!Ifsheobjects,tellheritismyparticularwish;andifsheresists,sayIshalleachherincaseofacy.’”

    “Iwillnotgivehimthattrouble,”Ianswered.“Iwillgo,ifermaybe;butIdon’tlikeit.Shallyoubethere,Mrs.Fairfax?”

    “No;Ipleadedoff,andheadmittedmyplea.I’lltellyouhowtomanagesoastoavoidtheembarrassmentofmakingaformalentrance,whichisthemostdisagreeablepartofthebusiness.Youmustgointothedrawing-roomwhileitisempty,beforetheladiesleavethediable;chooseyourseatinanyquietnookyoulike;youstaylongafterthegentlemenein,unlessyouplease:justletMr.Rochesterseeyouarethereandthenslipaway—nobodywillnoticeyou.”

    “Willthesepeopleremainlong,doyouthink?”

    “Perhapstwoorthreeweeks,certainlynotmore.AftertheEasterrecess,SirGeeLynn,whowaslatelyelectedmemberforMillcote,willhavetogouptotownandtakehisseat;IdaresayMr.Rochesterwillapanyhim:itsurprisesmethathehasalreadymadesoprotractedastayatThornfield.”

    ItwaswithsometrepidationthatIperceivedthehourapproachwhenIwastorepairwithmychargetothedrawing-room.Adèlehadbeeninastateofecstasyallday,afterheariobepreseheladiesintheevening;anditwasnottillSophieeheoperationofdressihatshesobereddowheimportaheprocessquicklysteadiedher,andbythetimeshehadhercurlsarrangedinwell-smoothed,droopingclusters,herpinksatinfrockputon,herlongsashtied,andherlacemittensadjusted,shelookedasgraveasanyjudge.owartodisarraire:whenshewasdressed,shesatdemurelydowtlechair,takingcarepreviouslytoliftupthesatinskirtforfearsheshouldcreaseit,andassuredmeshewouldnotstirtheillIwasready.ThisIquickl