eyinghisdires.

    “Enough!”hecalledoutinafewminutes.“YouplayAlittle,Isee;likeanylishschool-girl;perhapsratherbetterthanotwell.”

    Iclosedthepianoaurned.Mr.Rochestertinued—“Adèleshowedmesomesketchesthism,whichshesaidwereyours.Idon’tknowwhethertheywereentirelyofyourdoing;probablyamasteraidedyou?”

    “No,indeed!”Iinterjected.

    “Ah!thatprickspride.Well,fetchmeyourportfolio,ifyouvouchforitstentsbeinginal;butdon’tpassyourwordunlessyouarecertain:Ireisepatchwork.”

    “ThenIwillsaynothing,andyoushalljudgeforyourself,sir.”

    Ibroughttheportfoliofromthelibrary.

    “Approachthetable,”saidhe;andIwheeledittohiscouch.AdèleandMrs.Fairfaxdrewoseethepictures.

    “Nocrowding,”saidMr.Rochester:“takethedrawingsfrommyhandasIfinishwiththem;butdon’tpushyourfacesuptomine.”

    Hedeliberatelyscrutinisedeachsketdpainting.Threehelaidaside;theothers,whenhehadexamihem,hesweptfromhim.

    “Takethemofftotheothertable,Mrs.Fairfax,”saidhe,andlookatthemwithAdèle;—you”(glangatme)“resumeyourseat,andanswermyquestions.Iperceivethosepicturesweredonebyonehand:wasthathandyours?”

    “Yes.”

    “Andwhendidyoufindtimetodothem?Theyhavetakenmuchtime,andsomethought.”

    “IdidthemitwovacationsIspentatLowood,whenIhadnootheroccupation.”

    “Wheredidyougetyourcopies?”

    “Outofmyhead.”

    “ThatheadIseenowonyourshoulders?”

    “Yes,sir.”

    “Hasitotherfurnitureofthesamekindwithin?”

    “Ishouldthinkitmayhave:Ishouldhope—better.”

    Hespreadthepicture