CHAPTER XVII 213
" Perhaps two or three weeks , certainly not more . After the Easter recess , Sir George Lynn , who was lately elected member for Millcote , will have to go up to town and take his seat ; I daresay Mr . Rochester will accompany him : it surprises me that he has already made so protracted a stay at Thornfield ."
It was with some trepidation that I perceived the hour approach when I was to repair with my charge to the drawing-room . Adele had been in a state of ecstasy all day , after hearing she was to be presented to the ladies in the evening ; and it was not till Sophie commenced the operation of dressing her that she sobered down . Then the importance of the process quickly steadied her , and by the time she had her curls arranged in well-smoothed , drooping clusters , her pink satin frock put on , her long sash tied , and her lace mittens adjusted , she looked as grave as any judge . No need to warn her not to disarrange her attire : when she was dressed , she sat demurely down in her little chair , taking care previously to lift up the satin skirt for fear she should crease it , and assured me she would not stir thence till I was ready . This I quickly was : my best dress ( the silver-grey one , purchased for Miss Temple ' s wedding , and never worn since ) was soon put on ; my hair was soon smoothed ; my sole ornament , the pearl brooch , soon assumed . We descended .
Fortunately there was another entrance to the drawing-room than that through the saloon where they were all seated at dinner . We found the apartment vacant ; a large fire burning silently on the marble hearth , and wax candles shining in bright solitude , amid the exquisite flowers with which the tables were adorned . The crimson curtain hung before the arch : slight as was the separation this drapery formed from the party in the adjoining saloon , they spoke in so low a key that nothing of their conversation could be distinguished beyond a soothing murmur .
Adele , who appeared to be still under the influence of a most solemnising impression , sat down , without a word , on the footstool I pointed out to her . I retired to a window-seat , and taking a book from a table near , endeavoured to read . Adele brought her stool to my feet ; ere long she touched my knee .