tthefirst.Ineverseemedinhisway;hedidnottakefitsofchillinghauteur:whemeuedly,theenterseemedwele;hehadalwaysawordandsometimesasmileforme:whensummonedbyformalinvitationtohispresence,IwashonouredbyacordialityofreceptionthatmademefeelIreallypossessedthepowertoamusehim,andthattheseeveningferencesweresoughtasmuchforhispleasureasformybe.

    I,ialkedparativelylittle,butIheardhimtalkwithrelish.Itwashisnaturetobeunicative;helikedtoopentoamindunacquaihthewlimpsesofitssesandways(Idoscorruptsesandwickedways,butsuchasderivedtheirifromthegreatscaleonwhichtheywereacted,thestrangeybywhichtheywerecharacterised);andIhadakeendelightinreceivingthenewideasheoffered,inimaginingthenewpicturesheportrayed,andfollowinghiminthoughtthroughthenewregionshedisclosed,artledortroubledbyonenoxiousallusion.

    Theeaseofhismannerfreedmefrompainfulrestraint:thefriendlyfrankness,ascorrectascordial,withwhichhetreatedme,drewmetohim.Ifeltattimesasifheweremyrelationratherthanmymaster:yetheerioussometimesstill;butIdidnotmindthat;Isawitwashisway.Sohappy,sogratifieddidIbeewiththiserestaddedtolife,thatIceasedtopierkindred:mythincrest-destioenlarge;theblanksofexistencewerefilledup;mybodilyhealthimproved;Igatheredfleshandstrength.

    AndwasMr.Rochesternowuglyinmyeyes?No,reader:gratitude,andmanyassociations,allpleasurableandgenial,madehisfacetheobjectIbestlikedtosee;hispresenaroomwasmorecheeringthanthebrightestfire.YetIhadnottenhisfaults;indeed,Icouldnot,forhebroughtthemfrequentlybeforeme.Heroud,sardonic,harshtoin