ItwasthefifteenthofJanuary，aboutnineo’clockinthemorning:Bessiewasgonedowntobreakfast;mycousinshadnotyetbeensummonedtotheirmama;Elizawasputtingonherbonnetandwarmgarden—coattogoandfeedherpoultry，anoccupationofwhichshewasfond:andnotlesssoofsellingtheeggstothehousekeeperandhoardingupthemoneyshethusobtained。Shehadaturnfortraffic，andamarkedpropensityforsaving;shownnotonlyinthevendingofeggsandchickens，butalsoindrivinghardbargainswiththegardeneraboutflower—roots，seeds，andslipsofplants;thatfunctionaryhavingordersfromMrs。Reedtobuyofhisyoungladyalltheproductsofherparterreshewishedtosell:andElizawouldhavesoldthehairoffherheadifshecouldhavemadeahandsomeprofitthereby。Astohermoney，shefirstsecreteditinoddcorners，wrappedinaragoranoldcurl—paper;butsomeofthesehoardshavingbeendiscoveredbythehousemaid，Eliza，fearfulofonedaylosinghervaluedtreasure，consentedtointrustittohermother，atausuriousrateofinterest—fiftyorsixtypercent。;whichinterestsheexactedeveryquarter，keepingheraccountsinalittlebookwithanxiousaccuracy。
Georgianasatonahighstool，dressingherhairattheglass，andinterweavinghercurlswithartificialflowersandfadedfeathers，ofwhichshehadfoundastoreinadrawerintheattic。Iwasmakingmybed，havingreceivedstrictordersfromBessietogetitarrangedbeforeshereturned（forBessienowfrequentlyemployedmeasasortofunder—nurserymaid，totidytheroom，dustthechairs，&c。）。Havingspreadthequiltandfoldedmynight—dress，Iwenttothewindow—seattoputinordersomepicture—booksanddoll’shousefurniturescatteredthere;anabruptcommandfromGeorgianatoletherplaythingsalone（forthetinychairsandmirrors，thefairyplatesandcups，wereherproperty）stoppedmyproceedings;andthen，forlackofotheroccupation，Ifelltobreathingonthefrost—flowerswithwhichthewindowwasfretted，andthusclearingaspaceintheglassthroughwhichImightlookoutonthegrounds，whereallwasstillandpetrifiedundertheinfluenceofahardfrost。
Fromthiswindowwerevisibletheporter’slodgeandthecarriage—road，andjustasIhaddissolvedsomuchofthesilver—whitefoliageveilingthepanesasleftroomtolookout，Isawthegatesthrownopenandacarriagerollthrough。Iwatcheditascendingthedrivewithindifference;carriagesoftencametoGateshead，butnoneeverbroughtvisitorsinwhomIwasinterested;itstoppedinfrontofthehouse，thedoor—bellrangloudly，thenew—comerwasadmitted。Allthisbeingnothingtome，myvacantattentionsoonfoundlivelierattractioninthespectacleofalittlehungryrobin，whichcameandchirrupedonthetwigsoftheleaflesscherry—treenailedagainstthewallnearthecasement。Theremainsofmybreakfastofbreadandmilkstoodonthetable，andhavingcrumbledamorselofroll，Iwastuggingatthesashtoputoutthecrumbsonthewindow—sill，whenBessiecamerunningupstairsintothenursery。
“MissJane，takeoffyourpinafore;whatareyoudoingthere？Haveyouwashedyourhandsandfacethismorning？”IgaveanothertugbeforeIanswered，forIwantedthebirdtobesecureofitsbread:thesashyielded;Iscatteredthecrumbs，someonthestonesill，someonthecherry—treebough，then，closingthewindow，Ireplied—
“No，Bessie;Ihaveonlyjustfinisheddusting。”
“Troublesome，carelesschild！andwhatareyoudoingnow？Youlookquitered，asifyouhadbeenaboutsomemischief:whatwereyouopeningthewindowfor？”
