A tread creaked on the stairs at last. Leah made her appearance; but it was only to intimate that tea was ready in Mrs. Fairfax"s room.

Thither I repaired，glad at least to go downstairs; for that brought me，I imagined，nearer to Mr. Rochester"s presence.

"You must want your tea," said the good lady，as I joined her; "you ate so little at dinner. I am afraid," she continued，"you are not well to-day: you look flushed and feverish."

"Oh，quite well! I never felt better."

"Then you must prove it by evincing a good appetite; will you fill the teapot while I knit off this needle?" Having pleted her task，she rose to draw down the blind，which 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 off the moment he had breakfast! 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."