Mr.Rochester,itseems,bythesurgeon’sorders,wenttobedearlythatnight;nordidherisesoom.Whenhedidedown,itwastoattendtobusiness:hisagentandsomeofhistenantswerearrived,andwaitingtospeakwithhim.

    AdèleandIhadnowtovacatethelibrary:itwouldbeindailyrequisitionasareception-roomforcallers.Afirewaslitinanapartmentupstairs,andthereIcarriedourbooks,andarraforthefutureschoolroom.IdisedinthecourseofthemthatThornfieldHallwasagedplaolongersilentasachurch,itechoedeveryhourortwotoaknockatthedoor,oragofthebell;steps,too,oftentraversedthehall,andnewvoicesspokeindifferentkeysbelow;arillfromtheouterworldwasflowingthroughit;ithadamaster:formypart,Ilikeditbetter.

    Adèlewasoteachthatday;shecouldnotapply:shekeptrunningtothedoorandlookihebaoseeifshecouldgetaglimpseofMr.Rochester;thensheedpretextstogodownstairs,inorder,asIshrewdlysuspected,tovisitthelibrary,whereIknewshewasnotwahen,whenIgotalittleangry,andmadehersitstill,shetialkincessantlyofher“ami,MonsieurEdouardFairfaxdeRochester,”asshedubbedhim(Ihadnotbeforeheardhisprenomens),andtojectureresentshehadbroughther:foritappearshehadintimatedthenightbefore,thatwhenhisluggagecamefromMillcote,therewouldbefoundamongstitalittleboxinwhosetentsshehada.

    “Etceladoitsignifier,”saidshe,“qu’ilyauralededansuncadeaupourmoi,etpeut-êtrepourvousaussi,mademoiselle.Monsieuraparledevous:ilm’ademandelenomdemagouversiellepasuepersonne,assezmiunpeupale.J’aiditqu’oui:carc’estvrai,-cepas,mademoiselle?”

    IandmypupildinedasusualinMrs.Fairfax’sparlour;theaf