Page:Life and Works of the Sisters Bronte - Volume I.djvu/19

 the sarcasms and brutalities of the beautiful Miss Ingram are no more credible than the manners assumed by the aris- tocratic Rochester from the beginning towards his ward's governess, or the amazing freedom with which he pours into the ears of the same governess a virtuous girl of twenty, who has been no more than a few weeks under his roof the story of his relations with Adele's mother.

Turn to the early scenes, for instance, between Jane and Rochester. They have been 'several days' under the same roof; it is Jane's second interview with her employer. Mr. Rochester, in Sultan fashion, sends for her and her pupil after dinner. He sits silent, while Jane's quick eye takes note of him. Suddenly he turns upon her.

' You examine me, Miss Eyre,' said he ; 'do you think me handsome?'

Jane, taken by surprise, delivers a stout negative, whereupon her employer, in caprice or pique, pursues the subject further:

'--Criticise me : does my forehead not please you ?'

He lifted up the sable waves of hair which lay horizontally over his brow, and showed a solid enough mass of intellectual organs, but an abrupt deficiency where the suave sign of benev- olence should have risen.

'Now, ma'am, am I a fool ?'

Poor Jane gets out of the dilemma as best she can, and gradually this astonishing gentleman thaws, becomes conver- sational and kind. And this is how he puts the little gov- erness at her ease:-

'You look very much puzzled, Miss Eyre ; and though you are not pretty, any more than I am handsome, yet a puzzled air becomes you ; besides, it is convenient, for it keeps those search- ing eyes of yours away from my physiognomy, and busies them with the worsted flowers of the rug ; so puzzle on. Young lady, I am disposed to be gregarious and communicative to-night.'

' Young lady, I am disposed to be gregarious and communicate to - night ! ' Not even 'Mr. Rawchester' could exceed this. Parody has nothing to add.