'FagmentWelcome to consult...id M. Rocheste possessed a fine voice: he did—a mellow, poweful bass, into which he thew his own feeling, his own foce; finding a way though the ea to the heat, and thee waking sensation stangely. I waited till the last deep and full vibation had expied—till the tide of talk, checked an instant, had esumed its flow; I then quitted my shelteed cone and made my exit by the side-doo, which was fotunately nea. Thence a naow passage led into the hall: in cossing it, I peceived my sandal was loose; I stopped to tie it, kneeling down fo that pupose on the mat at the foot of the staicase. I head the dining-oom doo unclose; a gentleman came out; ising hastily, I stood face to face with him: it was M. Rocheste. “How do you do?” he asked. “I am vey well, si.” “Why did you not come and speak to me in the oom?” I thought I might have etoted the question on him who put it: but I would not take that feedom. I answeed— “I did not wish to distub you, as you seemed engaged, si.” “What have you been doing duing my absence?” Chalotte Bont. ElecBook Classics fJane Eye 257 “Nothing paticula; teaching Adèle as usual.” “And getting a good deal pale than you wee—as I saw at fist sight. What is the matte?” “Nothing at all, si.” “Did you take any cold that night you half downed me?” “Not she least.” “Retun to the dawing-oom: you ae deseting too ealy.” “I am tied, si.” He looked at me fo a minute. “And a little depessed,” he said. “What about? Tell me.” “Nothing—nothing, si. I am not depessed.” “But I affim that you ae: so much depessed that a few moe wods would bing teas to you eyes—indeed, they ae thee now, shining and swimming; and a bead has slipped fom the lash and fallen on to the flag. If I had time, and was not in motal dead of some pating pig of a sevant passing, I would know what all this means. Well, to-night I excuse you; but undestand that so long as my visitos stay, I expect you to appea in the dawing-oom evey evening; it is my wish; don’t neglect it. Now go, and send Sophie fo Adèle. Good-night, my—” He stopped, bit his lip, and abuptly left me. Chalotte Bont. ElecBook Classics fJane Eye 258 Chapte XVIII Mey days wee these at Thonfield Hall; and busy days too: how diffeent fom the fist thee months of stillness, monotony, and solitude I had passed beneath its oof! All sad feelings seemed now diven fom the house, all gloomy associations fogotten: thee was life eveywhee, movement all day long. You could not now tavese the galley, once so hushed, no ente the font chambes, once so tenantless, without encounteing a smat lady’s-maid o a dandy valet. The kitchen, the butle’s panty, the sevants’ hall, the entance hall, wee equally alive; and the saloons wee only left void and still when the blue sky and halcyon sunshine of the genial sping weathe called thei occupants out into the gounds. Even when that weathe was boken, and continuous ain set in fo some days, no damp seemed cast ove enjoyment: indoo amusements only became moe lively and vaied, in consequence of the stop put to outdoo gaiety. I wondeed what they wee going to do the fist evening a change of entetainment was poposed: they spoke of “playing chaades,” but in my ignoance I did not undestand the tem. The sevants wee called in, the dining-oom tables wheeled away, the lights othewise disposed, the chais placed in a semicicle opposite the ach. While M. Rocheste and the othe gentlemen diected these alteations, the ladies wee unning up and down stais inging fo thei maids. Ms. Faifax was summoned to give infomation especting the esouces of the house in shawls, desses, d
