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Chapter14

ForseveralsubsequentdaysIsawlittleofMr.Rochester.Inthemorningsheseemedmuchengagedwithbusiness,and,intheafternoon,gentlemenfromMillcoteortheneighbourhoodcalled,andsometimesstayedtodinewithhim.Whenhissprainwaswellenoughtoadmitofhorseexercise,herodeoutagooddeal;probablytoreturnthesevisits,ashegenerallydidnotcomebacktilllateatnight.

Duringthisinterval,evenAdelewasseldomsentfortohispresence,andallmyacquaintancewithhimwasconfinedtoanoccasionalrencontreinthehall,onthestairs,orinthegallery,whenhewouldsometimespassmehaughtilyandcoldly,justacknowledgingmypresencebyadistantnodoracoolglance,andsometimesbowandsmilewithgentlemanlikeaffability.Hischangesofmooddidnotoffendme,becauseIsawthatIhadnothingtodowiththeiralternation;theebbandflowdependedoncausesquitedisconnectedwithme.

Onedayhehadhadcompanytodinner,andhadsentformyportfolio;inorder,doubtless,toexhibititscontents:thegentlemenwentawayearly,toattendapublicmeetingatMillcote,asMrs.Fairfaxinformedme;butthenightbeingwetandinclement,Mr.Rochesterdidnotaccompanythem.Soonaftertheyweregoneherangthebell:amessagecamethatIandAdeleweretogodownstairs.IbrushedAdele’shairandmadeherneat,andhavingascertainedthatIwas

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myselfinmyusualQuakertrim,wheretherewasnothingtoretouch—allbeingtoocloseandplain,braidedlocksincluded,toadmitofdisarrangement—wedescended,Adelewonderingwhetherthepetitcoffrewasatlengthcome;for,owingtosomemistake,itsarrivalhadhithertobeendelayed.Shewasgratified:thereitstood,alittlecarton,onthetablewhenweenteredthedining-room.Sheappearedtoknowitbyinstinct.

“Maboite!maboite!”exclaimedshe,runningtowardsit.

“Yes,thereisyour‘boite’atlast:takeitintoacorner,yougenuinedaughterofParis,andamuseyourselfwithdisembowellingit,”saidthedeepandrathersarcasticvoiceofMr.Rochester,proceedingfromthedepthsofanimmenseeasy-chairatthefireside.“Andmind,”hecontinued,“don’tbothermewithanydetailsoftheanatomicalprocess,oranynoticeoftheconditionoftheentrails:letyouroperationbeconductedinsilence:tiens-toitranquille,enfant;comprends-tu?”

Adeleseemedscarcelytoneedthewarning—shehadalreadyretiredtoasofawithhertreasure,andwasbusyuntyingthecordwhichsecuredthelid.Havingremovedthisimpediment,andliftedcertainsilveryenvelopesoftissuepaper,shemerelyexclaimed-

“Ohciel!Quec’estbeau!”andthenremainedabsorbedinecstaticcontemplation.

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“IsMissEyrethere?”nowdemandedthemaster,halfrisingfromhisseattolookroundtothedoor,nearwhichIstillstood.

“Ah!well,comeforward;beseatedhere.”Hedrewachairnearhisown.“Iamnotfondoftheprattleofchildren,”hecontinued;“for,oldbachelorasIam,Ihavenopleasantassociationsconnectedwiththeirlisp.Itwouldbeintolerabletometopassawholeeveningtete-e-tetewithabrat.Don’tdrawthatchairfartheroff,MissEyre;sitdownexactlywhereIplacedit—ifyouplease,thatis.Confoundthesecivilities!Icontinuallyforgetthem.NordoIparticularlyaffectsimple-mindedoldladies.By-the-bye,Imusthavemineinmind;itwon’tdotoneglecther;sheisaFairfax,orwedtoone;andbloodissaidtobethickerthanwater.”

Herang,anddespatchedaninvitationtoMrs.Fairfax,whosoonarrived,knitting-basketinhand.

“Goodevening,madam;Isenttoyouforacharitablepurpose.IhaveforbiddenAdeletotalktomeaboutherpresents,andsheisburstingwithrepletion:havethegoodnesstoserveherasauditressandinterlocutrice;itwillbeoneofthemostbenevolentactsyoueverperformed.”

