IbothwishedandfearedtoseeMr.Rochesteronthedaywhichfollowedthissleeplessnight:Iwaohearhisvoiceagaifearedtomeethiseye.Duringtheearlypartofthem,Imomentarilyexpectedhising;hewasnotinthefrequenthabitofenteringtheschoolroom,buthedidstepinforafewminutessometimes,andIhadtheimpressionthathewassuretovisititthatday.

    Butthempassedjustasusual:nothinghappeointerruptthequietcourseofAdèle’sstudies;onlysoonafterbreakfast,IheardsomebustleintheneighbourhoodofMr.Rochester’schamber,Mrs.Fairfax’svoidLeah’s,andthecook’s—thatis,John’swife—andevenJohn’sowngrufftoherewereexclamationsof“Whatamercymasterwasnotburntinhisbed!”“Itisalwaysdangeroustokeepadlelitatnight.”“Howprovidentialthathehadpresenindtothinkofthewater-jug!”“Iwonderhewakednobody!”“Itistobehopedhewillnottakecoldwithsleepingonthelibrarysofa,”&c.

    Tomufabulationsucceededasoundofscrubbingaingthts;andwhenIpassedtheroom,ingoingdownstairstodinner,Isawthroughtheopendoorthatallwasagaioredtopleteorder;onlythebedwasstrippedofitshangings.Leahstoodupinthewindow-seat,rubbingthepanesofglassdimmedwithsmoke.Iwasabouttoaddressher,forIwishedtoknowwhatathadbeeheaffair:but,onadvang,Isawasedpersoninthechamber—awomansittingonachairbythebedside,andsewingringstonewcurtains.ThatwomanwasnootherthanGracePoole.

    Thereshesat,staidandtaciturn-looking,asusual,inherbrownstuffgown,hercheckapron,whitehandkerchief,andcap.Shewasionherwork,inwhichherwholethoughtsseemedabsorbed:onherhardforehead,andinheronplacefeatures,wasnothiherofthepalenessordesper