CharlotteBront（1816—1855）。—Novelist，daughteroftheRev。PatrickB。，aclergymanofIrishdescentandofeccentrichabitswhoembitteredthelivesofhischildrenbyhispeculiartheoriesofeducation。Broughtupinasmallparsonageclosetothegraveyardofableak，windsweptvillageontheYorkshiremoors，andleftmotherlessinearlychildhood，shewas“themotherlyfriendandguardianofheryoungersisters，”ofwhomtwo，EmilyandAnne，shared，butinalessdegree，hertalents。Aftervariouseffortsasschoolmistressesandgovernesses，thesisterstooktoliteratureandpublishedavol。ofpoemsunderthenamesofCurrer，Ellis，andActonBell，which，however，fellflat。Charlottethenwroteherfirstnovel，TheProfessor，whichdidnotappearuntilafterherdeath，andbeganJaneEyre，which，appearingin1847，tookthepublicbystorm。ItwasfollowedbyShirleyin1849，andVillettein1852。In1854shewasmarriedtoherfather’scurate，theRev。A。Nicholls，butafterashortthoughhappymarriedlifeshediedin1855。AnneB。（1820—1849）wastheauthoressofTheTenantofWildfellHallandAgnesGrey（1848）。Shehadnottheintellectualforceofhersisters。ThenovelsofCharlotteespeciallycreatedastrongimpressionfromthefirst，andthepublishedofJaneEyregaverisetomuchcuriosityandspeculationastoitsauthorship。TheirstrengthandoriginalityhaveretainedforthemahighplaceinEnglishfictionwhichislikelytoprovepermanent。ThereisabiographyofCharlottebyMrs。Gaskell（q。v。）。
EmilyBront？（1818—1848）。—Novelistandpoet。SistertoCharlotte
andAnne。WroteastoryofextraordinaryrealityandimaginationinWutheringHeights;inwhosepagestheYorkshiremoorsaregivenawildandtragicpersonalreality。Thesameemotionalforcemarksthebestofherpoems，thoughwrittenwithanapparentlyheedlesspenforherownrelief。
Preface
Aprefacetothefirsteditionof“JaneEyre”beingunnecessary，Igavenone:thissecondeditiondemandsafewwordsbothofacknowledgmentandmiscellaneousremark。
Mythanksaredueinthreequarters。
TothePublic，fortheindulgentearithasinclinedtoaplaintalewithfewpretensions。
TothePress，forthefairfielditshonestsuffragehasopenedtoanobscureaspirant。
TomyPublishers，fortheaidtheirtact，theirenergy，theirpracticalsenseandfrankliberalityhaveaffordedanunknownandunrecommendedAuthor。
ThePressandthePublicarebutvaguepersonificationsforme，andImustthanktheminvagueterms;butmyPublishersaredefinite:soarecertaingenerouscriticswhohaveencouragedmeasonlylarge—heartedandhigh—mindedmenknowhowtoencourageastrugglingstranger;tothem，i。e。，tomyPublishersandtheselectReviewers，Isaycordially，Gentlemen，Ithankyoufrommyheart。
HavingthusacknowledgedwhatIowethosewhohaveaidedandapprovedme，Iturntoanotherclass;asmallone，sofarasIknow，butnot，therefore，tobeoverlooked。Imeanthetimorousorcarpingfewwhodoubtthetendencyofsuchbooksas“JaneEyre:”inwhoseeyeswhateverisunusualiswrong;whoseearsdetectineachprotestagainstbigotry—thatparentofcrime—aninsulttopiety，thatregentofGodonearth。Iwouldsuggesttosuchdoubterscertainobviousdistinctions;Iwouldremindthemofcertainsimpletruths。
Conventionalityisnotmorality。Self—righteousnessisnotreligion。Toattackthefirstisnottoassailthelast。TopluckthemaskfromthefaceofthePharisee，isnottoliftanimpioushandtotheCrownofThorns。
