e　acquainted　by　instinct。

“I　thought；”　I　continued；　“Thornfield　belonged　to　you。”

“To　me？　Bless　you；　child；　what　an　idea！　To　me！　I　am　only　the　housekeeper—the　manager。　To　be　sure　I　am　distantly　related　to　the　Rochesters　by　the　mother’s　side；　or　at　least　my　husband　was；　he　was　a　clergyman；　incumbent　of　Hay—that　little　village　yonder　on　the　hill—and　that　church　near　the　gates　was　his。　The　present　Mr。　Rochester’s　mother　was　a　Fairfax；　and　second　cousin　to　my　husband：　but　I　never　presume　on　the　connection—in　fact；　it　is　nothing　to　me；　I　consider　myself　quite　in　the　light　of　an　ordinary　housekeeper：　my　employer　is　always　civil；　and　I　expect　nothing　more。”

“And　the　little　girl—my　pupil！”

“She　is　Mr。　Rochester’s　ward；　he　missioned　me　to　find　a　governess　for　her。　He　intended　to　have　her　brought　up　in—shire；　I　believe。　Here　she　es；　with　her　‘bonne；’　as　she　calls　her　nurse。”　The　enigma　then　was　explained：　this　affable　and　kind　little　widow　was　no　great　dame；　but　a　dependant　like　myself。　I　did　not　like　her　the　worse　for　that；　on　the　contrary；　I　felt　better　pleased　than　ever。　The　equality　between　her　and　me　was　real；　not　the　mere　result　of　condescension　on　her　part：　so　much　the　better—my　position　was　all　the　freer。

As　I　was　meditating　on　this　discovery；　a　little　girl；　followed　by　her　attendant；　came　running　up　the　lawn。　I　looked　at　my　pupil；　who　did　not　at　first　appear　to　notice　me：　she　was　quite　a　child；　perhaps　seven　or　eight　years　old；　slightly　built；　with　a　pale；　small…featured　face；　and　a　redundancy　of　hair　falling　in　curls　to　her　waist。

“Good　morning；　Miss　Adela；”　said　Mrs。　Fairfax。　“e　and　speak　to　the　lady　who　is　to　teach　you；　and　to　make　you　a　clever　woman　some　day。”　She　approached。

“C’est　le　ma　gouverante！”　said　she；　pointin