Hewasnotinanyofthelowerrooms;hewasnotintheyard，thestables，orthegrounds。IaskedMrs。Fairfaxifshehadseenhim;—yes:shebelievedhewasplayingbilliardswithMissIngram。Tothebilliard—roomIhastened:theclickofballsandthehumofvoicesresoundedthence;Mr。Rochester，MissIngram，thetwoMissesEshton，andtheiradmirers，wereallbusiedinthegame。Itrequiredsomecouragetodisturbsointerestingaparty;myerrand，however，wasoneIcouldnotdefer，soIapproachedthemasterwherehestoodatMissIngram’sside。SheturnedasIdrewnear，andlookedatmehaughtily:hereyesseemedtodemand，“Whatcanthecreepingcreaturewantnow？”andwhenIsaid，inalowvoice，“Mr。Rochester，”shemadeamovementasiftemptedtoordermeaway。Irememberherappearanceatthemoment—itwasverygracefulandverystriking:sheworeamorningrobeofsky—bluecrape;agauzyazurescarfwastwistedinherhair。Shehadbeenallanimationwiththegame，andirritatedpridedidnotlowertheexpressionofherhaughtylineaments。
“Doesthatpersonwantyou？”sheinquiredofMr。Rochester;andMr。Rochesterturnedtoseewhothe“person”was。Hemadeacuriousgrimace—oneofhisstrangeandequivocaldemonstrations—threwdownhiscueandfollowedmefromtheroom。
“Well，Jane？”hesaid，asherestedhisbackagainsttheschoolroomdoor，whichhehadshut。
“Ifyouplease，sir，Iwantleaveofabsenceforaweekortwo。”
“Whattodo？—wheretogo？”
“Toseeasickladywhohassentforme。”
“Whatsicklady？—wheredoesshelive？”
“AtGateshead;in—shire。”
“—shire？Thatisahundredmilesoff！Whomayshebethatsendsforpeopletoseeherthatdistance？”
“HernameisReed，sir—Mrs。Reed。”
“ReedofGateshead？TherewasaReedofGateshead，amagistrate。”
“Itishiswidow，sir。”
“Andwhathaveyoutodowithher？Howdoyouknowher？”
“Mr。Reedwasmyuncle—mymother’sbrother。”
“Thedeucehewas！Younevertoldmethatbefore:youalwayssaidyouhadnorelations。”
“Nonethatwouldownme，sir。Mr。Reedisdead，andhiswifecastmeoff。”
“Why？”
“BecauseIwaspoor，andburdensome，andshedislikedme。”
“ButReedleftchildren？—youmusthavecousins？SirGeorgeLynnwastalkingofaReedofGatesheadyesterday，who，hesaid，wasoneoftheveriestrascalsontown;andIngramwasmentioningaGeorgianaReedofthesameplace，whowasmuchadmiredforherbeautyaseasonortwoagoinLondon。”
“JohnReedisdead，too，sir:heruinedhimselfandhalf—ruinedhisfamily，andissupposedtohavecommittedsuicide。Thenewssoshockedhismotherthatitbroughtonanapoplecticattack。”
“Andwhatgoodcanyoudoher？Nonsense，Jane！Iwouldneverthinkofrunningahundredmilestoseeanoldladywhowill，perhaps，bedeadbeforeyoureachher:besides，yousayshecastyouoff。”
“Yes，sir，butthatislongago;andwhenhercircumstanceswereverydifferent:Icouldnotbeeasytoneglectherwishesnow。”
“Howlongwillyoustay？”
“Asshortatimeaspossible，sir。”
“Promisemeonlytostayaweek—”
“Ihadbetternotpassmyword:Imightbeobligedtobreakit。”
“Atalleventsyouwillcomeback:youwillnotbeinducedunderanypretexttotakeupapermanentresidencewithher？”
“Oh，no！Ishallcertainlyreturnifallbewell。”
“Andwhogoeswithyou？Youdon’ttravelahundredmilesalone。”
“No，sir，shehassenthercoachman。”
“Apersontobetrusted？”
“Yes，sir，hehaslivedtenyearsinthefamily。”
Mr。Rochestermeditated。“Whendoyouwishtogo？”
“Earlyto—morrowmorning，sir。”
“Well，youmusthavesomemoney;youcan’ttravelwithoutmoney，andIdaresayyouhavenotmuch:Ihavegivenyounosalaryyet。Howmuchhaveyouintheworld，Jane？”heasked，smiling。
