egcertainoftheirobeofhisparty.“MissIngramismine,ofcourse,”saidhe:afterwardshehetwoMissesEshton,andMrs.Dent.Helookedatme:Ihappeobenearhim,asIhadbeenfasteningtheclaspofMrs.Dent’sbracelet,whichhadgotloose.

    “Willyouplay?”heasked.Ishookmyhead.Hedidnotinsist,whichIratherfearedhewouldhavedone;heallowedmetoreturomyusualseat.

    Heandhisaidsnowwithdrewbehiaiherparty,whichwasheadedbyelDent,satdownonthecrestofchairs.Ohegentlemen,Mr.Eshton,me,seemedtoproposethatIshouldbeaskedtojointhem;butLadyIngraminstantlyivedthenotion.

    “No,”Iheardhersay:“shelookstoostupidfameofthesort.”

    Ereloinkled,aaindrewup.Withinthearch,thebulkyfigureeeLynn,whomMr.Rochesterhadlikewisechosen,wasseenenvelopedinawhitesheet:beforehim,onatable,layopenalargebook;andathissidestoodAmyEshton,drapedinMr.Rochester’scloak,andholdingabookinherhand.Somebody,unseen,rangthebellmerrily;thenAdèle(whohadinsistedonbeingoneuardian’sparty),boundedforward,scatteringrouhetentsofabasketofflowersshecarriedonherarm.ThenappearedthemagnifitfigureofMissIngram,cladinwhite,alongveilonherhead,andawreathofrosesroundherbrow;byhersidewalkedMr.Rochester,andtogethertheydrewhetable.Theyk;whileMrs.DentandLouisaEshton,dressedalsoinwhite,tookuptheirstationsbehindthem.Aceremonyfollowed,indumbshow,inwhichitwaseasythepantomimeofamarriage.Atitstermination,elDentandhispartysultedinwhispersfortwomihentheelcalledout—

    “Bride!”Mr.Rochesterbowed,aainfell.

    Asiderableintervalelapsedbeforeitagaissedrisingdisplayedamoreelaboratelyp