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otions shall not be shared between me and the shape he sees in his mirror。 Mr。 Rochester； now sing； and I will play for you。”
“I am all obedience；” was the response。
“Here then is a Corsair…song。 Know that I doat on Corsairs； and for that reason； sing it con spirito。”
“mands from Miss Ingram’s lips would put spirit into a mug of milk and water。”
“Take care； then： if you don’t please me； I will shame you by showing how such things should be done。”
“That is offering a premium on incapacity： I shall now endeavour to fail。”
“Gardez…vous en bien！ If you err wilfully； I shall devise a proportionate punishment。”
“Miss Ingram ought to be clement； for she has it in her power to inflict a chastisement beyond mortal endurance。”
“Ha！ explain！” manded the lady。
“Pardon me； madam： no need of explanation； your own fine sense must inform you that one of your frowns would be a sufficient substitute for capital punishment。”
“Sing！” said she； and again touching the piano； she menced an acpaniment in spirited style。
“Now is my time to slip away；” thought I： but the tones that then severed the air arrested me。 Mrs。 Fairfax had said Mr。 Rochester possessed a fine voice： he did—a mellow； powerful bass； into which he threw his own feeling； his own force； finding a way through the ear to the heart； and there waking sensation strangely。 I waited till the last deep and full vibration had expired—till the tide of talk； checked an instant； had resumed its floy sheltered corner and made my exit by the side…door； which was fortunately near。 Thence a narrow passage led into the hall： in crossing it； I perceived my sandal was loose； I stopped to tie it； kneeling down for that purpose on the mat at the foot of the staircase。 I heard the dining…room door unclose； a gentleman came out； rising hastily； I stood face to face with him： it was Mr。 Rochester。
“How do you do？” he asked。
“I am very well； sir。”
“Why did you not e and speak to me in the room？”
I thought I might have retorted the question on him who put it： but I would not take that freedom。 I answered—
“I did not wish to disturb you； as you seemed engaged； sir。”
“What have you been doing during my absence？”
“Nothing particular； teaching Adèle as usual。”
“And getting a good deal paler than you were—as I saw at first sight。 What is the matter？”
“Nothing at all； sir。”
“Did you take any cold that night you half drowned me？”
“Not she least。”
“Return to the drawing…room： you are deserting too early。”
“I am tired； sir。”
He looked at me for a minute。
“And a little depressed；” he said。 “What about？ Tell me。”
“Nothing—nothing； sir。 I am not depressed。”
“But I affirm that you are： so much depressed that a few more words would bring tears to your eyes—indeed； they are there now； shining and swimming； and a bead has slipped from the lash and fallen on to the flag。 If I had time； and was not in mortal dread of some prating prig of a servant passing； I would know what all this means。 Well； to…night I excuse you； but understand that so long as my visitors stay； I expect you to appear in the drawing…room every evening； it is my wish； don’t neglect it。 Now go； and send Sophie for Adèle。 Good…night； my—” He stopped； bit his lip； and abruptly left me。
Chapter 18
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 alloy 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。
“No；” I heard her say： “she looks too stupid for any game of the sort。”
Ere long a bell tinkled； and the curtain drew up。 Within the arch； the bulky figure of Sir George Lynn； whom Mr。 Rochester had likewise chosen； was seen enveloped in a white sheet： before him； on a table； lay open a large book； and at his side stood Amy Eshton； draped in Mr。 Rochester’s cloak； and holding a book in her hand。 Somebody； unseen； rang the bell merrily； then Adèle （who had insisted on being one of her guardian’s party）； bounded forward； scattering round her the contents of a basket of flowers she carried on her arm。 Then appeared the magnificent figure of Miss Ingram； clad in white； a long veil on her head； and a wreath of roses round her brow； by her side walked Mr。 Rochester； and together they drew near the table。 They knelt； while Mrs。 Dent and Louisa Eshton； dressed also in white； took up their stations behind them。 A ceremony followed； in dumb show； in which it was easy to recognise the pantomime of a marriage。 At its termination； Colonel Dent and his party consulted in whispers for two minutes； then the Colonel called out—
“Bride！” Mr。 Rochester bowed； and the curtain fell。
A considerable interval elapsed before it again rose。 Its second rising displayed a more elaborately prepared scene than the last。 The drawing…room； as I have before observed； was raised two steps above the dining…room； and on the top of the upper step； placed a yard or two back within the room； appeared a large marble basin— which I recognised as an ornament of the conservatory—where it usually stood； surrounded by exotics； and tenanted by gold fish—and whence it must have been transported with some trouble； on account of its size and weight。
