Page 345 (2/2)

master--once almost my husband--whom I had often called "my dear

Edward!"

"He must have been a bad man," observed Mr Rivers

"You don't know him--don't pronounce an opinion upon him," I said,

armth

"Very well," he answered quietly: "and indeed my head is otherwise

occupied than with hioverness's name, I must tell it of my own accord Stay! I

have it here--it is always more satisfactory to see important points

written down, fairly coain deliberately produced, opened, sought

through; from one of its compartments was extracted a shabby slip of

paper, hastily torn off: I recognised in its texture and its stains

of ultra-in of

the portrait-cover He got up, held it close to my eyes: and I

read, traced in Indian ink, in , the words "JANE

EYRE"--the work doubtless of sos wrote to me of a Jane Eyre:" he said, "the advertisements

demanded a Jane Eyre: I knew a Jane Elliott--I confess I had my

suspicions, but it was only yesterday afternoon they were at once

resolved into certainty You own the nags? He perhaps knows more of Mr

Rochester than you do"