CHAPTER XXXVI 

THE CHARLATAN UNMASKED 

There seemed for the next few minutes to be a somewhat singular abstention from any desire to interfere with the two people who stood in the centre of the little group, hand-in-hand. Saton, after his first speech, and after Lois had given him her hands, had turned a little defiantly toward Rochester, who remained, however, unmoved, his elbow resting upon the broad mantelpiece, his face almost expressionless. Vandermere, too, stood on one side and held his peace, though the effort with which he did so was a visible one. Lady Mary looked anxiously towards them. Pauline had shrunk back, as though something in the situation terrified her. 

Even Saton himself felt that it was the silence before the storm. The courage which he had summoned up to meet a storm of disapproval, began to ebb slowly away in the face of this unnatural silence. It was clear that the onus of further speech was to rest with him. 

Still retaining Lois' hand, he turned toward Rochester. 

"You have forbidden me to enter your house, or to hold any communication with your ward until she was of age, Mr. Rochester," he said. "One of your conditions I have obeyed. With regard to the other, I have done as I thought fit. However, to-day she is her own mistress. She has consented to be my wife. I do not need to ask for your consent or approval. If you are not willing that she should be married from your roof, I can take her at once to the Comtesse, who is prepared to receive her." 

Answer the following questions:
1. Who thought there was a silence before the storm?
2. Who was forbidden to enter the house?
3. Whose house was it?
4. Who stood in the centre of the group?
5. Were they holding hands?
6. Whose elbow was on the mantlpiece?
7. Did he look mad?
8. What did his face look like?
9. Who looked anxiously at them?
10. And who else stood on the side, holding his peace?
11. Had Lois consented to be Saton's wife?
12. Did he still need Rochester's approval?
13. Where would they go if they couldn't be married there?
14. What chapter is this?
15. What's the name of it?
16. What seemed to ebb slowly away in the silence?
17. Did something terrify Mary?
18. Who seemed terrified?
19. Who did the onus of more speech rest with?
20. How many conditions did Saton obey?

Numbered answers:
1. Saton
2. Saton
3. Mr. Rochester
4. Saton and Lois
5. yes
6. Rochester
7. no
8. expressionless
9. Mary
10. Vandermere
11. yes
12. no
13. the Comtesse
14. XXXVI
15. THE CHARLATAN UNMASKED
16. courage
17. No
18. Pauline
19. Saton
20. One