；　and　strength；　where　such　a　gift　is　not　wanted　and　would　be　despised。”

I　went　on　with　my　day’s　business　tranquilly；　but　ever　and　anon　vague　suggestions　kept　wandering　across　my　brain　of　reasons　why　I　should　quit　Thornfield；　and　I　kept　involuntarily　framing　advertisements　and　pondering　conjectures　about　new　situations：　these　thoughts　I　did　not　think　check；　they　might　germinate　and　bear　fruit　if　they　could。

Mr。　Rochester　had　been　absent　upwards　of　a　fortnight；　when　the　post　brought　Mrs。　Fairfax　a　letter。

“It　is　from　the　master；”　said　she；　as　she　looked　at　the　direction。　“Now　I　suppose　we　shall　know　whether　we　are　to　expect　his　return　or　not。”

And　while　she　broke　the　seal　and　perused　the　document；　I　went　on　taking　my　coffee　（we　were　at　breakfast）：　it　was　hot；　and　I　attributed　to　that　circumstance　a　fiery　glow　which　suddenly　rose　to　my　face。　Why　my　hand　shook；　and　why　I　involuntarily　spilt　half　the　contents　of　my　cup　into　my　saucer；　I　did　not　choose　to　consider。

“Well；　I　sometimes　think　we　are　too　quiet；　but　we　run　a　chance　of　being　busy　enough　now：　for　a　little　while　at　least；”　said　Mrs。　Fairfax；　still　holding　the　note　before　her　spectacles。

Ere　I　permitted　myself　to　request　an　explanation；　I　tied　the　string　of　Adèle’s　pinafore；　which　happened　to　be　loose：　having　helped　her　also　to　another　bun　and　refilled　her　mug　with　milk；　I　said；　nonchalantly—

“Mr。　Rochester　is　not　likely　to　return　soon；　I　suppose？”

“Indeed　he　is—in　thr