occasionallyalsoturningafascinatedeyetowardsthedimlygleamingmirror—IbegantorecallwhatIhadheardofdeadmen，troubledintheirgravesbytheviolationoftheirlastwishes，revisitingtheearthtopunishtheperjuredandavengetheoppressed;andIthoughtMr。Reed'sspirit，harassedbythewrongsofhissister'schild，mightquititsabode—whetherinthechurchvaultorintheunknownworldofthedeparted—andrisebeforemeinthischamber。Iwipedmytearsandhushedmysobs，fearfullestanysignofviolentgriefmightwakenapreternaturalvoicetocomfortme，orelicitfromthegloomsomehaloedface，bendingovermewithstrangepity。Thisidea，consolatoryintheory，Ifeltwouldbeterribleifrealised:withallmymightIendeavouredtostifleit—

Iendeavouredtobefirm。Shakingmyhairfrommyeyes，Iliftedmyheadandtriedtolookboldlyroundthedarkroom;atthismomentalightgleamedonthewall。Wasit，Iaskedmyself，arayfromthemoonpenetratingsomeapertureintheblind？No;moonlightwasstill，andthisstirred;whileIgazed，itglideduptotheceilingandquiveredovermyhead。Icannowconjecturereadilythatthisstreakoflightwas，inalllikelihood，agleamfromalanterncarriedbysomeoneacrossthelawn:butthen，preparedasmymindwasforhorror，shakenasmynerveswerebyagitation，Ithoughttheswiftdartingbeamwasaheraldofsomecomingvisionfromanotherworld。

Myheartbeatthick，myheadgrewhot;asoundfilledmyears，whichI

deemedtherushingofwings;somethingseemednearme;Iwasoppressed，suffocated:endurancebrokedown;Irushedtothedoorandshookthelockindesperateeffort。Stepscamerunningalongtheouterpassage;thekeyturned，BessieandAbbotentered。

'MissEyre，areyouill？'saidBessie。

'Whatadreadfulnoise！itwentquitethroughme！'exclaimedAbbot。

'Takemeout！Letmegointothenursery！'wasmycry。

'Whatfor？Areyouhurt？Haveyouseensomething？'againdemandedBessie。

'Oh！Isawalight，andIthoughtaghostwouldcome。'

IhadnowgotholdofBessie'shand，andshedidnotsnatchitfromme。

'Shehasscreamedoutonpurpose，'declaredAbbot，insomedisgust。

'Andwhatascream！Ifshehadbeeningreatpainonewouldhaveexcusedit，butsheonlywantedtobringusallhere:Iknowhernaughtytricks。'

'Whatisallthis？'demandedanothervoiceperemptorily;

andMrs。

Reedcamealongthecorridor，hercapflyingwide，hergownrustlingstormily。'AbbotandBessie，IbelieveIgaveordersthatJaneEyreshouldbeleftinthered—roomtillIcametohermyself。'

'MissJanescreamedsoloud，ma'am，'pleadedBessie。

'Lethergo，'wastheonlyanswer。'LooseBessie'shand，child:youcannotsucceedingettingoutbythesemeans，beassured。Iabhorartifice，particularlyinchildren;itismydutytoshowyouthattrickswillnotanswer:youwillnowstayhereanhourlonger，anditisonlyonconditionofperfectsubmissionandstillnessthatI

shallliberateyouthen。'

'Oaunt！havepity！forgiveme！Icannotendureit—letmebepunishedsomeotherway！Ishallbekilledif—'

