Ilooked:Isawawomanattiredlikeawell—dressedservant，matronly，yetstillyoung;verygood—looking，withblackhairandeyes，andlivelycomplexion。
\'Well，whoisit？\'sheasked，inavoiceandwithasmileIhalfrecognised;\'you\'venotquiteforgottenme，Ithink，MissJane？\'
InanothersecondIwasembracingandkissingherrapturously:
\'Bessie！Bessie！Bessie！\'thatwasallIsaid;whereatshehalflaughed，halfcried，andwebothwentintotheparlour。Bythefirestoodalittlefellowofthreeyearsold，inplaidfrockandtrousers。
\'Thatismylittleboy，\'saidBessiedirectly。
\'Thenyouaremarried，Bessie？\'
\'Yes;nearlyfiveyearssincetoRobertLeaven，thecoachman;
andI\'vealittlegirlbesidesBobbythere，thatI\'vechristenedJane。\'
\'Andyoudon\'tliveatGateshead？\'
\'Iliveatthelodge:theoldporterhasleft。\'
\'Well，andhowdotheyallgeton？Tellmeeverythingaboutthem，Bessie:butsitdownfirst;and，Bobby，comeandsitonmyknee，willyou？\'butBobbypreferredsidlingovertohismother。
\'You\'renotgrownsoverytall，MissJane，norsoverystout，\'
continuedMrs。Leaven。\'Idaresaythey\'venotkeptyoutoowellatschool:MissReedistheheadandshoulderstallerthanyouare;andMissGeorgianawouldmaketwoofyouinbreadth。\'
\'Georgianaishandsome，Isuppose，Bessie？\'
\'Very。ShewentuptoLondonlastwinterwithhermama，andthereeverybodyadmiredher，andayounglordfellinlovewithher:buthisrelationswereagainstthematch;and—whatdoyouthink？—heandMissGeorgianamadeituptorunaway;buttheywerefoundoutandstopped。
ItwasMissReedthatfoundthemout:Ibelieveshewasenvious;andnowsheandhersisterleadacatanddoglifetogether;theyarealwaysquarrelling。\'
\'Well，andwhatofJohnReed？\'
\'Oh，heisnotdoingsowellashismamacouldwish。Hewenttocollege，andhegot—plucked，Ithinktheycallit:andthenhisuncleswantedhimtobeabarrister，andstudythelaw:butheissuchadissipatedyoungman，theywillnevermakemuchofhim，Ithink。\'
\'Whatdoeshelooklike？\'
\'Heisverytall:somepeoplecallhimafine—lookingyoungman;
buthehassuchthicklips。\'
\'AndMrs。Reed？\'
\'Missislooksstoutandwellenoughintheface，butI
thinkshe\'snotquiteeasyinhermind:Mr。John\'sconductdoesnotpleaseher—hespendsadealofmoney。\'
\'Didshesendyouhere，Bessie？\'
\'No，indeed:butIhavelongwantedtoseeyou，andwhenIheardthattherehadbeenaletterfromyou，andthatyouweregoingtoanotherpartofthecountry，IthoughtI\'djustsetoff，andgetalookatyoubeforeyouwerequiteoutofmyreach。\'
\'Iamafraidyouaredisappointedinme，Bessie。\'Isaidthislaughing:IperceivedthatBessie\'sglance，thoughitexpressedregard，didinnoshapedenoteadmiration。
\'No，MissJane，notexactly:youaregenteelenough;youlooklikealady，anditisasmuchaseverIexpectedofyou:youwerenobeautyasachild。\'
IsmiledatBessie\'sfrankanswer:Ifeltthatitwascorrect，butIconfessIwasnotquiteindifferenttoitsimport:ateighteenmostpeoplewishtoplease，andtheconvictionthattheyhavenotanexteriorlikelytosecondthatdesirebringsanythingbutgratification。
\'Idaresayyouareclever，though，\'continuedBessie，bywayofsolace。\'Whatcanyoudo？Canyouplayonthepiano？\'
\'Alittle。\'
Therewasoneintheroom;Bessiewentandopenedit，andthenaskedmetositdownandgiveheratune:Iplayedawaltzortwo，andshewascharmed。
\'TheMissReedscouldnotplayaswell！\'saidsheexultingly。
\'I
alwayssaidyouwouldsurpasstheminlearning:andcanyoudraw？\'
\'Thatisoneofmypaintingsoverthechimney—piece。\'Itwasalandscapeinwatercolours，ofwhichIhadmadeapresenttothesuperintendent，inacknowledgmentofherobligingmediationwiththecommitteeonmybehalf，andwhichshehadframedandglazed。
