orary,adetquiesderthefreakofmanner,gavemetheadvantage.Besides,theetricityoftheproceedingiquant:Ifeltiedtoseehowhewouldgoon.

    Hewentonasastatuewould,thatis,heherspokenormoved.Mrs.Fairfaxseemedtothinkitnecessarythatsomeoneshouldbeamiable,andshebegantotalk.Kindly,asusual—and,asusual,rathertrite—shedoledwithhimonthepressureofbusinesshehadhadallday;ontheannoyamusthavebeentohimwiththatpainfulsprain:thensheendedhispatiendperseverangoingthroughwithit.

    “Madam,Ishouldlikesometea,”wasthesolerejoindershegot.Shehastethebell;ahetraycame,sheproceededtethecups,spoons,&c.,withassiduouscelerity.IandAdèlewenttothetable;butthemasterdidnotleavehiscouch.

    “WillyouhandMr.Rochester’scup?”saidMrs.Fairfaxtome;“Adèlemightperhapsspillit.”

    Ididasrequested.Ashetookthecupfrommyhand,Adèle,thinkingthemomentpropitiousformakingarequestinmyfavour,criedout—

    “-cepas,monsieur,qu’ilyauncadeaupourMademoiselleEyredansvotrepetitcoffre?”

    “Whotalksofcadeaux?”saidhegruffly.“Didyouexpectapresent,MissEyre?Areyoufondofpresents?”andhesearchedmyfacewitheyesthatIsawweredark,irate,andpierg.

    “Ihardlyknow,sir;Ihavelittleexperiehem:theyaregenerallythoughtpleasantthings.”

    “Generallythought?Butwhatdoyouthink?”

    “Ishouldbeobligedtotaketime,sir,beforeIcouldgiveyouananswerworthyofyouracceptance:apresenthasmanyfacestoit,hasitnot?andoneshouldsiderall,beforepronounganopinionastoitsnature.”

    “MissEyre,youarenotsounsophisticatedasAdèle:shedemandsa‘cadeau,’clamorously,them