'Silence！Thisviolenceisallmostrepulsive:'andso，nodoubt，shefeltit。Iwasaprecociousactressinhereyes;shesincerely。

lookedonmeasacompoundofvirulentpassions，meanspirit，anddangerousduplicity。

BessieandAbbothavingretreated，Mrs。Reed，impatientofmynowfranticanguishandwildsobs，abruptlythrustmebackandlockedmein，withoutfartherparley。Iheardhersweepingaway;andsoonaftershewasgone，IsupposeIhadaspeciesoffit:

unconsciousnessclosedthescene。

chapter03

CHAPTERIII

THEnextthingIrememberis，wakingupwithafeelingasifI

hadhadafrightfulnightmare，andseeingbeforemeaterribleredglare，crossedwiththickblackbars。Iheardvoices，too，speakingwithahollowsound，andasifmuffledbyarushofwindorwater:

agitation，uncertainty，andanall—predominatingsenseofterrorconfusedmyfaculties。Erelong，Ibecameawarethatsomeonewashandlingme;liftingmeupandsupportingmeinasittingposture，andthatmoretenderlythanIhadeverbeenraisedorupheldbefore。I

restedmyheadagainstapilloworanarm，andfelteasy。

Infiveminutesmorethecloudofbewildermentdissolved:

IknewquitewellthatIwasinmyownbed，andthattheredglarewasthenurseryfire。Itwasnight:acandleburntonthetable;Bessiestoodatthebed—footwithabasininherhand，andagentlemansatinachairnearmypillow，leaningoverme。

Ifeltaninexpressiblerelief，asoothingconvictionofprotectionandsecurity，whenIknewthattherewasastrangerintheroom，anindividualnotbelongingtoGateshead，andnotrelatedtoMrs。Reed。

TurningfromBessie（thoughherpresencewasfarlessobnoxioustomethanthatofAbbot，forinstance，wouldhavebeen），Iscrutinisedthefaceofthegentleman:Iknewhim;itwasMr。Lloyd，anapothecary，sometimescalledinbyMrs。Reedwhentheservantswereailing:forherselfandthechildrensheemployedaphysician。

'Well，whoamI？'heasked。

Ipronouncedhisname，offeringhimatthesametimemyhand:hetookit，smilingandsaying，'Weshalldoverywellbyandby。'Thenhelaidmedown，andaddressingBessie，chargedhertobeverycarefulthatIwasnotdisturbedduringthenight。Havinggivensomefurtherdirections，andintimatedthatheshouldcallagainthenextday，hedeparted;tomygrief:Ifeltsoshelteredandbefriendedwhilehesatinthechairnearmypillow;andasheclosedthedoorafterhim，alltheroomdarkenedandmyheartagainsank:inexpressiblesadnessweigheditdown。

'Doyoufeelasifyoushouldsleep，Miss？'askedBessie，rathersoftly。

ScarcelydaredIanswerher;forIfearedthenextsentencemightberough。'Iwilltry。'

'Wouldyouliketodrink，orcouldyoueatanything？'

'No，thankyou，Bessie。'

'ThenIthinkIshallgotobed，foritispasttwelveo'clock;butyoumaycallmeifyouwantanythinginthenight。'

Wonderfulcivilitythis！Itemboldenedmetoaskaquestion。

'Bessie，whatisthematterwithme？AmIill？'

'Youfellsick，Isuppose，inthered—roomwithcrying;

you'llbebettersoon，nodoubt。'

Bessiewentintothehousemaid'sapartment，whichwasnear。

Iheardhersay—

'Sarah，comeandsleepwithmeinthenursery;Idaren'tformylifebealonewiththatpoorchildtonight:shemightdie;it'ssuchastrangethingsheshouldhavethatfit:Iwonderifshesawanything。Missiswasrathertoohard。'

Sarahcamebackwithher;theybothwenttobed;theywerewhisperingtogetherforhalfanhourbeforetheyfellasleep。Icaughtscrapsoftheirconversation，fromwhichIwasableonlytoodistinctlytoinferthemainsubjectdiscussed。

'Somethingpassedher，alldressedinwhite，andvanished'—

'A

greatblackdogbehindhim'—'Threeloudrapsonthechamberdoor'—

'Alightinthechurchyardjustoverhisgrave，'etc。，etc。

Atlastbothslept:thefireandthecandlewentout。Forme，thewatchesofthatlongnightpassedinghastlywakefulness;ear，eye，andmindwerealikestrainedbydread:suchdreadaschildrenonlycanfeel。