\'Well，thatisbeautiful，MissJane！ItisasfineapictureasanyMissReed\'sdrawing—mastercouldpaint，letalonetheyoungladiesthemselves，whocouldnotcomenearit:andhaveyoulearntFrench？\'
\'Yes，Bessie，Icanbothreaditandspeakit。\'
\'Andyoucanworkonmuslinandcanvas？\'
\'Ican。\'
\'Oh，youarequitealady，MissJane！Iknewyouwouldbe:youwillgetonwhetheryourrelationsnoticeyouornot。TherewassomethingI
wantedtoaskyou。Haveyoueverheardanythingfromyourfather\'skinsfolk，theEyres？\'
\'Neverinmylife。\'
\'Well，youknow，Missisalwayssaidtheywerepoorandquitedespicable:andtheymaybepoor;butIbelievetheyareasmuchgentryastheReedsare;foroneday，nearlysevenyearsago，aMr。
EyrecametoGatesheadandwantedtoseeyou;Mississaidyouwereatschoolfiftymilesoff;heseemedsomuchdisappointed，forhecouldnotstay:hewasgoingonavoyagetoaforeigncountry，andtheshipwastosailfromLondoninadayortwo。Helookedquiteagentleman，andIbelievehewasyourfather\'sbrother。\'
\'Whatforeigncountrywashegoingto，Bessie？\'
\'Anislandthousandsofmilesoff，wheretheymakewine—
thebutlerdidtellme—\'
\'Madeira？\'Isuggested。
\'Yes，thatisit—thatistheveryword。\'
\'Sohewent？\'
\'Yes;hedidnotstaymanyminutesinthehouse:Missiswasveryhighwithhim;shecalledhimafterwardsa\"sneakingtradesman。\"MyRobertbelieveshewasawine—merchant。\'
\'Verylikely，\'Ireturned;\'orperhapsclerkoragenttoawine—merchant。\'
BessieandIconversedaboutoldtimesanhourlonger，andthenshewasobligedtoleaveme:IsawheragainforafewminutesthenextmorningatLowton，whileIwaswaitingforthecoach。WepartedfinallyatthedooroftheBrocklehurstArmsthere，eachwentherseparateway;shesetoffforthebrowofLowoodFelltomeettheconveyancewhichwastotakeherbacktoGateshead，ImountedthevehiclewhichwastobearmetonewdutiesandanewlifeintheunknownenvironsofMillcote。
chapter11CHAPTERXI
ANEWchapterinanovelissomethinglikeanewsceneinaplay;
andwhenIdrawupthecurtainthistime，reader，youmustfancyyouseearoomintheGeorgeInnatMillcote，withsuchlargefiguredpaperingonthewallsasinnroomshave;suchacarpet，suchfurniture，suchornamentsonthemantel—piece，suchprints，includingaportraitofGeorgetheThird，andanotherofthePrinceofWales，andarepresentationofthedeathofWolfe。Allthisisvisibletoyoubythelightofanoillamphangingfromtheceiling，andbythatofanexcellentfire，nearwhichIsitinmycloakandbonnet;
mymuffandumbrellalieonthetable，andIamwarmingawaythenumbnessandchillcontractedbysixteenhours\'exposuretotherawnessofanOctoberday:IleftLowtonatfouro\'clockA。M。，andtheMillcotetownclockisnowjuststrikingeight。
Reader，thoughIlookcomfortablyaccommodated，Iamnotverytranquilinmymind。Ithoughtwhenthecoachstoppedheretherewouldbesomeonetomeetme;IlookedanxiouslyroundasIdescendedthewoodenstepsthe\'boots\'placedformyconvenience，expectingtohearmynamepronounced，andtoseesomedescriptionofcarriagewaitingtoconveymetoThornfield。Nothingofthesortwasvisible;
andwhenIaskedawaiterifanyonehadbeentoinquireafteraMissEyre，Iwasansweredinthenegative:soIhadnoresourcebuttorequesttobeshownintoaprivateroom:andhereIamwaiting，whileallsortsofdoubtsandfearsaretroublingmythoughts。
Itisaverystrangesensationtoinexperiencedyouthtofeelitselfquitealoneintheworld，cutadriftfromeveryconnection，uncertainwhethertheporttowhichitisboundcanbereached，andpreventedbymanyimpedimentsfromreturningtothatithasquitted。
