"I am all obedience," was the response.

"Here then is a Corsair-song. Know that I doat on Corsairs; and for that reason，sing it con spirito."

"mands from Miss Ingram"s lips would put spirit into a mug of milk and water."

"Take care，then: if you don"t please me，I will shame you by showing how such things should be done."

"That is offering a premium on incapacity: I shall now endeavour to fail."

"Gardez-vous en bien! If you err wilfully，I shall devise a proportionate punishment."

"Miss Ingram ought to be clement，for she has it in her power to inflict a chastisement beyond mortal endurance."

"Ha! explain!" manded the lady.

"pardon me，madam: no need of explanation; your own fine sense must inform you that one of your frowns would be a sufficient substitute for capital punishment."

"Sing!" said she，and again touching the piano，she menced an acpaniment in spirited style.

"Now is my time to slip away," thought I: but the tones that then severed the air arrested me. Mrs. Fairfax had said Mr. Rochester possessed a fine voice: he did- a mellow，powerful bass，into which he threw his own feeling，his own force: finding a way through the ear to the heart，and there waking sensation strangely. I waited till the last deep and full vibration had expired- till the tide of talk，checked an instant，had resumed its flow; I then quitted my sheltered corner and made my exit by the side-door，which was fortunately near. Thence a narrow passage led into the hall: in crossing it，I perceived my sandal was loose; I stopped to tie it，kneeling down for that purpose on the mat at the foot of the staircase. I heard the dining-room door unclose; a gentleman came out; rising hastily，I stood face to face with him: it was Mr. Rochester.

"How do you do?" he asked.