some strange wild animal： but it was covered with clothing； and a quantity of dark； grizzled hair； wild as a mane； hid its head and face。
“Good…morrow； Mrs。 Poole！” said Mr。 Rochester。 “How are you？ and how is your charge to…day？”
“We’re tolerable； sir； I thank you；” replied Grace； lifting the boiling mess carefully on to the hob： “rather snappish； but not ‘rageous。”
A fierce cry seemed to give the lie to her favourable report： the clothed hyena rose up； and stood tall on its hind…feet。
“Ah！ sir； she sees you！” exclaimed Grace： “you’d better not stay。”
“Only a few moments； Grace： you must allow me a few moments。”
“Take care then； sir！—for God’s sake； take care！”
The maniac bellowed： she parted her shaggy locks from her visage； and gazed wildly at her visitors。 I recognised well that purple face；—those bloated features。 Mrs。 Poole advanced。
“Keep out of the way；” said Mr。 Rochester； thrusting her aside： “she has no knife now； I suppose； and I’m on my guard。”
“One never knows what she has； sir： she is so cunning： it is not in mortal discretion to fathom her craft。”
“We had better leave her；” whispered Mason。
“Go to the devil！” was his brother…in…law’s remendation。
“‘Ware！” cried Grace。 The three gentlemen retreated simultaneously。 Mr。 Rochester flung me behind him： the lunatic sprang and grappled his throat viciously； and laid her teeth to his cheek： they struggled。 She was a big woman； in stature almost equalling her husband； and corpulent besides： she showed virile force in the contest—more than once she almost throttled him； athletic as he was。 He could have settled her with a well…planted blow； but he would not strike： he would only wrestle。 At last he mastered her arms； Grace Poole g