November，December，andhalfofJanuarypassedaway。ChristmasandtheNewYearhadbeencelebratedatGatesheadwiththeusualfestivecheer;presentshadbeeninterchanged，dinnersandeveningpartiesgiven。FromeveryenjoymentIwas，ofcourse，excluded:myshareofthegaietyconsistedinwitnessingthedailyapparellingofElizaandGeorgiana，andseeingthemdescendtothedrawing—room，dressedoutinthinmuslinfrocksandscarletsashes，withhairelaboratelyringleted;andafterwards，inlisteningtothesoundofthepianoortheharpplayedbelow，tothepassingtoandfroofthebutlerandfootman，tothejinglingofglassandchinaasrefreshmentswerehanded，tothebrokenhumofconversationasthedrawing—roomdooropenedandclosed。Whentiredofthisoccupation，Iwouldretirefromthestair—headtothesolitaryandsilentnursery:

there，thoughsomewhatsad，Iwasnotmiserable。Tospeaktruth，Ihadnottheleastwishtogointocompany，forincompanyIwasveryrarelynoticed;andifBessiehadbutbeenkindandcompanionable，I

shouldhavedeemeditatreattospendtheeveningsquietlywithher，insteadofpassingthemundertheformidableeyeofMrs。Reed，inaroomfullofladiesandgentlemen。ButBessie，assoonasshehaddressedheryoungladies，usedtotakeherselfofftothelivelyregionsofthekitchenandhousekeeper'sroom，generallybearingthecandlealongwithher。Ithensatwithmydollonmykneetillthefiregotlow，glancingroundoccasionallytomakesurethatnothingworsethanmyselfhauntedtheshadowyroom;andwhentheemberssanktoadullred，Iundressedhastily，tuggingatknotsandstringsasIbestmight，andsoughtshelterfromcoldanddarknessinmycrib。

TothiscribIalwaystookmydoll;humanbeingsmustlovesomething，and，inthedearthofworthierobjectsofaffection，Icontrivedtofindapleasureinlovingandcherishingafadedgravenimage，shabbyasaminiaturescarecrow。ItpuzzlesmenowtorememberwithwhatabsurdsincerityIdoatedonthislittletoy，halffancyingitaliveandcapableofsensation。Icouldnotsleepunlessitwasfoldedinmynight—gown;andwhenitlaytheresafeandwarm，Iwascomparativelyhappy，believingittobehappylikewise。

LongdidthehoursseemwhileIwaitedthedepartureofthecompany，andlistenedforthesoundofBessie'ssteponthestairs:

sometimesshewouldcomeupintheintervaltoseekherthimbleorherscissors，orperhapstobringmesomethingbywayofsupper—abunoracheese—cake—thenshewouldsitonthebedwhileIateit，andwhenIhadfinished，shewouldtucktheclothesroundme，andtwiceshekissedme，andsaid，'Goodnight，MissJane。'Whenthusgentle，Bessieseemedtomethebest，prettiest，kindestbeingintheworld;

andIwishedmostintenselythatshewouldalwaysbesopleasantandamiable，andneverpushmeabout，orscold，ortaskmeunreasonably，asshewastoooftenwonttodo。Bessie，Leemust，Ithink，havebeenagirlofgoodnaturalcapacity，forshewassmartinallshedid，andhadaremarkableknackofnarrative;so，atleast，Ijudgefromtheimpressionmadeonmebyhernurserytales。Shewasprettytoo，ifmyrecollectionsofherfaceandpersonarecorrect。I

rememberherasaslimyoungwoman，withblackhair，darkeyes，verynicefeatures，andgood，clearcomplexion;butshehadacapriciousandhastytemper，andindifferentideasofprincipleorjustice:

still，suchasshewas，IpreferredhertoanyoneelseatGatesheadHall。

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，etc。）。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，I

replied—

'No，Bessie;Ihaveonlyjustfinisheddusting。'

'Troublesome，carelesschild！andwhatareyoudoingnow？

Youlookquitered，asifyouhavebeenaboutsomemischief:whatwereyouopeningthewindowfor？'

Iwassparedthetroubleofanswering，forBessieseemedintoogreatahurrytolistentoexplanations;shehauledmetothewashstand，inflictedamerciless，buthappilybriefscrubonmyfaceandhandswithsoap，water，andacoarsetowel;disciplinedmyheadwithabristlybrush，denudedmeofmypinafore，andthenhurryingmetothetopofthestairs，bidmegodowndirectly，asIwaswantedinthebreakfast—room。

Iwouldhaveaskedwhowantedme:IwouldhavedemandedifMrs。

Reedwasthere;butBessiewasalreadygone，andhadclosedthenursery—dooruponme。Islowlydescended。Fornearlythreemonths，I

hadneverbeencalledtoMrs。Reed'spresence;restrictedsolongtothenursery，thebreakfast，dining，anddrawing—roomswerebecomeformeawfulregions，onwhichitdismayedmetointrude。