Thesethingsanddeedsarediametricallyopposed:theyareasdistinctasisvicefromvirtue。Mentoooftenconfoundthem:theyshouldnotbeconfounded:appearanceshouldnotbemistakenfortruth;narrowhumandoctrines，thatonlytendtoelateandmagnifyafew，shouldnotbesubstitutedfortheworld—redeemingcreedofChrist。Thereis—Irepeatit—adifference;anditisagood，andnotabadactiontomarkbroadlyandclearlythelineofseparationbetweenthem。
Theworldmaynotliketoseetheseideasdissevered，forithasbeenaccustomedtoblendthem;findingitconvenienttomakeexternalshowpassforsterlingworth—toletwhite—washedwallsvouchforcleanshrines。Itmayhatehimwhodarestoscrutiniseandexpose—torasethegilding，andshowbasemetalunderit—topenetratethesepulchre，andrevealcharnelrelics:buthateasitwill，itisindebtedtohim。
AhabdidnotlikeMicaiah，becauseheneverprophesiedgoodconcerninghim，butevil;probablyhelikedthesycophantsonofChenaannahbetter;yetmightAhabhaveescapedabloodydeath，hadhebutstoppedhisearstoflattery，andopenedthemtofaithfulcounsel。
Thereisamaninourowndayswhosewordsarenotframedtotickledelicateears:who，tomythinking，comesbeforethegreatonesofsociety，muchasthesonofImlahcamebeforethethronedKingsofJudahandIsrael;andwhospeakstruthasdeep，withapowerasprophet—likeandasvital—amienasdauntlessandasdaring。Isthesatiristof“VanityFair”admiredinhighplaces？Icannottell;butIthinkifsomeofthoseamongstwhomhehurlstheGreekfireofhissarcasm，andoverwhomheflashesthelevin—brandofhisdenunciation，weretotakehiswarningsintime—theyortheirseedmightyetescapeafatalRimoth—Gilead。
WhyhaveIalludedtothisman？Ihavealludedtohim，Reader，becauseIthinkIseeinhimanintellectprofounderandmoreuniquethanhiscontemporarieshaveyetrecognised;becauseIregardhimasthefirstsocialregeneratoroftheday—astheverymasterofthatworkingcorpswhowouldrestoretorectitudethewarpedsystemofthings;becauseIthinknocommentatoronhiswritingshasyetfoundthecomparisonthatsuitshim，thetermswhichrightlycharacterisehistalent。TheysayheislikeFielding:theytalkofhiswit，humour，comicpowers。HeresemblesFieldingasaneagledoesavulture:Fieldingcouldstooponcarrion，butThackerayneverdoes。Hiswitisbright，hishumourattractive，butbothbearthesamerelationtohisseriousgeniusthatthemerelambentsheet—lightningplayingundertheedgeofthesummer—clouddoestotheelectricdeath—sparkhidinitswomb。Finally，IhavealludedtoMr。Thackeray，becausetohim—ifhewillacceptthetributeofatotalstranger—Ihavededicatedthissecondeditionof“JANEEYRE。”
CURRERBELL。
December21st，1847。
NotetotheThirdEdition
Iavailmyselfoftheopportunitywhichathirdeditionof“JaneEyre”affordsme，ofagainaddressingawordtothePublic，toexplainthatmyclaimtothetitleofnovelistrestsonthisoneworkalone。If，therefore，theauthorshipofotherworksoffictionhasbeenattributedtome，anhonourisawardedwhereitisnotmerited;andconsequently，deniedwhereitisjustlydue。
Thisexplanationwillservetorectifymistakeswhichmayalreadyhavebeenmade，andtopreventfutureerrors。
CURRERBELL。
April13th，1848。
Chapter1
Therewasnopossibilityoftakingawalkthatday。Wehadbeenwandering，indeed，intheleaflessshrubberyanhourinthemorning;butsincedinner（Mrs。Reed，whentherewasnocompany，dinedearly）thecoldwinterwindhadbroughtwithitcloudssosombre，andarainsopenetrating，thatfurtherout—doorexercisewasnowoutofthequestion。
