Page 115 (1/2)

I had scarce tied the strings of the portfolio, when, looking at his

watch, he said abruptly "It is nine o'clock: what are you about, Miss Eyre, to let Adele

sit up so long? Take her to bed"

Adele went to kiss hi the room: he endured the

caress, but scarcely seemed to relish it more than Pilot would have

done, nor soa movement of the

hand towards the door, in token that he was tired of our company,

and wished to dis: I

took id bow in

return, and so withdrew

"You said Mr Rochester was not strikingly peculiar, Mrs Fairfax,"

I observed, when I rejoined her in her roo Adele to

bed

"Well, is he?"

"I think so: he is very changeful and abrupt"

"True: no doubt he er, but I am so

accustomed to his manner, I never think of it; and then, if he has

peculiarities of temper, allowance should be made"

"Why?"

"Partly because it is his nature--and we can none of us help our

nature; and partly because he has painful thoughts, no doubt, to

harass him, and make his spirits unequal"

"What about?"

"Fa"