ked　an　instant；　had　resumed　its　floy　sheltered　corner　and　made　my　exit　by　the　side…door；　which　was　fortunately　near。　Thence　a　narrow　passage　led　into　the　hall：　in　crossing　it；　I　perceived　my　sandal　was　loose；　I　stopped　to　tie　it；　kneeling　down　for　that　purpose　on　the　mat　at　the　foot　of　the　staircase。　I　heard　the　dining…room　door　unclose；　a　gentleman　came　out；　rising　hastily；　I　stood　face　to　face　with　him：　it　was　Mr。　Rochester。

“How　do　you　do？”　he　asked。

“I　am　very　well；　sir。”

“Why　did　you　not　e　and　speak　to　me　in　the　room？”

I　thought　I　might　have　retorted　the　question　on　him　who　put　it：　but　I　would　not　take　that　freedom。　I　answered—

“I　did　not　wish　to　disturb　you；　as　you　seemed　engaged；　sir。”

“What　have　you　been　doing　during　my　absence？”

“Nothing　particular；　teaching　Adèle　as　usual。”

“And　getting　a　good　deal　paler　than　you　were—as　I　saw　at　first　sight。　What　is　the　matter？”

“Nothing　at　all；　sir。”

“Did　you　take　any　cold　that　night　you　half　drowned　me？”

“Not　she　least。”

“Return　to　the　drawing…room：　you　are　deserting　too　early。”

“I　am　tired；　sir。”

He　looked　at　me　for　a　minute。

“And　a　little　depressed；”　he　said。　“What　about？　Tell　me。”

“Nothing—nothing；　sir。　I　am　not　depressed。”

“But　I　affirm　that　you　are：　so　much　depressed　that　a　few　more　words　would　bring　tears　to　your　eyes—indeed；　they　are　there　now；　shining　and　swimming；　and　a　bead　has　slipped　from　the　lash　and