a　time。　It　was　well　I　secured　this　forage；　or　both　she；　I；　and　Sophie；　to　whom　I　conveyed　a　share　of　our　repast；　would　have　run　a　chance　of　getting　no　dinner　at　all：　every　one　downstairs　was　too　much　engaged　to　think　of　us。　The　dessert　was　not　carried　out　till　after　nine　and　at　ten　footmen　were　still　running　to　and　fro　with　trays　and　coffee…cups。　I　allowed　Adèle　to　sit　up　much　later　than　usual；　for　she　declared　she　could　not　possibly　go　to　sleep　while　the　doors　kept　opening　and　shutting　below；　and　people　bustling　about。　Besides；　she　added；　a　message　might　possibly　e　from　Mr。　Rochester　when　she　was　undressed；　“et　alors　quel　dommage！”

I　told　her　stories　as　long　as　she　would　listen　to　them；　and　then　for　a　change　I　took　her　out　into　the　gallery。　The　hall　lamp　was　now　lit；　and　it　amused　her　to　look　over　the　balustrade　and　watch　the　servants　passing　backwards　and　forwards。　When　the　evening　was　far　advanced；　a　sound　of　music　issued　from　the　drawing…room；　whither　the　piano　had　been　removed；　Adèle　and　I　sat　down　on　the　top　step　of　the　stairs　to　listen。　Presently　a　voice　blent　with　the　rich　tones　of　the　instrument；　it　was　a　lady　who　sang；　and　very　sweet　her　notes　were。　The　solo　over；　a　duet　followed；　and　then　a　glee：　a　joyous　conversational　murmur　filled　up　the　intervals。　I　listened　long：　suddenly　I　discovered　that　my　ear　was　wholly　intent　on　analysing　the　mingled　sounds；　and　trying　to　discriminate　amidst　the　confusion　of　accents　those　of　Mr。　Rochester；　and　when　it　caught　them；