CHAPTER XIX 254
" But well carried out , eh ? Don ' t you think so ?"
" With the ladies you must have managed well ." " But not with you ?" " You did not act the character of a gipsy with me ." " What character did I act ? My own ?"
" No ; some unaccountable one . In short , I believe you have been trying to draw me out -- or in ; you have been talking nonsense to make me talk nonsense . It is scarcely fair , sir ."
" Do you forgive me , Jane ?"
" I cannot tell till I have thought it all over . If , on reflection , I find I have fallen into no great absurdity , I shall try to forgive you ; but it was not right ."
" Oh , you have been very correct -- very careful , very sensible ."
I reflected , and thought , on the whole , I had . It was a comfort ; but , indeed , I had been on my guard almost from the beginning of the interview . Something of masquerade I suspected . I knew gipsies and fortune-tellers did not express themselves as this seeming old woman had expressed herself ; besides I had noted her feigned voice , her anxiety to conceal her features . But my mind had been running on Grace Poole -- that living enigma , that mystery of mysteries , as I considered her . I had never thought of Mr . Rochester .
" Well ," said he , " what are you musing about ? What does that grave smile signify ?"
" Wonder and self-congratulation , sir . I have your permission to retire now , I suppose ?"