedtostealoverthespiritsofhisguests;andhisre-entrancewassuretogiveafreshimpulsetothevivacityofversation.

  ThewantofhisanimatinginfluenceappearedtobepeculiarlyfeltohathehadbeensummooMillcoteonbusiness,andwasnotlikelytoreturntilllate.Theafternoonwaswet:awalkthepartyhadproposedtotaketoseeagipsycamp,latelypitchedonaonbeyondHay,wassequentlydeferred.Someofthegentlemenweregohestables:theyoungeroogetherwiththeyoungerladies,wereplayingbilliardsinthebilliard-room.ThedowagersIngramandLynnsoughtsolaaquietgameatcards.Blangram,afterhavingrepelled,bysupercilioustaciturnity,someeffortsofMrs.DentandMrs.Eshtontodrawherintoversation,hadfirstmurmuredoversomesealtunesandairsonthepiano,andthen,havichedanovelfromthelibrary,hadflungherselfinhaughtylistlessnessonasofa,andpreparedtobeguile,bythespelloffi,thetedioushoursofabseheroomandthehouseweresilent:onlynowahemerrimentofthebilliard-playerswasheardfromabove.

  Itwasvergingondusk,andtheclockhadalreadygivenwarningofthehourtodressfordinner,whenlittleAdèle,whokbymeinthedrawing-roomwindow-seat,suddenlyexclaimed—

  “Voile,MonsieurRochester,quirevient!”

  Iturned,andMissIngramdartedforwardsfromhersofa:theothers,too,lookedupfromtheirseveraloccupations;foratthesametimeagofwheelsandasplashingtrampofhorse-hoofsbecameaudibleogravel.Apost-chaiseroag.

  “Whatpossesshimtoehomeinthatstyle?”saidMissIngram.“HerodeMesrour(theblackhorse),didhenot,wheout?andPilotwaswithhim:-whathashedohtheanimals?”

  Asshesaidthis,sheapproachedhertallpersonandamplegarmentssohewindow,thatIwasobligedtobendbackalmosttothebreakingofmyspine:inhereagernessshedidnotobservemeatfirst,butwhenshedid,shecurledherlipandmovedtoanothercasement.Thepost-chaisestopped;thedriverrangthedoor-bell,alemanalightedattiredintravellinggarb;butitwasnotMr.Rochester;itwasatall,fashionable-lookingman,astranger.

  “Howprovoking!”exclaimedMissIngram:“youtiresomemonkey!”(apostrophisingAdèle),“whoperchedyouupinthewindowtogivefalseintelligence?”aonmeanangryglance,asifIwereinfault.

  Someparleyingwasaudibleinthehall,andsoonthenew-erentered.HebowedtoLadyIngram,asdeemiheeldestladypresent.

  “ItappearsIeataninopportuime,madam,”saidhe,“whenmyfriend,Mr.Rochester,isfromhome;butIarrivefromaverylongjourney,andIthinkImaypresumesofaronoldandintimateacquaintaoinstalmyselfheretillhereturns.”

  Hismannerolite;hisat,inspeaking,struckmeasbeingsomewhatunusual,—notpreciselyfn,butstillnotaltogetherEnglish:hisagemightbeaboutMr.Rochester’s,—betweenthirtyandforty;hisplexionwassingularlysallow:otherwisehewasafine-lookingman,atfirstsightespecially.Oncloserexamination,youdetectedsomethinginhisfacethatdispleased,orratherthatfailedtoplease.Hisfeatureswereregular,buttoorelaxed:hiseyewaslargeandwellcut,butthelifelookingoutofitwasatame,vatlife—atleastsoIthought.

  Thesoundofthedressing-belldispersedtheparty.ItwasnottillafterdihatIsawhimagaihenseemedquiteathisease.ButIlikedhisphysiognomyevehanbefore:itstruckmeasbeingatthesametimeuledandinanimate.Hiseyewandered,andhadnomeaninginitswandering:thisgavehimanoddlook,suchasIneverrememberedtohaveseen.Forahandsomeandnotanunamiable-lookingman,herepelledmeexceedingly:thereowerinthatsmooth-skinnedfaceofafullovalshape:nofirmnessinthataquilinenoseandsmallcherrymouth;therewasnothoughtonthelow,evenforehead;noandinthatblank,browneye.

  AsIsatinmyusualnook,andlookedathimwiththelightofthegirahemantelpiecebeamingfulloverhim—forheoccupiedanarm-chairdrawnclosetothefire,ashrinkingstillnearer,asifhewerecold,IparedhimwithMr.Rochester.Ithink(withdeferespokerastcouldnotbemuchgreaterbetweenasleekganderandafiercefal:betweenameeksheepandtherough-coatedkeen-eyeddog,itsguardian.

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

  Twoorthreeofthegentlemensatnearhim,andIcaughtattimesscrapsoftheirversationacrosstheroom.AtfirstIcouldnotmakemuseofwhatIheard;forthediscourseofLouisaEshtonandMaryIngram,whosatome,fusedthefragmentarysentehatreachedmeatintervals.Theselastwerediscussiraheybothcalledhim“abeautifulman.”Louisasaidhewas“aloveofacreature,”andshe“adoredhim;”andMaryinstancedhis“prettylittlemouth,andniose,”asheridealofthecharming.

