r　breath；　in　the　second　place；　you　cannot　yet　accustom　yourself　to　accuse　and　revile　me；　and　besides；　the　flood…gates　of　tears　are　opened；　and　they　would　rush　out　if　you　spoke　much；　and　you　have　no　desire　to　expostulate；　to　upbraid；　to　make　a　scene：　you　are　thinking　how　to　act—talking　you　consider　is　of　no　use。　I　know　you—I　am　on　my　guard。”

“Sir；　I　do　not　wish　to　act　against　you；”　I　said；　and　my　unsteady　voice　warned　me　to　curtail　my　sentence。

“Not　in　your　sense　of　the　word；　but　in　mine　you　are　scheming　to　destroy　me。　You　have　as　good　as　said　that　I　am　a　married　man—as　a　married　man　you　will　shun　me；　keep　out　of　my　way：　just　now　you　have　refused　to　kiss　me。　You　intend　to　make　yourself　a　plete　stranger　to　me：　to　live　under　this　roof　only　as　Adèle’s　governess；　if　ever　I　say　a　friendly　word　to　you；　if　ever　a　friendly　feeling　inclines　you　again　to　me；　you　will　say；—‘That　man　had　nearly　made　me　his　mistress：　I　must　be　ice　and　rock　to　him；’　and　ice　and　rock　you　will　accordingly　bee。”

I　cleared　and　steadied　my　voice　to　reply：　“All　is　changed　about　me；　sir；　I　must　change　too—there　is　no　doubt　of　that；　and　to　avoid　fluctuations　of　feeling；　and　continual　bats　with　recollections　and　associations；　there　is　only　one　way—Adèle　must　have　a　new　governess；　sir。”

“Oh；　Adèle　will　go　to　school—I　have　settled　that　already；　nor　do　I　mean　to　torment　you　with　the　hideous　associations　and　recollections　of　Thornfield　Hall—this　accursed　place—this　tent　of　Achan—this　inso