ationonewouldhaveexpectedtoseemarkingthetenanceofawomanwhohadattemptedmurder,andwhoseintendedvictimhadfollowedherlastnighttoherlair,and(asIbelieved),chargedherwiththecrimeshewishedtoperpetrate.Iwasamazed—founded.Shelookedup,whileIstillgazedather:nostart,noincreaseorfailureofcolourbetrayedemotion,sciousnessofguilt,orfearofdete.Shesaid“Go,Miss,”inherusualphlegmatidbriefmanner;andtakingupanandmoretape,wentonwithhersewing.

    “Iwillputhertosometest,”thoughtI:“suchabsoluteimperabilityispastprehension.”

    “Go,Grace,”Isaid.“Hasanythinghappenedhere?IthoughtIheardtheservantsalltalkingtogetherawhileago.”

    “Onlymasterhadbeenreadinginhisbedlastnight;hefellasleepwithhisdlelit,aainsgoto,fortunately,heawokebeforethebed-clothesorthewood-workcaught,andtrivedtoquenchtheflameswiththewaterintheewer.

    “Astrangeaffair!”Isaid,inalowvoice:then,lookingatherfixedly—“DidMr.Rochesterwakenobody?Didnoonehearhimmove?”

    Sheagainraisedhereyestome,andthistimetherewassomethingofsciousnessintheirexpression.Sheseemedtoexaminemewarily;thensheanswered—

    “Theservantssleepsofaroff,youknow,Miss,theywouldnotbelikelytohear.Mrs.Fairfax’sroomandyoursaretheomaster’s;butMrs.Fairfaxsaidsheheardnothing:whenpeoplegetelderly,theyoftensleepheavy.”Shepaused,andthenadded,withasortofassumedindifferestillinamarkedandsignifittone—“Butyouareyoung,Miss;andIshouldsayalightsleeper:perhapsyoumayhaveheardanoise?”

    “Idid,”saidI,droppingmyvoice,sothatLeah,whowasstillpolishingthepanes,couldnothearme,“an