THEAUTHOR\'SPREFACETOTHESECONDEDITION
APREFACEtothefirsteditionofJaneEyrebeingunnecessary，I
gavenone:thissecondeditiondemandsafewwordsbothofacknowledgmentandmiscellaneousremark。
Mythanksaredueinthreequarters。
TothePublic，fortheindulgentearithasinclinedtoaplaintalewithfewpretensions。
TothePress，forthefairfielditshonestsuffragehasopenedtoanobscureaspirant。
TomyPublishers，fortheaidtheirtact，theirenergy，theirpracticalsenseandfrankliberalityhaveaffordedanunknownandunrecommendedAuthor。
ThePressandthePublicarebutvaguepersonificationsforme，andImustthanktheminvagueterms;butmyPublishersaredefinite:soarecertaingenerouscriticswhohaveencouragedmeasonlylarge—heartedandhigh—mindedmenknowhowtoencourageastrugglingstranger;tothem，i。e。，tomyPublishersandtheselectReviewers，Isaycordially，Gentlemen，Ithankyoufrommyheart。
HavingthusacknowledgedwhatIowethosewhohaveaidedandapprovedme，Iturntoanotherclass;asmallone，sofarasIknow，butnot，therefore，tobeoverlooked。ImeanthetimorousorcarpingfewwhodoubtthetendencyofsuchbooksasJaneEyre:inwhoseeyeswhateverisunusualiswrong;whoseearsdetectineachprotestagainstbigotry—thatparentofcrime—aninsulttopiety，thatregentofGodonearth。Iwouldsuggesttosuchdoubterscertainobviousdistinctions;Iwouldremindthemofcertainsimpletruths。
Conventionalityisnotmorality。Self—righteousnessisnotreligion。Toattackthefirstisnottoassailthelast。TopluckthemaskfromthefaceofthePharisee，isnottoliftanimpioushandtotheCrownofThorns。
Thesethingsanddeedsarediametricallyopposed:theyareasdistinctasisvicefromvirtue。Mentoooftenconfoundthem:theyshouldnotbeconfounded:appearanceshouldnotbemistakenfortruth;
narrowhumandoctrines，thatonlytendtoelateandmagnifyafew，shouldnotbesubstitutedfortheworld—redeemingcreedofChrist。
Thereis—Irepeatit—adifference;anditisagood，andnotabadactiontomarkbroadlyandclearlythelineofseparationbetweenthem。
Theworldmaynotliketoseetheseideasdissevered，forithasbeenaccustomedtoblendthem;findingitconvenienttomakeexternalshowpassforsterlingworth—toletwhite—washedwallsvouchforcleanshrines。Itmayhatehimwhodarestoscrutiniseandexpose—
torasethegilding，andshowbasemetalunderit—topenetratethesepulchre，andrevealcharnelrelics:buthateasitwill，itisindebtedtohim。
AhabdidnotlikeMicaiah，becauseheneverprophesiedgoodconcerninghim，butevil;probablyhelikedthesycophantsonofChenaanahbetter;yetmightAhabhaveescapedabloodydeath，hadhebutstoppedhisearstoflattery，andopenedthemtofaithfulcounsel。
Thereisamaninourowndayswhosewordsarenotframedtotickledelicateears:who，tomythinking，comesbeforethegreatonesofsociety，muchasthesonofImlahcamebeforethethronedKingsofJudahandIsrael;andwhospeakstruthasdeep，withapowerasprophet—likeandasvital—amienasdauntlessandasdaring。IsthesatiristofVanityFairadmiredinhighplaces？Icannottell;butI
thinkifsomeofthoseamongstwhomhehurlstheGreekfireofhissarcasm，andoverwhomheflashesthelevin—brandofhisdenunciation，weretotakehiswarningsintime—theyortheirseedmightyetescapeafatalRamoth—Gilead。
WhyhaveIalludedtothisman？Ihavealludedtohim，Reader，becauseIthinkIseeinhimanintellectprofounderandmoreuniquethanhiscontemporarieshaveyetrecognised;becauseIregardhimasthefirstsocialregeneratoroftheday—astheverymasterofthatworkingcorpswhowouldrestoretorectitudethewarpedsystemofthings;becauseIthinknocommentatoronhiswritingshasyetfoundthecomparisonthatsuitshim，thetermswhichrightlycharacterisehistalent。TheysayheislikeFielding:theytalkofhiswit，humour，comicpowers。HeresemblesFieldingasaneagledoesavulture:Fieldingcouldstooponcarrion，butThackerayneverdoes。
Hiswitisbright，hishumourattractive，butbothbearthesamerelationtohisseriousgeniusthatthemerelambentsheet—lightningplayingundertheedgeofthesummer—clouddoestotheelectricdeath—sparkhidinitswomb。Finally，IhavealludedtoMr。Thackeray，becausetohim—ifhewillacceptthetributeofatotalstranger—I
havededicatedthissecondeditionofJaneEyre。
CURRERBELL。
December21st，1847。
preface02
THEAUTHOR\'SNOTETOTHETHIRDEDITION
IAVAILmyselfoftheopportunitywhichathirdeditionofJaneEyreaffordsme，ofagainaddressingawordtothePublic，toexplainthatmyclaimtothetitleofnovelistrestsonthisoneworkalone。If，therefore，theauthorshipofotherworksoffictionhasbeenattributedtome，anhonourisawardedwhereitisnotmerited;andconsequently，deniedwhereitisjustlydue。
Thisexplanationwillservetorectifymistakeswhichmayalreadyhavebeenmade，andtopreventfutureerrors。