Inowstoodintheemptyhall;beforemewasthebreakfast—roomdoor，andIstopped，intimidatedandtrembling。Whatamiserablelittlepoltroonhadfear，engenderedofunjustpunishment，madeofmeinthosedays！Ifearedtoreturntothenursery，andfearedtogoforwardtotheparlour;tenminutesIstoodinagitatedhesitation;

thevehementringingofthebreakfast—roombelldecidedme;Imustenter。

'Whocouldwantme？'Iaskedinwardly，aswithbothhandsI

turnedthestiffdoor—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:'ThisisthelittlegirlrespectingwhomI

appliedtoyou。'

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，IbelieveIintimatedintheletterwhichI

wrotetoyouthreeweeksago，thatthislittlegirlhasnotquitethecharacteranddispositionIcouldwish:shouldyouadmitherintoLowoodschool，Ishouldbegladifthesuperintendentandteacherswererequestedtokeepastricteyeonher，and，aboveall，toguardagainstherworstfault，atendencytodeceit。Imentionthisinyourhearing，Jane，thatyoumaynotattempttoimposeonMr。

Brocklehurst。'

WellmightIdread，wellmightIdislikeMrs。Reed;foritwashernaturetowoundmecruelly;neverwasIhappyinherpresence;

howevercarefullyIobeyed，howeverstrenuouslyIstrovetopleaseher，myeffortswerestillrepulsedandrepaidbysuchsentencesastheabove。Now，utteredbeforeastranger，theaccusationcutmetotheheart;Idimlyperceivedthatshewasalreadyobliteratinghopefromthenewphaseofexistencewhichshedestinedmetoenter;I

felt，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。I

havestudiedhowbesttomortifyinthemtheworldlysentimentofpride;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。

I

shallreturntoBrocklehurstHallinthecourseofaweekortwo:mygoodfriend，theArchdeacon，willnotpermitmetoleavehimsooner。

I

shallsendMissTemplenoticethatsheistoexpectanewgirl，sothattherewillbenodifficultyaboutreceivingher。Good—bye。'

'Good—bye，Mr。Brocklehurst;remembermetoMrs。andMissBrocklehurst，andtoAugustaandTheodore，andMasterBroughtonBrocklehurst。'

'Iwill，madam。Littlegirl，hereisabookentitledtheChild'sGuide;readitwithprayer，especiallythatpartcontaining"Anaddictedtofalsehoodanddeceit。"'

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，I

examinedherfigure;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？I

gatheredmyenergiesandlaunchedtheminthisbluntsentence—

'Iamnotdeceitful:ifIwere，IshouldsayIlovedyou;

butI

declareIdonotloveyou:IdislikeyoutheworstofanybodyintheworldexceptJohnReed;andthisbookabouttheliar，youmaygivetoyourgirl，Georgiana，foritisshewhotellslies，andnotI。'

Mrs。Reed'shandsstilllayonherworkinactive:hereyeoficecontinuedtodwellfreezinglyonmine。

'Whatmorehaveyoutosay？'sheasked，ratherinthetoneinwhichapersonmightaddressanopponentofadultagethansuchasisordinarilyusedtoachild。

Thateyeofhers，thatvoicestirredeveryantipathyI

had。Shakingfromheadtofoot，thrilledwithungovernableexcitement，Icontinued—

'Iamgladyouarenorelationofmine:IwillnevercallyouauntagainsolongasIlive。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，I

desiretobeyourfriend。'

'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，whenhalfanhour'ssilenceandreflectionhadshownmethemadnessofmyconduct，andthedrearinessofmyhatedandhatingposition。

SomethingofvengeanceIhadtastedforthefirsttime;

asaromaticwineitseemed，onswallowing，warmandracy:itsafter—flavour，metallicandcorroding，gavemeasensationasifIhadbeenpoisoned。

WillinglywouldInowhavegoneandaskedMrs。Reed'spardon;butI

knew，partlyfromexperienceandpartlyfrominstinct，thatwasthewaytomakeherrepulsemewithdoublescorn，therebyre—excitingeveryturbulentimpulseofmynature。

Iwouldfainexercisesomebetterfacultythanthatoffiercespeaking;fainfindnourishmentforsomelessfiendishfeelingthanthatofsombreindignation。Itookabook—someArabiantales;Isatdownandendeavouredtoread。Icouldmakenosenseofthesubject;

myownthoughtsswamalwaysbetweenmeandthepageIhadusuallyfoundfascinating。Iopenedtheglass—doorinthebreakfast—room:theshrubberywasquitestill:theblackfrostreigned，unbrokenbysunorbreeze，throughthegrounds。Icoveredmyheadandarmswiththeskirtofmyfrock，andwentouttowalkinapartoftheplantationwhichwasquitesequestered;butIfoundnopleasureinthesilenttrees，thefallingfir—cones，thecongealedrelicsofautumn，russetleaves，sweptbypastwindsinheaps，andnowstiffenedtogether。I

leanedagainstagate，andlookedintoanemptyfieldwherenosheepwerefeeding，wheretheshortgrasswasnippedandblanched。Itwasaverygreyday;amostopaquesky，'ondingonsnaw，'canopiedall;

thenceflakesfellatintervals，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。

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