,asIrose,deemingituselesstotinueadiscoursewhichwasalldarkome;and,besides,sensiblethatthecharayinterlocutorwasbeyondmypeion;atleast,beyonditspresentreadfeelingtheuainty,thevaguesenseofinsecurity,whichapaniesaviofignorance.

    “Whereareyougoing?”

    “ToputAdèletobed:itispastherbedtime.”

    “Youareafraidofme,becauseItalklikeaSphynx.”

    “Yuageisenigmatical,sir:butthoughIambewildered,Iamcertainlynotafraid.”

    “Youareafraid—yourself-lovedreadsablunder.”

    “InthatsenseIdofeelapprehensive—Ihavenowishtotalknonsense.”

    “Ifyoudid,itwouldbeinsuchagrave,quietmanner,Ishouldmistakeitforsense.Doyouneverlaugh,MissEyre?Don’ttroubleyourselftoanswer—Iseeyoulaughrarely;butyoulaughverymerrily:believeme,youarenotnaturallyaustere,anymorethanIamnaturallyvicious.TheLowoodstraintstillgstoyousomewhat;trollingyourfeatures,mufflingyourvoidrestrigyourlimbs;andyoufearinthepresenanandabrother—orfather,ormaster,orwhatyouwill—tosmiletoogaily,speaktoofreely,ormovetooquickly:but,ihinkyouwilllearuralwithme,asIfinditimpossibletobeventionalwithyou;andthenyourlooksandmovementswillhavemorevivacityandvarietythantheydareoffernow.Iseeatintervalstheglanceofacurioussortofbirdthroughtheclose-setbarsofacage:avivid,restless,resolutecaptiveisthere;wereitbutfree,itwouldsoarcloud-high.Youarestillbentongoing?”

    “Ithasstrue,sir.”

    “Nevermind,—waitaminute:Adèleisogotobedyet.Myposition,MissEyre,withmybacktothefire,andmyfacetotheroom,favoursobservation.Whiletalkingtoyou,Ihavealsooccasiona