suchaplacideyeandsmile!”

    Aomygreatrelief,Mr.HenryLynnsummohemtotheothersideoftheroom,tosettlesomepointaboutthedeferredexcursiontoHayon.

    Iwasnowabletotratemyattentiononthegroupbythefire,andIpresentlygatheredthatthenew-erwascalledMr.Mason;thenIlearhathewasbutjustarrivedinEngland,andthathecamefromsomehottry:whichwasthereason,doubtless,hisfacewassosallow,andthathesatsohehearth,andworeasurtoutinthehouse.PresentlythewordsJamaica,Kingston,SpanishTown,indicatedtheWestIndiesashisresidenditwaswithnolittlesurpriseIgathered,erelong,thathehadtherefirstseenandbeeacquaihMr.Rochester.Hespokeofhisfriend’sdislikeoftheburnis,thehurries,andrainyseasonsofthatregion.IknewMr.Rochesterhadbeenatraveller:Mrs.Fairfaxhadsaidso;butIthoughtthetiofEuropehadboundedhiswanderings;tillnowIhadneverheardahintgivenofvisitstomoredistantshores.

    Ithesethings,whenani,andasomewhatuedone,brokethethreadofmymusings.Mr.Mason,shiveringassomeonecedtoopenthedoor,askedformorecoaltobeputonthefire,whichhadburntoutitsflame,thoughitsmassofderstillshoahefootmanwhhtthecoal,ingoingout,stoppednearMr.Eshton’schair,andsaidsomethingtohiminalowvoice,ofwhichIheardonlythewords,“oldwoman,”—“quitetroublesome.”

    “Tellhersheshallbeputiocksifshedoesnottakeherselfoff,”repliedthemagistrate.

    “No—stop!”interruptedelDent.“Don’tsendheraway,Eshton;wemightturhingtoat;bettersulttheladies.”Andspeakingaloud,hetinued—“Ladies,youtalkedofgoingtoHayontovisitthegipsycamp;SamheresaysthatoheoldMotherBunchesisintheservants’hallat