  “Andwhatasweet-temperedforeheadhehas!”criedLouisa,—“sosmooth—hosefrowningirregularitiesIdislikesomudsuchaplacideyeandsmile!”

  Aomygreatrelief,Mr.HenryLynnsummohemtotheothersideoftheroom,tosettlesomepointaboutthedeferredexcursiontoHayon.

  Iwasnowabletotratemyattentiononthegroupbythefire,andIpresentlygatheredthatthenew-erwascalledMr.Mason;thenIlearhathewasbutjustarrivedinEngland,andthathecamefromsomehottry:whichwasthereason,doubtless,hisfacewassosallow,andthathesatsohehearth,andworeasurtoutinthehouse.PresentlythewordsJamaica,Kingston,SpanishTown,indicatedtheWestIndiesashisresidenditwaswithnolittlesurpriseIgathered,erelong,thathehadtherefirstseenandbeeacquaihMr.Rochester.Hespokeofhisfriend’sdislikeoftheburnis,thehurries,andrainyseasonsofthatregion.IknewMr.Rochesterhadbeenatraveller:Mrs.Fairfaxhadsaidso;butIthoughtthetiofEuropehadboundedhiswanderings;tillnowIhadneverheardahintgivenofvisitstomoredistantshores.

  Ithesethings,whenani,andasomewhatuedone,brokethethreadofmymusings.Mr.Mason,shiveringassomeonecedtoopenthedoor,askedformorecoaltobeputonthefire,whichhadburntoutitsflame,thoughitsmassofderstillshoahefootmanwhhtthecoal,ingoingout,stoppednearMr.Eshton’schair,andsaidsomethingtohiminalowvoice,ofwhichIheardonlythewords,“oldwoman,”—“quitetroublesome.”

  “Tellhersheshallbeputiocksifshedoesnottakeherselfoff,”repliedthemagistrate.

  “No—stop!”interruptedelDent.“Don’tsendheraway,Eshton;wemightturhingtoat;bettersulttheladies.”Andspeakingaloud,hetinued—“Ladies,youtalkedofgoingtoHayontovisitthegipsycamp;SamheresaysthatoheoldMotherBunchesisintheservants’hallatthismoment,andinsistsuponbeingbroughtinbefore‘thequality,’totellthemtheirfortunes.Wouldyouliketoseeher?”

  “Surely,el,”criedLadyIngram,“youwouldnotencesupostor?Dismissher,byallmeans,atonce!”

  “ButIotpersuadehertogoaway,mylady,”saidthefootman;“noryoftheservants:Mrs.Fairfaxiswithherjustreatiobegoshehastakenachairintheey-er,andsaysnothingshallstirherfromittillshegetsleavetoeinhere.”

  “Whatdoesshewant?”askedMrs.Eshton.

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

  “Whatisshelike?”inquiredtheMissesEshton,ih.

  “Ashoglyuglyoldcreature,miss;almostasblackasacrock.”

  “Why,she’sarealsorceress!”criedFrederiushaveherin,ofcourse.”

  “Tobesure,”rejoinedhisbrother;“itwouldbeathousandpitiestothrowawaysuchaceoffun.”

  “Mydearboys,whatareyouthinkingabout?”exclaimedMrs.Lynn.

  “Iotpossiblytenanysusistentproceeding,”chimedintheDowagerIngram.

  “Indeed,mama,butyou—andwill,”pronouhehaughtyvoiceofBlanche,assheturnedroundonthepiano-stool;wheretillnowshehadsatsilent,apparentlyexaminingsundrysheetsofmusic.“Ihaveacuriositytohearmyfortuold:therefore,Sam,orderthebeldameforward.”

  “MydarlingBlanche!recollect—”

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

  “Yes—yes—yes!”criedallthejuveniles,bothladiesalemehere—itwillbeexcellentsport!”

  Thefootmanstilllingered.“Shelookssucharoughone,”saidhe.

  “Go!”ejaculatedMissIngram,andthema.

  Excitementinstantlyseizedthewholeparty:arunningfireofrailleryasroceedingwhenSamreturned.

  “Shewon’tenow,”saidhe.“Shesaysit’snothermissiontoappearbeforethe‘vulgarherd’(them’sherwords).Imustshowherintoaroombyherself,ahosewhowishtosulthermustgotoheronebyone.”

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

  “Showherintothelibrary,ofcourse,”the“angelgirl.”“Itisnotmymissiontolistentoherbeforethevulgarherdeither:Imeantohaveheralltomyself.Isthereafireinthelibrary?”

  “Yes,ma’am—butshelookssuchatinkler.”

  “Ceasethatchatter,blockhead!anddomybidding.”

  AgainSamvanished;andmystery,animation,expectatioofullflowoncemore.

  “She’sreadynow,”saidthefootman,ashereappeared.“Shewishestoknoillbeherfirstvisitor.”

  “IthinkIhadbetterjustlookinuponherbeforeanyoftheladiesgo,”saidelDent.

  “Tellher,Sam,agentlemanising.”

  Samwentaurned.

  “Shesays,sir,thatshe’llhave松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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