'I had nothing else to do； because it was the vacation； and I sat
at them from morning till noon； and from noon till night： the length
of the midsummer days favoured my inclination to apply。'
'And you felt self…satisfied with the result of your ardent
labours？'
'Far from it。 I was tormented by the contrast between my idea and
my handiwork： in each case I had imagined something which I was
quite powerless to realise。'
'Not quite： you have secured the shadow of your thought； but no
more； probably。 You had not enough of the artist's skill and science
to give it full being： yet the drawings are； for a school…girl；
peculiar。 As to the thoughts； they are elfish。 These eyes in the
Evening Star you must have seen in a dream。 How could you make them
look so clear； and yet not at all brilliant？ for the planet above
quells their rays。 And what meaning is that in their solemn depth？ And
who taught you to paint wind？ There is a high gale in that sky； and on
this hill…top。 Where did you see Latmos？ For that is Latmos。 There！
put the drawings away！'
I had scarce tied the strings of the portfolio； when； looking at
his watch； he said abruptly…
'It is nine o'clock： what are you about； Miss Eyre； to let Adele
sit up so long？ Take her to bed！'
Adele went to kiss him before quitting the room： he endured the
caress； but scarcely seemed to relish it more than Pilot would have
done； nor so much。
'I wish you all good…night； now；' said he； making a movement of the
hand towards the door； in token that he was tired of our company；
and wished to dismiss us。 Mrs。 Fairfax folded up her knitting： I
took my portfolio： we curtseyed to him； received a frigid bow in
return； and so withdrew。
'You said Mr。 Rochester was not strikingly peculiar； Mrs。 Fairfax；'
I observed； when I rejoined her in her room； after putting Adele to
bed。
'Well； is he？'
'I think so： he is very changeful and abrupt。'
'True： no doubt he may appear so to a stranger； but I am so
accustomed to his manner； I never think of it； and then； if he has
peculiarities of temper； allowance should be made。'
'Why？'
'Partly because it is his nature… and we can none of us help our
nature； and partly because he has painful thoughts； no doubt； to
harass him； and make his spirits unequal。'
'What about？'
'Family troubles； for one thing。'
'But he has no family。'
'Not now； but he has had… or； at least； relatives。 He lost his
elder brother a few years since。'
'His elder brother？'
'Yes。 The present Mr。 Rochester has not been very long in
possession of the property； only about nine years。'
'Nine years is a tolerable time。 Was he so very fond of his brother
as to be still inconsolable for his loss？'
'Why； no… perhaps not。 I believe there were some
misunderstandings between them。 Mr。 Rowland Rochester was not quite
just to Mr。 Edward； and perhaps he prejudiced his father against
him。 The old gentleman was fond of money； and anxious to keep the
family estate together。 He did not like to diminish the property by
division； and yet he was anxious that Mr。 Edward should have wealth；
too； to keep up the consequence of the name； and； soon after he was of
age； some steps were taken that were not quite fair； and made a
great deal of mischief。 Old Mr。 Rochester and Mr。 Rowland combined
to bring Mr。 Edward into what he considered a painful position； for
the sake of making his fortune： what the precise nature of that
position was I never clearly knew； but his spirit could not brook what
he had to suffer in it。 He is not very forgiving： he broke with his
family； and now for many years he has led an unsettled kind of life。 I
don't think he has ever been resident at Thornfield for a fortnight
together； since the death of his brother without a will left him
master of the estate； and； indeed； no wonder he shuns the old place。'
'Why should he shun it？'
'Perhaps he thinks it gloomy。'
The answer was evasive。 I should have liked something clearer；
but Mrs。 Fairfax either could not； or would not； give me more explicit
information of the origin and nature of Mr。 Rochester's trials。 She
averred they were a mystery to herself； and that what she knew was
chiefly from conjecture。 It was evident； indeed； that she wished me to
drop the subject； which I did accordingly。