92 I claim only suchsuperiority as must result from twenty years. cheap north face jackets
“I am disposed to be gregarious and communicative tonight,”he repeated, “and that is why I sent for you: the fire and thechandelier were not sufficient company for me; nor would Pilothave been, for none of these can talk. Adèle is a degree better, butstill far below the mark; Mrs. Fairfax ditto; you, I am persuaded,can suit me if you will: you puzzled me the first evening I invitedyou down here. I have almost forgotten you since: other ideas havedriven yours from my head; but tonight I am resolved to be atease; to dismiss what importunes, and recall what pleases. Itwould please me now to draw you out—to learn more of you—therefore speak.”Instead of speaking, I smiled; and not a very complacent orsubmissive smile either. north face sale
“Speak,” he urged.“What about, sir?”“Whatever you like. I leave both the choice of subject and themanner of treating it entirely to yourself.”Accordingly I sat and said nothing: “If he expects me to talk forthe mere sake of talking and showing off, he will find he hasaddressed himself to the wrong person,” I thought.“You are dumb, Miss Eyre.”I was dumb still. north face jackets He bent his head a little towards me, and witha single hasty glance seemed to dive into my eyes.“Stubborn?” he said, “and annoyed. Ah! it is consistent. I putCharlotte Bront. ElecBook ClassicsJane Eyre my request in an absurd, almost insolent form. Miss Eyre, I begyour pardon. cheap north face jackets
The fact is, once for all, I don’t wish to treat you likean inferior: that is” (correcting himself), “I claim only suchsuperiority as must result from twenty years’ difference in age anda century’s advance in experience. This is legitimate, et j’y tiens, asAdèle would say; and it is by virtue of this superiority, and thisalone, that I desire you to have the goodness to talk to me a littlenow, and divert my thoughts, which are galled with dwelling onone point—cankering as a rusty nail.” He had deigned anexplanation, almost an apology, and I did not feel insensible to hiscondescension, and would not seem so.“I am willing to amuse you, if I can, sir—quite willing; but Icannot introduce a topic, because how do I know what will interestyou? Ask me questions, and I will do my best to answer them.”“Then, in the first place, do you agree with me that I have aright to be a little masterful, abrupt, perhaps exacting, sometimes,on the grounds I stated, namely, that I am old enough to be yourfather, and that I have battled through a varied experience withmany men of many nations, and roamed over half the globe, whileyou have lived quietly with one set of people in one house?”“Do as you please, sir.”“That is no answer; or rather it is a very irritating, because avery evasive one.