drawing…room and boudoir； vases of exotics bloomed on all sides。
Afternoon arrived： Mrs。 Fairfax assumed her best black satin gown； her gloves； and her gold watch； for it was her part to receive the pany；—to conduct the ladies to their rooms； &c。 Adèle； too； would be dressed： though I thought she had little chance of being introduced to the party that day at least。 However； to please her； I allowed Sophie to apparel her in one of her short； full muslin frocks。 For myself； I had no need to make any change； I should not be called upon to quit my sanctum of the schoolroom； for a sanctum it was now bee to me；—“a very pleasant refuge in time of trouble。”
It had been a mild； serene spring day—one of those days which； towards the end of March or the beginning of April； rise shining over the earth as heralds of summer。 It was drawing to an end now； but the evening was even warm； and I sat at work in the schoolroom with the window open。
“It gets late；” said Mrs。 Fairfax； entering in rustling state。 “I am glad I ordered dinner an hour after the time Mr。 Rochester mentioned； for it is past six now。 I have 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 direction of Millcote。” She went to the window。 “Here he is！” said she。 “Well； John” （leaning out）； “any news？”
“They’re ing； ma’am；” was the answer。 “They’ll be here in ten minutes。”
Adèle flew to the window。 I followed； taking care to stand on one side； so that； screened by the curtain； I could see without being seen。
The ten minutes John had given seemed very long； but at last wheels were heard； four equestrians galloped up the drive； and after them came two open carriages。 Fluttering veils and waving plumes filled the vehicles； two of the cavaliers were young； dashing…looking gentlemen； the third was Mr。 Rochester； on his black horse； Mesrour； Pilot bounding before him； at his side rode a lady； and he and she were the first of the party。 Her purple riding…habit almost swept the ground； her veil streamed long on the breeze； mingling with its transparent folds； and gleaming through them； shone rich raven ringlets。
“Miss Ingram！” exclaimed Mrs。 Fairfax； and away she hurried to her post below。
The cavalcade； following the sweep of the drive； quickly turned 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 gave her to understand that she must not on any account think of venturing in sight of the ladies； either now or at any other time； unless expressly sent for： that Mr。 Rochester would be very angry； &c。 “Some natural tears she shed” on being told this； but as I began to look very grave； she consented at last to wipe them。
A joyous stir was now audible in the hall： gentlemen’s deep tones and ladies’ silvery accents blent harmoniously together； and distinguishable above all； though not loud； was the sonorous voice of the master of Thornfield Hall； weling his fair and gallant guests under its roof。 Then light steps ascended the stairs； and there was a tripping through the gallery； and soft cheerful laughs； and opening and closing doors； and； for a time； a hush。
“Elles changent de toilettes；” said Adèle； who； listening attentively； had followed every movement； and she sighed。
“Chez maman；” said she； “quand il y avait du monde； je le suivais partout； au salon et à leurs chambres； souvent je regardais les femmes de chambre coiffer et habiller les dames； et c’était si amusant： me cela on apprend。”
“Don’t you feel hungry； Adèle？”
“Mais oui； mademoiselle： voilà cinq ou six heures que nous n’avons pas mangé。”
“Well now； while the ladies are in their rooms； I will venture down and get you something to eat。”
And issuing from my asylum with precaution； I sought a back…stairs which conducted directly to the kitchen。 All in that region was fire and motion； the soup and fish were in the last stage of projection； and the cook hung over her crucibles in a frame of mind and body threatening spontaneous bustion。 In the servants’ hall two coachmen and three gentlemen’s gentlemen stood or sat round the fire； the abigails； I suppose； were upstairs with their mistresses； the new servants； that had been hired from Millcote； were bustling about everywhere。 Threading this chaos； I at last reached the larder； there I took possession of a cold chicken； a roll of bread； some tarts； a plate or two and a knife and fork： with this booty I made a hasty retreat。 I had regained the gallery； and was just shutting the back…door behind me； when an accelerated hum warned me that the ladies were about to issue from their chambers。 I could not proceed to the schoolroom without passing some of their doors； and running the risk of being surprised with my cargo of victualage； so I stood still at this end； which； being windowless； was dark： quite dark now； for the sun was set and twilight gathering。
Presently the chambers gave up their fair tenants one after another： each came out gaily and airily； with dress that gleamed lustrous through the dusk。 For a moment they stood grouped together at the other extremity of the gallery； conversing in a key of sweet subdued vivacity： they then descended the staircase almost as noiselessly as a bright mist rolls down a hill。 Their collective appearance had left on me an impression of high…born elegance； such as I had never before received。
I found Adèle peeping through the schoolroom door； which she held ajar。 “What beautiful ladies！” cried she in English。 “Oh； I wish I might go to them！ Do you think Mr。 Rochester will send for us by… and…bye； after dinner？”
