h　she　had　hitherto　kept　up；　by　way；　I　suppose；　of　making　the　most　of　daylight；　though　dusk　was　now　fast　deepening　into　total　obscurity。

“It　is　fair　to…night；”　said　she；　as　she　looked　through　the　panes；　“though　not　starlight；　Mr。　Rochester　has；　on　the　whole；　had　a　favourable　day　for　his　journey。”

“Journey！—Is　Mr。　Rochester　gone　anywhere？　I　did　not　know　he　was　out。”

“Oh；　he　set　of　the　moment　he　had　breakfasted！　He　is　gone　to　the　Leas；　Mr。　Eshton’s　place；　ten　miles　on　the　other　side　Millcote。　I　believe　there　is　quite　a　party　assembled　there；　Lord　Ingram；　Sir　George　Lynn；　Colonel　Dent；　and　others。”

“Do　you　expect　him　back　to…night？”

“No—nor　to…morrow　either；　I　should　think　he　is　very　likely　to　stay　a　week　or　more：　when　these　fine；　fashionable　people　get　together；　they　are　so　surrounded　by　elegance　and　gaiety；　so　well　provided　with　all　that　can　please　and　entertain；　they　are　in　no　hurry　to　separate。　Gentlemen　especially　are　often　in　request　on　such　occasions；　and　Mr。　Rochester　is　so　talented　and　so　lively　in　society；　that　I　believe　he　is　a　general　favourite：　the　ladies　are　very　fond　of　him；　though　you　would　not　think　his　appearance　calculated　to　remend　him　particularly　in　their　eyes：　but　I　suppose　his　acquirements　and　abilities；　perhaps　his　wealth　and　good　blood；　make　amends　for　any　little　fault　of　look。”

“Are　there　ladies　at　the　Leas？”

“There　are　Mrs。　Eshton　and　her　three　daughters—very　elegant　young　ladies　indeed；　and　there　are　the　Honourable　Blanche　and　Mary　Ingram；　most　beautiful　women；　I　suppose：　indeed　I　have　seen　Blanche；　six　or　seven　years　since；　when　she　was　a　girl　of　eighteen。　She　came　here　to　a　Christmas　ball　and　party　Mr。　Rochester　gave。　You　should　have　seen　the　dining…room　that　day—how　richly　it　was　decorated；　how