little experience of them; they are generally thought pleasant things.’
‘Generally thought? But what do you think?’
‘I should be obliged to take time, sir, before I could give you an answer worthy of your acceptance: a present has many faces to it, has it not? and one should consider all, before pronouncing an opinion as to its nature.’
‘Miss Eyre, you are not so unsophisticated as Adèle: she demands a “cadeau,” clamorously, the moment she sees me: you beat about the bush.’
‘Because I have less confidence in my deserts than Adèle has: she can prefer the claim of old acquaintance, and the right, too, of custom; for she says you have always been in the habit of giving her playthings; but if I had to make out a case I should be puzzled, since I am a stranger, and have done nothing to entitle me to an acknowledgment.’
‘Oh, don’t fall back on over-modesty! I have examined Adèle, and find you have taken great pains with her: she is not bright, she has no talents; yet in a short time she has made much improvement.’
‘Sir, you have now given me my “cadeau”; I am obliged to you: it is the meed teachers most covet – praise of their pupils’ progress.’
‘Humph!’ said Mr Rochester, and he took his tea in silence.
‘Come to the fire,’ said the master, when the tray was taken away, and Mrs Fairfax had settled into a corner with her knitting; while Adèle was leading me by the hand round the room, showing me the beautiful books and ornaments on the consoles and chiffonnières.6 We obeyed, as in duty bound; Adèle wanted to take a seat on my knee, but she was ordered to amuse herself with Pilot.
‘You have been resident in my house three months?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘And you came from—?’
‘From Lowood school, in —shire.’
‘Ah! a charitable concern. How long were you there?’
‘Eight years.’
‘Eight years! you must be tenacious of life. I thought half the time in such a place would have done up any constitution! No wonder you have rather the look of another world. I marvelled where you had got that sort of face. When you came on me in Hay Lane last night, I thought unaccountably of fairy tales, and had half a mind to demand whether you had bewitched my horse: I am not sure yet. Who are your parents?’
‘I have none.’
‘Nor ever had, I suppose; do you remember them?’
‘No.’
‘I thought not. And so you were waiting for your people when you sat on that stile?’
‘For whom, sir?’
‘For the men in green:7 it was a proper moonlight evening for them. Did I break through one of your rings, that you spread that damned ice on the causeway?’
I shook my head. ‘The men in green all forsook England a hundred years ago,’ said I, speaking as seriously as he had done. ‘And not even in Hay Lane, or the fields about it, could you find a trace of them. I don’t think either summer or harvest, or winter moon, will ever shine on their revels more.’
Mrs Fairfax had dropped her knitting, and, with raised eyebrows, seemed wondering what sort of talk this was.
‘Well,’ resumed Mr Rochester, ‘if you disown parents, you must have some sort of kinsfolk: uncles and aunts?’
‘No; none that I ever saw.’
‘And your home?’
‘I have none.’
‘Where do your brothers and sisters live?’
‘I have no brothers or sisters.’
‘Who recommended you to come here?’
‘I advertised, and Mrs Fairfax answered my advertisement.’
‘Yes,’ said the good lady, who now knew what ground we were upon, ‘and I am daily thankful for the choice Providence led me to make. Miss Eyre has been an invaluable companion to me, and a kind and careful teacher to Adèle.’
‘Don’t trouble yourself to give her a character,’8 returned Mr Rochester: ‘eulogiums9 will not bias me; I shall judge for myself. She began by felling my horse.’
‘Sir?’ said Mrs Fairfax.
‘I have to thank her for this sprain.’
The widow looked bewildered.
‘Miss Eyre, have you ever lived in a town?’
‘No, sir.’
‘Have you seen much society?’
‘None but the pupils and teachers of Lowood, and now the inmates of Thornfield.’
‘Have you read much?’
‘Only such books as came in my way; and they have not been numerous, or very learned.’
‘You have lived the life of a nun: no doubt you are well drilled in religious forms; – Brocklehurst, who I understand directs Lowood, is a parson, is he not?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘And you girls probably worshipped him, as a convent full of religieuses would worship their director.’