Chapter 17 Grace Poole

1 I both wished and feared to see Mr Rochester on the day which followed this sleepless night. The morning, however, passed just as usual. Nothing happened to interrupt the course of Adèle's quiet studies. Soon after breakfast I heard servants busy near Mr Rochester's bedroom. When I passed it later on I saw that all was once more in complete order. A woman was sitting on a chair by the bedside, sewing rings on new curtains. It was Grace Poole.

2 There she sat, busy at her work, with her hard face and her ordinary-looking features, not in the least like a woman who had attempted murder and been discovered. She looked up as I stared at her, and said, 'Good morning, miss,' in her usual manner. No movement, no change of colour in her face, gave any sign of feeling, of consciousness of guilt, or of fear that she might be found out.

3 'I will test her in some way,' I thought.

4 'Good morning, Grace,' I said aloud. 'Has anything happened here? I thought I heard the servants all talking together a short time ago.'

5 'Only master was reading in bed last night, and fell asleep with his candle lit, and the curtains caught fire. Fortunately he awoke in time and put it out.'

6 'A strange affair!' I said, in a low voice. Then, looking at her fixedly, 'Did Mr Rochester wake nobody?'

7 She raised her eyes to me, and seemed to examine me carefully. Then she answered:

8 'The servants sleep so far off, you know, miss, that they would not be likely to hear. Mrs Fairfax's room and yours are nearest to master's. Mrs Fairfax says she heard nothing. When people are getting old they often sleep heavily.' She paused, and then added, with an appearance of carelessness:

9 'But you are young, miss, and perhaps a light sleeper. Did you hear a noise?'

10 'I did,' I said in a low voice. 'At first I thought it was Pilot, but Pilot cannot laugh, and I am certain that I heard a laugh, and a strange one.'

11 She threaded her needle with a steady hand, and then observed calmly:

12 'It is hardly likely that master would laugh, miss, when he was in danger. You must have been dreaming.'

13 'I was not dreaming,' I replied. Again she looked at me.

14 'Have you told master that you heard a laugh?' she inquired.

15 'I have not had the opportunity of speaking to him this morning.'

16 'You did not think of opening your door, and looking out?'

17 'Quite the opposite,' I said. 'I locked my door.'

18 'Then you are not in the habit of locking your door every night?'

19 The idea suggested itself to me, that if she discovered that I knew of, or suspected, her guilt, she might be playing some of her evil tricks on me. Perhaps she was trying to find out my habits. I replied sharply:

20 'In future I shall take good care to lock everything before I lie down.'

21 'It would be wise to do so,' was her answer.

22 I hardly heard Mrs Fairfax's account of the fire during dinner. I was occupied in puzzling my brains over the mysterious character of Grace Poole, and still more over her position at Thornfield, and the reason why she had not been arrested, or at least dismissed from service. Mr Rochester had admitted her guilt, but had made me swear to keep the secret. It was strange that a bold, proud gentleman should be in the power of one of his own servants.

23 I waited impatiently for the hour when I should see Mr Rochester that evening. I had many things to say to him. I wanted to introduce the subject of Grace Poole, and hear what he would answer.

24 At last a servant made her appearance, but it was only to say that tea was ready in Mrs Fairfax's room.

25 'You must want your tea,' said the good lady, as I joined her. 'You ate so little at dinner. I am afraid you are not well today. You look feverish.'

26 'Oh, I am quite well!'

27 'Mr Rochester has had a favourable day for his journey,' she went on.

28 'Journey! Has Mr Rochester gone anywhere?'

29 'Oh, he set out the moment he had breakfasted. He has gone to the Leas, Mr Eshton's house, ten miles on the other side of Millcote. I believe there is quite a party gathered there.'

30 'Do you expect him back tonight?'

31 'No. I should think he is very likely to stay a week or more. Mr Rochester is so entertaining and so full of high spirits in society that I believe he is popular everywhere. The ladies are very fond of him.'

32 'Are there ladies at the Leas?'

33 There are Mrs Eshton and her daughters—very fashionable young ladies indeed, and there are the Misses Blanche and Mary Ingram, most beautiful women. When Blanche was here at a Christmas entertainment, she was considered the beauty of the evening.'

34 'What was she like?'

35 'Tall, with a long, graceful neck, noble features, large black eyes, as bright as her jewels, and a fine head of black curly hair.'

36 'She was greatly admired, of course?'

37 'Yes, and not only for her beauty, but for her accomplishments. She sings. She and Mr Rochester sang together.'

38 'I did not know that Mr Rochester could sing.'

39 'Oh, he has a fine voice, and an excellent taste in music. He thinks very highly of Miss Ingram's singing.'

40 'And this beautiful and accomplished lady is not yet married?'

41 'I believe that neither she nor her sister have very large fortunes.'

42 When I was once more alone, I reviewed the information that I had received. I looked into my heart, examined its thoughts and feelings, and tried to bring them back to common sense. I addressed myself with severity:

43 'A greater fool than you, Jane Eyre, never breathed the breath of life. You favoured by Mr Rochester? You of importance to him in any way? Go! Your foolishness disgusts me. The attentions paid to a woman by her employer mean nothing to him. It is madness to let a secret love take fire within you.

44 'Listen, then, Jane Eyre, to your punishment. Tomorrow, place the mirror before you, and draw yourself faithfully, without softening one fault. Write under it: "Picture of a governess, poor and plain."

45 'Afterwards, draw the most beautiful face that you can imagine, paint it in your softest colours, according to the description given by Mrs Fairfax. Call it "Blanche, an accomplished lady of rank".

46 'Whenever, in future, you should chance to suppose that Mr Rochester thinks well of you, take out the two pictures and compare them.'

47 I did so, and before long I had cause to congratulate myself on the discipline which I had forced upon my feelings.