Iwasgladofit:Ineverlikedlongwalks，especiallyonchillyafternoons:dreadfultomewasthecominghomeintherawtwilight，withnippedfingersandtoes，andaheartsaddenedbythechidingsofBessie，thenurse，andhumbledbytheconsciousnessofmyphysicalinferioritytoEliza，John，andGeorgianaReed。
ThesaidEliza，John，andGeorgianawerenowclusteredroundtheirmamainthedrawing—room:shelayreclinedonasofabythefireside，andwithherdarlingsabouther（forthetimeneitherquarrellingnorcrying）lookedperfectlyhappy。Me，shehaddispensedfromjoiningthegroup;saying，“Sheregrettedtobeunderthenecessityofkeepingmeatadistance;butthatuntilsheheardfromBessie，andcoulddiscoverbyherownobservation，thatIwasendeavouringingoodearnesttoacquireamoresociableandchildlikedisposition，amoreattractiveandsprightlymanner—somethinglighter，franker，morenatural，asitwere—shereallymustexcludemefromprivilegesintendedonlyforcontented，happy，littlechildren。”
“WhatdoesBessiesayIhavedone？”Iasked。
“Jane，Idon’tlikecavillersorquestioners;besides，thereissomethingtrulyforbiddinginachildtakinguphereldersinthatmanner。Beseatedsomewhere;anduntilyoucanspeakpleasantly，remainsilent。”
Abreakfast—roomadjoinedthedrawing—room，Islippedinthere。Itcontainedabookcase:Isoonpossessedmyselfofavolume，takingcarethatitshouldbeonestoredwithpictures。Imountedintothewindow—seat:gatheringupmyfeet，Isatcross—legged，likeaTurk;and，havingdrawntheredmoreencurtainnearlyclose，Iwasshrinedindoubleretirement。
Foldsofscarletdraperyshutinmyviewtotherighthand;totheleftweretheclearpanesofglass，protecting，butnotseparatingmefromthedrearNovemberday。Atintervals，whileturningovertheleavesofmybook，Istudiedtheaspectofthatwinterafternoon。Afar，itofferedapaleblankofmistandcloud;nearasceneofwetlawnandstorm—beatshrub，withceaselessrainsweepingawaywildlybeforealongandlamentableblast。
Ireturnedtomybook—Bewick’sHistoryofBritishBirds:theletterpressthereofIcaredlittlefor，generallyspeaking;andyettherewerecertainintroductorypagesthat，childasIwas，Icouldnotpassquiteasablank。Theywerethosewhichtreatofthehauntsofsea—fowl;of“thesolitaryrocksandpromontories”bythemonlyinhabited;ofthecoastofNorway，studdedwithislesfromitssouthernextremity，theLindeness，orNaze，totheNorthCape—
“WheretheNorthernOcean，invastwhirls，
Boilsroundthenaked，melancholyisles
OffarthestThule;andtheAtlanticsurge
PoursinamongthestormyHebrides。”
NorcouldIpassunnoticedthesuggestionofthebleakshoresofLapland，Siberia，Spitzbergen，NovaZembla，Iceland，Greenland，with“thevastsweepoftheArcticZone，andthoseforlornregionsofdrearyspace，—thatreservoiroffrostandsnow，wherefirmfieldsofice，theaccumulationofcenturiesofwinters，glazedinAlpineheightsaboveheights，surroundthepole，andconcentrethemultipliedrigoursofextremecold。”Ofthesedeath—whiterealmsIformedanideaofmyown:shadowy，likeallthehalf—comprehendednotionsthatfloatdimthroughchildren’sbrains，butstrangelyimpressive。Thewordsintheseintroductorypagesconnectedthemselveswiththesucceedingvignettes，andgavesignificancetotherockstandingupaloneinaseaofbillowandspray;tothebrokenboatstrandedonadesolatecoast;tothecoldandghastlymoonglancingthroughbarsofcloudatawreckjustsinking。
