"Yes, I daresay: no doubt he admires her."

"And she him," I added; "look how she leans her head towards him as

if she were conversing confidentially; I wish I could see her face;

I have never had a glimpse of it yet."

"You will see her this evening," answered Mrs. Fairfax. "I happened

to remark to Mr. Rochester how much Adele wished to be introduced to

the ladies, and he said: 'Oh! let her come into the drawing-room

after dinner; and request Miss Eyre to accompany her.'"

"Yes; he said that from mere politeness: I need not go, I am sure,"

I answered.

"Well, I observed to him that as you were unused to company, I did

not think you would like appearing before so gay a party--all

strangers; and he replied, in his quick way--'Nonsense! If she

objects, tell her it is my particular wish; and if she resists, say

I shall come and fetch her in case of contumacy.'"

"I will not give him that trouble," I answered. "I will go, if no

better may be; but I don't like it. Shall you be there, Mrs.

Fairfax?"

"No; I pleaded off, and he admitted my plea. I'll tell you how to

manage so as to avoid the embarrassment of making a formal entrance,

which is the most disagreeable part of the business. You must go

into the drawing-room while it is empty, before the ladies leave the

dinner-table; choose your seat in any quiet nook you like; you need

not stay long after the gentlemen come in, unless you please: just

let Mr. Rochester see you are there and then slip away--nobody will

notice you."

"Will these people remain long, do you think?"

"Perhaps two or three weeks, certainly not more. After the Easter

recess, Sir George Lynn, who was lately elected member for Millcote,

will have to go up to town and take his seat; I daresay Mr.

Rochester will accompany him: it surprises me that he has already

made so protracted a stay at Thornfield."

It was with some trepidation that I perceived the hour approach when

I was to repair with my charge to the drawing-room. Adele had been

in a state of ecstasy all day, after hearing she was to be presented

to the ladies in the evening; and it was not till Sophie commenced

the operation of dressing her that she sobered down. Then the

importance of the process quickly steadied her, and by the time she

had her curls arranged in well-smoothed, drooping clusters, her pink

satin frock put on, her long sash tied, and her lace mittens

adjusted, she looked as grave as any judge. No need to warn her not

to disarrange her attire: when she was dressed, she sat demurely

down in her little chair, taking care previously to lift up the

satin skirt for fear she should crease it, and assured me she would

not stir thence till I was ready. This I quickly was: my best

dress (the silver-grey one, purchased for Miss Temple's wedding, and

never worn since) was soon put on; my hair was soon smoothed; my

sole ornament, the pearl brooch, soon assumed. We descended.




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