Dr. Winthrop, whose mind was intent only upon getting safely out of Paris, did not realize that then was the proper time to disclaim the honor which was being thrust upon him. He pitied the fair girl, who had so thoughtlessly betrayed her love for him, and felt that it would perhaps be best to leave her to make her own explanations to her mother. So he only bowed gravely in reply to Mrs. Rochester’s greeting, though a deep flush swept across his brow; then, ignoring her remark entirely, he said. “I came this morning to ask Miss Rochester if you and she could be ready to leave Paris at short notice. The city is in such a turbulent state that we all feel it would be best to get away as soon as possible.” “Is it so bad as that?—are we in danger personally?” she asked, growing pale with anxiety. “I will not deceive you—yes. The people are so excited and unreasonable that there is no knowing what they may do.” “Then let us go at once—I can be ready in less than an hour,” said Mrs. Rochester, all her native energy and courage rising to meet this emergency. “We will if we can—if every avenue is not closed against us,” he replied. “Get your trunks packed and be ready when I come, or send for you.” “We will,” was the decided answer, “and,” with a significant smile, “Sadie is, of course, perfectly willing to be guided by you, now.” He made no reply to this, but took his leave at once, although not in a very comfortable frame of mind, for it was very evident that Mrs. Rochester regarded him as a prospective son-in-law and was very much delighted in the belief. “Surely Miss Rochester will not allow her mother to imagine that I have made her an offer of marriage; she will of course explain our unfortunate position,” he mused, as he went out. “It was very disagreeable, and I am surprised at her for losing her self-possession so completely. I did not imagine that the girl really cared for me in any such way, she has always been so frank and friendly. I did not dream that she would fall in love with me; I half suspected that she was getting fond of Norman.” “Well, since she has fallen in love with you, why shouldn’t you marry her? You are free, and you are not likely to meet another woman so loving and accomplished as Sadie Rochester; and then you could settle at once and forever the vexing question of the Hamilton-Rochester contract,” was the question which arose in his mind in answer to his previous musings. He thoroughly believed in Sadie Rochester, never once suspecting that she had been playing a part during all these months. Though he recognized her beauty and many accomplishments, and knew that she would shine in any position, he had an instinctive shrinking from an alliance with her. But these thoughts could not long remain uppermost in his mind. His chief anxiety now was to get his family to a place of safety, and in this undertaking he was peculiarly fortunate.