Idrewoutmypurse;ameagrethingitwas。“Fiveshillings，sir。”Hetookthepurse，pouredthehoardintohispalm，andchuckledoveritasifitsscantinessamusedhim。Soonheproducedhispocket—book:“Here，”saidhe，offeringmeanote;itwasfiftypounds，andheowedmebutfifteen。ItoldhimIhadnochange。
“Idon’twantchange;youknowthat。Takeyourwages。”
Ideclinedacceptingmorethanwasmydue。Hescowledatfirst;then，asifrecollectingsomething，hesaid—
“Right，right！Betternotgiveyouallnow:youwould，perhaps，stayawaythreemonthsifyouhadfiftypounds。Thereareten;isitnotplenty？”
“Yes，sir，butnowyouowemefive。”
“Comebackforit，then;Iamyourbankerforfortypounds。”
“Mr。Rochester，ImayaswellmentionanothermatterofbusinesstoyouwhileIhavetheopportunity。”
“Matterofbusiness？Iamcurioustohearit。”
“Youhaveasgoodasinformedme，sir，thatyouaregoingshortlytobemarried？”
“Yes;whatthen？”
“Inthatcase，sir，Adèleoughttogotoschool:Iamsureyouwillperceivethenecessityofit。”
“Togetheroutofmybride’sway，whomightotherwisewalkoverherrathertooemphatically？There’ssenseinthesuggestion;notadoubtofit。Adèle，asyousay，mustgotoschool;andyou，ofcourse，mustmarchstraightto—thedevil？”
“Ihopenot，sir;butImustseekanothersituationsomewhere。”
“Incourse！”heexclaimed，withatwangofvoiceandadistortionoffeaturesequallyfantasticandludicrous。Helookedatmesomeminutes。
“AndoldMadamReed，ortheMisses，herdaughters，willbesolicitedbyyoutoseekaplace，Isuppose？”
“No，sir;Iamnotonsuchtermswithmyrelativesaswouldjustifymeinaskingfavoursofthem—butIshalladvertise。”
“YoushallwalkupthepyramidsofEgypt！”hegrowled。“Atyourperilyouadvertise！IwishIhadonlyofferedyouasovereigninsteadoftenpounds。Givemebackninepounds，Jane;I’veauseforit。”
“AndsohaveI，sir，”Ireturned，puttingmyhandsandmypursebehindme。“Icouldnotsparethemoneyonanyaccount。”
“Littleniggard！”saidhe，“refusingmeapecuniaryrequest！Givemefivepounds，Jane。”
“Notfiveshillings，sir;norfivepence。”
“Justletmelookatthecash。”
“No，sir;youarenottobetrusted。”
“Jane！”
“Sir？”
“Promisemeonething。”
“I’llpromiseyouanything，sir，thatIthinkIamlikelytoperform。”
“Nottoadvertise:andtotrustthisquestofasituationtome。I’llfindyouoneintime。”
“Ishallbegladsotodo，sir，ifyou，inyourturn，willpromisethatIandAdèleshallbebothsafeoutofthehousebeforeyourbrideentersit。”
“Verywell！verywell！I’llpledgemywordonit。Yougoto—morrow，then？”
“Yes，sir;early。”
“Shallyoucomedowntothedrawing—roomafterdinner？”
“No，sir，Imustprepareforthejourney。”
“ThenyouandImustbidgood—byeforalittlewhile？”
“Isupposeso，sir。”
“Andhowdopeopleperformthatceremonyofparting，Jane？Teachme;I’mnotquiteuptoit。”
“Theysay，Farewell，oranyotherformtheyprefer。”
“Thensayit。”
“Farewell，Mr。Rochester，forthepresent。”
“WhatmustIsay？”
“Thesame，ifyoulike，sir。”
“Farewell，MissEyre，forthepresent;isthatall？”
“Yes？”
“Itseemsstingy，tomynotions，anddry，andunfriendly。Ishouldlikesomethingelse:alittleadditiontotherite。Ifoneshookhands，forinstance;butno—thatwouldnotcontentmeeither。Soyou’lldonomorethansayFarewell，Jane？”
“Itisenough，sir:asmuchgood—willmaybeconveyedinoneheartywordasinmany。”
“Verylikely;butitisblankandcool—‘Farewell。’”
“Howlongishegoingtostandwithhisbackagainstthatdoor？”Iaskedmyself;“Iwanttocommencemypacking。”Thedinner—bellrang，andsuddenlyawayhebolted，withoutanothersyllable:Isawhimnomoreduringtheday，andwasoffbeforehehadriseninthemorning。
