rofParis,andamuseyourselfwithdisembowellingit,”saidthedeepandrathersarcasticvoir.Rochester,proceedingfromthedepthsofanimmenseeasy-chairatthefireside.“Andmind,”hetinued,“don’tbothermewithaailsoftheanatomicalprocess,oranynoticeoftheditionoftheentrails:letyouroperationbeductedinsileiens-toitranquille,enfant;prends-tu?”

    Adèleseemedscarcelytohewarning—shehadalreadyretiredtoasofawithhertreasure,andwasbusyuntyingthecordwhichsecuredthelid.Havingremovedthisimpediment,andliftedcertainsilveryenvelopesoftissuepaper,shemerelyexclaimed—

    “Ohciel!Quec’estbeau!”andthenremainedabsorbediatiplation.

    “IsMissEyrethere?”nowdemahemaster,halfrisingfromhisseattolookroundtothedoor,nearwhichIstillstood.

    “Ah!well,eforward;beseatedhere.”Hedrewachairnearhisown.“Iamnotfondoftheprattleofchildreinued;“for,oldbachelorasIam,Ihavenopleasantassociationsectedwiththeirlisp.Itwouldbeintolerabletometopassawholeeveningtête-à-têtewithabrat.Don’tdrawthatchairfartheroff,MissEyre;sitdowlywhereIplacedit—ifyouplease,thatis.foundthesecivilities!Itinuallyfetthem.NordoIparticularlyaffectsimple-mindedoldladies.By-the-bye,Imusthavemineinmind;itwon’tdotoher;sheisaFairfax,orwedtoone;andbloodissaidtobethickerthanwater.”

    Herang,achedaninvitationtoMrs.Fairfax,whosoonarrived,knitting-basketinhand.

    “Goodevening,madam;Isenttoyouforacharitablepurpose.IhaveforbiddenAdèletotalktomeaboutherpresents,andsheisburstingwithrepletion:havethegoodoserveherasauditressandinterlocutrice;itwillbeohemostbenevole