Nosevereorprolongedbodilyillnessfollowedthisincidentofthered—room;itonlygavemynervesashockofwhichIfeelthereverberationtothisday。Yes，Mrs。Reed，toyouIowesomefearfulpangsofmentalsuffering，butIoughttoforgiveyou，foryouknewnotwhatyoudid:whilerendingmyheart—strings，youthoughtyouwereonlyuprootingmybadpropensities。

Nextday，bynoon，Iwasupanddressed，andsatwrappedinashawlbythenurseryhearth。Ifeltphysicallyweakandbrokendown:butmyworseailmentwasanunutterablewretchednessofmind:awretchednesswhichkeptdrawingfrommesilenttears;nosoonerhadIwipedonesaltdropfrommycheekthananotherfollowed。Yet，I

thought，Ioughttohavebeenhappy，fornoneoftheReedswerethere，theywereallgoneoutinthecarriagewiththeirmama。Abbot，too，wassewinginanotherroom，andBessie，asshemovedhitherandthither，puttingawaytoysandarrangingdrawers，addressedtomeeverynowandthenawordofunwontedkindness。Thisstateofthingsshouldhavebeentomeaparadiseofpeace，accustomedasIwastoalifeofceaselessreprimandandthanklessfagging;but，infact，myrackednerveswerenowinsuchastatethatnocalmcouldsoothe，andnopleasureexcitethemagreeably。

Bessiehadbeendownintothekitchen，andshebroughtupwithheratartonacertainbrightlypaintedchinaplate，whosebirdofparadise，nestlinginawreathofconvolvuliandrosebuds，hadbeenwonttostirinmeamostenthusiasticsenseofadmiration;andwhichplateIhadoftenpetitionedtobeallowedtotakeinmyhandinordertoexamineitmoreclosely，buthadalwayshithertobeendeemedunworthyofsuchaprivilege。Thispreciousvesselwasnowplacedonmyknee，andIwascordiallyinvitedtoeatthecircletofdelicatepastryuponit。Vainfavour！coming，likemostotherfavourslongdeferredandoftenwishedfor，toolate！Icouldnoteatthetart;andtheplumageofthebird，thetintsoftheflowers，seemedstrangelyfaded:Iputbothplateandtartaway。BessieaskedifIwouldhaveabook:thewordbookactedasatransientstimulus，andIbeggedhertofetchGulliver'sTravelsfromthelibrary。ThisbookIhadagainandagainperusedwithdelight。Iconsidereditanarrativeoffacts，anddiscoveredinitaveinofinterestdeeperthanwhatIfoundinfairytales:forastotheelves，havingsoughttheminvainamongfox—gloveleavesandbells，undermushroomsandbeneaththeground—ivymantlingoldwall—nooks，Ihadatlengthmadeupmymindtothesadtruth，thattheywereallgoneoutofEnglandtosomesavagecountrywherethewoodswerewilderandthicker，andthepopulationmorescant;whereas，LilliputandBrobdingnagbeing，inmycreed，solidpartsoftheearth'ssurface，IdoubtednotthatI

mightoneday，bytakingalongvoyage，seewithmyowneyesthelittlefields，houses，andtrees，thediminutivepeople，thetinycows，sheep，andbirdsoftheonerealm;andthecorn—fields，forest—high，themightymastiffs，themonstercats，thetower—likemenandwomen，oftheother。Yet，whenthischerishedvolumewasnowplacedinmyhand—whenIturnedoveritsleaves，andsoughtinitsmarvellouspicturesthecharmIhad，tillnow，neverfailedtofind—

allwaseerieanddreary;thegiantsweregauntgoblins，thepigmiesmalevolentandfearfulimps，Gulliveramostdesolatewandererinmostdreadanddangerousregions。Iclosedthebook，whichIdarednolongerperuse，andputitonthetable，besidetheuntastedtart。

