Merry days were these at Thornfield Hall; and busy days too: how

different from the first three months of stillness, monotony, and

solitude I had passed beneath its roof! All sad feelings seemed now

driven from the house, all gloomy associations forgotten: there was

life everywhere, movement all day long. You could not now traverse

the gallery, once so hushed, nor enter the front chambers, once so

tenantless, without encountering a smart lady's-maid or a dandy

valet.

The kitchen, the butler's pantry, the servants' hall, the entrance

hall, were equally alive; and the saloons were only left void and

still when the blue sky and halcyon sunshine of the genial spring

weather called their occupants out into the grounds. Even when that

weather was broken, and continuous rain set in for some days, no

damp seemed cast over enjoyment: indoor amusements only became more

lively and varied, in consequence of the stop put to outdoor gaiety.

I wondered what they were going to do the first evening a change of

entertainment was proposed: they spoke of "playing charades," but

in my ignorance I did not understand the term. The servants were

called in, the dining-room tables wheeled away, the lights otherwise

disposed, the chairs placed in a semicircle opposite the arch.

While Mr. Rochester and the other gentlemen directed these

alterations, the ladies were running up and down stairs ringing for

their maids. Mrs. Fairfax was summoned to give information

respecting the resources of the house in shawls, dresses, draperies

of any kind; and certain wardrobes of the third storey were

ransacked, and their contents, in the shape of brocaded and hooped

petticoats, satin sacques, black modes, lace lappets, &c., were

brought down in armfuls by the abigails; then a selection was made,

and such things as were chosen were carried to the boudoir within

the drawing-room.

Meantime, Mr. Rochester had again summoned the ladies round him, and

was selecting certain of their number to be of his party. "Miss

Ingram is mine, of course," said he: afterwards he named the two

Misses Eshton, and Mrs. Dent. He looked at me: I happened to be

near him, as I had been fastening the clasp of Mrs. Dent's bracelet,

which had got loose.

"Will you play?" he asked. I shook my head. He did not insist,

which I rather feared he would have done; he allowed me to return

quietly to my usual seat.

He and his aids now withdrew behind the curtain: the other party,

which was headed by Colonel Dent, sat down on the crescent of

chairs. One of the gentlemen, Mr. Eshton, observing me, seemed to

propose that I should be asked to join them; but Lady Ingram

instantly negatived the notion.




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