Thecharmofadventuresweetensthatsensation，theglowofpridewarmsit;butthenthethroboffeardisturbsit;andfearwithmebecamepredominantwhenhalfanhourelapsedandstillIwasalone。
Ibethoughtmyselftoringthebell。
\'IsthereaplaceinthisneighbourhoodcalledThornfield？\'
Iaskedofthewaiterwhoansweredthesummons。
\'Thornfield？Idon\'tknow，ma\'am;I\'llinquireatthebar。\'
Hevanished，butreappearedinstantly—
\'IsyournameEyre，Miss？\'
\'Yes。\'
\'Personherewaitingforyou。\'
Ijumpedup，tookmymuffandumbrella，andhastenedintotheinn—passage:amanwasstandingbytheopendoor，andinthelamp—litstreetIdimlysawaone—horseconveyance。
\'Thiswillbeyourluggage，Isuppose？\'saidthemanratherabruptlywhenhesawme，pointingtomytrunkinthepassage。
\'Yes。\'Hehoisteditontothevehicle，whichwasasortofcar，andthenIgotin;beforeheshutmeup，IaskedhimhowfaritwastoThornfield。
\'Amatterofsixmiles。\'
\'Howlongshallwebebeforewegetthere？\'
\'Happenanhourandahalf。\'
Hefastenedthecardoor，climbedtohisownseatoutside，andwesetoff。Ourprogresswasleisurely，andgavemeampletimetoreflect;Iwascontenttobeatlengthsoneartheendofmyjourney;andasIleanedbackinthecomfortablethoughnotelegantconveyance，Imeditatedmuchatmyease。
\'Isuppose，\'thoughtI，\'judgingfromtheplainnessoftheservantandcarriage，Mrs。Fairfaxisnotaverydashingperson:somuchthebetter;Ineverlivedamongstfinepeoplebutonce，andIwasverymiserablewiththem。Iwonderifshelivesaloneexceptthislittlegirl;ifso，andifsheisinanydegreeamiable，Ishallsurelybeabletogetonwithher;Iwilldomybest;itisapitythatdoingone\'sbestdoesnotalwaysanswer。AtLowood，indeed，I
tookthatresolution，keptit，andsucceededinpleasing;butwithMrs。Reed，Iremembermybestwasalwaysspurnedwithscorn。IprayGodMrs。FairfaxmaynotturnoutasecondMrs。Reed;butifshedoes，Iamnotboundtostaywithher！lettheworstcometotheworst，I
canadvertiseagain。Howfarareweonourroadnow，Iwonder？\'
Iletdownthewindowandlookedout;Millcotewasbehindus;
judgingbythenumberofitslights，itseemedaplaceofconsiderablemagnitude，muchlargerthanLowton。Wewerenow，asfarasIcouldsee，onasortofcommon;buttherewerehousesscatteredalloverthedistrict;IfeltwewereinadifferentregiontoLowood，morepopulous，lesspicturesque;morestirring，lessromantic。
Theroadswereheavy，thenightmisty;myconductorlethishorsewalkalltheway，andthehourandahalfextended，Iverilybelieve，totwohours;atlastheturnedinhisseatandsaid—
\'You\'renoansofarfro\'Thornfieldnow。\'
AgainIlookedout:wewerepassingachurch;Isawitslowbroadtoweragainstthesky，anditsbellwastollingaquarter;Isawanarrowgalaxyoflightstoo，onahillside，markingavillageorhamlet。Abouttenminutesafter，thedrivergotdownandopenedapairofgates:wepassedthrough，andtheyclashedtobehindus。Wenowslowlyascendedadrive，andcameuponthelongfrontofahouse:
candlelightgleamedfromonecurtainedbow—window;alltherestweredark。Thecarstoppedatthefrontdoor;itwasopenedbyamaid—servant;Ialightedandwentin。
\'Willyouwalkthisway，ma\'am？\'saidthegirl;andIfollowedheracrossasquarehallwithhighdoorsallround:sheusheredmeintoaroomwhosedoubleilluminationoffireandcandleatfirstdazzledme，contrastingasitdidwiththedarknesstowhichmyeyeshadbeenfortwohoursinured;whenIcouldsee，however，acosyandagreeablepicturepresenteditselftomyview。
