veningStaryoumusthaveseeninadream.Howcouldyoumakethemlooksoclear,aatallbrilliant?fortheplaabovequellstheirrays.Andwhatmeaningisthatintheirsolemh?Andwhotaughtyoutopaintwind.Thereisahighgaleinthatsky,andonthishill-top.WheredidyouseeLatmos?ForthatisLatmos.There!putthedrawingsaway!”

    Ihadscarcetiedthestringsoftheportfolio,when,lookingathiswatch,hesaidabruptly—

    “Itisnineo’clock:whatareyouabout,MissEyre,toletAdèlesitupsolong?Takehertobed.”

    Adèlewenttokisshimbeforequittingtheroom:heehecaress,butscarcelyseemedtorelishitmorethanPilotwouldhavedone,norsomuch.

    “Iwishyouallgood-night,now,”saidhe,makingamovementofthehandtowardsthedoor,ihathewastiredofourpany,andwishedtodismissus.Mrs.Fairfaxfoldedupherknitting:Itookmyportfolio:wecurtseyedtohim,receivedafrigidbowiurn,andsowithdrew.

    “YousaidMr.Rochesterwasnotstrikinglypeculiar,Mrs.Fairfax,”Iobserved,whenIrejoinedherinherroom,afterputtingAdèletobed.

    “Well,ishe?”

    “Ithinkso:heisverygefulandabrupt.”

    “True:nodoubthemayappearsoter,butIamsoacedtohismanner,Ihinkofit;andthen,ifhehaspeculiaritiesoftemper,allowanceshouldbemade.”

    “Why?”

    “Partlybecauseitishisnature—andweoneofushelpournature;andpartlybecausehehaspainfulthoughts,nodoubt,toharasshim,andmakehisspiritsunequal.”

    “Whatabout?”

    “Familytroubles,forohing.”

    “Buthehasnofamily.”

    “Notnow,buthehashad—or,atleast,relatives.Helosthiselderbrotherafewyearssince.”

    “Hiselderbrother?”

    “Yes.ThepresentMr.