第26部分(第5/8 頁)

return　these　visits；　as　he　generally　did　not　e　back　till　late　at　night。

During　this　interval；　even　Adèle　was　seldom　sent　for　to　his　presence；　and　all　my　acquaintance　with　him　was　confined　to　an　occasional　rencontre　in　the　hall；　on　the　stairs；　or　in　the　gallery；　when　he　would　sometimes　pass　me　haughtily　and　coldly；　just　acknowledging　my　presence　by　a　distant　nod　or　a　cool　glance；　and　sometimes　bow　and　smile　with　gentlemanlike　affability。　His　changes　of　mood　did　not　offend　me；　because　I　saw　that　I　had　nothing　to　do　with　their　alternation；　the　ebb　and　flow　depended　on　causes　quite　disconnected　with　me。

One　day　he　had　had　pany　to　dinner；　and　had　sent　for　my　portfolio；　in　order；　doubtless；　to　exhibit　its　contents：　the　gentlemen　went　away　early；　to　attend　a　public　meeting　at　Millcote；　as　Mrs。　Fairfax　informed　me；　but　the　night　being　wet　and　inclement；　Mr。　Rochester　did　not　acpany　them。　Soon　after　they　were　gone　he　rang　the　bell：　a　message　came　that　I　and　Adèle　were　to　go　downstairs。　I　brushed　Adèle’s　hair　and　made　her　neat；　and　having　ascertained　that　I　was　myself　in　my　usual　Quaker　trim；　where　there　was　nothing　to　retouch—　all　being　too　close　and　plain；　braided　locks　included；　to　admit　of　disarrangement—we　descended；　Adèle　wondering　whether　the　petit　coffre　was　at　length　e；　for；　owing　to　some　mistake；　its　arrival　had　hitherto　been　delayed。　She　was　gratified：　there　it　stood；　a　little　carton；　on　the　table　when　we　entered　the　dining…room。　She　appeared　to　know　it　by　inst