earthusformallysummonedinMr.Rochester’spresence.IletMrs.Fairfaxprecedemeintothedining-room,ainhershadeaswecrossedthatapartment;and,passingthearch,whosecurtainwasnowdropped,eheelegantrecessbeyond.

    Twowaxdlesstoodlightedoable,andtwooelpiece;baskinginthelightaofasuperbfire,layPilot—Adèleknearhim.HalfreedonacouchappearedMr.Rochester,hisfootsupportedbythecushion;hewaslookingatAdèleandthedog:thefireshonefullonhisface.Ikravellerwithhisbroadayeyebrows;hissquareforehead,madesquarerbythehorizontalsweepofhisblackhair.Ireisedhisdecisivenose,moreremarkableforcharacterthay;hisfullnostrils,denoting,Ithought,choler;hisgrimmouth,,andjaw—yes,allthreewereverygrim,andnomistake.Hisshape,nowdivestedofcloak,Iperceivedharmonisedinsquarenesswithhisphysiognomy:Isupposeitwasagoodfigureihletiseoftheterm—broadchestedandthinflahoughhertallnraceful.

    Mr.Rochestermusthavebeenawareoftheentranrs.Fairfaxandmyself;butitappearedhewasnotinthemoodtonoticeus,forheneverliftedhisheadasroached.

    “HereisMissEyre,sir,”saidMrs.Fairfax,inherquietway.Hebowed,stillnottakinghiseyesfromthegroupofthedogandchild.

    “LetMissEyrebeseated,”saidhe:andtherewassomethingintheforcedstiffbow,intheimpatieformaltone,whichseemedfurthertoexpress,“WhatthedeuceisittomewhetherMissEyrebethereornot?AtthismomentIamnotdisposedtoaccosther.”

    Isatdownquitedisembarrassed.Areceptionoffinishedpolitenesswouldprobablyhavefusedme:Icouldnothavereturnedorrepaiditbyansweringgradeleganypart;butharshcapricelaidmeundernoobligation;