Asnugsmallroom;aroundtablebyacheerfulfire;anarm—chairhigh—backedandold—fashioned，whereinsattheneatestimaginablelittleelderlylady，inwidow\'scap，blacksilkgown，andsnowymuslinapron;exactlylikewhatIhadfanciedMrs。Fairfax，onlylessstatelyandmilderlooking。Shewasoccupiedinknitting;alargecatsatdemurelyatherfeet;nothinginshortwaswantingtocompletethebeau—idealofdomesticcomfort。Amorereassuringintroductionforanewgovernesscouldscarcelybeconceived;therewasnograndeurtooverwhelm，nostatelinesstoembarrass;andthen，asIentered，theoldladygotupandpromptlyandkindlycameforwardtomeetme。
\'Howdoyoudo，mydear？Iamafraidyouhavehadatediousride;
Johndrivessoslowly;youmustbecold，cometothefire。\'
\'Mrs。Fairfax，Isuppose？\'saidI。
\'Yes，youareright:dositdown。\'
Sheconductedmetoherownchair，andthenbegantoremovemyshawlanduntiemybonnet—strings;Ibeggedshewouldnotgiveherselfsomuchtrouble。
\'Oh，itisnotrouble;Idaresayyourownhandsarealmostnumbedwithcold。Leah，makealittlehotnegusandcutasandwichortwo:
herearethekeysofthestoreroom。\'
Andsheproducedfromherpocketamosthousewifelybunchofkeys，anddeliveredthemtotheservant。
\'Now，then，drawnearertothefire，\'shecontinued。\'You\'vebroughtyourluggagewithyou，haven\'tyou，mydear？\'
\'Yes，ma\'am。\'
\'I\'llseeitcarriedintoyourroom，\'shesaid，andbustledout。
\'Shetreatsmelikeavisitor，\'thoughtI。\'Ilittleexpectedsuchareception;Ianticipatedonlycoldnessandstiffness:thisisnotlikewhatIhaveheardofthetreatmentofgovernesses;butImustnotexulttoosoon。\'
Shereturned;withherownhandsclearedherknittingapparatusandabookortwofromthetable，tomakeroomforthetraywhichLeahnowbrought，andthenherselfhandedmetherefreshments。IfeltratherconfusedatbeingtheobjectofmoreattentionthanIhadeverbeforereceived，and，thattoo，shownbymyemployerandsuperior;butasshedidnotherselfseemtoconsidershewasdoinganythingoutofherplace，Ithoughtitbettertotakehercivilitiesquietly。
\'ShallIhavethepleasureofseeingMissFairfaxto—night？\'
I
asked，whenIhadpartakenofwhatsheofferedme。
\'Whatdidyousay，mydear？Iamalittledeaf，\'returnedthegoodlady，approachinghereartomymouth。
Irepeatedthequestionmoredistinctly。
\'MissFairfax？Oh，youmeanMissVarens！Varensisthenameofyourfuturepupil。\'
\'Indeed！Thensheisnotyourdaughter？\'
\'No，—Ihavenofamily。\'
Ishouldhavefollowedupmyfirstinquiry，byaskinginwhatwayMissVarenswasconnectedwithher;butIrecollecteditwasnotpolitetoasktoomanyquestions:besides，Iwassuretohearintime。
\'Iamsoglad，\'shecontinued，asshesatdownoppositetome，andtookthecatonherknee;\'Iamsogladyouarecome;itwillbequitepleasantlivingherenowwithacompanion。Tobesureitispleasantatanytime;forThornfieldisafineoldhall，ratherneglectedoflateyearsperhaps，butstillitisarespectableplace;yetyouknowinwinter—timeonefeelsdrearyquitealoneinthebestquarters。Isayalone—Leahisanicegirltobesure，andJohnandhiswifeareverydecentpeople;butthenyouseetheyareonlyservants，andonecan\'tconversewiththemontermsofequality:onemustkeepthematduedistance，forfearoflosingone\'sauthority。
I\'msurelastwinter（itwasaverysevereone，ifyourecollect，andwhenitdidnotsnow，itrainedandblew），notacreaturebutthebutcherandpostmancametothehouse，fromNovembertillFebruary;andIreallygotquitemelancholywithsittingnightafternightalone;IhadLeahintoreadtomesometimes;butIdon\'tthinkthepoorgirllikedthetaskmuch:shefeltitconfining。Inspringandsummeronegotonbetter:sunshineandlongdaysmakesuchadifference;andthen，justatthecommencementofthisautumn，littleAdelaVarenscameandhernurse:achildmakesahousealiveallatonce;andnowyouarehereIshallbequitegay。\'
