It appears I come at an inopportune time, madam,’ said he, ‘when my friend, Mr. Rochester, is from home; but I arrive from a very long journey, and I think I may presume so far on old and intimate acquaintance as to instal myself…

The want of his animating influence appeared to be peculiarly felt one day that he had been summoned to Millcote on business, and was not likely to return till late. The afternoon was wet: a walk the party had proposed to take to see…

‘She wishes to know who will be her first visitor.’‘I think I had better just look in upon her before any of the ladies go,’ said Colonel Dent.‘Tell her, Sam, a gentleman is coming.’Sam went and returned.‘She says, sir, that she’ll have no gentlemen;…

‘Surely, colonel,’ cried Lady Ingram, ‘you would not encourage such a low impostor? Dismiss her, by all means, at once!’ ‘But I cannot persuade her to go away, my lady,’ said the footman; ‘nor can any of the servants: Mrs. Fairfax is with her…

Meantime, while I thought only of my master and his future bride— saw only them, heard only their discourse, and considered only their movements of importance—the rest of the party were occupied with their own separate interests and pleasures. The Ladies Lynn and Ingram…

There was nothing to cool or banish love in these circumstances, though much to create despair. Much too, you will think, reader, to engender jealousy: if a woman, in my position, could presume to be jealous of a woman in Miss Ingram’s. But I…