CHAPTER XVII 225
" I am all obedience," was the response.
" Here then is a Corsair-song. Know that I doat on Corsairs; and for that reason, sing it con spirito."
" Commands from Miss Ingram ' s lips would put spirit into a mug of milk and water."
" Take care, then: if you don ' t please me, I will shame you by showing how such things SHOULD be done."
" That is offering a premium on incapacity: I shall now endeavour to fail."
" Gardez-vous en bien! If you err wilfully, I shall devise a proportionate punishment."
" Miss Ingram ought to be clement, for she has it in her power to inflict a chastisement beyond mortal endurance."
" Ha! explain!" commanded the lady.
" Pardon me, madam: no need of explanation; your own fine sense must inform you that one of your frowns would be a sufficient substitute for capital punishment."
" Sing!" said she, and again touching the piano, she commenced an accompaniment in spirited style.
" Now is my time to slip away," thought I: but the tones that then severed the air arrested me. Mrs. Fairfax had said Mr. Rochester possessed a fine voice: he did-- a mellow, powerful bass, into which he threw his own feeling, his own force; finding a way through the ear to the heart, and there waking sensation strangely. I waited till the last deep and full vibration had expired-- till the tide of talk, checked an instant, had resumed its flow; I then quitted my sheltered corner and made my exit by the side-door, which was fortunately near. Thence a narrow passage led into the hall: in crossing