MyheartreallywarmedtotheworthyladyasIheardhertalk;
andIdrewmychairalittlenearertoher，andexpressedmysincerewishthatshemightfindmycompanyasagreeableassheanticipated。
\'ButI\'llnotkeepyousittinguplateto—night，\'saidshe;\'itisonthestrokeoftwelvenow，andyouhavebeentravellingallday:youmustfeeltired。Ifyouhavegotyourfeetwellwarmed，I\'llshowyouyourbedroom。I\'vehadtheroomnexttominepreparedforyou;itisonlyasmallapartment，butIthoughtyouwouldlikeitbetterthanoneofthelargefrontchambers:tobesuretheyhavefinerfurniture，buttheyaresodrearyandsolitary，Ineversleepinthemmyself。\'
Ithankedherforherconsideratechoice，andasIreallyfeltfatiguedwithmylongjourney，expressedmyreadinesstoretire。Shetookhercandle，andIfollowedherfromtheroom。Firstshewenttoseeifthehall—doorwasfastened;havingtakenthekeyfromthelock，sheledthewayupstairs。Thestepsandbanisterswereofoak;thestaircasewindowwashighandlatticed;bothitandthelonggalleryintowhichthebedroomdoorsopenedlookedasiftheybelongedtoachurchratherthanahouse。Averychillandvault—likeairpervadedthestairsandgallery，suggestingcheerlessideasofspaceandsolitude;andIwasglad，whenfinallyusheredintomychamber，tofinditofsmalldimensions，andfurnishedinordinary，modernstyle。
WhenMrs。Fairfaxhadbiddenmeakindgood—night，andIhadfastenedmydoor，gazedleisurelyround，andinsomemeasureeffacedtheeerieimpressionmadebythatwidehall，thatdarkandspaciousstaircase，andthatlong，coldgallery，bythelivelieraspectofmylittleroom，Irememberedthat，afteradayofbodilyfatigueandmentalanxiety，Iwasnowatlastinsafehaven。Theimpulseofgratitudeswelledmyheart，andIkneltdownatthebedside，andofferedupthankswherethanksweredue;notforgetting，ereIrose，toimploreaidonmyfurtherpath，andthepowerofmeritingthekindnesswhichseemedsofranklyofferedmebeforeitwasearned。Mycouchhadnothornsinitthatnight;mysolitaryroomnofears。Atoncewearyandcontent，Isleptsoonandsoundly:whenIawokeitwasbroadday。
Thechamberlookedsuchabrightlittleplacetomeasthesunshoneinbetweenthegaybluechintzwindowcurtains，showingpaperedwallsandacarpetedfloor，sounlikethebareplanksandstainedplasterofLowood，thatmyspiritsroseattheview。Externalshaveagreateffectontheyoung:Ithoughtthatafairereraoflifewasbeginningforme—onethatwastohaveitsflowersandpleasures，aswellasitsthornsandtoils。Myfaculties，rousedbythechangeofscene，thenewfieldofferedtohope，seemedallastir。Icannotpreciselydefinewhattheyexpected，butitwassomethingpleasant:notperhapsthatdayorthatmonth，butatanindefinitefutureperiod。
Irose;Idressedmyselfwithcare:obligedtobeplain—
forI
hadnoarticleofattirethatwasnotmadewithextremesimplicity—
Iwasstillbynaturesolicitoustobeneat。ItwasnotmyhabittobedisregardfulofappearanceorcarelessoftheimpressionImade:onthecontrary，IeverwishedtolookaswellasIcould，andtopleaseasmuchasmywantofbeautywouldpermit。IsometimesregrettedthatIwasnothandsomer;Isometimeswishedtohaverosycheeks，astraightnose，andsmallcherrymouth;Idesiredtobetall，stately，andfinelydevelopedinfigure;IfeltitamisfortunethatI
wassolittle，sopale，andhadfeaturessoirregularandsomarked。