IreachedthelodgeatGatesheadaboutfiveo’clockintheafternoonofthefirstofMay:Isteppedintherebeforegoinguptothehall。Itwasverycleanandneat:theornamentalwindowswerehungwithlittlewhitecurtains;thefloorwasspotless;thegrateandfire—ironswereburnishedbright，andthefireburntclear。Bessiesatonthehearth，nursingherlast—born，andRobertandhissisterplayedquietlyinacorner。
“Blessyou！—Iknewyouwouldcome！”exclaimedMrs。Leaven，asIentered。
“Yes，Bessie，”saidI，afterIhadkissedher;“andItrustIamnottoolate。HowisMrs。Reed？—Alivestill，Ihope。”
“Yes，sheisalive;andmoresensibleandcollectedthanshewas。Thedoctorsaysshemaylingeraweekortwoyet;buthehardlythinksshewillfinallyrecover。”
“Hasshementionedmelately？”
“Shewastalkingofyouonlythismorning，andwishingyouwouldcome，butsheissleepingnow，orwastenminutesago，whenIwasupatthehouse。Shegenerallyliesinakindoflethargyalltheafternoon，andwakesupaboutsixorseven。Willyourestyourselfhereanhour，Miss，andthenIwillgoupwithyou？”
Roberthereentered，andBessielaidhersleepingchildinthecradleandwenttowelcomehim:afterwardssheinsistedonmytakingoffmybonnetandhavingsometea;forshesaidIlookedpaleandtired。Iwasgladtoacceptherhospitality;andIsubmittedtoberelievedofmytravellinggarbjustaspassivelyasIusedtoletherundressmewhenachild。
OldtimescrowdedfastbackonmeasIwatchedherbustlingabout—settingoutthetea—traywithherbestchina，cuttingbreadandbutter，toastingatea—cake，and，betweenwhiles，givinglittleRobertorJaneanoccasionaltaporpush，justassheusedtogivemeinformerdays。Bessiehadretainedherquicktemperaswellasherlightfootandgoodlooks。
Teaready，Iwasgoingtoapproachthetable;butshedesiredmetositstill，quiteinheroldperemptorytones。Imustbeservedatthefireside，shesaid;andsheplacedbeforemealittleroundstandwithmycupandaplateoftoast，absolutelyassheusedtoaccommodatemewithsomeprivatelypurloineddaintyonanurserychair:andIsmiledandobeyedherasinbygonedays。
ShewantedtoknowifIwashappyatThornfieldHall，andwhatsortofapersonthemistresswas;andwhenItoldhertherewasonlyamaster，whetherhewasanicegentleman，andifIlikedhim。Itoldherheratheranuglyman，butquiteagentleman;andthathetreatedmekindly，andIwascontent。ThenIwentontodescribetoherthegaycompanythathadlatelybeenstayingatthehouse;andtothesedetailsBessielistenedwithinterest:theywerepreciselyofthekindsherelished。
Insuchconversationanhourwassoongone:Bessierestoredtomemybonnet，&c。，and，accompaniedbyher，Iquittedthelodgeforthehall。ItwasalsoaccompaniedbyherthatIhad，nearlynineyearsago，walkeddownthepathIwasnowascending。Onadark，misty，rawmorninginJanuary，Ihadleftahostileroofwithadesperateandembitteredheart—asenseofoutlawryandalmostofreprobation—toseekthechillyharbourageofLowood:thatbournesofarawayandunexplored。Thesamehostileroofnowagainrosebeforeme:myprospectsweredoubtfulyet;andIhadyetanachingheart。Istillfeltasawandereronthefaceoftheearth;butIexperiencedfirmertrustinmyselfandmyownpowers，andlesswitheringdreadofoppression。Thegapingwoundofmywrongs，too，wasnowquitehealed;andtheflameofresentmentextinguished。
“Youshallgointothebreakfast—roomfirst，”saidBessie，assheprecededmethroughthehall;“theyoungladieswillbethere。”
InanothermomentIwaswithinthatapartment。TherewaseveryarticleoffurniturelookingjustasitdidonthemorningIwasfirstintroducedtoMr。Brocklehurst:theveryrughehadstooduponstillcoveredthehearth。Glancingatthebookcases，IthoughtIcoulddistinguishthetwovolumesofBewick’sBritishBirdsoccupyingtheiroldplaceonthethirdshelf，andGulliver’sTravelsandtheArabianNightsrangedjustabove。Theinanimateobjectswerenotchanged;butthelivingthingshadalteredpastrecognition。
