"Yes，there is your "boite" at last: take it into a corner，you genuine daughter of paris，and amuse yourself with disembowelling it," said the deep and rather sarcastic voice of Mr. Rochester，proceeding from the depths of an immense easy-chair at the fireside.

"And mind," he continued，"don"t bother me with any details of the anatomical process，or any notice of the condition of the entrails: let your operation be conducted in silence: tiens-toi tranquille，enfant; prends-tu?"

Adele seemed scarcely to need the warning; she had already retired to a sofa with her treasure，and was busy untying the cord which secured the lid. Having removed this impediment，and lifted certain silvery envelopes of tissue paper，she merely exclaimed- "Oh ciel! Que c"est beau!" and then remained absorbed in ecstatic contemplation.

"Is Miss Eyre there?" now demanded the master，half rising from his seat to look round to the door，near which I still stood.

"Ah! well，e forward; be seated here." He drew a chair near his own. "I am not fond of the prattle of children," he continued;

"for，old bachelor as I am，I have no pleasant associations connected with their lisp. It would be intolerable to me to pass a whole evening tete-a-tete with a brat. Don"t draw that chair farther off，Miss Eyre; sit down exactly where I placed it- if you please，that is. Confound these civilities! I continually forget them. Nor do I particularly affect simple-minded old ladies. By the bye，I must have mine in mind; it won"t do to neglect her; she is a Fairfax，or wed to one; and blood is said to be thicker than water."

He rang，and despatched an invitation to Mrs. Fairfax，who soon arrived，knitting-basket in hand.