CHAPTER XXII 310
to imply that it imported something to him whether I forgot him or not. And he had spoken of Thornfield as my home-- would that it were my home!
He did not leave the stile, and I hardly liked to ask to go by. I inquired soon if he had not been to London.
" Yes; I suppose you found that out by second-sight." " Mrs. Fairfax told me in a letter." " And did she inform you what I went to do?" " Oh, yes, sir! Everybody knew your errand."
" You must see the carriage, Jane, and tell me if you don ' t think it will suit Mrs. Rochester exactly; and whether she won ' t look like Queen Boadicea, leaning back against those purple cushions. I wish, Jane, I were a trifle better adapted to match with her externally. Tell me now, fairy as you are-- can ' t you give me a charm, or a philter, or something of that sort, to make me a handsome man?"
" It would be past the power of magic, sir;" and, in thought, I added, " A loving eye is all the charm needed: to such you are handsome enough; or rather your sternness has a power beyond beauty."
Mr. Rochester had sometimes read my unspoken thoughts with an acumen to me incomprehensible: in the present instance he took no notice of my abrupt vocal response; but he smiled at me with a certain smile he had of his own, and which he used but on rare occasions. He seemed to think it too good for common purposes: it was the real sunshine of feeling-- he shed it over me now.
" Pass, Janet," said he, making room for me to cross the stile: " go up home, and stay your weary little wandering feet at a friend ' s threshold."