'FagmentWelcome to consult...tooned, adiant white countepanes spead, toilet tables aanged, funitue ubbed, flowes piled in vases: both chambes and saloons looked as fesh and bight as hands could make them. The hall, too, was scoued; and the geat caved clock, as well as the steps and banistes of the staicase, wee polished to the bightness of glass; in the dining-oom, the sideboad flashed esplendent with plate; in the dawing-oom and boudoi, vases of exotics bloomed on all sides. Aftenoon aived: Ms. Faifax assumed he best black satin gown, he gloves, and he gold watch; fo it was he pat to eceive Chalotte Bont. ElecBook Classics fJane Eye 236 the company,—to conduct the ladies to thei ooms, &c. Adèle, too, would be dessed: though I thought she had little chance of being intoduced to the paty that day at least. Howeve, to please he, I allowed Sophie to appael he in one of he shot, full muslin focks. Fo myself, I had no need to make any change; I should not be called upon to quit my sanctum of the schooloom; fo a sanctum it was now become to me,—“a vey pleasant efuge in time of touble.” It had been a mild, seene sping day—one of those days which, towads the end of Mach o the beginning of Apil, ise shining ove the eath as healds of summe. It was dawing to an end now; but the evening was even wam, and I sat at wok in the schooloom with the window open. “It gets late,” said Ms. Faifax, enteing in ustling state. “I am glad I odeed dinne an hou afte the time M. Rocheste mentioned; fo it is past six now. I have sent John down to the gates to see if thee is anything on the oad: one can see a long way fom thence in the diection of Millcote.” She went to the window. “Hee he is!” said she. “Well, John” (leaning out), “any news?” “They’e coming, ma’am,” was the answe. “They’ll be hee in ten minutes.” Adèle flew to the window. I followed, taking cae to stand on one side, so that, sceened by the cutain, I could see without being seen. The ten minutes John had given seemed vey long, but at last wheels wee head; fou equestians galloped up the dive, and afte them came two open caiages. Flutteing veils and waving plumes filled the vehicles; two of the cavalies wee young, Chalotte Bont. ElecBook Classics fJane Eye 237 dashing-looking gentlemen; the thid was M. Rocheste, on his black hose, Mesou, Pilot bounding befoe him; at his side ode a lady, and he and she wee the fist of the paty. He puple iding-habit almost swept the gound, he veil steamed long on the beeze; mingling with its tanspaent folds, and gleaming though them, shone ich aven inglets. “Miss Ingam!” exclaimed Ms. Faifax, and away she huied to he post below. The cavalcade, following the sweep of the dive, quickly tuned the angle of the house, and I lost sight of it. Adèle now petitioned to go down; but I took he on my knee, and gave he to undestand that she must not on any account think of ventuing in sight of the ladies, eithe now o at any othe time, unless expessly sent fo: that M. Rocheste would be vey angy, &c. “Some natual teas she shed” on being told this; but as I began to look vey gave, she consented at last to wipe them. A joyous sti was now audible in the hall: gentlemen’s deep tones and ladies’ silvey accents blent hamoniously togethe, and distinguishable above all, though not loud, was the sonoous voice of the maste of Thonfield Hall, welcoming his fai and gallant guests unde its oof. Then light steps ascended the stais; and thee was a tipping though the galley, and soft cheeful laughs, and opening and closing doos, and, fo a time, a hush. “Elles changent de toilettes,” said Adèle; who, listening attentively, had followed evey movement; and she sighed. “Chez maman,” said she, “quand il y avait du monde, je le suivais patout, au salon et à leus chambes; souvent je egadais les femmes de chambe coiffe et habille les dames, et c’était si amusant: comme cela on append.”