Iwassparedthetroubleofanswering，forBessieseemedintoogreatahurrytolistentoexplanations;shehauledmetothewashstand，inflictedamerciless，buthappilybriefscrubonmyfaceandhandswithsoap，water，andacoarsetowel;disciplinedmyheadwithabristlybrush，denudedmeofmypinafore，andthenhurryingmetothetopofthestairs，bidmegodowndirectly，asIwaswantedinthebreakfast—room。
Iwouldhaveaskedwhowantedme:IwouldhavedemandedifMrs。Reedwasthere;butBessiewasalreadygone，andhadclosedthenursery—dooruponme。Islowlydescended。Fornearlythreemonths，IhadneverbeencalledtoMrs。Reed’spresence;restrictedsolongtothenursery，thebreakfast，dining，anddrawing—roomswerebecomeformeawfulregions，onwhichitdismayedmetointrude。
Inowstoodintheemptyhall;beforemewasthebreakfast—roomdoor，andIstopped，intimidatedandtrembling。Whatamiserablelittlepoltroonhadfear，engenderedofunjustpunishment，madeofmeinthosedays！Ifearedtoreturntothenursery，andfearedtogoforwardtotheparlour;tenminutesIstoodinagitatedhesitation;thevehementringingofthebreakfast—roombelldecidedme;Imustenter。
“Whocouldwantme？”Iaskedinwardly，aswithbothhandsIturnedthestiffdoor—handle，which，forasecondortwo，resistedmyefforts。“WhatshouldIseebesidesAuntReedintheapartment？—amanorawoman？”Thehandleturned，thedoorunclosed，andpassingthroughandcurtseyinglow，Ilookedupat—ablackpillar！—such，atleast，appearedtome，atfirstsight，thestraight，narrow，sable—cladshapestandingerectontherug:thegrimfaceatthetopwaslikeacarvedmask，placedabovetheshaftbywayofcapital。
Mrs。Reedoccupiedherusualseatbythefireside;shemadeasignaltometoapproach;Ididso，andsheintroducedmetothestonystrangerwiththewords:“ThisisthelittlegirlrespectingwhomIappliedtoyou。”
HE，foritwasaman，turnedhisheadslowlytowardswhereIstood，andhavingexaminedmewiththetwoinquisitive—lookinggreyeyeswhichtwinkledunderapairofbushybrows，saidsolemnly，andinabassvoice，“Hersizeissmall:whatisherage？”
“Tenyears。”
“Somuch？”wasthedoubtfulanswer;andheprolongedhisscrutinyforsomeminutes。Presentlyheaddressedme—“Yourname，littlegirl？”
“JaneEyre，sir。”
InutteringthesewordsIlookedup:heseemedtomeatallgentleman;butthenIwasverylittle;hisfeatureswerelarge，andtheyandallthelinesofhisframewereequallyharshandprim。
“Well，JaneEyre，andareyouagoodchild？”
Impossibletoreplytothisintheaffirmative:mylittleworldheldacontraryopinion:Iwassilent。Mrs。Reedansweredformebyanexpressiveshakeofthehead，addingsoon，“Perhapsthelesssaidonthatsubjectthebetter，Mr。Brocklehurst。”
“Sorryindeedtohearit！sheandImusthavesometalk;”andbendingfromtheperpendicular，heinstalledhispersoninthearm—chairoppositeMrs。Reed’s。“Comehere，”hesaid。
Isteppedacrosstherug;heplacedmesquareandstraightbeforehim。Whatafacehehad，nowthatitwasalmostonalevelwithmine！whatagreatnose！andwhatamouth！andwhatlargeprominentteeth！
“Nosightsosadasthatofanaughtychild，”hebegan，“especiallyanaughtylittlegirl。Doyouknowwherethewickedgoafterdeath？”
“Theygotohell，”wasmyreadyandorthodoxanswer。
“Andwhatishell？Canyoutellmethat？”
“Apitfulloffire。”
“Andshouldyouliketofallintothatpit，andtobeburningthereforever？”
“No，sir。”
“Whatmustyoudotoavoidit？”
Ideliberatedamoment;myanswer，whenitdidcome，wasobjectionable:“Imustkeepingoodhealth，andnotdie。”