Twoyoungladiesappearedbeforeme;oneverytall，almostastallasMissIngram—verythintoo，withasallowfaceandseveremien。Therewassomethingasceticinherlook，whichwasaugmentedbytheextremeplainnessofastraight—skirted，black，stuffdress，astarchedlinencollar，haircombedawayfromthetemples，andthenun—likeornamentofastringofebonybeadsandacrucifix。ThisIfeltsurewasEliza，thoughIcouldtracelittleresemblancetoherformerselfinthatelongatedandcolourlessvisage。
TheotherwasascertainlyGeorgiana:butnottheGeorgianaIremembered—theslimandfairy—likegirlofeleven。Thiswasafull—blown，veryplumpdamsel，fairaswaxwork，withhandsomeandregularfeatures，languishingblueeyes，andringletedyellowhair。Thehueofherdresswasblacktoo;butitsfashionwassodifferentfromhersister’s—somuchmoreflowingandbecoming—itlookedasstylishastheother’slookedpuritanical。
Ineachofthesisterstherewasonetraitofthemother—andonlyone;thethinandpallidelderdaughterhadherparent’sCairngormeye:thebloomingandluxuriantyoungergirlhadhercontourofjawandchin—perhapsalittlesoftened，butstillimpartinganindescribablehardnesstothecountenanceotherwisesovoluptuousandbuxom。
Bothladies，asIadvanced，rosetowelcomeme，andbothaddressedmebythenameof“MissEyre。”Eliza’sgreetingwasdeliveredinashort，abruptvoice，withoutasmile;andthenshesatdownagain，fixedhereyesonthefire，andseemedtoforgetme。Georgianaaddedtoher“Howd’yedo？”severalcommonplacesaboutmyjourney，theweather，andsoon，utteredinratheradrawlingtone:andaccompaniedbysundryside—glancesthatmeasuredmefromheadtofoot—nowtraversingthefoldsofmydrabmerinopelisse，andnowlingeringontheplaintrimmingofmycottagebonnet。Youngladieshavearemarkablewayoflettingyouknowthattheythinkyoua“quiz”withoutactuallysayingthewords。Acertainsuperciliousnessoflook，coolnessofmanner，nonchalanceoftone，expressfullytheirsentimentsonthepoint，withoutcommittingthembyanypositiverudenessinwordordeed。
Asneer，however，whethercovertoropen，hadnownolongerthatpowerovermeitoncepossessed:asIsatbetweenmycousins，IwassurprisedtofindhoweasyIfeltunderthetotalneglectoftheoneandthesemi—sarcasticattentionsoftheother—Elizadidnotmortify，norGeorgianaruffleme。Thefactwas，Ihadotherthingstothinkabout;withinthelastfewmonthsfeelingshadbeenstirredinmesomuchmorepotentthananytheycouldraise—painsandpleasuressomuchmoreacuteandexquisitehadbeenexcitedthananyitwasintheirpowertoinflictorbestow—thattheirairsgavemenoconcerneitherforgoodorbad。
“HowisMrs。Reed？”Iaskedsoon，lookingcalmlyatGeorgiana，whothoughtfittobridleatthedirectaddress，asifitwereanunexpectedliberty。
“Mrs。Reed？Ah！mama，youmean;sheisextremelypoorly:Idoubtifyoucanseeherto—night。”
“If，”saidI，“youwouldjuststepupstairsandtellherIamcome，Ishouldbemuchobligedtoyou。”
Georgianaalmoststarted，andsheopenedherblueeyeswildandwide。“Iknowshehadaparticularwishtoseeme，”Iadded，“andIwouldnotdeferattendingtoherdesirelongerthanisabsolutelynecessary。”
