PART THREE - A YOUNG WOMAN AT THORNFIELD
CHAPTER ELEVEN
A Great Party at Thornfield
"Does she know?" Mildred whispered.
"No, and she isn't going to find out! Do you understand? Don't tell her anything!" It was then that I knew there was a secret at Thornfield.
At last the day of the party came. Everything was ready for Mr. Rochester and his [-----1-----]. As the people arrived Adele and I watched from an upstairs window. We saw Mr. Rochester on his black horse, and with him rode a beautiful lady, her black curls flying in the wind. "That must be Blanche Ingram!" I thought. Soon many ladies and gentlemen were walking through the house, talking and laughing.
Adele loved parties and hoped that Mr. Rochester would ask her to meet the guests, but she and I both went to bed early. Mr. Rochester asked for me to bring Adele down the next evening.
The next night, Adele and I were in the sitting room when the ladies came in after dinner. We were dressed in our best clothes. All the women were beautiful, but I was [-----2-----] interested in Blanche Ingram. After the gentlemen had had their wine, they came into the sitting room and coffee and tea were served. Everyone was paying attention to Miss Ingram. She played the piano excellently and sang sweetly. Her shining eyes, black hair, and fine [-----3-----] made every man in the room look at her.
But I was looking at someone else. The last time I had seen him was on the night of the strange fire. That night, he had held my hands, told me I had saved his life, and looked at me with love. But now, he entered the room without even looking at me, and took a seat with the ladies. I had tried hard to forget about Mr. Rochester, but now that I saw him again, I could not hide my feelings from myself. I felt that there was something in our minds and hearts that connected us
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