“Howcanyoukeepingoodhealth？Childrenyoungerthanyoudiedaily。Iburiedalittlechildoffiveyearsoldonlyadayortwosince，—agoodlittlechild，whosesoulisnowinheaven。Itistobefearedthesamecouldnotbesaidofyouwereyoutobecalledhence。”
Notbeinginaconditiontoremovehisdoubt，Ionlycastmyeyesdownonthetwolargefeetplantedontherug，andsighed，wishingmyselffarenoughaway。
“Ihopethatsighisfromtheheart，andthatyourepentofeverhavingbeentheoccasionofdiscomforttoyourexcellentbenefactress。”
“Benefactress！benefactress！”saidIinwardly:“theyallcallMrs。Reedmybenefactress;ifso，abenefactressisadisagreeablething。”
“Doyousayyourprayersnightandmorning？”continuedmyinterrogator。
“Yes，sir。”
“DoyoureadyourBible？”
“Sometimes。”
“Withpleasure？Areyoufondofit？”
“IlikeRevelations，andthebookofDaniel，andGenesisandSamuel，andalittlebitofExodus，andsomepartsofKingsandChronicles，andJobandJonah。”
“AndthePsalms？Ihopeyoulikethem？”
“No，sir。”
“No？oh，shocking！Ihavealittleboy，youngerthanyou，whoknowssixPsalmsbyheart:andwhenyouaskhimwhichhewouldratherhave，agingerbread—nuttoeatoraverseofaPsalmtolearn，hesays:‘Oh！theverseofaPsalm！angelssingPsalms;’sayshe，‘Iwishtobealittleangelherebelow;’hethengetstwonutsinrecompenseforhisinfantpiety。”
“Psalmsarenotinteresting，”Iremarked。
“Thatprovesyouhaveawickedheart;andyoumustpraytoGodtochangeit:togiveyouanewandcleanone:totakeawayyourheartofstoneandgiveyouaheartofflesh。”
Iwasabouttopropoundaquestion，touchingthemannerinwhichthatoperationofchangingmyheartwastobeperformed，whenMrs。Reedinterposed，tellingmetositdown;shethenproceededtocarryontheconversationherself。
“Mr。Brocklehurst，IbelieveIintimatedintheletterwhichIwrotetoyouthreeweeksago，thatthislittlegirlhasnotquitethecharacteranddispositionIcouldwish:shouldyouadmitherintoLowoodschool，Ishouldbegladifthesuperintendentandteacherswererequestedtokeepastricteyeonher，and，aboveall，toguardagainstherworstfault，atendencytodeceit。Imentionthisinyourhearing，Jane，thatyoumaynotattempttoimposeonMr。Brocklehurst。”
WellmightIdread，wellmightIdislikeMrs。Reed;foritwashernaturetowoundmecruelly;neverwasIhappyinherpresence;howevercarefullyIobeyed，howeverstrenuouslyIstrovetopleaseher，myeffortswerestillrepulsedandrepaidbysuchsentencesastheabove。Now，utteredbeforeastranger，theaccusationcutmetotheheart;Idimlyperceivedthatshewasalreadyobliteratinghopefromthenewphaseofexistencewhichshedestinedmetoenter;Ifelt，thoughIcouldnothaveexpressedthefeeling，thatshewassowingaversionandunkindnessalongmyfuturepath;IsawmyselftransformedunderMr。Brocklehurst’seyeintoanartful，noxiouschild，andwhatcouldIdotoremedytheinjury？
“Nothing，indeed，”thoughtI，asIstruggledtorepressasob，andhastilywipedawaysometears，theimpotentevidencesofmyanguish。
“Deceitis，indeed，asadfaultinachild，”saidMr。Brocklehurst;“itisakintofalsehood，andallliarswillhavetheirportioninthelakeburningwithfireandbrimstone;sheshall，however，bewatched，Mrs。Reed。IwillspeaktoMissTempleandtheteachers。”
“Ishouldwishhertobebroughtupinamannersuitingherprospects，”continuedmybenefactress;“tobemadeuseful，tobekepthumble:asforthevacations，shewill，withyourpermission，spendthemalwaysatLowood。”
