THEAUTHOR'SPREFACETOTHESECONDEDITION

APREFACEtothefirsteditionofJaneEyrebeingunnecessary，I

gavenone: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。ImeanthetimorousorcarpingfewwhodoubtthetendencyofsuchbooksasJaneEyre: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;probablyhelikedthesycophantsonofChenaanahbetter;yetmightAhabhaveescapedabloodydeath，hadhebutstoppedhisearstoflattery，andopenedthemtofaithfulcounsel。

Thereisamaninourowndayswhosewordsarenotframedtotickledelicateears:who，tomythinking，comesbeforethegreatonesofsociety，muchasthesonofImlahcamebeforethethronedKingsofJudahandIsrael;andwhospeakstruthasdeep，withapowerasprophet—likeandasvital—amienasdauntlessandasdaring。IsthesatiristofVanityFairadmiredinhighplaces？Icannottell;butI

thinkifsomeofthoseamongstwhomhehurlstheGreekfireofhissarcasm，andoverwhomheflashesthelevin—brandofhisdenunciation，weretotakehiswarningsintime—theyortheirseedmightyetescapeafatalRamoth—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—I

havededicatedthissecondeditionofJaneEyre。

CURRERBELL。

December21st，1847。

preface02

THEAUTHOR'SNOTETOTHETHIRDEDITION

IAVAILmyselfoftheopportunitywhichathirdeditionofJaneEyreaffordsme，ofagainaddressingawordtothePublic，toexplainthatmyclaimtothetitleofnovelistrestsonthisoneworkalone。If，therefore，theauthorshipofotherworksoffictionhasbeenattributedtome，anhonourisawardedwhereitisnotmerited;andconsequently，deniedwhereitisjustlydue。

Thisexplanationwillservetorectifymistakeswhichmayalreadyhavebeenmade，andtopreventfutureerrors。

CURRERBELL。

April13th，1848。

chapter01

CHAPTERI

THEREwasnopossibilityoftakingawalkthatday。Wehadbeenwandering，indeed，intheleaflessshrubberyanhourinthemorning;

butsincedinner（Mrs。Reed，whentherewasnocompany，dinedearly）

thecoldwinterwindhadbroughtwithitcloudssosombre，andarainsopenetrating，thatfurtheroutdoorexercisewasnowoutofthequestion。

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。'

Asmallbreakfast—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，melancholyislesOffarthestThule;andtheAtlanticsurgePoursinamongthestormyHebrides。'

NorcouldIpassunnoticedthesuggestionofthebleakshoresofLapland，Siberia，Spitzbergen，NovaZembla，Iceland，Greenland，with'thevastsweepoftheArcticZone，andthoseforlornregionsofdrearyspace，—thatreservoiroffrostandsnow，wherefirmfieldsofice，theaccumulationofcenturiesofwinters，glazedinAlpineheightsaboveheights，surroundthepoleandconcentrethemultipliedrigoursofextremecold。'Ofthesedeath—whiterealmsI

formedanideaofmyown: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;'andseatinghimselfinanarmchair，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:everynerveI

hadfearedhim，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;youareadependant，mamasays;youhavenomoney;yourfatherleftyounone;yououghttobeg，andnottoliveherewithgentlemen'schildrenlikeus，andeatthesamemealswedo，andwearclothesatourmama'sexpense。Now，I'llteachyoutorummagemybookshelves:fortheyaremine;allthehousebelongstome，orwilldoinafewyears。Goandstandbythedoor，outofthewayofthemirrorandthewindows。'

Ididso，notatfirstawarewhatwashisintention;butwhenIsawhimliftandpoisethebookandstandinacttohurlit，I

instinctivelystartedasidewithacryofalarm:notsoonenough，however;thevolumewasflung，ithitme，andIfell，strikingmyheadagainstthedoorandcuttingit。Thecutbled，thepainwassharp:

myterrorhadpasseditsclimax;otherfeelingssucceeded。

'Wickedandcruelboy！'Isaid。'Youarelikeamurderer—

youarelikeaslave—driver—youareliketheRomanemperors！'

IhadreadGoldsmith'sHistoryofRome，andhadformedmyopinionofNero，Caligula，etc。AlsoIhaddrawnparallelsinsilence，whichI

neverthoughtthustohavedeclaredaloud。

'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。

chapter02CHAPTERII

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。ThehousemaidalonecamehereonSaturdays，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，I

hadtocrossbeforethelooking—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，who，washeadstrongandselfish，wasrespected。Georgiana，whohadaspoiledtemper，averyacridspite，acaptiousandinsolentcarriage，wasuniversallyindulged。Herbeauty，herpinkcheeksandgoldencurls，seemedtogivedelighttoallwho，lookedather，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！I

couldnotanswertheceaselessinwardquestion—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？InsuchvaultI

hadbeentolddidMr。Reedlieburied;andledbythisthoughttorecallhisidea，Idweltonitwithgatheringdread。Icouldnotrememberhim;butIknewthathewasmyownuncle—mymother'sbrother—thathehadtakenmewhenaparentlessinfanttohishouse;

andthatinhislastmomentshehadrequiredapromiseofMrs。Reedthatshewouldrearandmaintainmeasoneofherownchildren。Mrs。

Reedprobablyconsideredshehadkeptthispromise;andsoshehad，Idaresay，aswellashernaturewouldpermither;buthowcouldshereallylikeaninterlopernotofherrace，andunconnectedwithher，afterherhusband'sdeath，byanytie？Itmusthavebeenmostirksometofindherselfboundbyahard—wrungpledgetostandinthesteadofaparenttoastrangechildshecouldnotlove，andtoseeanuncongenialalienpermanentlyintrudedonherownfamilygroup。

Asingularnotiondawneduponme。Idoubtednot—neverdoubted—

thatifMr。Reedhadbeenalivehewouldhavetreatedmekindly;andnow，asIsatlookingatthewhitebedandovershadowedwalls—

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读