has it not? and one
should consider all, before pronouncing an opinion as to its nature.«
    »Miss Eyre, you are not so unsophisticated as Adèle: she demands a cadeau,
clamorously, the moment she sees me: you beat about the bush.«
    »Because I have less confidence in my deserts than Adèle has: she can prefer
the claim of old acquaintance, and the right too of custom; for she says you
have always been in the habit of giving her playthings; but if I had to make out
a case I should be puzzled, since I am a stranger and have done nothing to
entitle me to an acknowledgment.«
    »Oh, don't fall back on over-modesty! I have examined Adèle, and find you
have taken great pains with her: she is not bright, she has no talents; yet in a
short time she has made much improvement.«
    »Sir, you have now given me my cadeau; I am obliged to you: it is the meed
teachers most covet; praise of their pupils' progress.«
    »Humph!« said Mr. Rochester, and he took his tea in silence.
    »Come to the fire,« said the master, when the tray was taken away and Mrs.
Fairfax had settled into a corner with her knitting; while Adèle was leading me
by the hand round the room, showing me the beautiful books and ornaments on the
consoles and chiffonnières. We obeyed, as in duty bound; Adèle wanted to take a
seat on my knee, but she was ordered to amuse herself with Pilot.
    »You have been resident in my house three months?«
    »Yes, sir.«
    »And you came from -?«
    »From Lowood school in --shire.«
    »Ah! a charitable concern. - How long were you there?«
    »Eight years.«
    »Eight years! you must be tenacious of life. I thought half the time in such
a place would have done up any constitution! No wonder you have rather the look
of another world. I marvelled where you had got that sort of face. When you came
on me in Hay-Lane last night, I thought unaccountably of fairy tales, and had
half a mind to demand whether you had bewitched my horse: I am not sure yet. Who
are your parents?«
    »I have none.«
    »Nor ever had, I suppose: do you remember them?«
    »No.«
    »I thought not. And so you were waiting for your people when you sat