nfield.“Wasitknownhowitinated?”Idemanded.

    “Theyguessed,ma’am:theyguessed.Indeed,Ishouldsayitwasascertainedbeyondadoubt.Youarenotperhapsaware,”hetinued,edginghischairalittlehetable,andspeakinglow,“thattherewasalady—a—alunatic,keptinthehouse?”

    “Ihaveheardsomethingofit.”

    “Shetinveryclosefi,ma’am:peopleevenforsomeyearswasnotabsolutelycertainofherexistenoonesawher:theyonlyknewbyrumourthatsuchapersonwasattheHall;andwhoorwhatshewasitwasdifficulttojecture.TheysaidMr.Edwardhadbroughtherfromabroad,andsomebelievedshehadbeenhismistress.Butaqueerthinghappenedayearsince—averyqueerthing.”

    Ifearednowtohearmyownstory.Iendeavouredtorecallhimtothemainfact.

    “Andthislady?”

    “Thislady,ma’am,”heanswered,“turtobeMr.Rochester’swife!Thediscoverywasbroughtaboutiraway.Therewasayounglady,agovertheHall,thatMr.Rochesterfellin—”

    “Butthefire,”Isuggested.

    “I’mingtothat,ma’am—thatMr.Edwardfellih.Theservantssaytheyneversawanybodysomuloveashewas:hewasafterhertinually.Theyusedtowatchhim—servantswill,youknow,ma’am—astoreonherpasteverything:forall,nobodybuthimthoughthersoveryhandsome.Shewasalittlesmallthing,theysay,almostlikeachild.Ineversawhermyself;butI’veheardLeah,thehouse-maid,tellofher.Leahlikedherwellenough.Mr.Rochesterwasaboutforty,andthisgovernessnottwenty;andyousee,whelemenofhisagefallihgirls,theyareoftenlikeasiftheywerebewitched.Well,hewouldmarryher.”

    “Youshalltellmethispartofthestoryaime,”Isaid;“butnoarticularreasonforwishingtohearallaboutthef