de　with　him　and　his　sisters　after　the　cousinship　was　discovered？”

“Five　months。”

“Did　Rivers　spend　much　time　with　the　ladies　of　his　family？”

“Yes；　the　back　parlour　was　both　his　study　and　ours：　he　sat　near　the　window；　and　we　by　the　table。”

“Did　he　study　much？”

“A　good　deal。”

“What？”

“Hindostanee。”

“And　what　did　you　do　meantime？”

“I　learnt　German；　at　first。”

“Did　he　teach　you？”

“He　did　not　understand　German。”

“Did　he　teach　you　nothing？”

“A　little　Hindostanee。”

“Rivers　taught　you　Hindostanee？”

“Yes；　sir。”

“And　his　sisters　also？”

“No。”

“Only　you？”

“Only　me。”

“Did　you　ask　to　learn？”

“No。”

“He　wished　to　teach　you？”

“Yes。”

A　second　pause。

“Why　did　he　wish　it？　Of　what　use　could　Hindostanee　be　to　you？”

“He　intended　me　to　go　with　him　to　India。”

“Ah！　here　I　reach　the　root　of　the　matter。　He　wanted　you　to　marry　him？”

“He　asked　me　to　marry　him。”

“That　is　a　fiction—an　impudent　invention　to　vex　me。”

“I　beg　your　pardon；　it　is　the　literal　truth：　he　asked　me　more　than　once；　and　was　as　stiff　about　urging　his　point　as　ever　you　could　be。”

“Miss　Eyre；　I　repeat　it；　you　can　leave　me。　How　often　am　I　to　say　the　same　thing？　Why　do　you　remain　pertinaciously　perched　on　my　knee；　when　I　have　given　you　notice　to　quit？”

“Because　I　am　fortable　there。”

“No；　Jane；　you　are　not　fortable　there；　because　your　heart　is　not　with　me：　it　is　with　this　cousin—this　St。　John。　Oh；　till　this　moment；　I　thought　my　little　Jane　was　all　mine！　I　had　a　belief　she　loved　me　even　when　she　left　me：　that　was　an　atom　of　sweet　in　much　bitter。　Long　as　we　have　been　parted；　hot　tears　as　I　have　wept　over　our　sep