person　wishes　to　speak　to　him；　but　do　not　give　my　name。”

“I　don’t　think　he　will　see　you；”　she　answered；　“he　refuses　everybody。”

When　she　returned；　I　inquired　what　he　had　said。　“You　are　to　send　in　your　name　and　your　business；”　she　replied。　She　then　proceeded　to　fill　a　glass　with　water；　and　place　it　on　a　tray；　together　with　candles。

“Is　that　what　he　rang　for？”　I　asked。

“Yes：　he　always　has　candles　brought　in　at　dark；　though　he　is　blind。”

“Give　the　tray　to　me；　I　will　carry　it　in。”

I　took　it　from　her　hand：　she　pointed　me　out　the　parlour　door。　The　tray　shook　as　I　held　it；　the　water　spilt　from　the　glass；　my　heart　struck　my　ribs　loud　and　fast。　Mary　opened　the　door　for　me；　and　shut　it　behind　me。

This　parlour　looked　gloomy：　a　neglected　handful　of　fire　burnt　low　in　the　grate；　and；　leaning　over　it；　with　his　head　supported　against　the　high；　old…fashioned　mantelpiece；　appeared　the　blind　tenant　of　the　room。　His　old　dog；　Pilot；　lay　on　one　side；　removed　out　of　the　way；　and　coiled　up　as　if　afraid　of　being　inadvertently　trodden　upon。　Pilot　pricked　up　his　ears　when　I　came　in：　then　he　jumped　up　with　a　yelp　and　a　whine；　and　bounded　towards　me：　he　almost　knocked　the　tray　from　my　hands。　I　set　it　on　the　table；　then　patted　him；　and　said　softly；　“Lie　down！”　Mr。　Rochester　turned　mechanically　to　see　what　the　motion　was：　but　as　he　saw　nothing；　he　returned　and　sighed。

“Give　me　the　water；　Mary；”　he　said。

I　approached　him　with　the　now　only　half…