Adele,indeed,nosoonersawMrs.Fairfax,thanshesummonedhertohersofa,andtherequicklyfilledherlapwiththeporcelain,theivory,thewaxencontentsofher“boite;”pouringout,meantime,explanationsandrapturesinsuchbrokenEnglishasshewasmistressof.

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“NowIhaveperformedthepartofagoodhost,”pursuedMr.Rochester,“putmyguestsintothewayofamusingeachother,Ioughttobeatlibertytoattendtomyownpleasure.MissEyre,drawyourchairstillalittlefartherforward:youareyettoofarback;Icannotseeyouwithoutdisturbingmypositioninthiscomfortablechair,whichIhavenomindtodo.”

IdidasIwasbid,thoughIwouldmuchratherhaveremainedsomewhatintheshade;butMr.Rochesterhadsuchadirectwayofgivingorders,itseemedamatterofcoursetoobeyhimpromptly.

Wewere,asIhavesaid,inthedining-room:thelustre,whichhadbeenlitfordinner,filledtheroomwithafestalbreadthoflight;thelargefirewasallredandclear;thepurplecurtainshungrichandamplebeforetheloftywindowandloftierarch;everythingwasstill,savethesubduedchatofAdele(shedarednotspeakloud),and,fillingupeachpause,thebeatingofwinterrainagainstthepanes.

Mr.Rochester,ashesatinhisdamask-coveredchair,lookeddifferenttowhatIhadseenhimlookbefore;notquitesostern—muchlessgloomy.Therewasasmileonhislips,andhiseyessparkled,whetherwithwineornot,Iamnotsure;butIthinkitveryprobable.Hewas,inshort,inhisafter-dinnermood;moreexpandedandgenial,andalsomoreself-indulgentthanthefrigidandrigidtemperofthemorning;stillhelookedpreciouslygrim,cushioninghismassiveheadagainsttheswellingbackofhischair,andreceivingthe

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lightofthefireonhisgranite-hewnfeatures,andinhisgreat,darkeyes;forhehadgreat,darkeyes,andveryfineeyes,too—notwithoutacertainchangeintheirdepthssometimes,which,ifitwasnotsoftness,remindedyou,atleast,ofthatfeeling.

Hehadbeenlookingtwominutesatthefire,andIhadbeenlookingthesamelengthoftimeathim,when,turningsuddenly,hecaughtmygazefastenedonhisphysiognomy.

“Youexamineme,MissEyre,”saidhe:“doyouthinkmehandsome?”

Ishould,ifIhaddeliberated,haverepliedtothisquestionbysomethingconventionallyvagueandpolite;buttheanswersomehowslippedfrommytonguebeforeIwasaware—“No,sir.”

“Ah!Bymyword!thereissomethingsingularaboutyou,”saidhe:“youhavetheairofalittlenonnette;quaint,quiet,grave,andsimple,asyousitwithyourhandsbeforeyou,andyoureyesgenerallybentonthecarpet(except,by-the-bye,whentheyaredirectedpiercinglytomyface;asjustnow,forinstance);andwhenoneasksyouaquestion,ormakesaremarktowhichyouareobligedtoreply,yourapoutaroundrejoinder,which,ifnotblunt,isatleastbrusque.Whatdoyoumeanbyit?”

“Sir,Iwastooplain;Ibegyourpardon.Ioughttohaverepliedthatitwasnoteasytogiveanimpromptuanswertoaquestionaboutappearances;thattastes

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mostlydiffer;andthatbeautyisoflittleconsequence,orsomethingofthatsort.”

“Yououghttohaverepliednosuchthing.Beautyoflittleconsequence,indeed!Andso,underpretenceofsofteningthepreviousoutrage,ofstrokingandsoothingmeintoplacidity,youstickaslypenknifeundermyear!Goon:whatfaultdoyoufindwithme,pray?IsupposeIhaveallmylimbsandallmyfeatureslikeanyotherman?”

“Mr.Rochester,allowmetodisownmyfirstanswer:Iintendednopointedrepartee:itwasonlyablunder.”

“Justso:Ithinkso:andyoushallbeanswerableforit.Criticiseme:doesmyforeheadnotpleaseyou?”

Heliftedupthesablewavesofhairwhichlayhorizontallyoverhisbrow,andshowedasolidenoughmassofintellectualorgans,butanabruptdeficiency

wherethesuavesignofbenevolenceshouldhaverisen.“Now,ma’am,amIafool?”

