ts；　a　plate　or　two　and　a　knife　and　fork：　with　this　booty　I　made　a　hasty　retreat。　I　had　regained　the　gallery；　and　was　just　shutting　the　back…door　behind　me；　when　an　accelerated　hum　warned　me　that　the　ladies　were　about　to　issue　from　their　chambers。　I　could　not　proceed　to　the　schoolroom　without　passing　some　of　their　doors；　and　running　the　risk　of　being　surprised　with　my　cargo　of　victualage；　so　I　stood　still　at　this　end；　which；　being　windowless；　was　dark：　quite　dark　now；　for　the　sun　was　set　and　twilight　gathering。

Presently　the　chambers　gave　up　their　fair　tenants　one　after　another：　each　came　out　gaily　and　airily；　with　dress　that　gleamed　lustrous　through　the　dusk。　For　a　moment　they　stood　grouped　together　at　the　other　extremity　of　the　gallery；　conversing　in　a　key　of　sweet　subdued　vivacity：　they　then　descended　the　staircase　almost　as　noiselessly　as　a　bright　mist　rolls　down　a　hill。　Their　collective　appearance　had　left　on　me　an　impression　of　high…born　elegance；　such　as　I　had　never　before　received。

I　found　Adèle　peeping　through　the　schoolroom　door；　which　she　held　ajar。　“What　beautiful　ladies！”　cried　she　in　English。　“Oh；　I　wish　I　might　go　to　them！　Do　you　think　Mr。　Rochester　will　send　for　us　by…　and…bye；　after　dinner？”

“No；　indeed；　I　don’t；　Mr。　Rochester　has　something　else　to　think　about。　Never　mind　the　ladies　to…night；　perhaps　you　will　see　them　to…morrow：　here　is　your　dinner。”

She　was　really　hungry；　so　the　chicken　and　tarts　served　to　divert　her　attention　for