Page:Jane Eyre (1st edition), Volume 1.djvu/284

276 bounding forwards; "et mes souliers? et mes bas? Tenez-je crois que je vais danser!"

And spreading out her dress, she chasséed across the room; till having reached Mr. Rochester, she wheeled lightly round before him on tip-toe, then dropped on one knee at his feet, exclaiming:—

"Monsieur, je vous remercie mille fois de votre bonté;" then rising, she added, "C'est comme cela que maman faisait, n'est-ce pas, Monsieur?"

"Pre-cise-ly!" was the answer; "and 'comme cela,' she charmed my English gold out of my British breeches' pocket. I have been green, too, Miss Eyre,—aye, grass-green: not a more vernal tint freshens you now than once freshened me. My Spring is gone, however: but it has left me that French floweret on my hands; which, in some moods, I would fain be rid of. Not valuing now the root whence it sprung; having found that it was of a sort which nothing but gold dust could manure, I have but half a liking to the blossom: especially when it looks so