CHAPTER XIV 166
He had been looking two minutes at the fire , and I had been looking the same length of time at him , when , turning suddenly , he caught my gaze fastened on his physiognomy .
" You examine me , Miss Eyre ," said he : " do you think me handsome ?"
I should , if I had deliberated , have replied to this question by something conventionally vague and polite ; but the answer somehow slipped from my tongue before I was aware -- " No , sir ."
" Ah ! By my word ! there is something singular about you ," said he : " you have the air of a little nonnette ; quaint , quiet , grave , and simple , as you sit with your hands before you , and your eyes generally bent on the carpet ( except , by-the-bye , when they are directed piercingly to my face ; as just now , for instance ); and when one asks you a question , or makes a remark to which you are obliged to reply , you rap out a round rejoinder , which , if not blunt , is at least brusque . What do you mean by it ?"
" Sir , I was too plain ; I beg your pardon . I ought to have replied that it was not easy to give an impromptu answer to a question about appearances ; that tastes mostly differ ; and that beauty is of little consequence , or something of that sort ."
" You ought to have replied no such thing . Beauty of little consequence , indeed ! And so , under pretence of softening the previous outrage , of stroking and soothing me into placidity , you stick a sly penknife under my ear ! Go on : what fault do you find with me , pray ? I suppose I have all my limbs and all my features like any other man ?"
" Mr . Rochester , allow me to disown my first answer : I intended no pointed repartee : it was only a blunder ."
" Just so : I think so : and you shall be answerable for it . Criticise me : does my forehead not please you ?"