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Chapter13
Mr.Rochester,itseems,bythesurgeon’sorders,wenttobedearlythatnight;nordidherisesoonnextmorning.Whenhedidcomedown,itwastoattendtobusiness:hisagentandsomeofhistenantswerearrived,andwaitingtospeakwithhim.
AdeleandIhadnowtovacatethelibrary:itwouldbeindailyrequisitionasareception-roomforcallers.Afirewaslitinanapartmentupstairs,andthereIcarriedourbooks,andarrangeditforthefutureschoolroom.IdiscernedinthecourseofthemorningthatThornfieldHallwasachangedplace:nolongersilentasachurch,itechoedeveryhourortwotoaknockatthedoor,oraclangofthebell;steps,too,oftentraversedthehall,andnewvoicesspokeindifferentkeysbelow;arillfromtheouterworldwasflowingthroughit;ithadamaster:formypart,Ilikeditbetter.
Adelewasnoteasytoteachthatday;shecouldnotapply:shekeptrunningtothedoorandlookingoverthebanisterstoseeifshecouldgetaglimpseofMr.Rochester;thenshecoinedpretextstogodownstairs,inorder,asIshrewdlysuspected,tovisitthelibrary,whereIknewshewasnotwanted;then,whenIgotalittleangry,andmadehersitstill,shecontinuedtotalkincessantlyofher“ami,MonsieurEdouardFairfaxDERochester,”asshedubbedhim(Ihadnotbeforeheardhisprenomens),andtoconjecturewhatpresentshehadbroughther:foritappearshehadintimatedthenightbefore,thatwhenhisluggagecamefrom
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Millcote,therewouldbefoundamongstitalittleboxinwhosecontentsshehadaninterest.
“Etceladoitsignifier,”saidshe,“qu’ilyauralededansuncadeaupourmoi,etpeut-etrepourvousaussi,mademoiselle.Monsieuraparledevous:ilm’ademandelenomdemagouvernante,etsiellen’etaitpasunepetitepersonne,assezminceetunpeupale.J’aiditqu’oui:carc’estvrai,n’est-cepas,mademoiselle?”
IandmypupildinedasusualinMrs.Fairfax’sparlour;theafternoonwaswildandsnowy,andwepasseditintheschoolroom.AtdarkIallowedAdeletoputawaybooksandwork,andtorundownstairs;for,fromthecomparativesilencebelow,andfromthecessationofappealstothedoor-bell,IconjecturedthatMr.Rochesterwasnowatliberty.Leftalone,Iwalkedtothewindow;butnothingwastobeseenthence:twilightandsnowflakestogetherthickenedtheair,andhidtheveryshrubsonthelawn.Iletdownthecurtainandwentbacktothefireside.
IntheclearembersIwastracingaview,notunlikeapictureIrememberedtohaveseenofthecastleofHeidelberg,ontheRhine,whenMrs.Fairfaxcamein,breakingupbyherentrancethefierymosaicIhadbeenpiercingtogether,andscatteringtoosomeheavyunwelcomethoughtsthatwerebeginningtothrongonmysolitude.
“Mr.Rochesterwouldbegladifyouandyourpupilwouldtaketeawithhiminthedrawing-roomthis
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evening,”saidshe:“hehasbeensomuchengagedall
daythathecouldnotasktoseeyoubefore.”
“Whenishistea-time?”Iinquired.
“Oh,atsixo’clock:hekeepsearlyhoursinthecountry.Youhadbetterchangeyourfrocknow;Iwillgowith
youandfastenit.Hereisacandle.”
“Isitnecessarytochangemyfrock?”
“Yes,youhadbetter:IalwaysdressfortheeveningwhenMr.Rochesterishere.”
Thisadditionalceremonyseemedsomewhatstately;however,Irepairedtomyroom,and,withMrs.Fairfax’said,replacedmyblackstuffdressbyoneofblacksilk;thebestandtheonlyadditionaloneIhad,exceptoneoflightgrey,which,inmyLowoodnotionsofthetoilette,Ithoughttoofinetobeworn,exceptonfirst-rateoccasions.
“Youwantabrooch,”saidMrs.Fairfax.IhadasinglelittlepearlornamentwhichMissTemplegavemeasapartingkeepsake:Iputiton,andthenwewentdownstairs.UnusedasIwastostrangers,itwasratheratrialtoappearthusformallysummonedinMr.Rochester’spresence.IletMrs.Fairfaxprecedemeintothedining-room,andkeptinhershadeaswecrossedthatapartment;and,passingthearch,whosecurtainwasnowdropped,enteredtheelegantrecessbeyond.
