brilliantly lit up！ I should think there were fifty ladies and gentlemen present—all of the first county families； and Miss Ingram was considered the belle of the evening。”
“You saw her； you say； Mrs。 Fairfax： what was she like？”
“Yes； I saw her。 The dining…room doors were thrown open； and； as it was Christmas…time； the servants were allowed to assemble in the hall； to hear some of the ladies sing and play。 Mr。 Rochester would have me to e in； and I sat down in a quiet corner and watched them。 I never saw a more splendid scene： the ladies were magnificently dressed； most of them—at least most of the younger ones—looked handsome； but Miss Ingram was certainly the queen。”
“And what was she like？”
“Tall； fine bust； sloping shoulders； long； graceful neck： olive plexion； dark and clear； noble features； eyes rather like Mr。 Rochester’s： large and black； and as brilliant as her jewels。 And then she had such a fine head of hair； raven…black and so beingly arranged： a crown of thick plaits behind； and in front the longest； the glossiest curls I ever saw。 She was dressed in pure white； an amber…coloured scarf was passed over her shoulder and across her breast； tied at the side； and descending in long； fringed ends below her knee。 She wore an amber…coloured flower； too； in her hair： it contrasted well with the jetty mass of her curls。”
“She was greatly admired； of course？”
“Yes； indeed： and not only for her beauty； but for her acplishments。 She was one of the ladies who sang： a gentleman acpanied her on the piano。 She and Mr。 Rochester sang a duet。”
“Mr。 Rochester？ I was not aware he could sing。”
“Oh！ he has a fine bass voice； and an excellent taste for music。”
“And Miss Ingram： what sort of a voice had she？”
“