Icannottellwhatsentimenthauntedthequitesolitarychurchyard，withitsinscribedheadstone;itsgate，itstwotrees，itslowhorizon，girdledbyabrokenwall，anditsnewly—risencrescent，attestingthehourofeventide。
Thetwoshipsbecalmedonatorpidsea，Ibelievedtobemarinephantoms。
Thefiendpinningdownthethief’spackbehindhim，Ipassedoverquickly:itwasanobjectofterror。
Sowastheblackhornedthingseatedaloofonarock，surveyingadistantcrowdsurroundingagallows。
Eachpicturetoldastory;mysteriousoftentomyundevelopedunderstandingandimperfectfeelings，yeteverprofoundlyinteresting:asinterestingasthetalesBessiesometimesnarratedonwinterevenings，whenshechancedtobeingoodhumour;andwhen，havingbroughtherironing—tabletothenurseryhearth，sheallowedustositaboutit，andwhileshegotupMrs。Reed’slacefrills，andcrimpedhernightcapborders，fedoureagerattentionwithpassagesofloveandadventuretakenfromoldfairytalesandotherballads;or（asatalaterperiodIdiscovered）fromthepagesofPamela，andHenry，EarlofMoreland。
WithBewickonmyknee，Iwasthenhappy:happyatleastinmyway。Ifearednothingbutinterruption，andthatcametoosoon。Thebreakfast—roomdooropened。
“Boh！MadamMope！”criedthevoiceofJohnReed;thenhepaused:hefoundtheroomapparentlyempty。
“Wherethedickensisshe！”hecontinued。“Lizzy！Georgy！（callingtohissisters）Joanisnothere:tellmamasheisrunoutintotherain—badanimal！”
“ItiswellIdrewthecurtain，”thoughtI;andIwishedferventlyhemightnotdiscovermyhiding—place:norwouldJohnReedhavefounditouthimself;hewasnotquickeitherofvisionorconception;butElizajustputherheadinatthedoor，andsaidatonce—
“Sheisinthewindow—seat，tobesure，Jack。”
AndIcameoutimmediately，forItrembledattheideaofbeingdraggedforthbythesaidJack。
“Whatdoyouwant？”Iasked，withawkwarddiffidence。
“Say，‘Whatdoyouwant，MasterReed？’”wastheanswer。“Iwantyoutocomehere;”andseatinghimselfinanarm—chair，heintimatedbyagesturethatIwastoapproachandstandbeforehim。
JohnReedwasaschoolboyoffourteenyearsold;fouryearsolderthanI，forIwasbutten:largeandstoutforhisage，withadingyandunwholesomeskin;thicklineamentsinaspaciousvisage，heavylimbsandlargeextremities。Hegorgedhimselfhabituallyattable，whichmadehimbilious，andgavehimadimandblearedeyeandflabbycheeks。Heoughtnowtohavebeenatschool;buthismamahadtakenhimhomeforamonthortwo，“onaccountofhisdelicatehealth。”Mr。Miles，themaster，affirmedthathewoulddoverywellifhehadfewercakesandsweetmeatssenthimfromhome;butthemother’sheartturnedfromanopinionsoharsh，andinclinedrathertothemorerefinedideathatJohn’ssallownesswasowingtoover—applicationand，perhaps，topiningafterhome。
Johnhadnotmuchaffectionforhismotherandsisters，andanantipathytome。Hebulliedandpunishedme;nottwoorthreetimesintheweek，noronceortwiceintheday，butcontinually:everynerveIhadfearedhim，andeverymorseloffleshinmybonesshrankwhenhecamenear。ThereweremomentswhenIwasbewilderedbytheterrorheinspired，becauseIhadnoappealwhateveragainsteitherhismenacesorhisinflictions;theservantsdidnotliketooffendtheiryoungmasterbytakingmypartagainsthim，andMrs。Reedwasblindanddeafonthesubject:sheneversawhimstrikeorheardhimabuseme，thoughhedidbothnowandtheninherverypresence，morefrequently，however，behindherback。
