第37部分(第4/8 頁)

f　“playing　charades；”　but　in　my　ignorance　I　did　not　understand　the　term。　The　servants　were　called　in；　the　dining…room　tables　wheeled　away；　the　lights　otherwise　disposed；　the　chairs　placed　in　a　semicircle　opposite　the　arch。　While　Mr。　Rochester　and　the　other　gentlemen　directed　these　alterations；　the　ladies　were　running　up　and　down　stairs　ringing　for　their　maids。　Mrs。　Fairfax　was　summoned　to　give　information　respecting　the　resources　of　the　house　in　shawls；　dresses；　draperies　of　any　kind；　and　certain　wardrobes　of　the　third　storey　were　ransacked；　and　their　contents；　in　the　shape　of　brocaded　and　hooped　petticoats；　satin　sacques；　black　modes；　lace　lappets；　&c。；　were　brought　down　in　armfuls　by　the　abigails；　then　a　selection　was　made；　and　such　things　as　were　chosen　were　carried　to　the　boudoir　within　the　drawing…room。

Meantime；　Mr。　Rochester　had　again　summoned　the　ladies　round　him；　and　was　selecting　certain　of　their　number　to　be　of　his　party。　“Miss　Ingram　is　mine；　of　course；”　said　he：　afterwards　he　named　the　two　Misses　Eshton；　and　Mrs。　Dent。　He　looked　at　me：　I　happened　to　be　near　him；　as　I　had　been　fastening　the　clasp　of　Mrs。　Dent’s　bracelet；　which　had　got　loose。

“Will　you　play？”　he　asked。　I　shook　my　head。　He　did　not　insist；　which　I　rather　feared　he　would　have　done；　he　alloy　usual　seat。

He　and　his　aids　now　withdrew　behind　the　curtain：　the　other　party；　which　was　headed　by　Colonel　Dent；　sat　down　on　the　crescent　of　chairs。　One　of　the　gentlemen；　Mr。　Eshton；　observing　m