“Yourdecisionsareperfectlyjudicious，madam，”returnedMr。Brocklehurst。“HumilityisaChristiangrace，andonepeculiarlyappropriatetothepupilsofLowood;I，therefore，directthatespecialcareshallbebestowedonitscultivationamongstthem。Ihavestudiedhowbesttomortifyinthemtheworldlysentimentofpride;and，onlytheotherday，Ihadapleasingproofofmysuccess。Myseconddaughter，Augusta，wentwithhermamatovisittheschool，andonherreturnsheexclaimed:‘Oh，dearpapa，howquietandplainallthegirlsatLowoodlook，withtheirhaircombedbehindtheirears，andtheirlongpinafores，andthoselittlehollandpocketsoutsidetheirfrocks—theyarealmostlikepoorpeople’schildren！and，’saidshe，‘theylookedatmydressandmama’s，asiftheyhadneverseenasilkgownbefore。’”
“ThisisthestateofthingsIquiteapprove，”returnedMrs。Reed;“hadIsoughtallEnglandover，IcouldscarcelyhavefoundasystemmoreexactlyfittingachildlikeJaneEyre。Consistency，mydearMr。Brocklehurst;Iadvocateconsistencyinallthings。”
“Consistency，madam，isthefirstofChristianduties;andithasbeenobservedineveryarrangementconnectedwiththeestablishmentofLowood:plainfare，simpleattire，unsophisticatedaccommodations，hardyandactivehabits;suchistheorderofthedayinthehouseanditsinhabitants。”
“Quiteright，sir。ImaythendependuponthischildbeingreceivedasapupilatLowood，andtherebeingtrainedinconformitytoherpositionandprospects？”
“Madam，youmay:sheshallbeplacedinthatnurseryofchosenplants，andItrustshewillshowherselfgratefulfortheinestimableprivilegeofherelection。”
“Iwillsendher，then，assoonaspossible，Mr。Brocklehurst;for，Iassureyou，Ifeelanxioustoberelievedofaresponsibilitythatwasbecomingtooirksome。”
“Nodoubt，nodoubt，madam;andnowIwishyougoodmorning。IshallreturntoBrocklehurstHallinthecourseofaweekortwo:mygoodfriend，theArchdeacon，willnotpermitmetoleavehimsooner。IshallsendMissTemplenoticethatsheistoexpectanewgirl，sothattherewillhenodifficultyaboutreceivingher。Good—bye。”
“Good—bye，Mr。Brocklehurst;remembermetoMrs。andMissBrocklehurst，andtoAugustaandTheodore，andMasterBroughtonBrocklehurst。”
“Iwill，madam。Littlegirl，hereisabookentitledtheChild’sGuide;readitwithprayer，especiallythatpartcontaining‘AnaccountoftheawfullysuddendeathofMarthaG—，anaughtychildaddictedtofalsehoodanddeceit。’”
WiththesewordsMr。Brocklehurstputintomyhandathinpamphletsewninacover，andhavingrungforhiscarriage，hedeparted。
Mrs。ReedandIwereleftalone:someminutespassedinsilence;shewassewing，Iwaswatchingher。Mrs。Reedmightbeatthattimesomesixorsevenandthirty;shewasawomanofrobustframe，square—shoulderedandstrong—limbed，nottall，and，thoughstout，notobese:shehadasomewhatlargeface，theunderjawbeingmuchdevelopedandverysolid;herbrowwaslow，herchinlargeandprominent，mouthandnosesufficientlyregular;underherlighteyebrowsglimmeredaneyedevoidofruth;herskinwasdarkandopaque，herhairnearlyflaxen;herconstitutionwassoundasabell—illnessnevercamenearher;shewasanexact，clevermanager;herhouseholdandtenantrywerethoroughlyunderhercontrol;herchildrenonlyattimesdefiedherauthorityandlaughedittoscorn;shedressedwell，andhadapresenceandportcalculatedtosetoffhandsomeattire。
Sittingonalowstool，afewyardsfromherarm—chair，Iexaminedherfigure;Iperusedherfeatures。InmyhandIheldthetractcontainingthesuddendeathoftheLiar，towhichnarrativemyattentionhadbeenpointedastoanappropriatewarning。Whathadjustpassed;whatMrs。ReedhadsaidconcerningmetoMr。Brocklehurst;thewholetenoroftheirconversation，wasrecent，raw，andstinginginmymind;IhadfelteverywordasacutelyasIhadhearditplainly，andapassionofresentmentfomentednowwithinme。