Twowaxcandlesstoodlightedonthetable,andtwoonthemantelpiece;baskinginthelightandheatofa
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superbfire,layPilot—Adelekneltnearhim.HalfreclinedonacouchappearedMr.Rochester,hisfootsupportedbythecushion;hewaslookingatAdeleandthedog:thefireshonefullonhisface.Iknewmytravellerwithhisbroadandjettyeyebrows;hissquareforehead,madesquarerbythehorizontalsweepofhisblackhair.Irecognisedhisdecisivenose,moreremarkableforcharacterthanbeauty;hisfullnostrils,denoting,Ithought,choler;hisgrimmouth,chin,andjaw—yes,allthreewereverygrim,andnomistake.Hisshape,nowdivestedofcloak,Iperceivedharmonisedinsquarenesswithhisphysiognomy:Isupposeitwasagoodfigureintheathleticsenseoftheterm—broadchestedandthinflanked,thoughneithertallnorgraceful.
Mr.RochestermusthavebeenawareoftheentranceofMrs.Fairfaxandmyself;butitappearedhewasnotinthemoodtonoticeus,forheneverliftedhisheadasweapproached.
“HereisMissEyre,sir,”saidMrs.Fairfax,inherquietway.Hebowed,stillnottakinghiseyesfromthegroupofthedogandchild.
“LetMissEyrebeseated,”saidhe:andtherewassomethingintheforcedstiffbow,intheimpatientyetformaltone,whichseemedfurthertoexpress,“WhatthedeuceisittomewhetherMissEyrebethereornot?AtthismomentIamnotdisposedtoaccosther.”
Isatdownquitedisembarrassed.Areceptionoffinishedpolitenesswouldprobablyhaveconfusedme:Icould
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nothavereturnedorrepaiditbyansweringgraceandeleganceonmypart;butharshcapricelaidmeundernoobligation;onthecontrary,adecentquiescence,underthefreakofmanner,gavemetheadvantage.Besides,theeccentricityoftheproceedingwaspiquant:Ifeltinterestedtoseehowhewouldgoon.
Hewentonasastatuewould,thatis,heneitherspokenormoved.Mrs.Fairfaxseemedtothinkitnecessarythatsomeoneshouldbeamiable,andshebegantotalk.Kindly,asusual—and,asusual,rathertrite—shecondoledwithhimonthepressureofbusinesshehadhadallday;ontheannoyanceitmusthavebeentohimwiththatpainfulsprain:thenshecommendedhispatienceandperseveranceingoingthroughwithit.
“Madam,Ishouldlikesometea,”wasthesolerejoindershegot.Shehastenedtoringthebell;andwhenthetraycame,sheproceededtoarrangethecups,spoons,&c.,withassiduouscelerity.IandAdelewenttothetable;butthemasterdidnotleavehiscouch.
“WillyouhandMr.Rochester’scup?”saidMrs.Fairfaxtome;“Adelemightperhapsspillit.”
Ididasrequested.Ashetookthecupfrommyhand,Adele,thinkingthemomentpropitiousformakingarequestinmyfavour,criedout-
“N’est-cepas,monsieur,qu’ilyauncadeaupourMademoiselleEyredansvotrepetitcoffre?”
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“Whotalksofcadeaux?”saidhegruffly.“Didyouexpectapresent,MissEyre?Areyoufondofpresents?”andhesearchedmyfacewitheyesthatIsawweredark,irate,andpiercing.
“Ihardlyknow,sir;Ihavelittleexperienceofthem:theyaregenerallythoughtpleasantthings.”
“Generallythought?ButwhatdoYOUthink?”
“Ishouldbeobligedtotaketime,sir,beforeIcouldgiveyouananswerworthyofyouracceptance:apresenthasmanyfacestoit,hasitnot?andoneshouldconsiderall,beforepronouncinganopinionastoitsnature.”
“MissEyre,youarenotsounsophisticatedasAdele:shedemandsa‘cadeau,’clamorously,themomentsheseesme:youbeataboutthebush.”
“BecauseIhavelessconfidenceinmydesertsthanAdelehas:shecanprefertheclaimofoldacquaintance,andtherighttooofcustom;forshesaysyouhavealwaysbeeninthehabitofgivingherplaythings;butifIhadtomakeoutacaseIshouldbepuzzled,sinceIamastranger,andhavedonenothingtoentitlemetoanacknowledgment.”
