Page 168 (1/2)

"Well, whatever I am, remember you are my wife; ere married an

hour since, in the presence of all these witnesses" She giggled,

and her colour rose

"Now, Dent," continued Mr Rochester, "it is your turn" And as the

other party withdrew, he and his band took the vacated seats Miss

Ingraht hand; the other diviners

filled the chairs on each side of hier waited with interest for the curtain to

rise; my attention was absorbed by the spectators; my eyes, erewhile

fixed on the arch, were now irresistibly attracted to the semicircle

of chairs What charade Colonel Dent and his party played, what

word they chose, how they acquitted theer

remember; but I still see the consultation which followed each

scene: I see Mr Rochester turn to Miss Ingraram to

him; I see her incline her head towards him, till the jetty curls

alainst his cheek; I hear their

lances; and

so roused by the spectacle returns in

memory at this moment

I have told you, reader, that I had learnt to love Mr Rochester: I

could not unlove him now, merely because I found that he had ceased

to notice ht pass hours in his presence, and he

would never once turn his eyes in my direction--because I saw all

his attentions appropriated by a great lady, who scorned to touch me

with the hem of her robes as she passed; who, if ever her dark and

imperious eye fell on me by chance, would withdraw it instantly as

from an object too mean to merit observation I could not unlove