omentsheseesme:youbeataboutthebush.”

    “BecauseIhavelessfidenmydesertsthanAdèlehas:sheprefertheclaimofoldacquaintandtherighttooof;forshesaysyouhavealwaysbeeninthehabitofgivingherplaythings;butifIhadtomakeoutacaseIshouldbepuzzled,sinceIamastranger,andhavedohilemetoanaowledgment.”

    “Oh,don’tfallbaover-modesty!IhaveexaminedAdèle,andfindyouhavetakepainswithher:sheisnht,shehasnotalents;yetinashorttimeshehasmademuchimprovement.”

    “Sir,youhavenowgivenmemy‘cadeau;’Iamobligedtoyou:itisthemeedteachersmostcovet—praiseoftheirpupils’progress.”

    “Humph!”saidMr.Rochester,aookhisteainsilence.

    “etothefire,”saidthemaster,wheraywastakenaway,andMrs.Fairfaxhadsettledintoaerwithherknitting;whileAdèlewasleadihehandroundtheroom,showihebeautifulbooksandorsonthesolesandchiffonnieres.Weobeyed,asindutybound;AdèlewaakeaseatonmykshewasorderedtoamuseherselfwithPilot.

    “Youhavebeenresidentinmyhousethreemonths?”

    “Yes,sir.”

    “Andyoucamefrom—?”

    “FromLowoodschool,in—shire.”

    “Ah!acharitable.Howlongwereyouthere?”

    “Eightyears.”

    “Eightyears!youmustbetenaciousoflife.Ithoughthalfthetimeinsuchaplacewouldhavedoneupanystitution!Nowonderyouhaveratherthelookofanotherworld.Imarvelledwhereyouhadgotthatsortofface.WhenyoueinHayLanight,Ithoughtunatablyoffairytales,andhadhalfamindtodemaheryouhadbewitchedmyhorse:Iamnotsureyet.Whoareyourparents?”

    “Ihavenone.”

    “Noreverhad,Isuppose:doyourememberthem?”

    “No.”

    “Ithoughtnot.Andsoyou