Jane Eyre

Charlotte Brontë
degree better, but still far below the mark; Mrs. Fairfax ditto; I beg your pardon. The fact is, once for all, I don’t wish to
you, I am persuaded, can suit me if you will: you puzzled me treat you like an inferior: that is” (correcting himself), “I claim
the first evening I invited you down here. I have almost forgotten
you since: other ideas have driven yours from my head; ence in age and a century’s advance in experience. This is le-
only such superiority as must result from twenty years’ differ-
but to-night I am resolved to be at ease; to dismiss what importunes,
and recall what pleases. It would please me now to this superiority, and this alone, that I desire you to have the
gitimate, et j’y tiens, as Adele would say; and it is by virtue of
draw you out—to learn more of you—therefore speak.” goodness to talk to me a little now, and divert my thoughts,
Instead of speaking, I smiled; and not a very complacent or which are galled with dwelling on one point—cankering as a
submissive smile either.
rusty nail.”
“Speak,” he urged.
He had deigned an explanation, almost an apology, and I
“What about, sir?”
did not feel insensible to his condescension, and would not
“Whatever you like. I leave both the choice of subject and seem so.
the manner of treating it entirely to yourself.”
“I am willing to amuse you, if I can, sir—quite willing; but
Accordingly I sat and said nothing: “If he expects me to talk I cannot introduce a topic, because how do I know what will
for the mere sake of talking and showing off, he will find he interest you? Ask me questions, and I will do my best to answer
them.”
has addressed himself to the wrong person,” I thought.
“You are dumb, Miss Eyre.”
“Then, in the first place, do you agree with me that I have a
I was dumb still. He bent his head a little towards me, and right to be a little masterful, abrupt, perhaps exacting, sometimes,
on the grounds I stated, namely, that I am old enough
with a single hasty glance seemed to dive into my eyes.
“Stubborn?” he said, “and annoyed. Ah! it is consistent. I to be your father, and that I have battled through a varied
put my request in an absurd, almost insolent form. Miss Eyre, experience with many men of many nations, and roamed over
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