Mrs。Reedlookedupfromherwork;hereyesettledonmine，herfingersatthesametimesuspendedtheirnimblemovements。
“Gooutoftheroom;returntothenursery，”washermandate。Mylookorsomethingelsemusthavestruckherasoffensive，forshespokewithextremethoughsuppressedirritation。Igotup，Iwenttothedoor;Icamebackagain;Iwalkedtothewindow，acrosstheroom，thencloseuptoher。
SpeakImust:Ihadbeentroddenonseverely，andmustturn:buthow？WhatstrengthhadItodartretaliationatmyantagonist？Igatheredmyenergiesandlaunchedtheminthisbluntsentence—
“Iamnotdeceitful:ifIwere，IshouldsayIlovedyou;butIdeclareIdonotloveyou:IdislikeyoutheworstofanybodyintheworldexceptJohnReed;andthisbookabouttheliar，youmaygivetoyourgirl，Georgiana，foritisshewhotellslies，andnotI。”
Mrs。Reed’shandsstilllayonherworkinactive:hereyeoficecontinuedtodwellfreezinglyonmine。
“Whatmorehaveyoutosay？”sheasked，ratherinthetoneinwhichapersonmightaddressanopponentofadultagethansuchasisordinarilyusedtoachild。
Thateyeofhers，thatvoicestirredeveryantipathyIhad。Shakingfromheadtofoot，thrilledwithungovernableexcitement，Icontinued—
“Iamgladyouarenorelationofmine:IwillnevercallyouauntagainaslongasIlive。IwillnevercometoseeyouwhenIamgrownup;andifanyoneasksmehowIlikedyou，andhowyoutreatedme，Iwillsaytheverythoughtofyoumakesmesick，andthatyoutreatedmewithmiserablecruelty。”
“Howdareyouaffirmthat，JaneEyre？”
“HowdareI，Mrs。Reed？HowdareI？Becauseitisthetruth。YouthinkIhavenofeelings，andthatIcandowithoutonebitofloveorkindness;butIcannotliveso:andyouhavenopity。Ishallrememberhowyouthrustmeback—roughlyandviolentlythrustmeback—intothered—room，andlockedmeupthere，tomydyingday;thoughIwasinagony;thoughIcriedout，whilesuffocatingwithdistress，‘Havemercy！Havemercy，AuntReed！’Andthatpunishmentyoumademesufferbecauseyourwickedboystruckme—knockedmedownfornothing。Iwilltellanybodywhoasksmequestions，thisexacttale。Peoplethinkyouagoodwoman，butyouarebad，hard—hearted。Youaredeceitful！”
EreIhadfinishedthisreply，mysoulbegantoexpand，toexult，withthestrangestsenseoffreedom，oftriumph，Ieverfelt。Itseemedasifaninvisiblebondhadburst，andthatIhadstruggledoutintounhoped—forliberty。Notwithoutcausewasthissentiment:Mrs。Reedlookedfrightened;herworkhadslippedfromherknee;shewasliftingupherhands，rockingherselftoandfro，andeventwistingherfaceasifshewouldcry。
“Jane，youareunderamistake:whatisthematterwithyou？Whydoyoutremblesoviolently？Wouldyouliketodrinksomewater？”
“No，Mrs。Reed。”
“Isthereanythingelseyouwishfor，Jane？Iassureyou，Idesiretobeyourfriend。”
“Notyou。YoutoldMr。BrocklehurstIhadabadcharacter，adeceitfuldisposition;andI’llleteverybodyatLowoodknowwhatyouare，andwhatyouhavedone。”
“Jane，youdon’tunderstandthesethings:childrenmustbecorrectedfortheirfaults。”
“Deceitisnotmyfault！”Icriedoutinasavage，highvoice。
“Butyouarepassionate，Jane，thatyoumustallow:andnowreturntothenursery—there’sadear—andliedownalittle。”
“Iamnotyourdear;Icannotliedown:sendmetoschoolsoon，Mrs。Reed，forIhatetolivehere。”
“Iwillindeedsendhertoschoolsoon，”murmuredMrs。Reedsottovoce;andgatheringupherwork，sheabruptlyquittedtheapartment。
