xistence?”

    “No;butIscarcelyseewhatMr.Rochesterhastodowiththethemeyouhadintroduced.”

    “Iwastalkingofladiessmilingintheeyesofgentlemen;andoflatesomanysmileshavebeeoMr.Rochester’seyesthattheyoverflowliketwocupsfilledabovethebrim:haveyouneverremarkedthat?”

    “Mr.Rochesterhasarighttoenjoythesocietyofhisguests.”

    “ionabouthisright:buthaveyouneverobservedthat,ofallthetalestoldhereaboutmatrimony,Mr.Rochesterhasbeenfavouredwiththemostlivelyatinuous?”

    “Theeagernessofalistenerquisthetongueofanarrator.”Isaidthisrathertomyselfthantothegipsy,whosestraalk,voice,manner,hadbythistimeedmeinakindofdream.OneuedsentencecamefromherlipsafteraillIgotinvolvedinawebofmystification;andwonderedwhatunseenspirithadbeensittingforweeksbymyheartwatgitswsandtakingrecordofeverypulse.

    “Eagernessofalistener!”repeatedshe:“yes;Mr.Rochesterhassatbythehour,hisearinedtothefasatinglipsthattooksuchdelightiaskofunig;andMr.Rochesterwassowillingtoreceiveandlookedsogratefulforthepastimegivenhim;youhavenoticedthis?”

    “Grateful!Iemberdeteggratitudeinhisface.”

    “Deteg!Youhaveanalysed,then.Andwhatdidyoudetect,ifnotgratitude?”

    Isaidnothing.

    “Youhaveseenlove:haveyounot?—and,lookingforward,youhaveseenhimmarried,andbeheldhisbridehappy?”

    “Humph!ly.Yourwitch’sskillisratheratfaultsometimes.”

    “Whatthedevilhaveyouseen,then?”

    “Nevermind:Icameheretoinquire,nottofess.IsitknownthatMr.Rochesteristobemarried?”

    “Yes;andtothebeautifulMissIngram.”