CHAPTER XXIV 337
" That I will, Adele;" and I hastened away with her, glad to quit my gloomy monitress. The carriage was ready: they were bringing it round to the front, and my master was on the pavement, Pilot following him backwards and forwards.
" Adele may accompany us, may she not, sir?" " I told her no. I ' ll have no brats!-- I ' ll have only you." " Do let her go, Mr. Rochester, if you please: it would be better." " Not it: she will be a restraint."
He was quite peremptory, both in look and voice. The chill of Mrs. Fairfax ' s warnings, and the damp of her doubts were upon me: something of unsubstantiality and uncertainty had beset my hopes. I half lost the sense of power over him. I was about mechanically to obey him, without further remonstrance; but as he helped me into the carriage, he looked at my face.
" What is the matter?" he asked; " all the sunshine is gone. Do you really wish the bairn to go? Will it annoy you if she is left behind?"
" I would far rather she went, sir."
" Then off for your bonnet, and back like a flash of lightning!" cried he to Adele.
She obeyed him with what speed she might.
" After all, a single morning ' s interruption will not matter much," said he, " when I mean shortly to claim you-- your thoughts, conversation, and company-- for life."
Adele, when lifted in, commenced kissing me, by way of expressing her gratitude for my intercession: she was instantly stowed away into a corner on the other side of him. She then peeped round to where I sat; so stern a