fallen　on　to　the　flag。　If　I　had　time；　and　was　not　in　mortal　dread　of　some　prating　prig　of　a　servant　passing；　I　would　know　what　all　this　means。　Well；　to…night　I　excuse　you；　but　understand　that　so　long　as　my　visitors　stay；　I　expect　you　to　appear　in　the　drawing…room　every　evening；　it　is　my　wish；　don’t　neglect　it。　Now　go；　and　send　Sophie　for　Adèle。　Good…night；　my—”　He　stopped；　bit　his　lip；　and　abruptly　left　me。

Chapter　18

Merry　days　were　these　at　Thornfield　Hall；　and　busy　days　too：　how　different　from　the　first　three　months　of　stillness；　monotony；　and　solitude　I　had　passed　beneath　its　roof！　All　sad　feelings　seemed　now　driven　from　the　house；　all　gloomy　associations　forgotten：　there　was　life　everywhere；　movement　all　day　long。　You　could　not　now　traverse　the　gallery；　once　so　hushed；　nor　enter　the　front　chambers；　once　so　tenantless；　without　encountering　a　smart　lady’s…maid　or　a　dandy　valet。

The　kitchen；　the　butler’s　pantry；　the　servants’　hall；　the　entrance　hall；　were　equally　alive；　and　the　saloons　were　only　left　void　and　still　when　the　blue　sky　and　halcyon　sunshine　of　the　genial　spring　weather　called　their　occupants　out　into　the　grounds。　Even　when　that　weather　was　broken；　and　continuous　rain　set　in　for　some　days；　no　damp　seemed　cast　over　enjoyment：　indoor　amusements　only　became　more　lively　and　varied；　in　consequence　of　the　stop　put　to　outdoor　gaiety。

I　wondered　what　they　were　going　to　do　the　first　evening　a　change　of　entertainment　was　proposed：　they　spoke　o