ued　my　curiosity　more　than　ever。

“It　is　a　very　strange　piece　of　business；”　I　added；　“I　must　know　more　about　it。”

“Another　time。”

“No；　to…night！—to…night！”　and　as　he　turned　from　the　door；　I　placed　myself　between　it　and　him。　He　looked　rather　embarrassed。

“You　certainly　shall　not　go　till　you　have　told　me　all；”　I　said。

“I　would　rather　not　just　now。”

“You　shall！—you　must！”

“I　would　rather　Diana　or　Mary　informed　you。”

Of　course　these　objections　wrought　my　eagerness　to　a　climax：　gratified　it　must　be；　and　that　without　delay；　and　I　told　him　so。

“But　I　apprised　you　that　I　was　a　hard　man；”　said　he；　“difficult　to　persuade。”

“And　I　am　a　hard　woman；—impossible　to　put　off。”

“And　then；”　he　pursued；　“I　am　cold：　no　fervour　infects　me。”

“Whereas　I　am　hot；　and　fire　dissolves　ice。　The　blaze　there　has　thawed　all　the　snow　from　your　cloak；　by　the　same　token；　it　has　streamed　on　to　my　floor；　and　made　it　like　a　trampled　street。　As　you　hope　ever　to　be　forgiven；　Mr。　Rivers；　the　high　crime　and　misdemeanour　of　spoiling　a　sanded　kitchen；　tell　me　what　I　wish　to　know。”

“Well；　then；”　he　said；　“I　yield；　if　not　to　your　earnestness；　to　your　perseverance：　as　stone　is　worn　by　continual　dropping。　Besides；　you　must　know　some　day；—as　well　now　as　later。　Your　name　is　Jane　Eyre？”

“Of　course：　that　was　all　settled　before。”

“You　are　not；　perhaps；　aware　that　I　am　your　namesake？—that　I　was　christened　St。　John　Eyre　Rivers？”