er　had　sometimes　read　my　unspoken　thoughts　with　an　acumen　to　me　inprehensible：　in　the　present　instance　he　took　no　notice　of　my　abrupt　vocal　response；　but　he　smiled　at　me　with　a　certain　smile　he　had　of　his　own；　and　which　he　used　but　on　rare　occasions。　He　seemed　to　think　it　too　good　for　mon　purposes：　it　was　the　real　sunshine　of　feeling—he　shed　it　over　me　now。

“Pass；　Ja；”　said　he；　making　room　for　me　to　cross　the　stile：　“go　up　home；　and　stay　your　weary　little　wandering　feet　at　a　friend’s　threshold。”

All　I　had　now　to　do　was　to　obey　him　in　silence：　no　need　for　me　to　colloquise　further。　I　got　over　the　stile　without　a　word；　and　meant　to　leave　him　calmly。　An　impulse　held　me　fast—a　force　turned　me　round。　I　said—or　something　in　me　said　for　me；　and　in　spite　of　me—

“Thank　you；　Mr。　Rochester；　for　your　great　kindness。　I　am　strangely　glad　to　get　back　again　to　you：　and　wherever　you　are　is　my　home—my　only　home。”

I　walked　on　so　fast　that　even　he　could　hardly　have　overtaken　me　had　he　tried。　Little　Adèle　was　half　wild　with　delight　when　she　saw　me。　Mrs。　Fairfax　received　me　with　her　usual　plain　friendliness。　Leah　smiled；　and　even　Sophie　bid　me　“bon　soir”　with　glee。　This　was　very　pleasant；　there　is　no　happiness　like　that　of　being　loved　by　your　fellow…creatures；　and　feeling　that　your　presence　is　an　addition　to　their　fort。

I　that　evening　shut　my　eyes　resolutely　against　the　future：　I　stopped　my　cars　against　the　voice　that　kept　warning　me　of　near　separation　and　ing　gri