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; physically speaking; but then there was an expression of almost insupportable haughtiness in her bearing and countenance。 She had Roman features and a double chin; disappearing into a throat like a pillar: these features appeared to me not only inflated and darkened; but even furrowed with pride; and the chin was sustained by the same principle; in a position of almost preternatural erectness。 She had; likewise; a fierce and a hard eye: it reminded me of Mrs。 Reed’s; she mouthed her words in speaking; her voice was deep; its inflections very pompous; very dogmatical;—very intolerable; in short。 A crimson velvet robe; and a shawl turban of some gold…wrought Indian fabric; invested her (I suppose she thought) with a truly imperial dignity。
Blanche and Mary were of equal stature;—straight and tall as poplars。 Mary was too slim for her height; but Blanche was moulded like a Dian。 I regarded her; of course; with special interest。 First; I wished to see whether her appearance accorded with Mrs。 Fairfax’s description; secondly; whether it at all resembled the fancy miniature I had painted of her; and thirdly—it will out!— whether it were such as I should fancy likely to suit Mr。 Rochester’s taste。
As far as person went; she answered point for point; both to my picture and Mrs。 Fairfax’s description。 The noble bust; the sloping shoulders; the graceful neck; the dark eyes and black ringlets were all there;—but her face? Her face was like her mother’s; a youthful unfurrowed likeness: the same low brow; the same high features; the same pride。 It was not; however; so saturnine a pride! she laughed continually; her laugh was satirical; and so was the habitual expression of her arched and haughty lip。
Genius is said to be self…conscious。 I cannot tell whether Miss Ingram was a genius; but she was self…conscious—remarkably self… conscious indeed。 She entered into a discourse on botany with the gentle Mrs。 Dent。 It seemed Mrs。 Dent had not studied that science: though; as she said; she liked flowers; “especially wild ones;” Miss Ingram had; and she ran over its vocabulary with an air。 I presently perceived she was (what is vernacularly termed) trailing Mrs。 Dent; that is; playing on her ignorance—her trail might be clever; but it was decidedly not good…natured。 She played: her execution was brilliant; she sang: her voice was fine; she talked French apart to her mamma; and she talked it well; with fluency and with a good accent。
Mary had a milder and more open countenance than Blanche; softer features too; and a skin some shades fairer (Miss Ingram was dark as a Spaniard)—but Mary was deficient in life: her face lacked expression; her eye lustre; she had nothing to say; and having once taken her seat; remained fixed like a statue in its niche。 The sisters were both attired in spotless white。
And did I now think Miss Ingram such a choice as Mr。 Rochester would be likely to make? I could not tell—I did not know his taste in female beauty。 If he liked the majestic; she was the very type of majesty: then she was acplished; sprightly。 Most gentlemen would admire her; I thought; and that he did admire her; I already seemed to have obtained proof: to remove the last shade of doubt; it remained but to see them together。
You are not to suppose; reader; that Adèle has all this time been sitting motionless on the stool at my feet: no; when the ladies entered; she rose; advanced to meet them; made a stately reverence; and said with gravity—
“Bon jour; mesdames。”
And Miss Ingram had looked down at her with a mocking air; and exclaimed; “Oh; what a little puppet!”
Lady Lynn had remarked; “It is Mr。 Rochester’s ward; I suppose—the little French girl he was speaking of。”
Mrs。 Dent had kindly taken her hand; and given her a kiss。
Amy and Louisa Eshton had cried out simultaneously—“What a love of a child!”
And then they had called her to a sofa; where she now sat; ensconced between them; chattering alternately in French and broken English; absorbing not only the young ladies’ attention; but that of Mrs。 Eshton and Lady Lynn; and getting spoilt to her heart’s content。
At last coffee is brought in; and the gentlemen are summoned。 I sit in the shade—if any shade there be in this brilliantly…lit apartment; the window…curtain half hides me。 Again the arch yawns; they e。 The collective appearance of the gentlemen; like that of the ladies; is very imposing: they are all costumed in black; most of them are tall; some young。 Henry and Frederick Lynn are very dashing sparks indeed; and Colonel Dent is a fine soldierly man。 Mr。 Eshton; the magistrate of the district; is gentleman…like: his hair is quite white; his eyebrows and whiskers still dark; which gives him something of the appearance of a “père noble de théatre。” Lord Ingram; like his sisters; is very tall; like them; also; he is handsome; but he shares Mary’s apathetic and listless look: he seems to have more length of limb than vivacity of blood or vigour of brain。
And where is Mr。 Rochester?
He es in last: I am not looking at the arch; yet I see him enter。 I try to concentrate my attention on those ting…needles; on the meshes of the purse I am forming—I wish to think only of the work I have in my hands; to see only the silver beads and silk threads that lie in my lap; whereas; I distinctly behold his figure; and I inevitably recall the moment when I last saw it; just after I had rendered him; what he deemed; an essential service; and he; holding my hand; and looking down on my face; surveyed me with eyes that revealed a heart full and eager to overflow; in whose emotions I had a part。 How near had I approached him at that moment! What had occurred since; calculated to change his and my relative positions? Yet now; how distant; how far estranged we were! So far estranged; that I did not expect him to e and speak to me。 I did not wonder; when; without looking at me; he took a seat at the other side of the room; and began conversing with some of the ladies。
No sooner did I see that his attention was riveted on them; and that I might gaze without being observed; than my eyes were drawn involuntarily to his face; I could not keep their lids under control: they w