Bessiehadnowfinisheddustingandtidyingtheroom，andhavingwashedherhands，sheopenedacertainlittledrawer，fullofsplendidshredsofsilkandsatin，andbeganmakinganewbonnetforGeorgiana'sdoll。Meantimeshesang:hersongwas—

'Inthedayswhenweweregipsying，Alongtimeago。'

Ihadoftenheardthesongbefore，andalwayswithlivelydelight;forBessiehadasweetvoice，—atleast，Ithoughtso。Butnow，thoughhervoicewasstillsweet，Ifoundinitsmelodyanindescribablesadness。Sometimes，preoccupiedwithherwork，shesangtherefrainverylow，verylingeringly;'Alongtimeago'cameoutlikethesaddestcadenceofafuneralhymn。Shepassedintoanotherballad，thistimeareallydolefulone。

'Myfeettheyaresore，andmylimbstheyareweary;

Longistheway，andthemountainsarewild;

SoonwillthetwilightclosemoonlessanddrearyOverthepathofthepoororphanchild。

Whydidtheysendmesofarandsolonely，Upwherethemoorsspreadandgreyrocksarepiled？

Menarehard—hearted，andkindangelsonlyWatcho'erthestepsofapoororphanchild。

Yetdistantandsoftthenightbreezeisblowing，Cloudstherearenone，andclearstarsbeammild，God，inHismercy，protectionisshowing，Comfortandhopetothepoororphanchild。

Ev'nshouldIfallo'erthebrokenbridgepassing，Orstrayinthemarshes，byfalselightsbeguiled，StillwillmyFather，withpromiseandblessing，TaketoHisbosomthepoororphanchild。

Thereisathoughtthatforstrengthshouldavailme，Thoughbothofshelterandkindreddespoiled;

Heavenisahome，andarestwillnotfailme;

Godisafriendtothepoororphanchild。'

'Come，MissJane，don'tcry，'saidBessieasshefinished。

Shemightaswellhavesaidtothefire，'don'tburn！'buthowcouldshedivinethemorbidsufferingtowhichIwasaprey？InthecourseofthemorningMr。Lloydcameagain。

'What，alreadyup！'saidhe，asheenteredthenursery。

'Well，nurse，howisshe？'

BessieansweredthatIwasdoingverywell。

'Thensheoughttolookmorecheerful。Comehere，MisJane:

yournameisJane，isitnot？'

'Yes，sir，JaneEyre。'

'Well，youhavebeencrying，MissJaneEyre;canyoutellmewhatabout？Haveyouanypain？'

'No，sir。'

'Oh！IdaresaysheiscryingbecauseshecouldnotgooutwithMissisinthecarriage，'interposedBessie。

'Surelynot！why，sheistoooldforsuchpettishness。'

Ithoughtsotoo;andmyself—esteembeingwoundedbythefalsecharge，Iansweredpromptly，'Inevercriedforsuchathinginmylife:Ihategoingoutinthecarriage。IcrybecauseIammiserable。'

'Ohfie，Miss！'saidBessie。

Thegoodapothecaryappearedalittlepuzzled。Iwasstandingbeforehim;hefixedhiseyesonmeverysteadily:hiseyesweresmallandgrey;notverybright，butIdaresayIshouldthinkthemshrewdnow:hehadahard—featuredyetgood—naturedlookingface。Havingconsideredmeatleisure，hesaid—

'Whatmadeyouillyesterday？'

'Shehadafall，'saidBessie，againputtinginherword。

'Fall！why，thatislikeababyagain！Can'tshemanagetowalkatherage？Shemustbeeightornineyearsold。'

'Iwasknockeddown，'wasthebluntexplanation，jerkedoutofmebyanotherpangofmortifiedpride;'butthatdidnotmakemeill，'