AndwhyhadItheseaspirationsandtheseregrets？Itwouldbedifficulttosay:Icouldnotthendistinctlysayittomyself;yetIhadareason，andalogical，naturalreasontoo。However，whenIhadbrushedmyhairverysmooth，andputonmyblackfrock—which，Quakerlikeasitwas，atleasthadthemeritoffittingtoanicety—
andadjustedmycleanwhitetucker，IthoughtIshoulddorespectablyenoughtoappearbeforeMrs。Fairfax，andthatmynewpupilwouldnotatleastrecoilfrommewithantipathy。Havingopenedmychamberwindow，andseenthatIleftallthingsstraightandneatonthetoilettable，Iventuredforth。
Traversingthelongandmattedgallery，Idescendedtheslipperystepsofoak;thenIgainedthehall:Ihaltedthereaminute;I
lookedatsomepicturesonthewalls（one，Iremember，representedagrimmaninacuirass，andonealadywithpowderedhairandapearlnecklace），atabronzelamppendentfromtheceiling，atagreatclockwhosecasewasofoakcuriouslycarved，andebonblackwithtimeandrubbing。Everythingappearedverystatelyandimposingtome;butthenIwassolittleaccustomedtograndeur。Thehall—door，whichwashalfofglass，stoodopen;Isteppedoverthethreshold。Itwasafineautumnmorning;theearlysunshoneserenelyonembrownedgrovesandstillgreenfields;advancingontothelawn，Ilookedupandsurveyedthefrontofthemansion。Itwasthreestoreyshigh，ofproportionsnotvast，thoughconsiderable:agentleman\'smanor—house，notanobleman\'sseat:battlementsroundthetopgaveitapicturesquelook。
Itsgreyfrontstoodoutwellfromthebackgroundofarookery，whosecawingtenantswerenowonthewing:theyflewoverthelawnandgroundstoalightinagreatmeadow，fromwhichthesewereseparatedbyasunkfence，andwhereanarrayofmightyoldthorntrees，strong，knotty，andbroadasoaks，atonceexplainedtheetymologyofthemansion\'sdesignation。Fartheroffwerehills:notsoloftyasthoseroundLowood，norsocraggy，norsolikebarriersofseparationfromthelivingworld;butyetquietandlonelyhillsenough，andseemingtoembraceThornfieldwithaseclusionIhadnotexpectedtofindexistentsonearthestirringlocalityofMillcote。Alittlehamlet，whoseroofswereblentwithtrees，straggledupthesideofoneofthesehills;thechurchofthedistrictstoodnearerThornfield:itsoldtower—toplookedoveraknollbetweenthehouseandgates。
Iwasyetenjoyingthecalmprospectandpleasantfreshair，yetlisteningwithdelighttothecawingoftherooks，yetsurveyingthewide，hoaryfrontofthehall，andthinkingwhatagreatplaceitwasforonelonelylittledamelikeMrs。Fairfaxtoinhabit，whenthatladyappearedatthedoor。
\'What！outalready？\'saidshe。\'Iseeyouareanearlyriser。\'I
wentuptoher，andwasreceivedwithanaffablekissandshakeofthehand。
\'HowdoyoulikeThornfield？\'sheasked。ItoldherIlikeditverymuch。
\'Yes，\'shesaid，\'itisaprettyplace;butIfearitwillbegettingoutoforder，unlessMr。Rochestershouldtakeitintohisheadtocomeandresideherepermanently;or，atleast，visititratheroftener:greathousesandfinegroundsrequirethepresenceoftheproprietor。\'
\'Mr。Rochester！\'Iexclaimed。\'Whoishe？\'
\'TheownerofThornfield，\'sherespondedquietly。\'DidyounotknowhewascalledRochester？\'
OfcourseIdidnot—Ihadneverheardofhimbefore;buttheoldladyseemedtoregardhisexistenceasauniversallyunderstoodfact，withwhicheverybodymustbeacquaintedbyinstinct。
\'Ithought，\'Icontinued，\'Thornfieldbelongedtoyou。\'
\'Tome？Blessyou，child;whatanidea！Tome！Iamonlythehousekeeper—themanager。TobesureIamdistantlyrelatedtotheRochestersbythemother\'sside，oratleastmyhusbandwas;hewasaclergyman，incumbentofHay—thatlittlevillageyonderonthehill—
