gled,andhercolourrose.

    “Now,Dent,”tinuedMr.Rochester,“itisyourturn.”Andastheotherpartywithdrew,heandhisbandtookthevacatedseats.MissIngramplacedherselfatherleader’srighthand;theotherdivinersfilledthechairsoneachsideofhimandher.Ididnotnowwatchtheactors;Inolongerwaitedwithiforthecurtaintorise;myattentionwasabsorbedbythespeyeyes,erewhilefixedonthearch,werenowirresistiblyattractedtothesemicircleofchairs.WhatcharadeelDentandhispartyplayed,whatwordtheychose,howtheyacquittedthemselves,Inolongerremember;butIstillseethesultationwhichfollowedeachse:IseeMr.RochesterturntoMissIngram,andMissIngramtohim;Iseeherineherheadtowardshim,tillthejettycurlsalmosttouchhisshoulderandwaveagainsthischeek;Iheartheirmutualwhisperings;Irecalltheirintergedglances;andsomethihefeelingrousedbythespectaclereturnsinmemoryatthismoment.

    Ihavetoldyou,reader,thatIhadlearnttoloveMr.Rochester:Icouldnotunlovehimnow,merelybecauseIfoundthathehadceasedtonoticeme—becauseImightpasshoursinhispresendhewouldneverournhiseyesinmydire—becauseIsawallhisattentionsappropriatedbyagreatlady,whosedtotouchmewiththehemofherrobesasshepassed;who,ifeverherdarkandimperiouseyefellonmebyce,wouldwithdrawitinstantlyasfromaoomeaobservation.Icouldnotunlovehim,becauseIfeltsurehewouldsoonmarrythisverylady—becauseIreaddailyinheraproudsecurityinhisiionsrespegher—becauseIwitnessedhourlyinhimastyleofcourtshipwhich,ifcarelessandchoosingrathertobesoughtthantoseek,wasyet,initsverycarelessness,captivating,andinitsverypride,irresistible.