CHAPTER XXXIII 479
should rather ask the name of the governess-- the nature of the event which requires her appearance."
" Did no one go to Thornfield Hall, then? Did no one see Mr. Rochester?" " I suppose not." " But they wrote to him?" " Of course." " And what did he say? Who has his letters?"
" Mr. Briggs intimates that the answer to his application was not from Mr. Rochester, but from a lady: it is signed ' Alice Fairfax.'"
I felt cold and dismayed: my worst fears then were probably true: he had in all probability left England and rushed in reckless desperation to some former haunt on the Continent. And what opiate for his severe sufferings-- what object for his strong passions-- had he sought there? I dared not answer the question. Oh, my poor master-- once almost my husband-- whom I had often called " my dear Edward!"
" He must have been a bad man," observed Mr. Rivers.
" You don ' t know him-- don ' t pronounce an opinion upon him," I said, with warmth.
" Very well," he answered quietly: " and indeed my head is otherwise occupied than with him: I have my tale to finish. Since you won ' t ask the governess ' s name, I must tell it of my own accord. Stay! I have it here-- it is always more satisfactory to see important points written down, fairly committed to black and white."
And the pocket-book was again deliberately produced, opened, sought through; from one of its compartments was extracted a shabby slip of