ytoobserveandlistentotheprincipalactors:for,afterall,Mr.Rochesterand—becausecloselyectedwithhim—MissIngramwerethelifeandsouloftheparty.Ifhewasabsentfromtheroomanhour,aperceptibledulnessseemedtostealoverthespiritsofhisguests;andhisre-entrancewassuretogiveafreshimpulsetothevivacityofversation.

    ThewantofhisanimatinginfluenceappearedtobepeculiarlyfeltohathehadbeensummooMillcoteonbusiness,andwasnotlikelytoreturntilllate.Theafternoonwaswet:awalkthepartyhadproposedtotaketoseeagipsycamp,latelypitchedonaonbeyondHay,wassequentlydeferred.Someofthegentlemenweregohestables:theyoungeroogetherwiththeyoungerladies,wereplayingbilliardsinthebilliard-room.ThedowagersIngramandLynnsoughtsolaaquietgameatcards.Blangram,afterhavingrepelled,bysupercilioustaciturnity,someeffortsofMrs.DentandMrs.Eshtontodrawherintoversation,hadfirstmurmuredoversomesealtunesandairsonthepiano,andthen,havichedanovelfromthelibrary,hadflungherselfinhaughtylistlessnessonasofa,andpreparedtobeguile,bythespelloffi,thetedioushoursofabseheroomandthehouseweresilent:onlynowahemerrimentofthebilliard-playerswasheardfromabove.

    Itwasvergingondusk,andtheclockhadalreadygivenwarningofthehourtodressfordinner,whenlittleAdèle,whokbymeinthedrawing-roomwindow-seat,suddenlyexclaimed—

    “Voile,MonsieurRochester,quirevient!”

    Iturned,andMissIngramdartedforwardsfromhersofa:theothers,too,lookedupfromtheirseveraloccupations;foratthesametimeagofwheelsandasplashingtrampofhorse-hoofsbecameaudibleogravel.Apost-chaiseroag.