HabituallyobedienttoJohn，Icameuptohischair:hespentsomethreeminutesinthrustingouthistongueatmeasfarashecouldwithoutdamagingtheroots:Iknewhewouldsoonstrike，andwhiledreadingtheblow，Imusedonthedisgustinganduglyappearanceofhimwhowouldpresentlydealit。Iwonderifhereadthatnotioninmyface;for，allatonce，withoutspeaking，hestrucksuddenlyandstrongly。Itottered，andonregainingmyequilibriumretiredbackasteportwofromhischair。
“Thatisforyourimpudenceinansweringmamaawhilesince，”saidhe，“andforyoursneakingwayofgettingbehindcurtains，andforthelookyouhadinyoureyestwominutessince，yourat！”
AccustomedtoJohnReed’sabuse，Ineverhadanideaofreplyingtoit;mycarewashowtoenduretheblowwhichwouldcertainlyfollowtheinsult。
“Whatwereyoudoingbehindthecurtain？”heasked。
“Iwasreading。”
“Showthebook。”
Ireturnedtothewindowandfetcheditthence。
“Youhavenobusinesstotakeourbooks;youareadependent，mamasays;youhavenomoney;yourfatherleftyounone;yououghttobeg，andnottoliveherewithgentlemen’schildrenlikeus，andeatthesamemealswedo，andwearclothesatourmama’sexpense。Now，I’llteachyoutorummagemybookshelves:fortheyaremine;allthehousebelongstome，orwilldoinafewyears。Goandstandbythedoor，outofthewayofthemirrorandthewindows。”
Ididso，notatfirstawarewhatwashisintention;butwhenIsawhimliftandpoisethebookandstandinacttohurlit，Iinstinctivelystartedasidewithacryofalarm:notsoonenough，however;thevolumewasflung，ithitme，andIfell，strikingmyheadagainstthedoorandcuttingit。Thecutbled，thepainwassharp:myterrorhadpasseditsclimax;otherfeelingssucceeded。
“Wickedandcruelboy！”Isaid。“Youarelikeamurderer—youarelikeaslave—driver—youareliketheRomanemperors！”
IhadreadGoldsmith’sHistoryofRome，andhadformedmyopinionofNero，Caligula，&c。AlsoIhaddrawnparallelsinsilence，whichIneverthoughtthustohavedeclaredaloud。
“What！what！”hecried。“Didshesaythattome？Didyouhearher，ElizaandGeorgiana？Won’tItellmama？butfirst—”
Heranheadlongatme:Ifelthimgraspmyhairandmyshoulder:hehadclosedwithadesperatething。Ireallysawinhimatyrant，amurderer。Ifeltadroportwoofbloodfrommyheadtrickledownmyneck，andwassensibleofsomewhatpungentsuffering:thesesensationsforthetimepredominatedoverfear，andIreceivedhiminfranticsort。Idon’tverywellknowwhatIdidwithmyhands，buthecalledme“Rat！Rat！”andbellowedoutaloud。Aidwasnearhim:ElizaandGeorgianahadrunforMrs。Reed，whowasgoneupstairs:shenowcameuponthescene，followedbyBessieandhermaidAbbot。Wewereparted:Iheardthewords—
“Dear！dear！WhatafurytoflyatMasterJohn！”
“Dideveranybodyseesuchapictureofpassion！”
ThenMrs。Reedsubjoined—
“Takeherawaytothered—room，andlockherinthere。”Fourhandswereimmediatelylaiduponme，andIwasborneupstairs。
Chapter2
Iresistedalltheway:anewthingforme，andacircumstancewhichgreatlystrengthenedthebadopinionBessieandMissAbbotweredisposedtoentertainofme。Thefactis，Iwasatriflebesidemyself;orratheroutofmyself，astheFrenchwouldsay:Iwasconsciousthatamoment’smutinyhadalreadyrenderedmeliabletostrangepenalties，and，likeanyotherrebelslave，Ifeltresolved，inmydesperation，togoalllengths。
“Holdherarms，MissAbbot:she’slikeamadcat。”
