ttablesarranged,furniturerubbed,flowerspiledinvases:bothchambersandsaloonslookedasfreshandbrightashandsakethem.Thehall,too,wasscoured;andthegreatcarvedclock,aswellasthestepsandbanistersofthestaircase,werepolishedtothebrightnessofglass;inthedining-room,thesideboardflashedresplewithplate;inthedrawing-roomandboudoir,vasesofexotiedonallsides.

    Afternoonarrived:Mrs.Fairfaxassumedherbestblacksatingown,hergloves,andhergoldwatch;foritwasherparttoreceivethepany,—toducttheladiestotheirrooms,&c.Adèle,too,wouldbedressed:thoughIthoughtshehadlittleceofbeingintroducedtothepartythatdayatleast.However,topleaseher,IallowedSophietoapparelherinoneofhershort,fullmuslinfrocks.Formyself,Ihadomakeanyge;Ishouldnotbecalledupontoquitmysanctumoftheschoolroom;forasanctumitwasnowbeetome,—“averypleasantrefugeirouble.”

    Ithadbeenamild,serenespringday—ohosedayswhich,towardstheendofMarchorthebeginningofApril,riseshiniheearthasheraldsofsummer.Itwasdrawingtoanendnow;buttheeveningwasevenwarm,andIsatatworkintheschoolroomwiththewindowopen.

    “Itgetslate,”saidMrs.Fairfax,enteringinrustlingstate.“IamgladIordereddinneranhourafterthetimeMr.Rochestermentioned;foritispastsixnow.IhavesentJohndowntothegatestoseeifthereisanythingontheroad:oneseealongwayfromthehedireillcote.”Shewenttothewindow.“Hereheis!”saidshe.“Well,John”(leaningout),“anynews?”

    “They’reing,ma’am,”wastheahey’llbehereintenminutes.”

    Adèleflewtothewindow.Ifollowed,takingcaretostandononeside,sothat,sedbythecurtain,Icouldseewi