‘Oh, at six o’clock. He keeps early hours in the country. You had better change your frock now: I will go with you and fasten it. Here is a candle.’
‘Is it necessary to change my frock?’
‘Yes, you had better. I always dress for the evening when Mr Rochester is here.’
This additional ceremony seemed somewhat stately. However, I repaired to my room, and, with Mrs Fairfax’s aid, replaced my black stuff dress by one of black silk; the best and the only additional one I had, except one of light gray, which, in my Lowood notions of the toilette, I thought too fine to be worn, except on first-rate occasions.
‘You want a brooch,’ said Mrs Fairfax. I had a single little pearl ornament which Miss Temple gave me as a parting keepsake. I put it on, and then we went downstairs. Unused as I was to strangers, it was rather a trial to appear thus formally summoned in Mr Rochester’s presence. I let Mrs Fairfax precede me into the dining-room, and kept in her shade as we crossed that apartment; and, passing the arch, whose curtain was now dropped, entered the elegant recess beyond.
Two wax candles stood lighted on the table, and two on the mantelpiece; basking in the light and heat of a superb fire, lay Pilot – Adèle knelt near him. Half reclined on a couch appeared Mr Rochester, his foot supported by the cushion; he was looking at Adèle and the dog. The fire shone full on his face. I knew my traveller, with his broad and jetty eyebrows, his square forehead, made squarer by the horizontal sweep of his black hair. I recognised his decisive nose, more remarkable for character than beauty; his full nostrils, denoting, I thought, choler; his grim mouth, chin, and jaw – yes, all three were very grim, and no mistake. His shape, now divested of cloak, I perceived harmonised in squareness with his physiognomy. I suppose it was a good figure in the atheletic sense of the term – broad-chested and thin-flanked, though neither tall nor graceful.
Mr Rochester must have been aware of the entrance of Mrs Fairfax and myself; but it appeared he was not in the mood to notice us, for he never lifted his head as we approached.
‘Here is Miss Eyre, sir,’ said Mrs Fairfax, in her quiet way. He bowed, still not taking his eyes from the group of the dog and child.
‘Let Miss Eyre be seated,’ said he; and there was something in the forced stiff bow, in the impatient yet formal tone, which seemed further to express, ‘What the deuce is it to me whether Miss Eyre be there or not? At this moment I am not disposed to accost her.’
I sat down quite disembarrassed. A reception of finished politeness would probably have confused me: I could not have returned or repaid it by answering grace and elegance on my part; but harsh caprice laid me under no obligation; on the contrary, a decent quiescence, under the freak of manner, gave me the advantage. Besides, the eccentricity of the proceeding was piquant: I felt interested to see how he would go on.
He went on as a statue would, that is, he neither spoke nor moved. Mrs Fairfax seemed to think it necessary that someone should be amiable, and she began to talk. Kindly, as usual – and, as usual, rather trite – she condoled with him on the pressure of business he had had all day; on the annoyance it must have been to him with that painful sprain: then she commended his patience and perseverance in going through with it.
‘Madam, I should like some tea,’ was the sole rejoinder she got. She hastened to ring the bell; and when the tray came, she proceeded to arrange the cups, spoons, etc., with assiduous celerity. I and Adèle went to the table; but the master did not leave his couch.
‘Will you hand Mr Rochester’s cup?’ said Mrs Fairfax to me; ‘Adèle might perhaps spill it.’
I did as requested. As he took the cup from my hand, Adèle, thinking the moment propitious for making a request in my favour, cried out –
‘N’est-ce pas, monsieur, qu’ilyaun cadeau pour Mademoiselle Eyre dans votre petit coffre?’5
‘Who talks of cadeaux?’ said he gruffly. ‘Did you expect a present, Miss Eyre? Are you fond of presents?’ and he searched my face with eyes that I saw were dark, irate, and piercing.