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"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, accomplished 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 comes, with a longer or clearer rent-roll,-he's dished-"

"But, mother, I did not come 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 compressed 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.

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