“Farfromit,sir.Youwould,perhaps,thinkmerudeifIinquiredinreturnwhetheryouareaphilanthropist?”

“Thereagain!Anotherstickofthepenknife,whenshepretendedtopatmyhead:andthatisbecauseIsaidIdidnotlikethesocietyofchildrenandoldwomen(lowbeitspoken!).No,younglady,Iamnotageneralphilanthropist;butIbearaconscience;”andhepointedtotheprominenceswhicharesaidtoindicatethatfaculty,andwhich,fortunatelyforhim,were

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sufficientlyconspicuous;giving,indeed,amarkedbreadthtotheupperpartofhishead:“and,besides,Ioncehadakindofrudetendernessofheart.WhenIwasasoldasyou,Iwasafeelingfellowenough,partialtotheunfledged,unfostered,andunlucky;butFortunehasknockedmeaboutsince:shehasevenkneadedmewithherknuckles,andnowIflattermyselfIamhardandtoughasanIndia-rubberball;pervious,though,throughachinkortwostill,andwithonesentientpointinthemiddleofthelump.Yes:doesthatleave

hopeforme?”

“Hopeofwhat,sir?”

“Ofmyfinalre-transformationfromIndia-rubberbacktoflesh?”

“Decidedlyhehashadtoomuchwine,”Ithought;andIdidnotknowwhatanswertomaketohisqueerquestion:howcouldItellwhetherhewascapableofbeingre-transformed?

“Youlookedverymuchpuzzled,MissEyre;andthoughyouarenotprettyanymorethanIamhandsome,yetapuzzledairbecomesyou;besides,itisconvenient,foritkeepsthosesearchingeyesofyoursawayfrommyphysiognomy,andbusiesthemwiththeworstedflowersoftherug;sopuzzleon.Younglady,Iamdisposedtobegregariousandcommunicativeto-night.”

Withthisannouncementherosefromhischair,andstood,leaninghisarmonthemarblemantelpiece:in

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thatattitudehisshapewasseenplainlyaswellashisface;hisunusualbreadthofchest,disproportionatealmosttohislengthoflimb.Iamsuremostpeoplewouldhavethoughthimanuglyman;yettherewassomuchunconsciousprideinhisport;somucheaseinhisdemeanour;suchalookofcompleteindifferencetohisownexternalappearance;sohaughtyarelianceonthepowerofotherqualities,intrinsicoradventitious,toatoneforthelackofmerepersonalattractiveness,that,inlookingathim,oneinevitablysharedtheindifference,and,eveninablind,imperfectsense,putfaithintheconfidence.

“Iamdisposedtobegregariousandcommunicativeto-night,”herepeated,“andthatiswhyIsentforyou:thefireandthechandelierwerenotsufficientcompanyforme;norwouldPilothavebeen,fornoneofthesecantalk.Adeleisadegreebetter,butstillfarbelowthemark;Mrs.Fairfaxditto;you,Iampersuaded,cansuitmeifyouwill:youpuzzledmethefirsteveningIinvitedyoudownhere.Ihavealmostforgottenyousince:otherideashavedrivenyoursfrommyhead;butto-nightIamresolvedtobeatease;todismisswhatimportunes,andrecallwhatpleases.Itwouldpleasemenowtodrawyouout—tolearnmoreofyou—thereforespeak.”

Insteadofspeaking,Ismiled;andnotaverycomplacentorsubmissivesmileeither.

“Speak,”heurged.

“Whatabout,sir?”

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“Whateveryoulike.Ileaveboththechoiceofsubjectandthemanneroftreatingitentirelytoyourself.”

AccordinglyIsatandsaidnothing:“Ifheexpectsmetotalkforthemeresakeoftalkingandshowingoff,hewillfindhehasaddressedhimselftothewrong

person,”Ithought.

“Youaredumb,MissEyre.”

Iwasdumbstill.Hebenthisheadalittletowardsme,andwithasinglehastyglanceseemedtodiveintomyeyes.

“Stubborn?”hesaid,“andannoyed.Ah!itisconsistent.Iputmyrequestinanabsurd,almostinsolentform.MissEyre,Ibegyourpardon.Thefactis,onceforall,Idon’twishtotreatyoulikeaninferior:thatis”(correctinghimself),“Iclaimonlysuchsuperiorityasmustresultfromtwentyyears’differenceinageandacentury’sadvanceinexperience.Thisislegitimate,etj’ytiens,asAdelewouldsay;anditisbyvirtueofthissuperiority,andthisalone,thatIdesireyoutohavethegoodnesstotalktomealittlenow,anddivertmythoughts,whicharegalledwithdwellingononepoint—cankeringasarustynail.”