Iadded;whileMr。Lloydhelpedhimselftoapinchofsnuff。

Ashewasreturningtheboxtohiswaistcoatpocket，aloudbellrangfortheservants'dinner;heknewwhatitwas。'That'sforyou，nurse，'saidhe;'youcangodown;I'llgiveMissJanealecturetillyoucomeback。'

Bessiewouldratherhavestayed，butshewasobligedtogo，becausepunctualityatmealswasrigidlyenforcedatGates—headHall。

'Thefalldidnotmakeyouill;whatdid，then？'pursuedMr。

LloydwhenBessiewasgone。

'Iwasshutupinaroomwherethereisaghosttillafterdark。'

IsawMr。Lloydsmileandfrownatthesametime。'Ghost！

What，youareababyafterall！Youareafraidofghosts？'

'OfMr。Reed'sghostIam:hediedinthatroom，andwaslaidoutthere。NeitherBessienoranyoneelsewillgointoitatnight，iftheycanhelpit;anditwascrueltoshutmeupalonewithoutacandle，—socruelthatIthinkIshallneverforgetit。'

'Nonsense！Andisitthatmakesyousomiserable？Areyouafraidnowindaylight？'

'No:butnightwillcomeagainbeforelong:andbesides，—

Iamunhappy，—veryunhappy，forotherthings。'

'Whatotherthings？Canyoutellmesomeofthem？'

HowmuchIwishedtoreplyfullytothisquestion！Howdifficultitwastoframeanyanswer！Childrencanfeel，buttheycannotanalysetheirfeelings;andiftheanalysisispartiallyeffectedinthought，theyknownothowtoexpresstheresultoftheprocessinwords。Fearful，however，oflosingthisfirstandonlyopportunityofrelievingmygriefbyimpartingit，I，afteradisturbedpause，contrivedtoframeameagre，though，asfarasitwent，trueresponse。

'Foronething，Ihavenofatherormother，brothersorsisters。'

'Youhaveakindauntandcousins。'

AgainIpaused;thenbunglinglyenounced—

'ButJohnReedknockedmedown，andmyauntshutmeupinthered—room。'

Mr。Lloydasecondtimeproducedhissnuff—box。

'Don'tyouthinkGatesheadHallaverybeautifulhouse？'

askedhe。'Areyounotverythankfultohavesuchafineplacetoliveat？'

'Itisnotmyhouse，sir;andAbbotsaysIhavelessrighttobeherethanaservant。'

'Pooh！youcan'tbesillyenoughtowishtoleavesuchasplendidplace？'

'IfIhadanywhereelsetogo，Ishouldbegladtoleaveit;butIcannevergetawayfromGatesheadtillIamawoman。'

'Perhapsyoumay—whoknows？HaveyouanyrelationsbesidesMrs。

Reed？'

'Ithinknot，sir。'

'Nonebelongingtoyourfather？'

'Idon'tknow:IaskedAuntReedonce，andshesaidpossiblyI

mighthavesomepoor，lowrelationscalledEyre，butsheknewnothingaboutthem。'

'Ifyouhadsuch，wouldyouliketogotothem？'

Ireflected。Povertylooksgrimtogrownpeople;stillmoresotochildren:theyhavenotmuchideaofindustrious，working，respectablepoverty;theythinkofthewordonlyasconnectedwithraggedclothes，scantyfood，firelessgrates，rudemanners，anddebasingvices:

povertyformewassynonymouswithdegradation。

'No;Ishouldnotliketobelongtopoorpeople，'wasmyreply。

'Noteveniftheywerekindtoyou？'

Ishookmyhead:Icouldnotseehowpoorpeoplehadthemeansofbeingkind;andthentolearntospeaklikethem，toadopttheirmanners，tobeuneducated，togrowuplikeoneofthepoorwomenIsawsometimesnursingtheirchildrenorwashingtheirclothesatthecottagedoorsofthevillageofGateshead:no，Iwasnotheroicenoughtopurchaselibertyatthepriceofcaste。

'Butareyourrelativessoverypoor？Aretheyworkingpeople？'

