possession　of　an　ottoman　at　the　feet　of　Louisa：　Adèle　shares　it　with　him：　he　is　trying　to　talk　French　with　her；　and　Louisa　laughs　at　his　blunders。　With　whom　will　Blanche　Ingram　pair？　She　is　standing　alone　at　the　table；　bending　gracefully　over　an　album。　She　seems　waiting　to　be　sought；　but　she　will　not　wait　too　long：　she　herself　selects　a　mate。

Mr。　Rochester；　having　quitted　the　Eshtons；　stands　on　the　hearth　as　solitary　as　she　stands　by　the　table：　she　confronts　him；　taking　her　station　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　mantelpiece。

“Mr。　Rochester；　I　thought　you　were　not　fond　of　children？”

“Nor　am　I。”

“Then；　what　induced　you　to　take　charge　of　such　a　little　doll　as　that？”　（pointing　to　Adèle）。　“Where　did　you　pick　her　up？”

“I　did　not　pick　her　up；　she　was　left　on　my　hands。”

“You　should　have　sent　her　to　school。”

“I　could　not　afford　it：　schools　are　so　dear。”

“Why；　I　suppose　you　have　a　governess　for　her：　I　saw　a　person　with　her　just　now—is　she　gone？　Oh；　no！　there　she　is　still；　behind　the　window…curtain。　You　pay　her；　of　course；　I　should　think　it　quite　as　expensive；—more　so；　for　you　have　them　both　to　keep　in　addition。”

I　feared—or　should　I　say；　hoped？—the　allusion　to　me　would　make　Mr。　Rochester　glance　my　way；　and　I　involuntarily　shrank　farther　into　the　shade：　but　he　never　turned　his　eyes。

“I　have　not　considered　the　subject；”　said　he　indifferently；　looking　straight　before　him。

“No；　you　men　never　do　consider　economy　and