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 ."