ustregardmeasaplottingprofligate—abaseandlowrakewhohasbeensimulatingdisiedloveiodrawyouintoasnaredeliberatelylaid,andstripyouofhonourandrobyouofself-respect.Whatdoyousaytothat?Iseeyousaynothinginthefirstplace,youarefaintstill,andhaveenoughtodotodrawyourbreath;inthesedplace,youotyetacyourselftoaccuseandrevileme,andbesides,theflood-gatesoftearsareopened,andtheywouldrushoutifyouspokemudyouhavenodesiretoexpostulate,toupbraid,tomakease:youarethinkinghowtoact—talkingyousiderisofnouse.Iknowyou—Iamonmyguard.”

    “Sir,Idonotwishtoactagainstyou,”Isaid;andmyunsteadyvoicewarocurtailmysentence.

    “Notinyourseheword,butinmineyouareschemingtodestroyme.YouhaveasgoodassaidthatIamamarriedman—asamarriedmanyouwillshunme,keepoutofmyway:justnowyouhaverefusedtokissme.Youiomakeyourselfapletestraome:toliveuhisroofonlyasAdèle’sgoverness;ifeverIsayafriendlywordtoyou,ifeverafriendlyfeelinginesyouagaintome,youwillsay,—‘Thatmanhadnearlymademehismistress:Imustbeidro;’andidrockyouwillacclybee.”

    Iclearedandsteadiedmyvoicetoreply:“Allisgedaboutme,sir;Imustgetoo—thereisnodoubtofthat;andtoavoidfluctuationsoffeeling,andtinualbatswithrecollesandassociations,thereisonlyoneway—Adèlemusthaveanewgoverness,sir.”

    “Oh,Adèlewillgotoschool—Ihavesettledthatalready;nordoImeantotormentyouwiththehideousassociationsandrecollesofThornfieldHall—thisaccursedplace—thistentofA—thisivault,theghastlinessofliviothelightoftheopensky—thisnarrowstonehell,withitsonerealfiend,worsethanalegionofsuchasweimagine.Jane,yo