are　twenty　years　of　difference　in　your　ages。　He　might　almost　be　your　father。”

“No；　indeed；　Mrs。　Fairfax！”　exclaimed　I；　tled；　“he　is　nothing　like　my　father！　No　one；　who　saw　us　together；　would　suppose　it　for　an　instant。　Mr。　Rochester　looks　as　young；　and　is　as　young；　as　some　men　at　five…and…twenty。”

“Is　it　really　for　love　he　is　going　to　marry　you？”　she　asked。

I　was　so　hurt　by　her　coldness　and　scepticism；　that　the　tears　rose　to　my　eyes。

“I　am　sorry　to　grieve　you；”　pursued　the　widow；　“but　you　are　so　young；　and　so　little　acquainted　with　men；　I　wished　to　put　you　on　your　guard。　It　is　an　old　saying　that　‘all　is　not　gold　that　glitters；’　and　in　this　case　I　do　fear　there　will　be　something　found　to　be　different　to　what　either　you　or　I　expect。”

“Why？—am　I　a　monster？”　I　said：　“is　it　impossible　that　Mr。　Rochester　should　have　a　sincere　affection　for　me？”

“No：　you　are　very　well；　and　much　improved　of　late；　and　Mr。　Rochester；　I　daresay；　is　fond　of　you。　I　have　always　noticed　that　you　were　a　sort　of　pet　of　his。　There　are　times　when；　for　your　sake；　I　have　been　a　little　uneasy　at　his　marked　preference；　and　have　wished　to　put　you　on　your　guard：　but　I　did　not　like　to　suggest　even　the　possibility　of　wrong。　I　knew　such　an　idea　would　shock；　perhaps　offend　you；　and　you　were　so　discreet；　and　so　thoroughly　modest　and　sensible；　I　hoped　you　might　be　trusted　to　protect　yourself。 night　I　cannot　tell　you　what　I　suffered　when　I　sought　all　over　the　house；　and　could　fi