Meantime，Mr。Rochesterhadagainsummonedtheladiesroundhim，andwasselectingcertainoftheirnumbertobeofhisparty。“MissIngramismine，ofcourse，”saidhe:afterwardshenamedthetwoMissesEshton，andMrs。Dent。Helookedatme:Ihappenedtobenearhim，asIhadbeenfasteningtheclaspofMrs。Dent’sbracelet，whichhadgotloose。
“Willyouplay？”heasked。Ishookmyhead。Hedidnotinsist，whichIratherfearedhewouldhavedone;heallowedmetoreturnquietlytomyusualseat。
Heandhisaidsnowwithdrewbehindthecurtain:theotherparty，whichwasheadedbyColonelDent，satdownonthecrescentofchairs。Oneofthegentlemen，Mr。Eshton，observingme，seemedtoproposethatIshouldbeaskedtojointhem;butLadyIngraminstantlynegativedthenotion。
“No，”Iheardhersay:“shelookstoostupidforanygameofthesort。”
Erelongabelltinkled，andthecurtaindrewup。Withinthearch，thebulkyfigureofSirGeorgeLynn，whomMr。Rochesterhadlikewisechosen，wasseenenvelopedinawhitesheet:beforehim，onatable，layopenalargebook;andathissidestoodAmyEshton，drapedinMr。Rochester’scloak，andholdingabookinherhand。Somebody，unseen，rangthebellmerrily;thenAdèle（whohadinsistedonbeingoneofherguardian’sparty），boundedforward，scatteringroundherthecontentsofabasketofflowersshecarriedonherarm。ThenappearedthemagnificentfigureofMissIngram，cladinwhite，alongveilonherhead，andawreathofrosesroundherbrow;byhersidewalkedMr。Rochester，andtogethertheydrewnearthetable。Theyknelt;whileMrs。DentandLouisaEshton，dressedalsoinwhite，tookuptheirstationsbehindthem。Aceremonyfollowed，indumbshow，inwhichitwaseasytorecognisethepantomimeofamarriage。Atitstermination，ColonelDentandhispartyconsultedinwhispersfortwominutes，thentheColonelcalledout—