In the clear embers I was tracing a view, not unlike a picture I

remembered to have seen of the castle of Heidelberg, on the Rhine,

when Mrs. Fairfax came in, breaking up by her entrance the fiery

mosaic I had been piercing together, and scattering too some heavy

unwelcome thoughts that were beginning to throng on my solitude.

"Mr. Rochester would be glad if you and your pupil would take tea

with him in the drawing-room this evening," said she: "he has been

so much engaged all day that he could not ask to see you before."

"When is his tea-time?" I inquired.

"Oh, at six o'clock: he keeps early hours in the country. You had

better change your frock now; I will go with you and fasten it.

Here is a candle."

"Is it necessary to change my frock?"

"Yes, you had better: I always dress for the evening when Mr.

Rochester is here."

This additional ceremony seemed somewhat stately; however, I

repaired to my room, and, with Mrs. Fairfax's aid, replaced my black

stuff dress by one of black silk; the best and the only additional

one I had, except one of light grey, which, in my Lowood notions of

the toilette, I thought too fine to be worn, except on first-rate

occasions.

"You want a brooch," said Mrs. Fairfax. I had a single little pearl

ornament which Miss Temple gave me as a parting keepsake: I put it

on, and then we went downstairs. Unused as I was to strangers, it

was rather a trial to appear thus formally summoned in Mr.

Rochester's presence. I let Mrs. Fairfax precede me into the

dining-room, and kept in her shade as we crossed that apartment;

and, passing the arch, whose curtain was now dropped, entered the

elegant recess beyond.

Two wax candles stood lighted on the table, and two on the

mantelpiece; basking in the light and heat of a superb fire, lay

Pilot--Adele knelt near him. Half reclined on a couch appeared Mr.

Rochester, his foot supported by the cushion; he was looking at

Adele and the dog: the fire shone full on his face. I knew my

traveller with his broad and jetty eyebrows; his square forehead,

made squarer by the horizontal sweep of his black hair. I

recognised his decisive nose, more remarkable for character than

beauty; his full nostrils, denoting, I thought, choler; his grim

mouth, chin, and jaw--yes, all three were very grim, and no mistake.

His shape, now divested of cloak, I perceived harmonised in

squareness with his physiognomy: I suppose it was a good figure in

the athletic sense of the term--broad chested and thin flanked,

though neither tall nor graceful.




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