tter　myself　I　am　hard　and　tough　as　an　India…rubber　ball；　pervious；　though；　through　a　chink　or　two　still；　and　with　one　sentient　point　in　the　middle　of　the　lump。　Yes：　does　that　leave　hope　for　me？”

“Hope　of　what；　sir？”

“Of　my　final　re…transformation　from　India…rubber　back　to　flesh？”

“Decidedly　he　has　had　too　much　wine；”　I　thought；　and　I　did　not　know　what　answer　to　make　to　his　queer　question：　how　could　I　tell　whether　he　was　capable　of　being　re…transformed？

“You　looked　very　much　puzzled；　Miss　Eyre；　and　though　you　are　not　pretty　any　more　than　I　am　handsome；　yet　a　puzzled　air　bees　you；　besides；　it　is　convenient；　for　it　keeps　those　searching　eyes　of　yours　away　from　my　physiognomy；　and　busies　them　with　the　worsted　flowers　of　the　rug；　so　puzzle　on。　Young　lady；　I　am　disposed　to　be　gregarious　and　municative　to…night。”

With　this　announcement　he　rose　from　his　chair；　and　stood；　leaning　his　arm　on　the　marble　mantelpiece：　in　that　attitude　his　shape　was　seen　plainly　as　well　as　his　face；　his　unusual　breadth　of　chest；　disproportionate　almost　to　his　length　of　limb。　I　am　sure　most　people　would　have　thought　him　an　ugly　man；　yet　there　was　so　much　unconscious　pride　in　his　port；　so　much　ease　in　his　demeanour；　such　a　look　of　plete　indifference　to　his　own　external　appearance；　so　haughty　a　reliance　on　the　power　of　other　qualities；　intrinsic　or　adventitious；　to　atone　for　the　lack　of　mere　personal　attractiveness；　that；　in　looking　at　him；　one　inevitably　shared　the　indiffer