Iwaslefttherealone—winnerofthefield。ItwasthehardestbattleIhadfought，andthefirstvictoryIhadgained:Istoodawhileontherug，whereMr。Brocklehursthadstood，andIenjoyedmyconqueror’ssolitude。First，Ismiledtomyselfandfeltelate;butthisfiercepleasuresubsidedinmeasfastasdidtheacceleratedthrobofmypulses。Achildcannotquarrelwithitselders，asIhaddone;cannotgiveitsfuriousfeelingsuncontrolledplay，asIhadgivenmine，withoutexperiencingafterwardsthepangofremorseandthechillofreaction。Aridgeoflightedheath，alive，glancing，devouring，wouldhavebeenameetemblemofmymindwhenIaccusedandmenacedMrs。Reed:thesameridge，blackandblastedaftertheflamesaredead，wouldhaverepresentedasmeetlymysubsequentcondition，whenhalf—an—hour’ssilenceandreflectionhadshownmethemadnessofmyconduct，andthedrearinessofmyhatedandhatingposition。
SomethingofvengeanceIhadtastedforthefirsttime;asaromaticwineitseemed，onswallowing，warmandracy:itsafter—flavour，metallicandcorroding，gavemeasensationasifIhadbeenpoisoned。WillinglywouldInowhavegoneandaskedMrs。Reed’spardon;butIknew，partlyfromexperienceandpartlyfrominstinct，thatwasthewaytomakeherrepulsemewithdoublescorn，therebyre—excitingeveryturbulentimpulseofmynature。
Iwouldfainexercisesomebetterfacultythanthatoffiercespeaking;fainfindnourishmentforsomelessfiendishfeelingthanthatofsombreindignation。Itookabook—someArabiantales;Isatdownandendeavouredtoread。Icouldmakenosenseofthesubject;myownthoughtsswamalwaysbetweenmeandthepageIhadusuallyfoundfascinating。Iopenedtheglass—doorinthebreakfast—room:theshrubberywasquitestill:theblackfrostreigned，unbrokenbysunorbreeze，throughthegrounds。Icoveredmyheadandarmswiththeskirtofmyfrock，andwentouttowalkinapartoftheplantationwhichwasquitesequestrated;butIfoundnopleasureinthesilenttrees，thefallingfir—cones，thecongealedrelicsofautumn，russetleaves，sweptbypastwindsinheaps，andnowstiffenedtogether。Ileanedagainstagate，andlookedintoanemptyfieldwherenosheepwerefeeding，wheretheshortgrasswasnippedandblanched。Itwasaverygreyday;amostopaquesky，“ondingonsnaw，”canopiedall;thenceflakesfeltitintervals，whichsettledonthehardpathandonthehoaryleawithoutmelting。Istood，awretchedchildenough，whisperingtomyselfoverandoveragain，“WhatshallIdo？—whatshallIdo？”
AllatonceIheardaclearvoicecall，“MissJane！whereareyou？Cometolunch！”
ItwasBessie，Iknewwellenough;butIdidnotstir;herlightstepcametrippingdownthepath。
“Younaughtylittlething！”shesaid。“Whydon’tyoucomewhenyouarecalled？”
Bessie’spresence，comparedwiththethoughtsoverwhichIhadbeenbrooding，seemedcheerful;eventhough，asusual，shewassomewhatcross。Thefactis，aftermyconflictwithandvictoryoverMrs。Reed，Iwasnotdisposedtocaremuchforthenursemaid’stransitoryanger;andIwasdisposedtobaskinheryouthfullightnessofheart。Ijustputmytwoarmsroundherandsaid，“Come，Bessie！don’tscold。”
TheactionwasmorefrankandfearlessthananyIwashabituatedtoindulgein:somehowitpleasedher。
“Youareastrangechild，MissJane，”shesaid，asshelookeddownatme;“alittleroving，solitarything:andyouaregoingtoschool，Isuppose？”
Inodded。
“Andwon’tyoubesorrytoleavepoorBessie？”
“WhatdoesBessiecareforme？Sheisalwaysscoldingme。”
“Becauseyou’resuchaqueer，frightened，shylittlething。Youshouldbebolder。”
