Page 258 - jane-eyre

‘Well, I observed to him that as you were unused to com-
pany, I did not think you would like appearing before so
gay a party—all strangers; and he replied, in his quick way—
‘Nonsense! If she objects, tell her it is my particular wish;
and if she resists, say I shall come and fetch her in case of
contumacy.’’
‘I will not give him that trouble,’ I answered. ‘I will go, if
no better may be; but I don’t like it. Shall you be there, Mrs.
Fairfax?’
‘No; I pleaded off, and he admitted my plea. I’ll tell you
how to manage so as to avoid the embarrassment of mak-
ing a formal entrance, which is the most disagreeable part
of the business. You must go into the drawing-room while
it is empty, before the ladies leave the dinner-table; choose
your seat in any quiet nook you like; you need not stay long
after the gentlemen come in, unless you please: just let Mr.
Rochester see you are there and then slip away—nobody
will notice you.’
‘Will these people remain long, do you think?’
‘Perhaps two or three weeks, certainly not more. After
the Easter recess, Sir George Lynn, who was lately elected
member for Millcote, will have to go up to town and take
his seat; I daresay Mr. Rochester will accompany him: it
surprises me that he has already made so protracted a stay
at Thornfield.’
It was with some trepidation that I perceived the hour
approach when I was to repair with my charge to the draw-
ing-room. Adele had been in a state of ecstasy all day, after
hearing she was to be presented to the ladies in the eve-