werewaitingforyourpeoplewhenyousatonthatstile?”

    “Forwhom,sir?”

    “Forthemeniermoonlighteveningforthem.DidIbreakthroughoneofys,thatyouspreadthatdamnedithecauseway?”

    Ishookmyhead.“ThemeningreenallforsookEnglandahundredyearsago,”saidI,speakingasseriouslyashehaddone.“AndnoteveninHayLahefieldsaboutit,couldyoufindatraceofthem.Idon’tthihersummerorharvest,orwintermoon,willevershiheirrevelsmore.”

    Mrs.Fairfaxhaddroppedherknitting,and,withraisedeyebrows,seemedwwhatsortoftalkthiswas.

    “Well,”resumedMr.Rochester,“ifyoudisows,youmusthavesomesortofkinsfolk:unclesandaunts?”

    “No;Ieversaw.”

    “Andyourhome?”

    “Ihavenone.”

    “Wheredoyourbrothersandsisterslive?”

    “Ihavenobrothersorsisters.”

    “Whoreendedyoutoehere?”

    “Iadvertised,andMrs.Fairfaxansweredmyadvertisement.”

    “Yes,”saidthegoodlady,whonohatgroundwewereupon,“andIamdailythankfulforthechoiceProvideomake.MissEyrehasbeenaninvaluablepaniontome,andakindandcarefulteachertoAdèle.”

    “Don’ttroubleyourselftogiveheracharacter,”returnedMr.Rochester:“eulogiumswillnotbiasme;Ishalljudgeformyself.Shebeganbyfellingmyhorse.”

    “Sir?”saidMrs.Fairfax.

    “Ihavetothankherforthissprain.”

    Thewidowlookedbewildered.

    “MissEyre,haveyoueverlivedinatown?”

    “No,sir.”

    “Haveyouseenmuchsociety?”

    “hepupilsandteachersofLowood,andnowtheihornfield.”

    “Haveyoureadmuch?”

    “Onlysuchbooksascameinmyway;andtheyhavenotbeennumerousorverylearned.”