wordorsyllabletheseillustrated.elDent,theirspokesman,demahetableauofthewhole;”whereupoainagaindesded.

    Onitsthirdrisingonlyaportionofthedrawing-roomwasdisclosed;therestbeingcealedbyas,hungwithsomesortofdarkandcoarsedrapery.Themarblebasinwasremoved;initsplace,stoodadealtableandakitchair:theseobjectswerevisiblebyaverydimlightproceedingfromahornlahewaxdlesbeingallextinguished.

    Amidstthissordidse,satamanwithhischedhaingonhisknees,andhiseyesbentontheground.IknewMr.Rochester;thoughthebegrimedface,thedisordereddress(hiscoathangingloosefromonearm,asifithadbeenalmosttornfromhisbaascuffle),thedesperateandscowlingteherough,bristlinghairmightwellhavedisguisedhim.Ashemoved,aked;tohiswristswereattachedfetters.

    “Bridewell!”exclaimedelDent,andthecharadewassolved.

    Asuffitintervalhavingelapsedfortheperformerstoresumetheirordinarye,theyre-ehedining-room.Mr.RochesterledinMissIngram;shewasplimentinghimonhisag.

    “Doyouknow,”saidshe,“that,ofthethreecharacters,Ilikedyouibest?Oh,hadyoubutlivedafewyearsearlier,whatagallaleman-highwaymanyouwouldhavemade!”

    “Isallthesootwashedfrommyface?”heasked,turningittowardsher.

    “Alas!yes:themore’sthepity!Nothingcouldbemorebeingtoyourplexionthanthatruffian’srouge.”

    “Youwouldlikeaherooftheroadthen?”

    “AnEnglishherooftheroadwouldbethebestthingtoanItalianbandit;andthatcouldonlybesurpassedbyaLevantinepirate.”

    “Well,whateverIam,rememberyouaremywife;weweremarriedanhoursihepresenceofallthesewitnesses.”Shegig