findIhavefallenintoabsurdity,Ishalltrytiveyou;butitwasnht.”

    “Oh,youhavebeenverycorrect—verycareful,verysensible.”

    Ireflected,andthought,onthewhole,Ihad.Itwasafort;but,indeed,Ihadbeenonmyguardalmostfromthebeginningoftheinterview.SomethingofmasqueradeIsuspected.Iknewgipsiesandfortuellersdidnotexpressthemselvesasthisseemingoldwomanhadexpressedherself;besidesIhadnotedherfeignedvoice,heraocealherfeatures.ButmymindhadbeenrunningonGracePoole—thatlivingenigma,thatmysteryofmysteries,asIsideredher.IhadhoughtofMr.Rochester.

    “Well,”saidhe,“whatareyoumusingabout?Whatdoesthatgravesmilesignify?”

    “Wonderandself-gratulation,sir.Ihaveyourpermissioirenow,Isuppose?”

    “No;stayamoment;andtellmewhatthepeopleinthedrawing-roomyonderaredoing.”

    “Discussingthegipsy,Idaresay.”

    “Sitdowmehearwhattheysaidaboutme.”

    “Ihadbetternotstaylong,sir;itmustbeneareleveno’clock.Oh,areyouaware,Mr.Rochester,thatastrangerhasarrivedheresinceyouleftthism?”

    “Astranger!—no;whoitbe?Iexpeoone;ishegone?”

    “No;hesaidhehadknownyoulong,andthathecouldtakethelibertyofinstallinghimselfheretillyoureturned.”

    “Thedevilhedid!Didhegivehisname?”

    “HisnameisMason,sir;andheesfromtheWestIndies;fromSpanishTown,inJamaica,Ithink.”

    Mr.Rochesterwasstandingnearme;hehadtakenmyhand,asiftoleadmetoachair.AsIspokehegavemywristavulsivegrip;thesmileonhislipsfroze:apparentlyaspasmcaughthisbreath.

    “Mason!—theWestIndies!”hesaid,ioneonemightfancyaspeakingautomatontoe