“What！togetmoreknocks？”
“Nonsense！Butyouareratherputupon，that’scertain。Mymothersaid，whenshecametoseemelastweek，thatshewouldnotlikealittleoneofherowntobeinyourplace。—Now，comein，andI’vesomegoodnewsforyou。”
“Idon’tthinkyouhave，Bessie。”
“Child！whatdoyoumean？Whatsorrowfuleyesyoufixonme！Well，butMissisandtheyoungladiesandMasterJohnaregoingouttoteathisafternoon，andyoushallhaveteawithme。I’llaskcooktobakeyoualittlecake，andthenyoushallhelpmetolookoveryourdrawers;forIamsoontopackyourtrunk。MissisintendsyoutoleaveGatesheadinadayortwo，andyoushallchoosewhattoysyouliketotakewithyou。”
“Bessie，youmustpromisenottoscoldmeanymoretillIgo。”
“Well，Iwill;butmindyouareaverygoodgirl，anddon’tbeafraidofme。Don’tstartwhenIchancetospeakrathersharply;it’ssoprovoking。”
“Idon’tthinkIshalleverbeafraidofyouagain，Bessie，becauseIhavegotusedtoyou，andIshallsoonhaveanothersetofpeopletodread。”
“Ifyoudreadthemthey’lldislikeyou。”
“Asyoudo，Bessie？”
“Idon’tdislikeyou，Miss;IbelieveIamfonderofyouthanofalltheothers。”
“Youdon’tshowit。”
“Youlittlesharpthing！you’vegotquiteanewwayoftalking。Whatmakesyousoventuresomeandhardy？”
“Why，Ishallsoonbeawayfromyou，andbesides”—IwasgoingtosaysomethingaboutwhathadpassedbetweenmeandMrs。Reed，butonsecondthoughtsIconsidereditbettertoremainsilentonthathead。
“Andsoyou’regladtoleaveme？”
“Notatall，Bessie;indeed，justnowI’mrathersorry。”
“Justnow！andrather！Howcoollymylittleladysaysit！IdaresaynowifIweretoaskyouforakissyouwouldn’tgiveitme:you’dsayyou’drathernot。”
“I’llkissyouandwelcome:bendyourheaddown。”Bessiestooped;wemutuallyembraced，andIfollowedherintothehousequitecomforted。Thatafternoonlapsedinpeaceandharmony;andintheeveningBessietoldmesomeofhermostenchainingstories，andsangmesomeofhersweetestsongs。Evenformelifehaditsgleamsofsunshine。
Chapter5
Fiveo’clockhadhardlystruckonthemorningofthe19thofJanuary，whenBessiebroughtacandleintomyclosetandfoundmealreadyupandnearlydressed。Ihadrisenhalf—an—hourbeforeherentrance，andhadwashedmyface，andputonmyclothesbythelightofahalf—moonjustsetting，whoseraysstreamedthroughthenarrowwindownearmycrib。IwastoleaveGatesheadthatdaybyacoachwhichpassedthelodgegatesatsixa。m。Bessiewastheonlypersonyetrisen;shehadlitafireinthenursery，whereshenowproceededtomakemybreakfast。Fewchildrencaneatwhenexcitedwiththethoughtsofajourney;norcouldI。Bessie，havingpressedmeinvaintotakeafewspoonfulsoftheboiledmilkandbreadshehadpreparedforme，wrappedupsomebiscuitsinapaperandputthemintomybag;thenshehelpedmeonwithmypelisseandbonnet，andwrappingherselfinashawl，sheandIleftthenursery。AswepassedMrs。Reed’sbedroom，shesaid，“WillyougoinandbidMissisgood—bye？”
“No，Bessie:shecametomycriblastnightwhenyouweregonedowntosupper，andsaidIneednotdisturbherinthemorning，ormycousinseither;andshetoldmetorememberthatshehadalwaysbeenmybestfriend，andtospeakofherandbegratefultoheraccordingly。”
“Whatdidyousay，Miss？”
“Nothing:Icoveredmyfacewiththebedclothes，andturnedfromhertothewall。”
“Thatwaswrong，MissJane。”
“Itwasquiteright，Bessie。YourMissishasnotbeenmyfriend:shehasbeenmyfoe。”
“OMissJane！don’tsayso！”
“Good—byetoGateshead！”criedI，aswepassedthroughthehallandwentoutatthefrontdoor。