“Forshame！forshame！”criedthelady’s—maid。“Whatshockingconduct，MissEyre，tostrikeayounggentleman，yourbenefactress’sson！Youryoungmaster。”
“Master！Howishemymaster？AmIaservant？”
“No;youarelessthanaservant，foryoudonothingforyourkeep。There，sitdown，andthinkoveryourwickedness。”
TheyhadgotmebythistimeintotheapartmentindicatedbyMrs。Reed，andhadthrustmeuponastool:myimpulsewastorisefromitlikeaspring;theirtwopairofhandsarrestedmeinstantly。
“Ifyoudon’tsitstill，youmustbetieddown，”saidBessie。“MissAbbot，lendmeyourgarters;shewouldbreakminedirectly。”
MissAbbotturnedtodivestastoutlegofthenecessaryligature。Thispreparationforbonds，andtheadditionalignominyitinferred，tookalittleoftheexcitementoutofme。
“Don’ttakethemoff，”Icried;“Iwillnotstir。”
Inguaranteewhereof，Iattachedmyselftomyseatbymyhands。
“Mindyoudon’t，”saidBessie;andwhenshehadascertainedthatIwasreallysubsiding，sheloosenedherholdofme;thensheandMissAbbotstoodwithfoldedarms，lookingdarklyanddoubtfullyonmyface，asincredulousofmysanity。
“Sheneverdidsobefore，”atlastsaidBessie，turningtotheAbigail。
“Butitwasalwaysinher，”wasthereply。“I’vetoldMissisoftenmyopinionaboutthechild，andMissisagreedwithme。She’sanunderhandlittlething:Ineversawagirlofheragewithsomuchcover。”
Bessieanswerednot;buterelong，addressingme，shesaid—“Yououghttobeaware，Miss，thatyouareunderobligationstoMrs。Reed:shekeepsyou:ifsheweretoturnyouoff，youwouldhavetogotothepoorhouse。”
Ihadnothingtosaytothesewords:theywerenotnewtome:myveryfirstrecollectionsofexistenceincludedhintsofthesamekind。Thisreproachofmydependencehadbecomeavaguesing—songinmyear:verypainfulandcrushing，butonlyhalfintelligible。MissAbbotjoinedin—
“AndyououghtnottothinkyourselfonanequalitywiththeMissesReedandMasterReed，becauseMissiskindlyallowsyoutobebroughtupwiththem。Theywillhaveagreatdealofmoney，andyouwillhavenone:itisyourplacetobehumble，andtotrytomakeyourselfagreeabletothem。”
“Whatwetellyouisforyourgood，”addedBessie，innoharshvoice，“youshouldtrytobeusefulandpleasant，then，perhaps，youwouldhaveahomehere;butifyoubecomepassionateandrude，Missiswillsendyouaway，Iamsure。”
“Besides，”saidMissAbbot，“Godwillpunishher:Hemightstrikeherdeadinthemidstofhertantrums，andthenwherewouldshego？Come，Bessie，wewillleaveher:Iwouldn’thaveherheartforanything。Sayyourprayers，MissEyre，whenyouarebyyourself;forifyoudon’trepent，somethingbadmightbepermittedtocomedownthechimneyandfetchyouaway。”
Theywent，shuttingthedoor，andlockingitbehindthem。
Thered—roomwasasquarechamber，veryseldomsleptin，Imightsaynever，indeed，unlesswhenachanceinfluxofvisitorsatGatesheadHallrendereditnecessarytoturntoaccountalltheaccommodationitcontained:yetitwasoneofthelargestandstateliestchambersinthemansion。Abedsupportedonmassivepillarsofmahogany，hungwithcurtainsofdeepreddamask，stoodoutlikeatabernacleinthecentre;thetwolargewindows，withtheirblindsalwaysdrawndown，werehalfshroudedinfestoonsandfallsofsimilardrapery;thecarpetwasred;thetableatthefootofthebedwascoveredwithacrimsoncloth;thewallswereasoftfawncolourwithablushofpinkinit;thewardrobe，thetoilet—table，thechairswereofdarklypolishedoldmahogany。Outofthesedeepsurroundingshadesrosehigh，andglaredwhite，thepiled—upmattressesandpillowsofthebed，spreadwithasnowyMarseillescounterpane。Scarcelylessprominentwasanamplecushionedeasy—chairneartheheadofthebed，alsowhite，withafootstoolbeforeit;andlooking，asIthought，likeapalethrone。