“Oh,don’tfallbackonover-modesty!IhaveexaminedAdele,andfindyouhavetakengreatpainswithher:sheisnotbright,shehasnotalents;yetinashorttimeshehasmademuchimprovement.”
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“Sir,youhavenowgivenmemy‘cadeau;’Iamobligedtoyou:itisthemeedteachersmostcovet—praiseoftheirpupils’progress.”
“Humph!”saidMr.Rochester,andhetookhisteainsilence.
“Cometothefire,”saidthemaster,whenthetraywastakenaway,andMrs.Fairfaxhadsettledintoacornerwithherknitting;whileAdelewasleadingmebythehandroundtheroom,showingmethebeautifulbooksandornamentsontheconsolesandchiffonnieres.Weobeyed,asindutybound;Adelewantedtotakeaseatonmyknee,butshewasorderedtoamuseherselfwith
Pilot.
“Youhavebeenresidentinmyhousethreemonths?”“Yes,sir.”
“Andyoucamefrom—?”
“FromLowoodschool,in-shire.”
“Ah!acharitableconcern.Howlongwereyouthere?”“Eightyears.”
“Eightyears!youmustbetenaciousoflife.Ithoughthalfthetimeinsuchaplacewouldhavedoneupanyconstitution!Nowonderyouhaveratherthelookofanotherworld.Imarvelledwhereyouhadgotthatsortofface.WhenyoucameonmeinHayLanelastnight,Ithoughtunaccountablyoffairytales,andhadhalfa
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mindtodemandwhetheryouhadbewitchedmyhorse:Iamnotsureyet.Whoareyourparents?”
“Ihavenone.”
“Noreverhad,Isuppose:doyourememberthem?”
“No.”
“Ithoughtnot.Andsoyouwerewaitingforyourpeoplewhenyousatonthatstile?”
“Forwhom,sir?”
“Forthemeningreen:itwasapropermoonlighteveningforthem.DidIbreakthroughoneofyourrings,thatyouspreadthatdamnediceonthecauseway?”
Ishookmyhead.“ThemeningreenallforsookEnglandahundredyearsago,”saidI,speakingasseriouslyashehaddone.“AndnoteveninHayLane,orthefieldsaboutit,couldyoufindatraceofthem.Idon’tthinkeithersummerorharvest,orwintermoon,willevershineontheirrevelsmore.”
Mrs.Fairfaxhaddroppedherknitting,and,withraisedeyebrows,seemedwonderingwhatsortoftalkthiswas.
“Well,”resumedMr.Rochester,“ifyoudisownparents,youmusthavesomesortofkinsfolk:unclesandaunts?”
“No;nonethatIeversaw.”
“Andyourhome?”
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“Ihavenone.”
“Wheredoyourbrothersandsisterslive?”
“Ihavenobrothersorsisters.”
“Whorecommendedyoutocomehere?”
“Iadvertised,andMrs.Fairfaxansweredmy
advertisement.”
“Yes,”saidthegoodlady,whonowknewwhatgroundwewereupon,“andIamdailythankfulforthechoiceProvidenceledmetomake.MissEyrehasbeenaninvaluablecompaniontome,andakindandcarefulteachertoAdele.”
“Don’ttroubleyourselftogiveheracharacter,”returnedMr.Rochester:“eulogiumswillnotbiasme;I
shalljudgeformyself.Shebeganbyfellingmyhorse.”“Sir?”saidMrs.Fairfax.
“Ihavetothankherforthissprain.”
Thewidowlookedbewildered.
“MissEyre,haveyoueverlivedinatown?”
“No,sir.”
“Haveyouseenmuchsociety?”
“NonebutthepupilsandteachersofLowood,andnowtheinmatesofThornfield.”
“Haveyoureadmuch?”
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“Onlysuchbooksascameinmyway;andtheyhavenotbeennumerousorverylearned.”
“Youhavelivedthelifeofanun:nodoubtyouarewelldrilledinreligiousforms;—Brocklehurst,whoI
understanddirectsLowood,isaparson,ishenot?”“Yes,sir.”
“Andyougirlsprobablyworshippedhim,asaconvent
fullofreligieuseswouldworshiptheirdirector.”“Oh,no.”
“Youareverycool!No!What!anovicenotworshipherpriest!Thatsoundsblasphemous.”
“IdislikedMr.Brocklehurst;andIwasnotaloneinthefeeling.Heisaharshman;atoncepompousandmeddling;hecutoffourhair;andforeconomy’ssakeboughtusbadneedlesandthread,withwhichwecouldhardlysew.”
