Picture Dictionary and Books Logo
After breakfast, Adèle and I withdrew to the library, which room, it appears, Mr. Rochester had directed should be used as the schoolroom. Voice Reading
Most of the books were locked up behind glass doors; but there was one bookcase left open containing everything that could be needed in the way of elementary works, and several volumes of light literature, poetry, biography, travels, a few romances, &c. Voice Reading
I suppose he had considered that these were all the governess would require for her private perusal; and, indeed, they contented me amply for the present; compared with the scanty pickings I had now and then been able to glean at Lowood, they seemed to offer an abundant harvest of entertainment and information. Voice Reading
In this room, too, there was a cabinet piano, quite new and of superior tone; also an easel for painting and a pair of globes. Voice Reading
I found my pupil sufficiently docile, though disinclined to apply: she had not been used to regular occupation of any kind. Voice Reading
I felt it would be injudicious to confine her too much at first; so, when I had talked to her a great deal, and got her to learn a little, and when the morning had advanced to noon, I allowed her to return to her nurse. Voice Reading
I then proposed to occupy myself till dinner-time in drawing some little sketches for her use. Voice Reading
As I was going upstairs to fetch my portfolio and pencils, Mrs. Fairfax called to me: "Your morning school-hours are over now, I suppose," said she. Voice Reading
She was in a room the folding-doors of which stood open: I went in when she addressed me. Voice Reading
It was a large, stately apartment, with purple chairs and curtains, a Turkey carpet, walnut-panelled walls, one vast window rich in slanted glass, and a lofty ceiling, nobly moulded. Voice Reading
Mrs. Fairfax was dusting some vases of fine purple spar, which stood on a sideboard. Voice Reading
"What a beautiful room!" I exclaimed, as I looked round; for I had never before seen any half so imposing. Voice Reading
"Yes; this is the dining-room. I have just opened the window, to let in a little air and sunshine; for everything gets so damp in apartments that are seldom inhabited; the drawing-room yonder feels like a vault." Voice Reading
She pointed to a wide arch corresponding to the window, and hung like it with a Tyrian-dyed curtain, now looped up. Voice Reading
Mounting to it by two broad steps, and looking through, I thought I caught a glimpse of a fairy place, so bright to my novice-eyes appeared the view beyond. Voice Reading
Yet it was merely a very pretty drawing-room, and within it a boudoir, both spread with white carpets, on which seemed laid brilliant garlands of flowers; both ceiled with snowy mouldings of white grapes and vine-leaves, beneath which glowed in rich contrast crimson couches and ottomans; while the ornaments on the pale Parian mantelpiece were of sparkling Bohemian glass, ruby red; and between the windows large mirrors repeated the general blending of snow and fire. Voice Reading
"In what order you keep these rooms, Mrs. Fairfax!" said I. "No dust, no canvas coverings: except that the air feels chilly, one would think they were inhabited daily." Voice Reading
"Why, Miss Eyre, though Mr. Rochester's visits here are rare, they are always sudden and unexpected; and as I observed that it put him out to find everything swathed up, and to have a bustle of arrangement on his arrival, I thought it best to keep the rooms in readiness." Voice Reading
"Is Mr. Rochester an exacting, fastidious sort of man?" Voice Reading
"Not particularly so; but he has a gentleman's tastes and habits, and he expects to have things managed in conformity to them." Voice Reading
"Do you like him? Is he generally liked?" Voice Reading
"Oh, yes; the family have always been respected here. Almost all the land in this neighbourhood, as far as you can see, has belonged to the Rochesters time out of mind." Voice Reading
"Well, but, leaving his land out of the question, do you like him? Is he liked for himself?" Voice Reading
"I have no cause to do otherwise than like him; and I believe he is considered a just and liberal landlord by his tenants: but he has never lived much amongst them." Voice Reading
"But has he no peculiarities? What, in short, is his character?" Voice Reading

Table of Contents