Themoonwasset，anditwasverydark;Bessiecarriedalantern，whoselightglancedonwetstepsandgravelroadsoddenbyarecentthaw。Rawandchillwasthewintermorning:myteethchatteredasIhasteneddownthedrive。Therewasalightintheporter’slodge:whenwereachedit，wefoundtheporter’swifejustkindlingherfire:mytrunk，whichhadbeencarrieddowntheeveningbefore，stoodcordedatthedoor。Itwantedbutafewminutesofsix，andshortlyafterthathourhadstruck，thedistantrollofwheelsannouncedthecomingcoach;Iwenttothedoorandwatcheditslampsapproachrapidlythroughthegloom。
“Isshegoingbyherself？”askedtheporter’swife。
“Yes。”
“Andhowfarisit？”
“Fiftymiles。”
“Whatalongway！IwonderMrs。Reedisnotafraidtotrusthersofaralone。”
Thecoachdrewup;thereitwasatthegateswithitsfourhorsesanditstopladenwithpassengers:theguardandcoachmanloudlyurgedhaste;mytrunkwashoistedup;IwastakenfromBessie’sneck，towhichIclungwithkisses。
“Besureandtakegoodcareofher，”criedshetotheguard，asheliftedmeintotheinside。
“Ay，ay！”wastheanswer:thedoorwasslappedto，avoiceexclaimed“Allright，”andonwedrove。ThuswasIseveredfromBessieandGateshead;thuswhirledawaytounknown，and，asIthendeemed，remoteandmysteriousregions。
Irememberbutlittleofthejourney;Ionlyknowthatthedayseemedtomeofapreternaturallength，andthatweappearedtotraveloverhundredsofmilesofroad。Wepassedthroughseveraltowns，andinone，averylargeone，thecoachstopped;thehorsesweretakenout，andthepassengersalightedtodine。Iwascarriedintoaninn，wheretheguardwantedmetohavesomedinner;but，asIhadnoappetite，heleftmeinanimmenseroomwithafireplaceateachend，achandelierpendentfromtheceiling，andalittleredgalleryhighupagainstthewallfilledwithmusicalinstruments。HereIwalkedaboutforalongtime，feelingverystrange，andmortallyapprehensiveofsomeonecominginandkidnappingme;forIbelievedinkidnappers，theirexploitshavingfrequentlyfiguredinBessie’sfiresidechronicles。Atlasttheguardreturned;oncemoreIwasstowedawayinthecoach，myprotectormountedhisownseat，soundedhishollowhorn，andawaywerattledoverthe“stonystreet”ofL—。
Theafternooncameonwetandsomewhatmisty:asitwanedintodusk，IbegantofeelthatweweregettingveryfarindeedfromGateshead:weceasedtopassthroughtowns;thecountrychanged;greatgreyhillsheaveduproundthehorizon:astwilightdeepened，wedescendedavalley，darkwithwood，andlongafternighthadovercloudedtheprospect，Iheardawildwindrushingamongsttrees。
Lulledbythesound，Iatlastdroppedasleep;Ihadnotlongslumberedwhenthesuddencessationofmotionawokeme;thecoach—doorwasopen，andapersonlikeaservantwasstandingatit:Isawherfaceanddressbythelightofthelamps。
“IstherealittlegirlcalledJaneEyrehere？”sheasked。Ianswered“Yes，”andwasthenliftedout;mytrunkwashandeddown，andthecoachinstantlydroveaway。
Iwasstiffwithlongsitting，andbewilderedwiththenoiseandmotionofthecoach:Gatheringmyfaculties，Ilookedaboutme。Rain，wind，anddarknessfilledtheair;nevertheless，Idimlydiscernedawallbeforemeandadooropeninit;throughthisdoorIpassedwithmynewguide:sheshutandlockeditbehindher。Therewasnowvisibleahouseorhouses—forthebuildingspreadfar—withmanywindows，andlightsburninginsome;wewentupabroadpebblypath，splashingwet，andwereadmittedatadoor;thentheservantledmethroughapassageintoaroomwithafire，wheresheleftmealone。
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