r.Rochester,MissIngram,thetwoMissesEshton,andtheiradmirers,wereallbusiedinthegame.Itrequiredsomecetodisturbsoiingaparty;myerrand,however,wasoneIcouldnotdefer,soIapproachedthemasterwherehestoodatMissIngram’sside.SheturnedasIdrewnear,andlookedatmehaughtily:hereyesseemedtodemand,“Whatthecreepiurewantnow?”andwhenIsaid,inalowvoice,“Mr.Rochester,”shemadeamovementasiftemptedtoordermeaway.Irememberherappearahemoment—itwasverygracefulariking:sheworeamrobeofsky-bluecrape;agauzyazurescarfwastwistedinherhair.Shehadbeenallanimationwiththegame,andirritatedpridedidnotlowertheexpressionhtylis.

    “Doesthatpersonwantyou?”sheinquiredofMr.Rochester;andMr.Rochesterturoseewhothe“person”was.Hemadeacuriousgrimaeofhisstrangeandequivocaldemonstrations—threwdownhisdfollowedmefromtheroom.

    “Well,Jane?”hesaid,asherestedhisbackagainsttheschoolroomdoor,whichhehadshut.

    “Ifyouplease,sir,Iwantleaveofabsenceforaweekortwo.”

    “Whattodo?—wheretogo?”

    “Toseeasickladywhohassentforme.”

    “Whatsicklady?—wheredoesshelive?”

    “AtGateshead;in—shire.”

    “-shire?Thatisahundredmilesoff!Whomayshebethatsendsforpeopletoseeherthatdistance?”

    “HernameisReed,sir—Mrs.Reed.”

    “ReedofGateshead?TherewasaReedofGateshead,amagistrate.”

    “Itishiswidow,sir.”

    “Andwhathaveyoutodowithher?Howdoyouknowher?”

    “Mr.Reedwasmyuncle—mymother’sbrother.”

    “Thedeucehewas!Youoldmethatbefore:youalwayssaidyouhadions.”

    “wouldownme,sir.Mr.Reedisdead,andhiswifecastmeoff