brilliantly　lit　up！　I　should　think　there　were　fifty　ladies　and　gentlemen　present—all　of　the　first　county　families；　and　Miss　Ingram　was　considered　the　belle　of　the　evening。”

“You　saw　her；　you　say；　Mrs。　Fairfax：　what　was　she　like？”

“Yes；　I　saw　her。　The　dining…room　doors　were　thrown　open；　and；　as　it　was　Christmas…time；　the　servants　were　allowed　to　assemble　in　the　hall；　to　hear　some　of　the　ladies　sing　and　play。　Mr。　Rochester　would　have　me　to　e　in；　and　I　sat　down　in　a　quiet　corner　and　watched　them。　I　never　saw　a　more　splendid　scene：　the　ladies　were　magnificently　dressed；　most　of　them—at　least　most　of　the　younger　ones—looked　handsome；　but　Miss　Ingram　was　certainly　the　queen。”

“And　what　was　she　like？”

“Tall；　fine　bust；　sloping　shoulders；　long；　graceful　neck：　olive　plexion；　dark　and　clear；　noble　features；　eyes　rather　like　Mr。　Rochester’s：　large　and　black；　and　as　brilliant　as　her　jewels。　And　then　she　had　such　a　fine　head　of　hair；　raven…black　and　so　beingly　arranged：　a　crown　of　thick　plaits　behind；　and　in　front　the　longest；　the　glossiest　curls　I　ever　saw。　She　was　dressed　in　pure　white；　an　amber…coloured　scarf　was　passed　over　her　shoulder　and　across　her　breast；　tied　at　the　side；　and　descending　in　long；　fringed　ends　below　her　knee。　She　wore　an　amber…coloured　flower；　too；　in　her　hair：　it　contrasted　well　with　the　jetty　mass　of　her　curls。”

“She　was　greatly　admired；　of　course？”

“Yes；　indeed：　and　not　only　for　her　beauty；　but　for　her　acplishments。　She　was　one　of　the　ladies　who　sang：　a　gentleman　acpanied　her　on　the　piano。　She　and　Mr。　Rochester　sang　a　duet。”

“Mr。　Rochester？　I　was　not　aware　he　could　sing。”

“Oh！　he　has　a　fine　bass　voice；　and　an　excellent　taste　for　music。”

“And　Miss　Ingram：　what　sort　of　a　voice　had　she？”

“