CHAPTER XVII 212
" You said it was not likely they should think of being married ," said I , " but you see Mr . Rochester evidently prefers her to any of the other ladies ."
" Yes , I daresay : no doubt he admires her ."
" And she him ," I added ; " look how she leans her head towards him as if she were conversing confidentially ; I wish I could see her face ; I have never had a glimpse of it yet ."
" You will see her this evening ," answered Mrs . Fairfax . " I happened to remark to Mr . Rochester how much Adele wished to be introduced to the ladies , and he said : ' Oh ! let her come into the drawing-room after dinner ; and request Miss Eyre to accompany her .'"
" Yes ; he said that from mere politeness : I need not go , I am sure ," I answered .
" Well , I observed to him that as you were unused to company , I did not think you would like appearing before so gay a party -- all strangers ; and he replied , in his quick way -- ' Nonsense ! If she objects , tell her it is my particular wish ; and if she resists , say I shall come and fetch her in case of contumacy .'"
" I will not give him that trouble ," I answered . " I will go , if no better may be ; but I don ' t like it . Shall you be there , Mrs . Fairfax ?"
" No ; I pleaded off , and he admitted my plea . I ' ll tell you how to manage so as to avoid the embarrassment of making a formal entrance , which is the most disagreeable part of the business . You must go into the drawing-room while it is empty , before the ladies leave the dinner-table ; choose your seat in any quiet nook you like ; you need not stay long after the gentlemen come in , unless you please : just let Mr . Rochester see you are there and then slip away -- nobody will notice you ."
" Will these people remain long , do you think ?"