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Ere long a bell tinkled; and the curtain drew up。 Within the arch; the bulky figure of Sir George Lynn; whom Mr。 Rochester had likewise chosen; was seen enveloped in a white sheet: before him; on a table; lay open a large book; and at his side stood Amy Eshton; draped in Mr。 Rochester’s cloak; and holding a book in her hand。 Somebody; unseen; rang the bell merrily; then Adèle (who had insisted on being one of her guardian’s party); bounded forward; scattering round her the contents of a basket of flowers she carried on her arm。 Then appeared the magnificent figure of Miss Ingram; clad in white; a long veil on her head; and a wreath of roses round her brow; by her side walked Mr。 Rochester; and together they drew near the table。 They knelt; while Mrs。 Dent and Louisa Eshton; dressed also in white; took up their stations behind them。 A ceremony followed; in dumb show; in which it was easy to recognise the pantomime of a marriage。 At its termination; Colonel Dent and his party consulted in whispers for two minutes; then the Colonel called out—
“Bride!” Mr。 Rochester bowed; and the curtain fell。
A considerable interval elapsed before it again rose。 Its second rising displayed a more elaborately prepared scene than the last。 The drawing…room; as I have before observed; was raised two steps above the dining…room; and on the top of the upper step; placed a yard or two back within the room; appeared a large marble basin— which I recognised as an ornament of the conservatory—where it usually stood; surrounded by exotics; and tenanted by gold fish—and whence it must have been transported with some trouble; on account of its size and weight。
Seated on the carpet; by the side of this basin; was seen Mr。 Rochester; costumed in shawls; with a turban on his head。 His dark eyes and swarthy skin and Paynim features suited the costume exactly: he looked the very model of an Eastern emir; an agent or a victim of the bowstring。 Presently advanced into view Miss Ingram。 She; too; was attired in oriental fashion: a crimson scarf tied sash…like round the waist: an embroidered handkerchief knotted about her temples; her beautifully…moulded arms bare; one of them upraised in the act of supporting a pitcher; poised gracefully on her head。 Both her cast of form and feature; her plexion and her general air; suggested the idea of some Israelitish princess of the patriarchal days; and such was doubtless the character she intended to represent。
She approached the basin; and bent over it as if to fill her pitcher; she again lifted it to her head。 The personage on the well…brink now seemed to accost her; to make some request:… “She hasted; let down her pitcher on her hand; and gave him to drink。” From the bosom of his robe he then produced a casket; opened it and showed magnificent bracelets and earrings; she acted astonishment and admiration; kneeling; he laid the treasure at her feet; incredulity and delight were expressed by her looks and gestures; the stranger fastened the bracelets on her arms and the rings in her ears。 It was Eliezer and Rebecca: the camels only were wanting。
The divining party again laid their heads together: apparently they could not agree about the word or syllable the scene illustrated。 Colonel Dent; their spokesman; demanded “the tableau of the whole;” whereupon the curtain again descended。
On its third rising only a portion of the drawing…room was disclosed; the rest being concealed by a screen; hung with some sort of dark and coarse drapery。 The marble basin was removed; in its place; stood a deal table and a kitchen chair: these objects were visible by a very dim light proceeding from a horn lantern; the wax candles being all extinguished。
Amidst this sordid scene; sat a man with his clenched hands resting on his knees; and his eyes bent on the ground。 I knew Mr。 Rochester; though the begrimed face; the disordered dress (his coat hanging loose from one arm; as if it had been almost torn from his back in a scuffle); the desperate and scowling countenance; the rough; bristling hair might well have disguised him。 As he moved; a chain clanked; to his wrists were attached fetters。
“Bridewell!” exclaimed Colonel Dent; and the charade was solved。
A sufficient interval having elapsed for the performers to resume their ordinary costume; they re…entered the dining…room。 Mr。 Rochester led in Miss Ingram; she was plimenting him on his acting。
“Do you know;” said she; “that; of the three characters; I liked you in the last best? Oh; had you but lived a few years earlier; what a gallant gentleman…highwayman you would have made!”
“Is all the soot washed from my face?” he asked; turning it towards her。
“Alas! yes: the more’s the pity! Nothing could be more being to your plexion than that ruffian’s rouge。”
“You would like a hero of the road then?”
“An English hero of the road would be the next best thing to an Italian bandit; and that could only be surpassed by a Levantine pirate。”
“Well; whatever I am; remember you are my wife; we were married an hour since; in the presence of all these witnesses。” She giggled; and her colour rose。
“Now; Dent;” continued Mr。 Rochester; “it is your turn。” And as the other party withdrew; he and his band took the vacated seats。 Miss Ingram placed herself at her leader’s right hand; the other diviners filled the chairs on each side of him and her。 I did not now watch the actors; I no longer waited with interest for the curtain to rise; my attention was absorbed by the spectators; my eyes; erewhile fixed on the arch; were now irresistibly attracted to the semicircle of chairs。 What charade Colonel Dent and his party played; what word they chose; hoselves; I no longer remember; but I still see the consultation which followed each scene: I see Mr。 Rochester turn to Miss Ingram; and Miss Ingram to him; I see her incline her head towards him; till the jetty curls almost touch his shoulder and wave against his cheek; I hear their mutual whisperings; I recall their interchanged glances; and something even of the feeling roused by the spectacle returns in memory at this moment。
I have told you; reader; that I had learnt to love Mr。 Rochester: I could not unlove him now;