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rusty nail。”
he had deigned an explanation； almost an apology； and i did not feel insensible to his condescension； and would not seem so。
“i am willing to amuse you； if i can； sir—quite willing； but i cannot introduce a topic； because how do i know what will interest you？ 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 a right to be a little masterful； abrupt； perhaps exacting； sometimes； on the grounds i stated； namely； that i am old enough to be your father； and that i have battled through a varied experience with many men of many nations； and roamed over half the globe； while you 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 a very evasive one。 reply clearly。”
“i don’t think； sir； you have a right to mand me； merely because you are older than i； or because you have seen more of the world than i have； your claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience。”
“humph！ promptly spoken。 but i won’t allow that； seeing that it would never suit my case； as i have made an indifferent； not to say a bad； use of both advantages。 leaving superiority out of the question； then； you must still agree to receive my orders now and then； without being piqued or hurt by the tone of mand。 will you？”
i smiled： i thought to myself mr。 rochester is peculiar—he seems to forget that he pays me ￡30 per annum for receiving his orders。
“the smile is very well；” said he； catching instantly the passing expression； “but speak too。”
“i was thinking； sir； that very few masters would trouble themselves to inquire whether or not their paid subordinates were piqued and hurt by their orders。”
“paid subordinates！ what！ you are my paid subordinate； are you？ oh yes； i had forgotten the salary！ well then； on that mercenary ground； will you agree to let me hector a little？”
“no； sir； not on that ground； but； on the ground that you did forget it； and that you care whether or not a dependent is fortable in his dependency； i agree heartily。”
“and will you consent to dispense with a great many conventional forms and phrases； without thinking that the omission arises from insolence？”
“i am sure； sir； i should never mistake informality for insolence： one i rather like； the other nothing free…born would submit to； even for a salary。”
“humbug！ most things free…born will submit to anything for a salary； therefore； keep to yourself； and don’t venture on generalities of which you are intensely ignorant。 however； i mentally shake hands with you for your answer； despite its inaccuracy； and as much for the manner in which it was said； as for the substance of the speech； the manner was frank and sincere； one does not often see such a manner： no； on the contrary； affectation； or coldness； or stupid； coarse…minded misapprehension of one’s meaning are the usual rewards of candour。 not three in three thousand raw school…girl…governesses would have answered me as you have just done。 but i don’t mean to flatter you： if you are cast in a different mould to the majority； it is no merit of yours： nature did it。 and then； after all； i go too fast in my conclusions： for what i yet know； you may be no better than the rest； you may have intolerable defects to counterbalance your few good points。”
“and so may you；” i thought。 my eye met his as the idea crossed my mind： he seemed to read the glance； answering as if its import had been spoken as well as imagined—
“yes； yes； you are right；” said he； “i have plenty of faults of my own： i know it； and i don’t wish to palliate them； i assure you。 god wot i need not be too severe about others； i have a past existence； a series of deeds； a colour of life to contemplate within my own breast； which might well call my sneers and censures from my neighbours to myself。 i started； or rather （for like other defaulters； i like to lay half the blame on ill fortune and adverse circumstances） was thrust on to a wrong tack at the age of one…and… twenty； and have never recovered the right course since： but i might have been very different； i might have been as good as you— wiser—almost as stainless。 i envy you your peace of mind； your clean conscience； your unpolluted memory。 little girl； a memory without blot or contamination must be an exquisite treasure—an inexhaustible source of pure refreshment： is it not？”
“how was your memory when you were eighteen； sir？”
“all right then； limpid； salubrious： no gush of bilge water had turned it to fetid puddle。 i was your equal at eighteen—quite your equal。 nature meant me to be； on the whole； a good man； miss eyre； one of the better kind； and you see i am not so。 you would say you don’t see it； at least i flatter myself i read as much in your eye （beware； by…the…bye； what you express with that organ； i am quick at interpreting its language）。 then take my word for it；—i am not a villain： you are not to suppose that—not to attribute to me any such bad eminence； but； owing； i verily believe； rather to circumstances than to my natural bent； i am a trite monplace sinner； hackneyed in all the poor petty dissipations with which the rich and worthless try to put on life。 do you wonder that i avow this to you？ know； that in the course of your future life you will often find yourself elected the involuntary confidant of your acquaintances’ secrets： people will instinctively find out； as i have done； that it is not your forte to tell of yourself； but to listen while others talk of themselves； they will feel； too； that you listen with no malevolent scorn of their indiscretion； but with a kind of innate sympathy； not the less forting and encouraging because it is very unobtrusive in its manifestations。”
“how do you know？—how can you guess all this； sir？”
“i know it well； therefore i proceed almost as freely as if i were writing my thoughts in a diary。 you would say； i should have been superior to circumstances； so i should—so i should； but you see i was not。 when fate wronged me； i had not the wisdom to remain cool： i t