“Shortly?”

    “Appearanceswouldwarrantthatclusion:and,nodoubt(though,withanaudacitythatwantschastisingoutofyou,youseemtoquestionit),theywillbeasuperlativelyhappypair.Hemustlovesuchahandsome,ty,aplishedlady;andprobablysheloveshim,or,ifnothisperson,atleasthispurse.IknowshesiderstheRochesterestateeligibletothelastdegree;though(Godpardooldhersomethingonthatpointaboutanhowhichmadeherlookwrave:theersofhermouthfellhalfaninch.Iwouldadviseherblackavicedsuitortolookout:ifanotheres,withalongerorclearerrent-roll,—he’sdished—”

    “But,mother,IdidnotetohearMr.Rochester’sfortune:Icametohearmyown;andyouhavetoldmenothingofit.”

    “Yourfortuneisyetdoubtful:whenIexaminedyourfaetraittradictedanother.cehasmetedyouameasureofhappihatIknow.IkbeforeIcameherethisevening.Shehaslaiditcarefullyononesideforyou.Isawherdoit.Itdependsonyourselftostretchoutyourhand,andtakeitup:butwhetheryouwilldoso,istheproblemIstudy.Kneelagainontherug.”

    “Don’tkeepmelong;thefirescorchesme.”

    Ik.Shedidnotstooptowardsme,butonlygazed,leaningbaherchair.Shebeganmuttering,—

    “Theflameflickersiheeyeshineslikedew;itlookssoftandfulloffeeling;itsmilesatmyjargon:itissusceptible;impressionfollowsimpressihitsclearsphere;whereitceasestosmile,itissad;anunsciouslassitudeweighsonthelid:thatsignifiesmelancholyresultingfromloneliness.Itturnsfromme;itwillnotsufferfurtherscrutiny;itseemstodeny,byamogglahetruthofthediscoveriesIhavealreadymade,—todisownthechargebothofsensibilityandchagrin:itsprideandreserveonlyfirmme