“Mamadislikesbeingdisturbedinanevening，”remarkedEliza。Isoonrose，quietlytookoffmybonnetandgloves，uninvited，andsaidIwouldjuststepouttoBessie—whowas，Idaredsay，inthekitchen—andaskhertoascertainwhetherMrs。Reedwasdisposedtoreceivemeornotto—night。Iwent，andhavingfoundBessieanddespatchedheronmyerrand，Iproceededtotakefurthermeasures。Ithadheretoforebeenmyhabitalwaystoshrinkfromarrogance:receivedasIhadbeento—day，Ishould，ayearago，haveresolvedtoquitGatesheadtheverynextmorning;now，itwasdisclosedtomeallatoncethatthatwouldbeafoolishplan。Ihadtakenajourneyofahundredmilestoseemyaunt，andImuststaywithhertillshewasbetter—ordead:astoherdaughters’prideorfolly，Imustputitononeside，makemyselfindependentofit。SoIaddressedthehousekeeper;askedhertoshowmearoom，toldherIshouldprobablybeavisitorhereforaweekortwo，hadmytrunkconveyedtomychamber，andfolloweditthithermyself:ImetBessieonthelanding。
“Missisisawake，”saidshe;“Ihavetoldheryouarehere:comeandletusseeifshewillknowyou。”
Ididnotneedtobeguidedtothewell—knownroom，towhichIhadsooftenbeensummonedforchastisementorreprimandinformerdays。IhastenedbeforeBessie;Isoftlyopenedthedoor:ashadedlightstoodonthetable，foritwasnowgettingdark。Therewasthegreatfour—postbedwithamberhangingsasofold;therethetoilet—table，thearmchair，andthefootstool，atwhichIhadahundredtimesbeensentencedtokneel，toaskpardonforoffencesbymeuncommitted。Ilookedintoacertaincornernear，half—expectingtoseetheslimoutlineofaoncedreadedswitchwhichusedtolurkthere，waitingtoleapoutimp—likeandlacemyquiveringpalmorshrinkingneck。Iapproachedthebed;Iopenedthecurtainsandleantoverthehigh—piledpillows。
WelldidIrememberMrs。Reed’sface，andIeagerlysoughtthefamiliarimage。Itisahappythingthattimequellsthelongingsofvengeanceandhushesthepromptingsofrageandaversion。Ihadleftthiswomaninbitternessandhate，andIcamebacktohernowwithnootheremotionthanasortofruthforhergreatsufferings，andastrongyearningtoforgetandforgiveallinjuries—tobereconciledandclasphandsinamity。
Thewell—knownfacewasthere:stern，relentlessasever—therewasthatpeculiareyewhichnothingcouldmelt，andthesomewhatraised，imperious，despoticeyebrow。Howoftenhaditloweredonmemenaceandhate！andhowtherecollectionofchildhood’sterrorsandsorrowsrevivedasItraceditsharshlinenow！AndyetIstoopeddownandkissedher:shelookedatme。
“IsthisJaneEyre？”shesaid。
“Yes，AuntReed。Howareyou，dearaunt？”
IhadoncevowedthatIwouldnevercallherauntagain:Ithoughtitnosintoforgetandbreakthatvownow。Myfingershadfastenedonherhandwhichlayoutsidethesheet:hadshepressedminekindly，Ishouldatthatmomenthaveexperiencedtruepleasure。Butunimpressionablenaturesarenotsosoonsoftened，norarenaturalantipathiessoreadilyeradicated。Mrs。Reedtookherhandaway，and，turningherfaceratherfromme，sheremarkedthatthenightwaswarm。Againsheregardedmesoicily，Ifeltatoncethatheropinionofme—herfeelingtowardsme—wasunchangedandunchangeable。Iknewbyherstonyeye—opaquetotenderness，indissolubletotears—thatshewasresolvedtoconsidermebadtothelast;becausetobelievemegoodwouldgivehernogenerouspleasure:onlyasenseofmortification。
Ifeltpain，andthenIfeltire;andthenIfeltadeterminationtosubdueher—tobehermistressinspitebothofhernatureandherwill。Mytearshadrisen，justasinchildhood:Iorderedthembacktotheirsource。Ibroughtachairtothebed—head:Isatdownandleanedoverthepillow。
“Yousentforme，”Isaid，“andIamhere;anditismyintentiontostaytillIseehowyougeton。”
“Oh，ofcourse！Youhaveseenmydaughters？”
“Yes。”
“Well，youmaytellthemIwishyoutostaytillIcantalksomethingsoverwithyouIhaveonmymind:to—nightitistoolate，andIhaveadifficultyinrecallingthem。ButtherewassomethingIwishedtosay—letmesee—”
