ternoonwaswildandsnowy,andwepasseditintheschoolroom.AtdarkIallowedAdèletoputawaybooksandwork,andtorundownstairs;for,fromtheparativesilencebelow,andfromthecessationofappealstothedoor-bell,IjecturedthatMr.Rochesterwasnowatliberty.Leftalone,Iwalkedtothewindow;butnothingwastobeseenthewilightandsnowflakestogetherthiedtheair,andhidtheveryshrubsonthelawdowainabacktothefireside.

    IntheclearembersIwastragaview,notunlikeapictureIrememberedtohaveseenofthecastleofHeidelberg,ontheRhine,whenMrs.Fairfaxcamein,breakingupbyherentrahefierymosaicIhadbeenpiergtogether,andscatteringtoosomeheavyunwelethoughtsthatwerebeginningtonmysolitude.

    “Mr.Rochesterwouldbegladifyouandyourpupilwouldtaketeawithhiminthedrawing-roomthisevening,”saidshe:“hehasbeensomugagedalldaythathecouldnotasktoseeyoubefore.”

    “Whenishistea-time?”Iinquired.

    “Oh,atsixo’clock:hekeepsearlyhoursinthetry.Youhadbettergeyourfroow;Iwillgowithyouandfastenit.Hereisadle.”

    “Isitnecessarytogemyfrock?”

    “Yes,youhadbetter:IalwaysdressfortheeveningwhenMr.Rochesterishere.”

    Thisadditionalceremonyseemedsomewhatstately;however,Irepairedtomyroom,and,withMrs.Fairfax’said,replacedmyblackstuffdressbyoneofblacksilk;thebestandtheonlyadditionaloneIhad,exceptoneoflightgrey,whimyLowoodnotionsofthetoilette,Ithoughttoofiobeworn,exceptonfirst-rateoccasions.

    “Youwantabrooch,”saidMrs.Fairfax.IhadasilepearlorwhichMissTemplegavemeasapartingkeepsake:Iputiton,andthedownstairs.UnusedasIwasters,itwasratheratrialtoapp