MerrydaysweretheseatThornfieldHall;andbusydaystoo:howdifferentfromthefirstthreemonthsofstillness,monotony,andsolitudeIhadpassedbehitsroof!Allsadfeelingsseemednowdrivenfromthehouse,allgloomyassociationsfotten:therewaslifeeverywhere,movementalldaylong.Youcouldnotnowtraversethegallery,oncesohushed,erthefrontchambers,oenantless,withoutenteringasmartlady’s-maidoradandyvalet.

    Thekit,thebutler’spantry,theservants’hall,theentrancehall,wereequallyalive;andthesaloonswereovoidandstillwhentheblueskyandhalsunshihegenialsprihercalledtheiroctsoutintothegrounds.Evehatweatherwasbroken,andtinuousraiinforsomedays,nodampseemedcastoverenjoyment:indooramusementsonlybecamemorelivelyandvaried,insequehestopputtooutdaiety.

    Iwonderedwhattheyweregoingtodothefirsteveningageofeairoposed:theyspokeof“playingcharades,”butinmyignoranceIdidnotuaerm.Theservantswerecalledin,thedining-roomtableswheeledaway,thelightsotherwisedisposed,thechairsplaasemicircleoppositethearch.WhileMr.Rochesterahergentlemeedthesealterations,theladieswererunningupanddownstairsringingfortheirmaids.Mrs.Fairfaxwassummoogiveinformationrespegtheresourcesofthehouseinshawls,dresses,draperiesofanykind;aainwardrobesofthethirdstoreywereransacked,andtheirtents,intheshapeofbrocadedandhoopedpetticoats,satinsacques,blackmodes,lacelappets,&c.,werebroughtdowninarmfulsbytheabigails;theionwasmade,andsuchthingsaswerechosenwerecarriedtotheboudoirwithinthedrawing-room.

    Meantime,Mr.Rochesterhadagainsummoheladiesroundhim,andwassel