“Voile； Monsieur Rochester； qui revient！”
I turned； and Miss Ingram darted forwards from her sofa： the others； too； looked up from their several occupations； for at the same time a crunching of wheels and a splashing tramp of horse…hoofs became audible on the wet gravel。 A post…chaise was approaching。
“What can possess him to e home in that style？” said Miss Ingram。 “He rode Mesrour （the black horse）； did he not； when he went out？ and Pilot was with him：… what has he done with the animals？”
As she said this； she approached her tall person and ample garments so near the window； that I was obliged to bend back almost to the breaking of my spine： in her eagerness she did not observe me at first； but when she did； she curled her lip and moved to another casement。 The post…chaise stopped； the driver rang the door…bell； and a gentleman alighted attired in travelling garb； but it was not Mr。 Rochester； it was a tall； fashionable…looking man； a stranger。
“How provoking！” exclaimed Miss Ingram： “you tiresome monkey！” （apostrophising Adèle）； “who perched you up in the window to give false intelligence？” and she cast on me an angry glance； as if I were in fault。
Some parleying was audible in the hall； and soon the new…er entered。 He bowed to Lady Ingram； as deeming her the eldest lady present。
“It appears I e at an inopportune time； madam；” said he； “when my friend； Mr。 Rochester； is from home； but I arrive from a very long journey； and I think I may presume so far on old and intimate acquaintance as to instal myself here till he returns。”
His manner was polite； his accent； in speaking； struck me as being somewhat unusual；—not precisely foreign； but still not altogether English： his age might be about Mr。 Rochester’s；—between th