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1Afternoon arrived: Mrs. Fairfax assumed her best black satin gown, her gloves, and her gold watch; for it was her part
2to receive the company,--to conduct the ladies to their rooms, &c. Adèle, too, would be dressed: though I thought she
3had little chance of being introduced to the party that day at least. However, to please her, I allowed Sophie to
4apparel her in one of her short, full muslin frocks. For myself, I had no need to make any change; I should not be
5called upon to quit my sanctum of the schoolroom; for a sanctum it was now become to me,--"a very pleasant refuge in
6time of trouble." It had been a mild, serene spring day--one of those days which, towards the end of March or the
7beginning of April, rise shining over the earth as heralds of summer. It was drawing to an end now; but the evening was
8even warm, and I sat at work in the schoolroom with the window open. "It gets late," said Mrs. Fairfax, entering in
9rustling state. "I am glad I ordered dinner an hour after the time Mr. Rochester mentioned; for it is past six now. I
10have sent John down to the gates to see if there is anything on the road: one can see a long way from thence in the
11direction of Millcote." She went to the window. "Here he is!" said she. "Well, John" (leaning out), "any news?" "They're
12coming, ma'am," was the answer. "They'll be here in ten minutes." Adèle flew to the window. I followed, taking care to
13stand on one side, so that, screened by the curtain, I could see without being seen. The ten minutes John had given
14seemed very long, but at last wheels were heard; four equestrians galloped up the drive, and after them came two open
15carriages. Fluttering veils and waving plumes filled the vehicles; two of the cavaliers were young, dashing-looking
16gentlemen; the third was Mr. Rochester, on his black horse, Mesrour, Pilot bounding before him; at his side rode a lady,
17and he and she were the first of the party. Her purple riding-habit almost swept the ground, her veil streamed long on
18the breeze; mingling with its transparent folds, and gleaming through them, shone rich raven ringlets. "Miss Ingram!"
19exclaimed Mrs. Fairfax, and away she hurried to her post below. The cavalcade, following the sweep of the drive, quickly
20turned the angle of the house, and I lost sight of it. Adèle now petitioned to go down; but I took her on my knee, and
21gave her to understand that she must not on any account think of venturing in sight of the ladies, either now or at any
22other time, unless expressly sent for: that Mr. Rochester would be very angry, &c. "Some natural tears she shed" on
23being told this; but as I began to look very grave, she consented at last to wipe them. A joyous stir was now audible in
24the hall: gentlemen's deep tones and ladies' silvery accents blent harmoniously together, and distinguishable above all,
25though not loud, was the sonorous voice of the master of Thornfield Hall, welcoming his fair and gallant guests under
26its roof. Then light steps ascended the stairs; and there was a tripping through the gallery, and soft cheerful laughs,
27and opening and closing doors, and, for a time, a hush. "Elles changent de toilettes," said Adèle; who, listening
28attentively, had followed every movement; and she sighed. "Chez maman," said she, "quand il y avait du monde, je le
29suivais partout, au salon et à leurs chambres; souvent je regardais les femmes de chambre coiffer et habiller les dames,
30et c'était si amusant: comme cela on apprend." "Don't you feel hungry, Adèle?" "Mais oui, mademoiselle: voilà cinq ou
31six heures que nous n'avons pas mangé." "Well now, while the ladies are in their rooms, I will venture down and get you
32something to eat." And issuing from my asylum with precaution, I sought a back-stairs which conducted directly to the
33kitchen. All in that region was fire and commotion; the soup and fish were in the last stage of projection, and the cook
34hung over her crucibles in a frame of mind and body threatening spontaneous combustion. In the servants' hall two
35coachmen and three gentlemen's gentlemen stood or sat round the fire; the abigails, I suppose, were upstairs with their
36mistresses; the new servants, that had been hired from Millcote, were bustling about everywhere. Threading this chaos, I
37at last reached the larder; there I took possession of a cold chicken, a roll of bread, some tarts, a plate or two and a
38knife and fork: with this booty I made a hasty retreat. I had regained the gallery, and was just shutting the back-door
39behind me, when an accelerated hum warned me that the ladies were about to issue from their chambers. I could not
40proceed to the schoolroom without passing some of their doors, and running the risk of being surprised with my cargo of
41victualage; so I stood still at this end, which, being windowless, was dark: quite dark now, for the sun was set and
42twilight gathering. Presently the chambers gave up their fair tenants one after another: each came out gaily and airily,
43with dress that gleamed lustrous through the dusk. For a moment they stood grouped together at the other extremity of
44the gallery, conversing in a key of sweet subdued vivacity: they then descended the staircase almost as noiselessly as a
45bright mist rolls down a hill. Their collective appearance had left on me an impression of high-born elegance, such as I
46had never before received. I found Adèle peeping through the schoolroom door, which she held ajar. "What beautiful
47ladies!" cried she in English. "Oh, I wish I might go to them! Do you think Mr. Rochester will send for us by-and-by,
48after dinner?" "No, indeed, I don't; Mr. Rochester has something else to think about. Never mind the ladies to-night;
49perhaps you will see them to-morrow: here is your dinner." She was really hungry, so the chicken and tarts served to
50divert her attention for a time. It was well I secured this forage, or both she, I, and Sophie, to whom I conveyed a
51share of our repast, would have run a chance of getting no dinner at all: every one downstairs was too much engaged to
52think of us. The dessert was not carried out till after nine; and at ten footmen were still running to and fro with
53trays and coffee-cups. I allowed Adèle to sit up much later than usual; for she declared she could not possibly go to
54sleep while the doors kept opening and shutting below, and people bustling about. Besides, she added, a message might
55possibly come from Mr. Rochester when she was undressed; "et alors quel dommage!" I told her stories as long as she
56would listen to them; and then for a change I took her out into the gallery. The hall lamp was now lit, and it amused
57her to look over the balustrade and watch the servants passing backwards and forwards. When the evening was far
58advanced, a sound of music issued from the drawing-room, whither the piano had been removed; Adèle and I sat down on the
59top step of the stairs to listen. Presently a voice blent with the rich tones of the instrument; it was a lady who sang,
60and very sweet her notes were. The solo over, a duet followed, and then a glee: a joyous conversational murmur filled up
61the intervals. I listened long: suddenly I discovered that my ear was wholly intent on analysing the mingled sounds, and
62trying to discriminate amidst the confusion of accents those of Mr. Rochester; and when it caught them, which it soon
63did, it found a further task in framing the tones, rendered by distance inarticulate, into words. The clock struck
64eleven. I looked at Adèle, whose head leant against my shoulder; her eyes were waxing heavy, so I took her up in my arms
65and carried her off to bed. It was near one before the gentlemen and ladies sought their chambers. The next day was as
66fine as its predecessor: it was devoted by the party to an excursion to some site in the neighbourhood. They set out
67early in the forenoon, some on horseback, the rest in carriages; I witnessed both the departure and the return. Miss
68Ingram, as before, was the only lady equestrian; and, as before, Mr. Rochester galloped at her side; the two rode a
69little apart from the rest. I pointed out this circumstance to Mrs. Fairfax, who was standing at the window with me--
70"You said it was not likely they should think of being married," said I, "but you see Mr. Rochester evidently prefers
71her to any of the other ladies."
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