Short chapter here, because the next one is looong! The dialogue is pretty much lifted straight from the book although I tried to fill in what Blanche was most likely thinking.


One evening, Mr Rochester was out, none of us knew where. We had just welcomed a new arrival, a Mr Mason late of the West Indies, when the presence was announced of an old woman who wanted to tell our fortunes. I was very much interested, for I was quite curious to discover how my quest would end. I was growing impatient, as Mr Rochester had not yet spoken; surely this old soothsayer could tell me whether I would meet with success or failure.

"I cannot possibly countenance any such inconsistent proceeding,'' Mother said, in her usual haughty language.

"Indeed, mama, but you can - and will," I said, knowing that Mother would not forbid me in front of all these people. "I have a curiosity to hear my fortune told: therefore, Sam, order the beldame forwards.''

"My darling Blanche! recollect -" I reflected irrelevantly, and with some bitterness, that Mother only called me by affectionate nicknames for the benefit of others; in private I was anything but 'her darling Blanche' .

"I do - I recollect all you can suggest; and I must have my will - quick, Sam!" The other young people agreed; Sam went to consult with the old lady, and soon returned.

"She won't come now," he said. "She says it's not her mission to appear before the 'vulgar herd' (them's her words). I must show her into a room by herself, and then those who wish to consult her must go to her one by one." The plan was agreeable to me; I was not convinced that I would want my fortune told before such a nosy crowd - by this I mean Mother, of course.

"You see now, my queenly Blanche,- Mother protested with another of her hypocritical expressions of affection, "she encroaches. Be advised, my angel girl - and -"

"Show her into the library, of course," I interrupted. I could not stand to listen to Mother's false affection any longer; I wanted simply to do my business, and have it over with. "It is not my mission to listen to her before the vulgar herd either: I mean to have her all to myself. Is there a fire in the library?"

"Yes ma'am - but she looks such a tinkler," persisted the stupid Sam.

"Cease that chatter, blockhead! and do my bidding," I said; I meant it for a joke but Sam quickly vanished. He came back, and called for the first visitor. Colonel Dent offered to go first, but Sam said that the old woman would see only young, unmarried ladies; I said simply "I go first'' and no one argued.

''Oh, my best! Oh, my dearest! pause - reflect!" Mother implored, but I ignored her whining; I meant to have my own way this once. I ventured into the library alone