Hehaddeignedanexplanation,almostanapology,andIdidnotfeelinsensibletohiscondescension,andwouldnotseemso.

“Iamwillingtoamuseyou,ifIcan,sir—quitewilling;butIcannotintroduceatopic,becausehowdoIknow

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whatwillinterestyou?Askmequestions,andIwilldomybesttoanswerthem.”

“Then,inthefirstplace,doyouagreewithmethatIhavearighttobealittlemasterful,abrupt,perhapsexacting,sometimes,onthegroundsIstated,namely,thatIamoldenoughtobeyourfather,andthatIhavebattledthroughavariedexperiencewithmanymenofmanynations,androamedoverhalftheglobe,whileyouhavelivedquietlywithonesetofpeopleinonehouse?”

“Doasyouplease,sir.”

“Thatisnoanswer;orratheritisaveryirritating,becauseaveryevasiveone.Replyclearly.”

“Idon’tthink,sir,youhavearighttocommandme,merelybecauseyouareolderthanI,orbecauseyouhaveseenmoreoftheworldthanIhave;yourclaimtosuperioritydependsontheuseyouhavemadeofyourtimeandexperience.”

“Humph!Promptlyspoken.ButIwon’tallowthat,seeingthatitwouldneversuitmycase,asIhavemadeanindifferent,nottosayabad,useofbothadvantages.Leavingsuperiorityoutofthequestion,then,youmuststillagreetoreceivemyordersnowandthen,withoutbeingpiquedorhurtbythetoneofcommand.Willyou?”

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Ismiled:IthoughttomyselfMr.RochesterISpeculiar—heseemstoforgetthathepaysme30poundsperannumforreceivinghisorders.“Thesmileisverywell,”saidhe,catchinginstantlythepassingexpression;“butspeaktoo.”“Iwasthinking,sir,thatveryfewmasterswouldtroublethemselvestoinquirewhetherornottheirpaidsubordinateswerepiquedandhurtbytheirorders.”“Paidsubordinates!What!youaremypaidsubordinate,areyou?Ohyes,Ihadforgottenthesalary!Wellthen,onthatmercenaryground,willyouagreetoletmehectoralittle?”“No,sir,notonthatground;but,onthegroundthatyoudidforgetit,andthatyoucarewhetherornotadependentiscomfortableinhisdependency,Iagreeheartily.”“Andwillyouconsenttodispensewithagreatmanyconventionalformsandphrases,withoutthinkingthattheomissionarisesfrominsolence?”

“Iamsure,sir,Ishouldnevermistakeinformalityfor

insolence:oneIratherlike,theothernothingfree-bornwouldsubmitto,evenforasalary.”“Humbug!Mostthingsfree-bornwillsubmittoanythingforasalary;therefore,keeptoyourself,anddon’tventureongeneralitiesofwhichyouareintenselyignorant.However,Imentallyshakehandswithyouforyouranswer,despiteitsinaccuracy;andasmuchforthe

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mannerinwhichitwassaid,asforthesubstanceofthespeech;themannerwasfrankandsincere;onedoesnotoftenseesuchamanner:no,onthecontrary,affectation,orcoldness,orstupid,coarse-mindedmisapprehensionofone’smeaningaretheusualrewardsofcandour.Notthreeinthreethousandrawschool-girl-governesseswouldhaveansweredmeasyouhavejustdone.ButIdon’tmeantoflatteryou:ifyouarecastinadifferentmouldtothemajority,itisnomeritofyours:Naturedidit.Andthen,afterall,Igotoofastinmyconclusions:forwhatIyetknow,youmaybenobetterthantherest;youmayhaveintolerabledefectstocounterbalanceyourfewgoodpoints.”

