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。