“Thatwasveryfalseeconomy,”remarkedMrs.Fairfax,whonowagaincaughtthedriftofthedialogue.
“Andwasthattheheadandfrontofhisoffending?”demandedMr.Rochester.
“Hestarveduswhenhehadthesolesuperintendenceoftheprovisiondepartment,beforethecommitteewasappointed;andheboreduswithlonglecturesonceaweek,andwitheveningreadingsfrombooksofhisowninditing,aboutsuddendeathsandjudgments,whichmadeusafraidtogotobed.”
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“WhatagewereyouwhenyouwenttoLowood?”“Aboutten.”
“Andyoustayedthereeightyears:youarenow,then,
eighteen?”
Iassented.
“Arithmetic,yousee,isuseful;withoutitsaid,Ishouldhardlyhavebeenabletoguessyourage.Itisapointdifficulttofixwherethefeaturesandcountenancearesomuchatvarianceasinyourcase.Andnowwhatdid
youlearnatLowood?Canyouplay?”
“Alittle.”
“Ofcourse:thatistheestablishedanswer.Gointothelibrary—Imean,ifyouplease.—(Excusemytoneofcommand;Iamusedtosay,‘Dothis,’anditisdone:Icannotaltermycustomaryhabitsforonenewinmate.)—Go,then,intothelibrary;takeacandlewithyou;leavethedooropen;sitdowntothepiano,andplayatune.”
Ideparted,obeyinghisdirections.
“Enough!”hecalledoutinafewminutes.“YouplayALITTLE,Isee;likeanyotherEnglishschool-girl;perhapsratherbetterthansome,butnotwell.”
Iclosedthepianoandreturned.Mr.Rochestercontinued—“Adeleshowedmesomesketchesthismorning,whichshesaidwereyours.Idon’tknow
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whethertheywereentirelyofyourdoing;probablyamasteraidedyou?”
“No,indeed!”Iinterjected.
“Ah!thatprickspride.Well,fetchmeyourportfolio,ifyoucanvouchforitscontentsbeingoriginal;butdon’tpassyourwordunlessyouarecertain:Icanrecognisepatchwork.”
“ThenIwillsaynothing,andyoushalljudgeforyourself,sir.”
Ibroughttheportfoliofromthelibrary.
“Approachthetable,”saidhe;andIwheeledittohiscouch.AdeleandMrs.Fairfaxdrewneartoseethepictures.
“Nocrowding,”saidMr.Rochester:“takethedrawingsfrommyhandasIfinishwiththem;butdon’tpushyourfacesuptomine.”
Hedeliberatelyscrutinisedeachsketchandpainting.Threehelaidaside;theothers,whenhehadexaminedthem,hesweptfromhim.
“Takethemofftotheothertable,Mrs.Fairfax,”saidhe,“andlookatthemwithAdele;—you”(glancingatme)“resumeyourseat,andanswermyquestions.Iperceivethosepicturesweredonebyonehand:wasthathand
yours?”
“Yes.”
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“Andwhendidyoufindtimetodothem?Theyhavetakenmuchtime,andsomethought.”
“IdidtheminthelasttwovacationsIspentatLowood,whenIhadnootheroccupation.”
“Wheredidyougetyourcopies?”
“Outofmyhead.”
“ThatheadIseenowonyourshoulders?”
“Yes,sir.”
“Hasitotherfurnitureofthesamekindwithin?”“Ishouldthinkitmayhave:Ishouldhope—better.”
Hespreadthepicturesbeforehim,andagainsurveyedthemalternately.
Whileheissooccupied,Iwilltellyou,reader,whattheyare:andfirst,Imustpremisethattheyarenothingwonderful.Thesubjectshad,indeed,risenvividlyonmymind.AsIsawthemwiththespiritualeye,beforeIattemptedtoembodythem,theywerestriking;butmyhandwouldnotsecondmyfancy,andineachcaseithadwroughtoutbutapaleportraitofthethingIhadconceived.
Thesepictureswereinwater-colours.Thefirstrepresentedcloudslowandlivid,rollingoveraswollensea:allthedistancewasineclipse;so,too,wastheforeground;orrather,thenearestbillows,fortherewasnoland.Onegleamoflightliftedintoreliefahalf-
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submergedmast,onwhichsatacormorant,darkandlarge,withwingsfleckedwithfoam;itsbeakheldagoldbraceletsetwithgems,thatIhadtouchedwithasbrillianttintsasmypalettecouldyield,andasglitteringdistinctnessasmypencilcouldimpart.Sinkingbelowthebirdandmast,adrownedcorpseglancedthroughthegreenwater;afairarmwastheonlylimbclearlyvisible,whencethebracelethadbeenwashedortorn.
