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“I like to observe all the faces and all the figures。”
“But do you never single one from the rest—or it may be; two?”
“I do frequently; when the gestures or looks of a pair seem telling a tale: it amuses me to watch them。”
“What tale do you like best to hear?”
“Oh; I have not much choice! They generally run on the same theme— courtship; and promise to end in the same catastrophe—marriage。”
“And do you like that monotonous theme?”
“Positively; I don’t care about it: it is nothing to me。”
“Nothing to you? When a lady; young and full of life and health; charming with beauty and endowed with the gifts of rank and fortune; sits and smiles in the eyes of a gentleman you—”
“I what?”
“You know—and perhaps think well of。”
“I don’t know the gentlemen here。 I have scarcely interchanged a syllable with one of them; and as to thinking well of them; I consider some respectable; and stately; and middle…aged; and others young; dashing; handsome; and lively: but certainly they are all at liberty to be the recipients of whose smiles they please; without my feeling disposed to consider the transaction of any moment to me。”
“You don’t know the gentlemen here? You have not exchanged a syllable with one of them? Will you say that of the master of the house!”
“He is not at home。”
“A profound remark! A most ingenious quibble! He went to Millcote this morning; and will be back here to…night or to…morrow: does that circumstance exclude him from the list of your acquaintance— blot him; as it were; out of existence?”
“No; but I can scarcely see what Mr。 Rochester has to do with the theme you had introduced。”
“I was talking of ladies smiling in the eyes of gentlemen; and of late so many smiles have been shed into Mr。 Rochester’s eyes that they overflow like two cups filled above the brim: have you never remarked that?”
“Mr。 Rochester has a right to enjoy the society of his guests。”
“No question about his right: but have you never observed that; of all the tales told here about matrimony; Mr。 Rochester has been favoured with the most lively and the most continuous?”
“The eagerness of a listener quickens the tongue of a narrator。” I said this rather to myself than to the gipsy; whose strange talk; voice; manner; had by this time wrapped me in a kind of dream。 One unexpected sentence came from her lips after another; till I got involved in a web of mystification; and wondered what unseen spirit had been sitting for weeks by my heart watching its workings and taking record of every pulse。
“Eagerness of a listener!” repeated she: “yes; Mr。 Rochester has sat by the hour; his ear inclined to the fascinating lips that took such delight in their task of municating; and Mr。 Rochester was so willing to receive and looked so grateful for the pastime given him; you have noticed this?”
“Grateful! I cannot remember detecting gratitude in his face。”
“Detecting! You have analysed; then。 And what did you detect; if not gratitude?”
I said nothing。
“You have seen love: have you not?—and; looking forward; you have seen him married; and beheld his bride happy?”
“Humph! Not exactly。 Your witch’s skill is rather at fault sometimes。”
“What the devil have you seen; then?”
“Never mind: I came here to inquire; not to confess。 Is it known that Mr。 Rochester is to be married?”
“Yes; and to the beautiful Miss Ingram。”
“Shortly?”
“Appearances would warrant that conclusion: and; no doubt (though; with an audacity that wants chastising out of you; you seem to question it); they will be a superlatively happy pair。 He must love such a handsome; noble; witty; acplished lady; and probably she loves him; or; if not his person; at least his purse。 I know she considers the Rochester estate eligible to the last degree; though (God pardon me!) I told her something on that point about an hour ago which made her look wondrous grave: the corners of her mouth fell half an inch。 I would advise her blackaviced suitor to look out: if another es; with a longer or clearer rent…roll;—he’s dished—”
“But; mother; I did not e to hear Mr。 Rochester’s fortune: I came to hear my own; and you have told me nothing of it。”
“Your fortune is yet doubtful: when I examined your face; one trait contradicted another。 Chance has meted you a measure of happiness: that I know。 I knew it before I came here this evening。 She has laid it carefully on one side for you。 I saw her do it。 It depends on yourself to stretch out your hand; and take it up: but whether you will do so; is the problem I study。 Kneel again on the rug。”
“Don’t keep me long; the fire scorches me。”
I knelt。 She did not stoop towards me; but only gazed; leaning back in her chair。 She began muttering;—
“The flame flickers in the eye; the eye shines like dew; it looks soft and full of feeling; it smiles at my jargon: it is susceptible; impression follows impression through its clear sphere; where it ceases to smile; it is sad; an unconscious lassitude weighs on the lid: that signifies melancholy resulting from loneliness。 It turns from me; it will not suffer further scrutiny; it seems to deny; by a mocking glance; the truth of the discoveries I have already made;—to disown the charge both of sensibility and chagrin: its pride and reserve only confirm me in my opinion。 The eye is favourable。
“As to the mouth; it delights at times in laughter; it is disposed to impart all that the brain conceives; though I daresay it would be silent on much the heart experiences。 Mobile and flexible; it was never intended to be pressed in the eternal silence of solitude: it is a mouth which should speak much and smile often; and have human affection for its interlocutor。 That feature too is propitious。
“I see no enemy to a fortunate issue but in the brow; and that brow professes to say;—‘I can live alone; if self…respect; and circumstances require me so to do。 I need not sell my soul to buy bliss。 I have an inward treasure born with me; which can keep me alive if all extraneous delights should be withheld; or offered only at a price I cannot afford to give。’ The forehead declares; ‘Reason sits firm and holds the reins; and she will not let the feelings bu