'Icannottell;AuntReedsaysifIhaveany，theymustbeabeggarlyset:Ishouldnotliketogoa—begging。'

'Wouldyouliketogotoschool？'

AgainIreflected:Iscarcelyknewwhatschoolwas:Bessiesometimesspokeofitasaplacewhereyoungladiessatinthestocks，worebackboards，andwereexpectedtobeexceedinglygenteelandprecise:JohnReedhatedhisschool，andabusedhismaster;butJohnReed'stasteswerenoruleformine，andifBessie'saccountsofschool—discipline（gatheredfromtheyoungladiesofafamilywhereshehadlivedbeforecomingtoGateshead）weresomewhatappalling，herdetailsofcertainaccomplishmentsattainedbythesesameyoungladieswere，Ithought，equallyattractive。Sheboastedofbeautifulpaintingsoflandscapesandflowersbythemexecuted;ofsongstheycouldsingandpiecestheycouldplay，ofpursestheycouldnet，ofFrenchbookstheycouldtranslate;tillmyspiritwasmovedtoemulationasIlistened。Besides，schoolwouldbeacompletechange:

itimpliedalongjourney，anentireseparationfromGateshead，anentranceintoanewlife。

'Ishouldindeedliketogotoschool，'wastheaudibleconclusionofmymusings。

'Well，well！whoknowswhatmayhappen？'saidMr。Lloyd，ashegotup。'Thechildoughttohavechangeofairandscene，'headded，speakingtohimself;'nervesnotinagoodstate。'

Bessienowreturned;atthesamemomentthecarriagewasheardrollingupthegravel—walk。

'Isthatyourmistress，nurse？'askedMr。Lloyd。'IshouldliketospeaktoherbeforeIgo。'

Bessieinvitedhimtowalkintothebreakfast—room，andledthewayout。IntheinterviewwhichfollowedbetweenhimandMrs。Reed，I

presume，fromafter—occurrences，thattheapothecaryventuredtorecommendmybeingsenttoschool;andtherecommendationwasnodoubtreadilyenoughadopted;forasAbbotsaid，indiscussingthesubjectwithBessiewhenbothsatsewinginthenurseryonenight，afterIwasinbed，and，astheythought，asleep，'Missiswas，shedaredsay，gladenoughtogetridofsuchatiresome，ill—conditionedchild，whoalwayslookedasifshewerewatchingeverybody，andschemingplotsunderhand。'Abbot，Ithink，gavemecreditforbeingasortofinfantineGuyFawkes。

OnthatsameoccasionIlearned，forthefirsttime，fromMissAbbot'scommunicationstoBessie，thatmyfatherhadbeenapoorclergyman;thatmymotherhadmarriedhimagainstthewishesofherfriends，whoconsideredthematchbeneathher;thatmygrandfatherReedwassoirritatedatherdisobedience，hecutheroffwithoutashilling;thataftermymotherandfatherhadbeenmarriedayear，thelattercaughtthetyphusfeverwhilevisitingamongthepoorofalargemanufacturingtownwherehiscuracywassituated，andwherethatdiseasewasthenprevalent:thatmymothertooktheinfectionfromhim，andbothdiedwithinamonthofeachother。

Bessie，whensheheardthisnarrative，sighedandsaid，'PoorMissJaneistobepitiedtoo，Abbot。'

'Yes，'respondedAbbot;'ifshewereanice，prettychild，onemightcompassionateherforlornness;butonereallycannotcareforsuchalittletoadasthat。'

'Notagreatdeal，tobesure，'agreedBessie:'atanyrate，abeautylikeMissGeorgianawouldbemoremovinginthesamecondition。'

'Yes，IdoatonMissGeorgiana！'criedtheferventAbbot。

'Littledarling！—withherlongcurlsandherblueeyes，andsuchasweetcolourasshehas;justasifshewerepainted！—Bessie，IcouldfancyaWelshrabbitforsupper。'