Thisroomwaschill，becauseitseldomhadafire;itwassilent，becauseremotefromthenurseryandkitchen;solemn，becauseitwasknowntobesoseldomentered。Thehouse—maidalonecamehereonSaturdays，towipefromthemirrorsandthefurnitureaweek’squietdust:andMrs。Reedherself，atfarintervals，visitedittoreviewthecontentsofacertainsecretdrawerinthewardrobe，wherewerestoreddiversparchments，herjewel—casket，andaminiatureofherdeceasedhusband;andinthoselastwordsliesthesecretofthered—room—thespellwhichkeptitsolonelyinspiteofitsgrandeur。
Mr。Reedhadbeendeadnineyears:itwasinthischamberhebreathedhislast;herehelayinstate;hencehiscoffinwasbornebytheundertaker’smen;and，sincethatday，asenseofdrearyconsecrationhadguardeditfromfrequentintrusion。
Myseat，towhichBessieandthebitterMissAbbothadleftmeriveted，wasalowottomannearthemarblechimney—piece;thebedrosebeforeme;tomyrighthandtherewasthehigh，darkwardrobe，withsubdued，brokenreflectionsvaryingtheglossofitspanels;tomyleftwerethemuffledwindows;agreatlooking—glassbetweenthemrepeatedthevacantmajestyofthebedandroom。Iwasnotquitesurewhethertheyhadlockedthedoor;andwhenIdaredmove，Igotupandwenttosee。Alas！yes:nojailwasevermoresecure。Returning，Ihadtocrossbeforethelooking—glass;myfascinatedglanceinvoluntarilyexploredthedepthitrevealed。Alllookedcolderanddarkerinthatvisionaryhollowthaninreality:andthestrangelittlefiguretheregazingatme，withawhitefaceandarmsspeckingthegloom，andglitteringeyesoffearmovingwhereallelsewasstill，hadtheeffectofarealspirit:Ithoughtitlikeoneofthetinyphantoms，halffairy，halfimp，Bessie’seveningstoriesrepresentedascomingoutoflone，fernydellsinmoors，andappearingbeforetheeyesofbelatedtravellers。Ireturnedtomystool。
Superstitionwaswithmeatthatmoment;butitwasnotyetherhourforcompletevictory:mybloodwasstillwarm;themoodoftherevoltedslavewasstillbracingmewithitsbittervigour;IhadtostemarapidrushofretrospectivethoughtbeforeIquailedtothedismalpresent。
AllJohnReed’sviolenttyrannies，allhissisters’proudindifference，allhismother’saversion，alltheservants’partiality，turnedupinmydisturbedmindlikeadarkdepositinaturbidwell。WhywasIalwayssuffering，alwaysbrowbeaten，alwaysaccused，forevercondemned？WhycouldIneverplease？Whywasituselesstotrytowinanyone’sfavour？Eliza，whowasheadstrongandselfish，wasrespected。Georgiana，whohadaspoiledtemper，averyacridspite，acaptiousandinsolentcarriage，wasuniversallyindulged。Herbeauty，herpinkcheeksandgoldencurls，seemedtogivedelighttoallwholookedather，andtopurchaseindemnityforeveryfault。Johnnoonethwarted，muchlesspunished;thoughhetwistedthenecksofthepigeons，killedthelittlepea—chicks，setthedogsatthesheep，strippedthehothousevinesoftheirfruit，andbrokethebudsoffthechoicestplantsintheconservatory:hecalledhismother“oldgirl，”too;sometimesreviledherforherdarkskin，similartohisown;bluntlydisregardedherwishes;notunfrequentlytoreandspoiledhersilkattire;andhewasstill“herowndarling。”Idaredcommitnofault:Istrovetofulfileveryduty;andIwastermednaughtyandtiresome，sullenandsneaking，frommorningtonoon，andfromnoontonight。