Thewanderinglookandchangedutterancetoldwhatwreckhadtakenplaceinheroncevigorousframe。Turningrestlessly，shedrewthebedclothesroundher;myelbow，restingonacornerofthequilt，fixeditdown:shewasatonceirritated。
“Situp！”saidshe;“don’tannoymewithholdingtheclothesfast。AreyouJaneEyre？”
“IamJaneEyre。”
“Ihavehadmoretroublewiththatchildthananyonewouldbelieve。Suchaburdentobeleftonmyhands—andsomuchannoyanceasshecausedme，dailyandhourly，withherincomprehensibledisposition，andhersuddenstartsoftemper，andhercontinual，unnaturalwatchingsofone’smovements！Ideclareshetalkedtomeoncelikesomethingmad，orlikeafiend—nochildeverspokeorlookedasshedid;Iwasgladtogetherawayfromthehouse。WhatdidtheydowithheratLowood？Thefeverbrokeoutthere，andmanyofthepupilsdied。She，however，didnotdie:butIsaidshedid—Iwishshehaddied！”
“Astrangewish，Mrs。Reed;whydoyouhateherso？”
“Ihadadisliketohermotheralways;forshewasmyhusband’sonlysister，andagreatfavouritewithhim:heopposedthefamily’sdisowningherwhenshemadeherlowmarriage;andwhennewscameofherdeath，heweptlikeasimpleton。Hewouldsendforthebaby;thoughIentreatedhimrathertoputitouttonurseandpayforitsmaintenance。IhateditthefirsttimeIsetmyeyesonit—asickly，whining，piningthing！Itwouldwailinitscradleallnightlong—notscreamingheartilylikeanyotherchild，butwhimperingandmoaning。Reedpitiedit;andheusedtonurseitandnoticeitasifithadbeenhisown:more，indeed，thanheevernoticedhisownatthatage。Hewouldtrytomakemychildrenfriendlytothelittlebeggar:thedarlingscouldnotbearit，andhewasangrywiththemwhentheyshowedtheirdislike。Inhislastillness，hehaditbroughtcontinuallytohisbedside;andbutanhourbeforehedied，heboundmebyvowtokeepthecreature。Iwouldassoonhavebeenchargedwithapauperbratoutofaworkhouse:buthewasweak，naturallyweak。Johndoesnotatallresemblehisfather，andIamgladofit:Johnislikemeandlikemybrothers—heisquiteaGibson。Oh，Iwishhewouldceasetormentingmewithlettersformoney？Ihavenomoremoneytogivehim:wearegettingpoor。Imustsendawayhalftheservantsandshutuppartofthehouse;orletitoff。Icanneversubmittodothat—yethowarewetogeton？Two—thirdsofmyincomegoesinpayingtheinterestofmortgages。Johngamblesdreadfully，andalwaysloses—poorboy！Heisbesetbysharpers:Johnissunkanddegraded—hislookisfrightful—IfeelashamedforhimwhenIseehim。”
Shewasgettingmuchexcited。“IthinkIhadbetterleavehernow，”saidItoBessie，whostoodontheothersideofthebed。
“Perhapsyouhad，Miss:butsheoftentalksinthiswaytowardsnight—inthemorningsheiscalmer。”
Irose。“Stop！”exclaimedMrs。Reed，“thereisanotherthingIwishedtosay。Hethreatensme—hecontinuallythreatensmewithhisowndeath，ormine:andIdreamsometimesthatIseehimlaidoutwithagreatwoundinhisthroat，orwithaswollenandblackenedface。Iamcometoastrangepass:Ihaveheavytroubles。Whatistobedone？Howisthemoneytobehad？”
Bessienowendeavouredtopersuadehertotakeasedativedraught:shesucceededwithdifficulty。Soonafter，Mrs。Reedgrewmorecomposed，andsankintoadozingstate。Ithenlefther。
MorethantendayselapsedbeforeIhadagainanyconversationwithher。Shecontinuedeitherdeliriousorlethargic;andthedoctorforbadeeverythingwhichcouldpainfullyexciteher。Meantime，IgotonaswellasIcouldwithGeorgianaandEliza。Theywereverycold，indeed，atfirst。Elizawouldsithalfthedaysewing，reading，orwriting，andscarcelyutterawordeithertomeorhersister。Georgianawouldchatternonsensetohercanarybirdbythehour，andtakenonoticeofme。ButIwasdeterminednottoseematalossforoccupationoramusement:Ihadbroughtmydrawingmaterialswithme，andtheyservedmeforboth。