“Andsomayyou,”Ithought.Myeyemethisastheideacrossedmymind:heseemedtoreadtheglance,answeringasifitsimporthadbeenspokenaswellasimagined-

“Yes,yes,youareright,”saidhe;“Ihaveplentyoffaultsofmyown:Iknowit,andIdon’twishtopalliatethem,Iassureyou.GodwotIneednotbetoosevereaboutothers;Ihaveapastexistence,aseriesofdeeds,acolouroflifetocontemplatewithinmyownbreast,whichmightwellcallmysneersandcensuresfrommyneighbourstomyself.Istarted,orrather(forlikeotherdefaulters,Iliketolayhalftheblameonillfortuneandadversecircumstances)wasthrustontoawrongtackattheageofone-and-twenty,andhaveneverrecoveredtherightcoursesince:butImighthavebeenverydifferent;Imighthavebeenasgoodasyou—wiser—

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almostasstainless.Ienvyyouyourpeaceofmind,yourcleanconscience,yourunpollutedmemory.Littlegirl,amemorywithoutblotorcontaminationmustbeanexquisitetreasure—aninexhaustiblesourceofpurerefreshment:isitnot?”

“Howwasyourmemorywhenyouwereeighteen,sir?”

“Allrightthen;limpid,salubrious:nogushofbilgewaterhadturnedittofetidpuddle.Iwasyourequalateighteen—quiteyourequal.Naturemeantmetobe,onthewhole,agoodman,MissEyre;oneofthebetterkind,andyouseeIamnotso.Youwouldsayyoudon’tseeit;atleastIflattermyselfIreadasmuchinyoureye(beware,by-the-bye,whatyouexpresswiththatorgan;Iamquickatinterpretingitslanguage).Thentakemywordforit,—Iamnotavillain:youarenottosupposethat—nottoattributetomeanysuchbademinence;but,owing,Iverilybelieve,rathertocircumstancesthantomynaturalbent,Iamatritecommonplacesinner,hackneyedinallthepoorpettydissipationswithwhichtherichandworthlesstrytoputonlife.DoyouwonderthatIavowthistoyou?Know,thatinthecourseofyourfuturelifeyouwilloftenfindyourselfelectedtheinvoluntaryconfidantofyouracquaintances’secrets:peoplewillinstinctivelyfindout,asIhavedone,thatitisnotyourfortetotellofyourself,buttolistenwhileotherstalkofthemselves;theywillfeel,too,thatyoulistenwithnomalevolentscornoftheirindiscretion,butwithakindofinnatesympathy;notthelesscomfortingandencouragingbecauseitisveryunobtrusiveinitsmanifestations.”

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“Howdoyouknow?—howcanyouguessallthis,sir?”

“Iknowitwell;thereforeIproceedalmostasfreelyasifIwerewritingmythoughtsinadiary.Youwouldsay,Ishouldhavebeensuperiortocircumstances;soIshould—soIshould;butyouseeIwasnot.Whenfatewrongedme,Ihadnotthewisdomtoremaincool:Iturneddesperate;thenIdegenerated.Now,whenanyvicioussimpletonexcitesmydisgustbyhispaltryribaldry,IcannotflattermyselfthatIambetterthanhe:IamforcedtoconfessthatheandIareonalevel.IwishIhadstoodfirm—GodknowsIdo!Dreadremorsewhenyouaretemptedtoerr,MissEyre;

remorseisthepoisonoflife.”

“Repentanceissaidtobeitscure,sir.”

“Itisnotitscure.Reformationmaybeitscure;andIcouldreform—Ihavestrengthyetforthat—if—butwhereistheuseofthinkingofit,hampered,burdened,cursedasIam?Besides,sincehappinessisirrevocablydeniedme,Ihavearighttogetpleasureoutoflife:andIWILLgetit,costwhatitmay.”

“Thenyouwilldegeneratestillmore,sir.”

“Possibly:yetwhyshouldI,ifIcangetsweet,freshpleasure?AndImaygetitassweetandfreshasthewild

honeythebeegathersonthemoor.”

“Itwillsting—itwilltastebitter,sir.”

“Howdoyouknow?—younevertriedit.Howveryserious—howverysolemnyoulook:andyouareas

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ignorantofthematterasthiscameohead”(takingonefromthemantelpiece).“Youhavenorighttopreachtome,youneophyte,thathavenotpassedtheporchoflife,andareabsolutelyunacquaintedwithitsmysteries.”

“Ionlyremindyouofyourownwords,sir:yousaiderrorbroughtremorse,andyoupronouncedremorsethepoisonofexistence.”