MyheadstillachedandbledwiththeblowandfallIhadreceived:noonehadreprovedJohnforwantonlystrikingme;andbecauseIhadturnedagainsthimtoavertfartherirrationalviolence，Iwasloadedwithgeneralopprobrium。
“Unjust！—unjust！”saidmyreason，forcedbytheagonisingstimulusintoprecociousthoughtransitorypower:andResolve，equallywroughtup，instigatedsomestrangeexpedienttoachieveescapefrominsupportableoppression—asrunningaway，or，ifthatcouldnotbeeffected，nevereatingordrinkingmore，andlettingmyselfdie。
Whataconsternationofsoulwasminethatdrearyafternoon！Howallmybrainwasintumult，andallmyheartininsurrection！Yetinwhatdarkness，whatdenseignorance，wasthementalbattlefought！Icouldnotanswertheceaselessinwardquestion—whyIthussuffered;now，atthedistanceof—Iwillnotsayhowmanyyears，Iseeitclearly。
IwasadiscordinGatesheadHall:Iwaslikenobodythere;IhadnothinginharmonywithMrs。Reedorherchildren，orherchosenvassalage。Iftheydidnotloveme，infact，aslittledidIlovethem。Theywerenotboundtoregardwithaffectionathingthatcouldnotsympathisewithoneamongstthem;aheterogeneousthing，opposedtothemintemperament，incapacity，inpropensities;auselessthing，incapableofservingtheirinterest，oraddingtotheirpleasure;anoxiousthing，cherishingthegermsofindignationattheirtreatment，ofcontemptoftheirjudgment。IknowthathadIbeenasanguine，brilliant，careless，exacting，handsome，rompingchild—thoughequallydependentandfriendless—Mrs。Reedwouldhaveenduredmypresencemorecomplacently;herchildrenwouldhaveentertainedformemoreofthecordialityoffellow—feeling;theservantswouldhavebeenlesspronetomakemethescapegoatofthenursery。
Daylightbegantoforsakethered—room;itwaspastfouro’clock，andthebecloudedafternoonwastendingtodreartwilight。Iheardtherainstillbeatingcontinuouslyonthestaircasewindow，andthewindhowlinginthegrovebehindthehall;Igrewbydegreescoldasastone，andthenmycouragesank。Myhabitualmoodofhumiliation，self—doubt，forlorndepression，felldampontheembersofmydecayingire。AllsaidIwaswicked，andperhapsImightbeso;whatthoughthadIbeenbutjustconceivingofstarvingmyselftodeath？Thatcertainlywasacrime:andwasIfittodie？OrwasthevaultunderthechancelofGatesheadChurchaninvitingbourne？InsuchvaultIhadbeentolddidMr。Reedlieburied;andledbythisthoughttorecallhisidea，Idweltonitwithgatheringdread。Icouldnotrememberhim;butIknewthathewasmyownuncle—mymother’sbrother—thathehadtakenmewhenaparentlessinfanttohishouse;andthatinhislastmomentshehadrequiredapromiseofMrs。Reedthatshewouldrearandmaintainmeasoneofherownchildren。Mrs。Reedprobablyconsideredshehadkeptthispromise;andsoshehad，Idaresay，aswellashernaturewouldpermither;buthowcouldshereallylikeaninterlopernotofherrace，andunconnectedwithher，afterherhusband’sdeath，byanytie？Itmusthavebeenmostirksometofindherselfboundbyahard—wrungpledgetostandinthesteadofaparenttoastrangechildshecouldnotlove，andtoseeanuncongenialalienpermanentlyintrudedonherownfamilygroup。
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