Thesecondpicturecontainedforforegroundonlythedimpeakofahill,withgrassandsomeleavesslantingasifbyabreeze.Beyondandabovespreadanexpanseofsky,darkblueasattwilight:risingintotheskywasawoman’sshapetothebust,portrayedintintsasduskandsoftasIcouldcombine.Thedimforeheadwascrownedwithastar;thelineamentsbelowwereseenasthroughthesuffusionofvapour;theeyesshonedarkandwild;thehairstreamedshadowy,likeabeamlesscloudtornbystormorbyelectrictravail.Onthenecklayapalereflectionlikemoonlight;thesamefaintlustretouchedthetrainofthincloudsfromwhichroseandbowedthisvisionoftheEveningStar.
Thethirdshowedthepinnacleofanicebergpiercingapolarwintersky:amusterofnorthernlightsrearedtheirdimlances,closeserried,alongthehorizon.Throwingtheseintodistance,rose,intheforeground,ahead,—acolossalhead,inclinedtowardstheiceberg,andrestingagainstit.Twothinhands,joinedundertheforehead,andsupportingit,drewupbeforethelowerfeaturesasableveil,abrowquitebloodless,whiteasbone,andaneyehollowandfixed,blankofmeaning
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butfortheglassinessofdespair,alonewerevisible.Abovethetemples,amidstwreathedturbanfoldsofblackdrapery,vagueinitscharacterandconsistencyascloud,gleamedaringofwhiteflame,gemmedwithsparklesofamoreluridtinge.Thispalecrescentwas“thelikenessofakinglycrown;”whatitdiademedwas“theshapewhichshapehadnone.”
“Wereyouhappywhenyoupaintedthesepictures?”askedMr.Rochesterpresently.
“Iwasabsorbed,sir:yes,andIwashappy.Topaintthem,inshort,wastoenjoyoneofthekeenestpleasuresIhaveeverknown.”
“Thatisnotsayingmuch.Yourpleasures,byyourownaccount,havebeenfew;butIdaresayyoudidexistinakindofartist’sdreamlandwhileyoublentandarrangedthesestrangetints.Didyousitatthemlongeachday?”
“Ihadnothingelsetodo,becauseitwasthevacation,andIsatatthemfrommorningtillnoon,andfromnoontillnight:thelengthofthemidsummerdaysfavouredmyinclinationtoapply.”
“Andyoufeltself-satisfiedwiththeresultofyourardentlabours?”
“Farfromit.Iwastormentedbythecontrastbetweenmyideaandmyhandiwork:ineachcaseIhadimaginedsomethingwhichIwasquitepowerlesstorealise.”
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“Notquite:youhavesecuredtheshadowofyourthought;butnomore,probably.Youhadnotenoughoftheartist’sskillandsciencetogiveitfullbeing:yetthedrawingsare,foraschool-girl,peculiar.Astothethoughts,theyareelfish.TheseeyesintheEveningStaryoumusthaveseeninadream.Howcouldyoumakethemlooksoclear,andyetnotatallbrilliant?fortheplanetabovequellstheirrays.Andwhatmeaningisthatintheirsolemndepth?Andwhotaughtyoutopaintwind?Thereisahighgaleinthatsky,andonthishill-top.WheredidyouseeLatmos?ForthatisLatmos.There!putthedrawingsaway!”
Ihadscarcetiedthestringsoftheportfolio,when,lookingathiswatch,hesaidabruptly-
“Itisnineo’clock:whatareyouabout,MissEyre,toletAdelesitupsolong?Takehertobed.”
Adelewenttokisshimbeforequittingtheroom:heenduredthecaress,butscarcelyseemedtorelishitmorethanPilotwouldhavedone,norsomuch.
“Iwishyouallgood-night,now,”saidhe,makingamovementofthehandtowardsthedoor,intokenthathewastiredofourcompany,andwishedtodismissus.Mrs.Fairfaxfoldedupherknitting:Itookmyportfolio:wecurtseyedtohim,receivedafrigidbowinreturn,andsowithdrew.
“YousaidMr.Rochesterwasnotstrikinglypeculiar,Mrs.Fairfax,”Iobserved,whenIrejoinedherinherroom,afterputtingAdeletobed.
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“Well,ishe?”
“Ithinkso:heisverychangefulandabrupt.”
“True:nodoubthemayappearsotoastranger,butIamsoaccustomedtohismanner,Ineve
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