“Andwhotalksoferrornow?Iscarcelythinkthenotionthatflitteredacrossmybrainwasanerror.Ibelieveitwasaninspirationratherthanatemptation:itwasverygenial,verysoothing—Iknowthat.Hereitcomesagain!Itisnodevil,Iassureyou;orifitbe,ithasputontherobesofanangeloflight.IthinkImustadmitsofairaguestwhenitasksentrancetomyheart.”

“Distrustit,sir;itisnotatrueangel.”

“Oncemore,howdoyouknow?Bywhatinstinctdoyoupretendtodistinguishbetweenafallenseraphoftheabyssandamessengerfromtheeternalthrone—betweenaguideandaseducer?”

“Ijudgedbyyourcountenance,sir,whichwastroubledwhenyousaidthesuggestionhadreturneduponyou.Ifeelsureitwillworkyoumoremiseryifyoulistentoit.”

“Notatall—itbearsthemostgraciousmessageintheworld:fortherest,youarenotmyconscience-keeper,

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sodon’tmakeyourselfuneasy.Here,comein,bonnywanderer!”

Hesaidthisasifhespoketoavision,viewlesstoanyeyebuthisown;then,foldinghisarms,whichhehadhalfextended,onhischest,heseemedtoencloseintheirembracetheinvisiblebeing.

“Now,”hecontinued,againaddressingme,“Ihavereceivedthepilgrim—adisguiseddeity,asIverilybelieve.Alreadyithasdonemegood:myheartwasasortofcharnel;itwillnowbeashrine.”

“Tospeaktruth,sir,Idon’tunderstandyouatall:Icannotkeepuptheconversation,becauseithasgotoutofmydepth.Onlyonething,Iknow:yousaidyouwerenotasgoodasyoushouldliketobe,andthatyouregrettedyourownimperfection;—onethingIcancomprehend:youintimatedthattohaveasulliedmemorywasaperpetualbane.Itseemstome,thatifyoutriedhard,youwouldintimefinditpossibletobecomewhatyouyourselfwouldapprove;andthatiffromthisdayyoubeganwithresolutiontocorrectyourthoughtsandactions,youwouldinafewyearshavelaidupanewandstainlessstoreofrecollections,towhichyoumightrevertwithpleasure.”

“Justlythought;rightlysaid,MissEyre;and,atthismoment,Iampavinghellwithenergy.”

“Sir?”

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“Iamlayingdowngoodintentions,whichIbelievedurableasflint.Certainly,myassociatesandpursuits

shallbeotherthantheyhavebeen.”

“Andbetter?”

“Andbetter—somuchbetteraspureoreisthanfouldross.Youseemtodoubtme;Idon’tdoubtmyself:Iknowwhatmyaimis,whatmymotivesare;andatthismomentIpassalaw,unalterableasthatoftheMedesandPersians,thatbothareright.”

“Theycannotbe,sir,iftheyrequireanewstatutetolegalisethem.”

“Theyare,MissEyre,thoughtheyabsolutelyrequireanewstatute:unheard-ofcombinationsofcircumstancesdemandunheard-ofrules.”

“Thatsoundsadangerousmaxim,sir;becauseonecanseeatoncethatitisliabletoabuse.”

“Sententioussage!soitis:butIswearbymyhouseholdgodsnottoabuseit.”

“Youarehumanandfallible.”

“Iam:soareyou—whatthen?”

“Thehumanandfallibleshouldnotarrogateapowerwithwhichthedivineandperfectalonecanbesafely

intrusted.”

“Whatpower?”

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“Thatofsayingofanystrange,unsanctionedlineofaction,—‘Letitberight.’”

“’Letitberight’—theverywords:youhavepronouncedthem.”

“MAYitberightthen,”Isaid,asIrose,deemingituselesstocontinueadiscoursewhichwasalldarknesstome;and,besides,sensiblethatthecharacterofmyinterlocutorwasbeyondmypenetration;atleast,beyonditspresentreach;andfeelingtheuncertainty,thevaguesenseofinsecurity,whichaccompaniesa

convictionofignorance.

“Whereareyougoing?”

“ToputAdeletobed:itispastherbedtime.”“Youareafraidofme,becauseItalklikeaSphynx.”

“Yourlanguageisenigmatical,sir:butthoughIambewildered,Iamcertainlynotafraid.”

“YouAREafraid—yourself-lovedreadsablunder.”

“InthatsenseIdofeelapprehensive—Ihavenowishtotalknonsense.”

“Ifyoudid,itwouldbeinsuchagrave,quietmanner,Ishouldmista