"What a beautiful room!" I exclaimed，as I looked round; for I had never before seen any half so imposing.

"Yes; this is the dining-room. I have just opened the window，to let in a little air and sunshine; for everything gets so damp in apartments that are seldom inhabited; the drawing-room yonder feels like a vault."

She pointed to a wide arch corresponding to the window，and hung like it with a Tyrian-dyed curtain，now looped up. Mounting to it by two broad steps，and looking through，I thought I caught a glimpse of a fairy place，so bright to my novice-eyes appeared the view beyond. Yet it was merely a very pretty drawing-room，and within it a boudoir，both spread with white carpets，on which seemed laid brilliant garlands of flowers; both ceiled with snowy mouldings of white grapes and vine-leaves，beneath which glowed in rich contrast crimson couches and ottomans; while the ornaments on the pale parian mantelpiece were of sparkling Bohemian glass，ruby red; and between the windows large mirrors repeated the general blending of snow and fire.

"In what order you keep these rooms，Mrs. Fairfax!" said I. "No dust，no canvas coverings: except that the air feels chilly，one would think they were inhabited daily."

"Why，Miss Eyre，though Mr. Rochester"s visits here are rare，they are always sudden and unexpected; and as I observed that it put him out to find everything swathed up，and to have a bustle of arrangement on his arrival，I thought it best to keep the rooms in readiness."