andthatchurchnearthegateswashis。ThepresentMr。Rochester\'smotherwasaFairfax，secondcousintomyhusband:butIneverpresumeontheconnection—infact，itisnothingtome;Iconsidermyselfquiteinthelightofanordinaryhousekeeper:myemployerisalwayscivil，andIexpectnothingmore。\'
\'Andthelittlegirl—mypupil！\'
\'SheisMr。Rochester\'sward;hecommissionedmetofindabelieve。Hereshecomes，withher\"bonne，\"asshecallshernurse。\'
Theenigmathenwasexplained:thisaffableandkindlittlewidowwasnogreatdame;butadependantlikemyself。Ididnotlikehertheworseforthat;onthecontrary，Ifeltbetterpleasedthanever。
Theequalitybetweenherandmewasreal;notthemereresultofcondescensiononherpart:somuchthebetter—mypositionwasallthefreer。
AsIwasmeditatingonthisdiscovery，alittlegirl，followedbyherattendant，camerunningupthelawn。Ilookedatmypupil，whodidnotatfirstappeartonoticeme:shewasquiteachild，perhapssevenoreightyearsold，slightlybuilt，withapale，small—featuredface，andaredundancyofhairfallingincurlstoherwaist。
\'Goodmorning，MissAdela，\'saidMrs。Fairfax。\'Comeandspeaktotheladywhoistoteachyou，andtomakeyouacleverwomansomeday。\'Sheapproached。
\'C\'estlamagouvernante！\'saidshe，pointingtome，andaddressinghernurse;whoanswered—
\'Maisoui，certainement。\'
\'Aretheyforeigners？\'Iinquired，amazedathearingtheFrenchlanguage。
\'Thenurseisaforeigner，andAdelawasbornontheContinent;
and，Ibelieve，neverleftittillwithinsixmonthsago。WhenshefirstcamehereshecouldspeaknoEnglish;nowshecanmakeshifttotalkitalittle:Idon\'tunderstandher，shemixesitsowithFrench;butyouwillmakeouthermeaningverywell，Idaresay。\'
FortunatelyIhadhadtheadvantageofbeingtaughtFrenchbyaFrenchlady;andasIhadalwaysmadeapointofconversingwithMadamePierrotasoftenasIcould，andhadbesides，duringthelastsevenyears，learntaportionofFrenchbyheartdaily—applyingmyselftotakepainswithmyaccent，andimitatingascloselyaspossiblethepronunciationofmyteacher，Ihadacquiredacertaindegreeofreadinessandcorrectnessinthelanguage，andwasnotlikelytobemuchatalosswithMademoiselleAdela。ShecameandshookhandswithmewhensheheardthatIwashergoverness;andasIledherintobreakfast，Iaddressedsomephrasestoherinherowntongue:sherepliedbrieflyatfirst，butafterwewereseatedatthetable，andshehadexaminedmesometenminuteswithherlargehazeleyes，shesuddenlycommencedchatteringfluently。
\'Ah！\'criedshe，inFrench，\'youspeakmylanguageaswellasMr。
Rochesterdoes:IcantalktoyouasIcantohim，andsocanSophie。Shewillbeglad:nobodyhereunderstandsher:MadameFairfaxisallEnglish。Sophieismynurse;shecamewithmeovertheseainagreatshipwithachimneythatsmoked—howitdidsmoke！—
andIwassick，andsowasSophie，andsowasMr。Rochester。Mr。
Rochesterlaydownonasofainaprettyroomcalledthesalon，andSophieandIhadlittlebedsinanotherplace。Inearlyfelloutofmine;itwaslikeashelf。AndMademoiselle—whatisyourname？\'
\'Eyre—JaneEyre。\'
\'Aire？Bah！Icannotsayit。Well，ourshipstoppedinthemorning，beforeitwasquitedaylight，atagreatcity—ahugecity，withverydarkhousesandallsmoky;notatallliketheprettycleantownIcamefrom;andMr。Rochestercarriedmeinhisarmsoveraplanktotheland，andSophiecameafter，andweallgotintoacoach，whichtookustoabeautifullargehouse，largerthanthisandfiner，calledanhotel。Westayedtherenearlyaweek:IandSophieusedtowalkeverydayinagreatgreenplacefulloftrees，calledthePark;andthereweremanychildrentherebesidesme，andapondwithbeautifulbirdsinit，thatIfedwithcrumbs。\'