CHAPTER XVII 211
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 Adele 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 come 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 ; Adele 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 , which it soon did , it found a further task in framing the tones , rendered by distance inarticulate , into words .
The clock struck eleven . I looked at Adele , whose head leant against my shoulder ; her eyes were waxing heavy , so I took her up in my arms and carried her off to bed . It was near one before the gentlemen and ladies sought their chambers .
The next day was as fine as its predecessor : it was devoted by the party to an excursion to some site in the neighbourhood . They set out early in the forenoon , some on horseback , the rest in carriages ; I witnessed both the departure and the return . Miss Ingram , as before , was the only lady equestrian ; and , as before , Mr . Rochester galloped at her side ; the two rode a little apart from the rest . I pointed out this circumstance to Mrs . Fairfax , who was standing at the window with me -