'SocouldI—witharoastonion。Come，we'llgodown。'

Theywent。

chapter04

CHAPTERIV

FROMmydiscoursewithMr。Lloyd，andfromtheabovereportedconferencebetweenBessieandAbbot，Igatheredenoughofhopetosufficeasamotiveforwishingtogetwell:achangeseemednear，—

Idesiredandwaiteditinsilence。Ittarried，however:daysandweekspassed:Ihadregainedmynormalstateofhealth，butnonewallusionwasmadetothesubjectoverwhichIbrooded。Mrs。Reedsurveyedmeattimeswithasevereeye，butseldomaddressedme:sincemyillness，shehaddrawnamoremarkedlineofseparationthaneverbetweenmeandherownchildren;appointingmeasmallclosettosleepinbymyself，condemningmetotakemymealsalone，andpassallmytimeinthenursery，whilemycousinswereconstantlyinthedrawing—room。Notahint，however，didshedropaboutsendingmetoschool:stillIfeltaninstinctivecertaintythatshewouldnotlongenduremeunderthesameroofwithher;forherglance，nowmorethanever，whenturnedonme，expressedaninsuperableandrootedaversion。

ElizaandGeorgiana，evidentlyactingaccordingtoorders，spoketomeaslittleaspossible:Johnthrusthistongueinhischeekwheneverhesawme，andonceattemptedchastisement;butasIinstantlyturnedagainsthim，rousedbythesamesentimentofdeepireanddesperaterevoltwhichhadstirredmycorruptionbefore，hethoughtitbettertodesist，andranfrommeutteringexecrations，andvowingI

hadbursthisnose。Ihadindeedlevelledatthatprominentfeatureashardablowasmyknucklescouldinflict;andwhenIsawthateitherthatormylookdauntedhim，Ihadthegreatestinclinationtofollowupmyadvantagetopurpose;buthewasalreadywithhismama。

I

heardhiminablubberingtonecommencethetaleofhow'thatnastyJaneEyre'hadflownathimlikeamadcat:hewasstoppedratherharshly—

'Don'ttalktomeabouther，John:Itoldyounottogonearher;

sheisnotworthyofnotice;Idonotchoosethateitheryouoryoursistersshouldassociatewithher。'

Here，leaningoverthebanister，Icriedoutsuddenly，andwithoutatalldeliberatingonmywords—

'Theyarenotfittoassociatewithme。'

Mrs。Reedwasratherastoutwoman;but，onhearingthisstrangeandaudaciousdeclaration，sherannimblyupthestair，sweptmelikeawhirlwindintothenursery，andcrushingmedownontheedgeofmycrib，daredmeinanemphaticvoicetorisefromthatplace，orutteronesyllableduringtheremainderoftheday。

'WhatwouldUncleReedsaytoyou，ifhewerealive？'wasmyscarcelyvoluntarydemand。Isayscarcelyvoluntary，foritseemedasifmytonguepronouncedwords，withoutmywillconsentingtotheirutterance:somethingspokeoutofmeoverwhichIhadnocontrol。

'What？'saidMrs。Reedunderherbreath:herusuallycoldcomposedgreyeyebecametroubledwithalooklikefear;shetookherhandfrommyarm，andgazedatmeasifshereallydidnotknowwhetherIwerechildorfiend。Iwasnowinforit。

'MyUncleReedisinheaven，andcanseeallyoudoandthink;

andsocanpapaandmama:theyknowhowyoushutmeupalldaylong，andhowyouwishmedead。'

Mrs。Reedsoonralliedherspirits:sheshookmemostsoundly，sheboxedbothmyears，andthenleftmewithoutaword。Bessiesuppliedthehiatusbyahomilyofanhour'slength，inwhichsheprovedbeyondadoubtthatIwasthemostwickedandabandonedchildeverrearedunderaroof。Ihalfbelievedher;forIfeltindeedonlybadfeelingssurginginmybreast。

【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