Providedwithacaseofpencils，andsomesheetsofpaper，Iusedtotakeaseatapartfromthem，nearthewindow，andbusymyselfinsketchingfancyvignettes，representinganyscenethathappenedmomentarilytoshapeitselfintheever—shiftingkaleidoscopeofimagination:aglimpseofseabetweentworocks;therisingmoon，andashipcrossingitsdisk;agroupofreedsandwater—flags，andanaiad’shead，crownedwithlotus—flowers，risingoutofthem;anelfsittinginahedge—sparrow’snest，underawreathofhawthorn—bloom
OnemorningIfelltosketchingaface:whatsortofafaceitwastobe，Ididnotcareorknow。Itookasoftblackpencil，gaveitabroadpoint，andworkedaway。SoonIhadtracedonthepaperabroadandprominentforeheadandasquareloweroutlineofvisage:thatcontourgavemepleasure;myfingersproceededactivelytofillitwithfeatures。Strongly—markedhorizontaleyebrowsmustbetracedunderthatbrow;thenfollowed，naturally，awell—definednose，withastraightridgeandfullnostrils;thenaflexible—lookingmouth，bynomeansnarrow;thenafirmchin，withadecidedcleftdownthemiddleofit:ofcourse，someblackwhiskerswerewanted，andsomejettyhair，tuftedonthetemples，andwavedabovetheforehead。Nowfortheeyes:Ihadleftthemtothelast，becausetheyrequiredthemostcarefulworking。Idrewthemlarge;Ishapedthemwell:theeyelashesItracedlongandsombre;theiridslustrousandlarge。“Good！butnotquitethething，”Ithought，asIsurveyedtheeffect:“theywantmoreforceandspirit;”andIwroughttheshadesblacker，thatthelightsmightflashmorebrilliantly—ahappytouchortwosecuredsuccess。There，Ihadafriend’sfaceundermygaze;andwhatdiditsignifythatthoseyoungladiesturnedtheirbacksonme？Ilookedatit;Ismiledatthespeakinglikeness:Iwasabsorbedandcontent。
“Isthataportraitofsomeoneyouknow？”askedEliza，whohadapproachedmeunnoticed。Irespondedthatitwasmerelyafancyhead，andhurrieditbeneaththeothersheets。Ofcourse，Ilied:itwas，infact，averyfaithfulrepresentationofMr。Rochester。Butwhatwasthattoher，ortoanyonebutmyself？Georgianaalsoadvancedtolook。Theotherdrawingspleasedhermuch，butshecalledthat“anuglyman。”Theybothseemedsurprisedatmyskill。Iofferedtosketchtheirportraits;andeach，inturn，satforapenciloutline。ThenGeorgianaproducedheralbum。Ipromisedtocontributeawater—colourdrawing:thisputheratonceintogoodhumour。Sheproposedawalkinthegrounds。Beforewehadbeenouttwohours，weweredeepinaconfidentialconversation:shehadfavouredmewithadescriptionofthebrilliantwintershehadspentinLondontwoseasonsago—oftheadmirationshehadthereexcited—theattentionshehadreceived;andIevengothintsofthetitledconquestshehadmade。Inthecourseoftheafternoonandeveningthesehintswereenlargedon:varioussoftconversationswerereported，andsentimentalscenesrepresented;and，inshort，avolumeofanoveloffashionablelifewasthatdayimprovisedbyherformybenefit。Thecommunicationswererenewedfromdaytoday:theyalwaysranonthesametheme—herself，herloves，andwoes。Itwasstrangesheneveronceadvertedeithertohermother’sillness，orherbrother’sdeath，orthepresentgloomystateofthefamilyprospects。Hermindseemedwhollytakenupwithreminiscencesofpastgaiety，andaspirationsafterdissipationstocome。Shepassedaboutfiveminuteseachdayinhermother’ssick—room，andnomore。