tand　on　one　side；　so　that；　screened　by　the　curtain；　I　could　see　without　being　seen。

The　ten　minutes　John　had　given　seemed　very　long；　but　at　last　wheels　were　heard；　four　equestrians　galloped　up　the　drive；　and　after　them　came　two　open　carriages。　Fluttering　veils　and　waving　plumes　filled　the　vehicles；　two　of　the　cavaliers　were　young；　dashing…looking　gentlemen；　the　third　was　Mr。　Rochester；　on　his　black　horse；　Mesrour；　Pilot　bounding　before　him；　at　his　side　rode　a　lady；　and　he　and　she　were　the　first　of　the　party。　Her　purple　riding…habit　almost　swept　the　ground；　her　veil　streamed　long　on　the　breeze；　mingling　with　its　transparent　folds；　and　gleaming　through　them；　shone　rich　raven　ringlets。

“Miss　Ingram！”　exclaimed　Mrs。　Fairfax；　and　away　she　hurried　to　her　post　below。

The　cavalcade；　following　the　sweep　of　the　drive；　quickly　turned　the　angle　of　the　house；　and　I　lost　sight　of　it。　Adèle　now　petitioned　to　go　down；　but　I　took　her　on　my　knee；　and　gave　her　to　understand　that　she　must　not　on　any　account　think　of　venturing　in　sight　of　the　ladies；　either　now　or　at　any　other　time；　unless　expressly　sent　for：　that　Mr。　Rochester　would　be　very　angry；　&c。　“Some　natural　tears　she　shed”　on　being　told　this；　but　as　I　began　to　look　very　grave；　she　consented　at　last　to　wipe　them。

A　joyous　stir　was　now　audible　in　the　hall：　gentlemen’s　deep　tones　and　ladies’　silvery　accents　blent　harmoniously　together；　and　distinguishable　above　all；　though　not　loud；　was　the　sonorous　voice　of　the