“No； indeed； I don’t； Mr。 Rochester has something else to think about。 Never mind the ladies to…night； perhaps you will see them to…morrow： here is your dinner。”
She was really hungry； so the chicken and tarts served to divert her attention for a time。 It was well I secured this forage； or both she； I； and Sophie； to whom I conveyed a share of our repast； would have run a chance of getting no dinner at all： every one downstairs was too much engaged to think of us。 The dessert was not carried out till after nine and at ten footmen were still running to and fro with trays and coffee…cups。 I allowed Adèle to sit up much later than usual； for she declared she could not possibly go to sleep while the doors kept opening and shutting below； and people bustling about。 Besides； she added； a message might possibly e from Mr。 Rochester when she was undressed； “et alors quel dommage！”
I told her stories as long as she would listen to them； and then for a change I took her out into the gallery。 The hall lamp was now lit； and it amused her to look over the balustrade and watch the servants passing backwards and forwards。 When the evening was far advanced； a sound of music issued from the drawing…room； whither the piano had been removed； Adèle and I sat down on the top step of the stairs to listen。 Presently a voice blent with the rich tones of the instrument； it was a lady who sang； and very sweet her notes were。 The solo over； a duet followed； and then a glee： a joyous conversational murmur filled up the intervals。 I listened long： suddenly I discovered that my ear was wholly intent on analysing the mingled sounds； and trying to discriminate amidst the confusion of accents those of Mr。 Rochester； and when it caught them； which it soon did； it found a further task in framing the tones； rendered by distance inarticulate； into words。
The clock struck eleven。 I looked at Adèle； whose head leant against my shoulder； her eyes were waxing heavy； so I took her up in my arms and carried her off to bed。 It was near one before the gentlemen and ladies sought their chambers。
The next day was as fine as its predecessor： it was devoted by the party to an excursion to some site in the neighbourhood。 They set out early in the forenoon； some on horseback； the rest in carriages； I witnessed both the departure and the return。 Miss Ingram； as before； was the only lady equestrian； and； as before； Mr。 Rochester galloped at her side； the two rode a little apart from the rest。 I pointed out this circumstance to Mrs。 Fairfax； who was standing at the window with me—
“You said it was not likely they should think of being married；” said I； “but you see Mr。 Rochester evidently prefers her to any of the other ladies。”
“Yes； I daresay： no doubt he admires her。”
“And she him；” I added； “look how she leans her head towards him as if she were conversing confidentially； I wish I could see her face； I have never had a glimpse of it yet。”
“You will see her this evening；” answered Mrs。 Fairfax。 “I happened to remark to Mr。 Rochester how much Adèle wished to be introduced to the ladies； and he said： ‘Oh！ let her e into the drawing…room after dinner； and request Miss Eyre to acpany her。’”
“Yes； he said that from mere politeness： I need not go； I am sure；” I answered。
“Well； I observed to him that as you were unused to pany； I did not think you would like appearing before so gay a party—all strangers； and he replied； in his quick way—‘Nonsense！ If she objects； tell her it is my particular wish； and if she resists； say I shall e and fetch her in case of contumacy。’”
“I will not give him that trouble；” I answered。 “I will go； if no better may be； but I don’t like it。 Shall you be there； Mrs。 Fairfax？”
“No； I pleaded off； and he admitted my plea。 I’ll tell you how to manage so as to avoid the embarrassment of making a formal entrance； which is the most disagreeable part of the business。 You must go into the drawing…room while it is empty； before the ladies leave the dinner…table； choose your seat in any quiet nook you like； you need not stay long after the gentlemen e in； unless you please： just let Mr。 Rochester see you are there and then slip away—nobody will notice you。”
“Will these people remain long； do you think？”
“Perhaps two or three weeks； certainly not more。 After the Easter recess； Sir George Lynn； who was lately elected member for Millcote； will have to go up to town and take his seat； I daresay Mr。 Rochester will acpany him： it surprises me that he has already made so protracted a stay at Thornfield。”
It was with some trepidation that I perceived the hour approach when I was to repair with my charge to the drawing…room。 Adèle had been in a state of ecstasy all day； after hearing she was to be presented to the ladies in the evening； and it was not till Sophie menced the operation of dressing her that she sobered down。 Then the importance of the process quickly steadied her； and by the time she had her curls arranged in well…smoothed； drooping clusters； her pink satin frock put on； her long sash tied； and her lace mittens adjusted； she looked as grave as any judge。 No need to warn her not to disarrange her attire： when she was dressed； she sat demurely down in her little chair； taking care previously to lift up the satin skirt for fear she should crease it； and assured me she would not stir thence till I y best dress （the silver…grey one； purchased for Miss Temple’s wedding； and never worn since） was soon put on； my hair was soon smoothed； my sole ornament； the pearl brooch； soon assumed。 We descended。
Fortunately there was another entrance to