Seated on the carpet； by the side of this basin； was seen Mr。 Rochester； costumed in shawls； with a turban on his head。 His dark eyes and swarthy skin and Paynim features suited the costume exactly： he looked the very model of an Eastern emir； an agent or a victim of the bowstring。 Presently advanced into view Miss Ingram。 She； too； was attired in oriental fashion： a crimson scarf tied sash…like round the waist： an embroidered handkerchief knotted about her temples； her beautifully…moulded arms bare； one of them upraised in the act of supporting a pitcher； poised gracefully on her head。 Both her cast of form and feature； her plexion and her general air； suggested the idea of some Israelitish princess of the patriarchal days； and such was doubtless the character she intended to represent。
She approached the basin； and bent over it as if to fill her pitcher； she again lifted it to her head。 The personage on the well…brink now seemed to accost her； to make some request：… “She hasted； let down her pitcher on her hand； and gave him to drink。” From the bosom of his robe he then produced a casket； opened it and showed magnificent bracelets and earrings； she acted astonishment and admiration； kneeling； he laid the treasure at her feet； incredulity and delight were expressed by her looks and gestures； the stranger fastened the bracelets on her arms and the rings in her ears。 It was Eliezer and Rebecca： the camels only were wanting。
The divining party again laid their heads together： apparently they could not agree about the word or syllable the scene illustrated。 Colonel Dent； their spokesman； demanded “the tableau of the whole；” whereupon the curtain again descended。
On its third rising only a portion of the drawing…room was disclosed； the rest being concealed by a screen； hung with some sort of dark and coarse drapery。 The marble basin was removed； in its place； stood a deal table and a kitchen chair： these objects were visible by a very dim light proceeding from a horn lantern； the wax candles being all extinguished。
Amidst this sordid scene； sat a man with his clenched hands resting on his knees； and his eyes bent on the ground。 I knew Mr。 Rochester； though the begrimed face； the disordered dress （his coat hanging loose from one arm； as if it had been almost torn from his back in a scuffle）； the desperate and scowling countenance； the rough； bristling hair might well have disguised him。 As he moved； a chain clanked； to his wrists were attached fetters。
“Bridewell！” exclaimed Colonel Dent； and the charade was solved。
A sufficient interval having elapsed for the performers to resume their ordinary costume； they re…entered the dining…room。 Mr。 Rochester led in Miss Ingram； she was plimenting him on his acting。
“Do you know；” said she； “that； of the three characters； I liked you in the last best？ Oh； had you but lived a few years earlier； what a gallant gentleman…highwayman you would have made！”
“Is all the soot washed from my face？” he asked； turning it towards her。
“Alas！ yes： the more’s the pity！ Nothing could be more being to your plexion than that ruffian’s rouge。”
“You would like a hero of the road then？”
“An English hero of the road would be the next best thing to an Italian bandit； and that could only be surpassed by a Levantine pirate。”
“Well； whatever I am； remember you are my wife； we were married an hour since； in the presence of all these witnesses。” She giggled； and her colour rose。
“Now； Dent；” continued Mr。 Rochester； “it is your turn。” And as the other party withdrew； he and his band took the vacated seats。 Miss Ingram placed herself at her leader’s right hand； the other diviners filled the chairs on each side of him and her。 I did not now watch the actors； I no longer waited with interest for the curtain to rise； my attention was absorbed by the spectators； my eyes； erewhile fixed on the arch； were now irresistibly attracted to the semicircle of chairs。 What charade Colonel Dent and his party played； what word they chose； hoselves； I no longer remember； but I still see the consultation which followed each scene： I see Mr。 Rochester turn to Miss Ingram； and Miss Ingram to him； I see her incline her head towards him； till the jetty curls almost touch his shoulder and wave against his cheek； I hear their mutual whisperings； I recall their interchanged glances； and something even of the feeling roused by the spectacle returns in memory at this moment。
I have told you； reader； that I had learnt to love Mr。 Rochester： I could not unlove him now； merely because I found that he had ceased to notice me—because I might pass hours in his presen