CURRERBELL。
April13th，1848。
chapter01
CHAPTERI
THEREwasnopossibilityoftakingawalkthatday。Wehadbeenwandering，indeed，intheleaflessshrubberyanhourinthemorning;
butsincedinner（Mrs。Reed，whentherewasnocompany，dinedearly）
thecoldwinterwindhadbroughtwithitcloudssosombre，andarainsopenetrating，thatfurtheroutdoorexercisewasnowoutofthequestion。
Iwasgladofit:Ineverlikedlongwalks，especiallyonchillyafternoons:dreadfultomewasthecominghomeintherawtwilight，withnippedfingersandtoes，andaheartsaddenedbythechidingsofBessie，thenurse，andhumbledbytheconsciousnessofmyphysicalinferioritytoEliza，John，andGeorgianaReed。
ThesaidEliza，John，andGeorgianawerenowclusteredroundtheirmamainthedrawing—room:shelayreclinedonasofabythefireside，andwithherdarlingsabouther（forthetimeneitherquarrellingnorcrying）lookedperfectlyhappy。Me，shehaddispensedfromjoiningthegroup;saying，\'Sheregrettedtobeunderthenecessityofkeepingmeatadistance;butthatuntilsheheardfromBessie，andcoulddiscoverbyherownobservation，thatIwasendeavouringingoodearnesttoacquireamoresociableandchildlikedisposition，amoreattractiveandsprightlymanner—
somethinglighter，franker，morenatural，asitwere—shereallymustexcludemefromprivilegesintendedonlyforcontented，happy，littlechildren。\'
\'WhatdoesBessiesayIhavedone？\'Iasked。
\'Jane，Idon\'tlikecavillersorquestioners;besides，thereissomethingtrulyforbiddinginachildtakinguphereldersinthatmanner。Beseatedsomewhere;anduntilyoucanspeakpleasantly，remainsilent。\'
Asmallbreakfast—roomadjoinedthedrawing—room，Islippedinthere。Itcontainedabookcase:Isoonpossessedmyselfofavolume，takingcarethatitshouldbeonestoredwithpictures。Imountedintothewindow—seat:gatheringupmyfeet，Isatcross—legged，likeaTurk;and，havingdrawntheredmoreencurtainnearlyclose，Iwasshrinedindoubleretirement。
Foldsofscarletdraperyshutinmyviewtotherighthand;
totheleftweretheclearpanesofglass，protecting，butnotseparatingmefromthedrearNovemberday。Atintervals，whileturningovertheleavesofmybook，Istudiedtheaspectofthatwinterafternoon。
Afar，itofferedapaleblankofmistandcloud;nearasceneofwetlawnandstorm—beatshrub，withceaselessrainsweepingawaywildlybeforealongandlamentableblast。
Ireturnedtomybook—Bewick\'sHistoryofBritishBirds:
theletterpressthereofIcaredlittlefor，generallyspeaking;andyettherewerecertainintroductorypagesthat，childasIwas，Icouldnotpassquiteasablank。Theywerethosewhichtreatofthehauntsofsea—fowl;of\'thesolitaryrocksandpromontories\'bythemonlyinhabited;ofthecoastofNorway，studdedwithislesfromitssouthernextremity，theLindeness，orNaze，totheNorthCape—
\'WheretheNorthernOcean，invastwhirls，Boilsroundthenaked，melancholyislesOffarthestThule;andtheAtlanticsurgePoursinamongthestormyHebrides。\'
NorcouldIpassunnoticedthesuggestionofthebleakshoresofLapland，Siberia，Spitzbergen，NovaZembla，Iceland，Greenland，with\'thevastsweepoftheArcticZone，andthoseforlornregionsofdrearyspace，—thatreservoiroffrostandsnow，wherefirmfieldsofice，theaccumulationofcenturiesofwinters，glazedinAlpineheightsaboveheights，surroundthepoleandconcentrethemultipliedrigoursofextremecold。\'Ofthesedeath—whiterealmsI
formedanideaofmyown:shadowy，likeallthehalf—comprehendednotionsthatfloatdimthroughchildren\'sbrains，butstrangelyimpressive。Thewordsintheseintroductorypagesconnectedthemselveswiththesucceedingvignettes，andgavesignificancetotherockstandingupaloneinaseaofbillowandspray;tothebrokenboatstrandedonadesolatecoast;tothecoldandghastlymoonglancingthroughbarsofcloudatawreckjustsinking。
Icannottellwhatsentimenthauntedthequitesolitarychurchyard，withitsinscribedheadstone;itsgate，itstwotrees，itslowhorizon，girdledbyabrokenwall，anditsnewly—risencrescent，attestingthehourofeventide。
Thetwoshipsbecalmedonatorpidsea，Ibelievedtobemarinephantoms。
Thefiendpinningdownthethief\'spackbehindhim，Ipassedoverquickly:itwasanobjectofterror。
Sowastheblackhornedthingseatedaloofonarock，surveyingadistantcrowdsurroundingagallows。
Eachpicturetoldastory;mysteriousoftentomyundevelopedunderstandingandimperfectfeelings，yeteverprofoundlyinteresting:
asinterestingasthetalesBessiesometimesnarratedonwinterevenings，whenshechancedtobeingoodhumour;andwhen，havingbroughtherironing—tabletothenurseryhearth，sheallowedustositaboutit，andwhileshegotupMrs。Reed\'slacefrills，andcrimpedhernightcapborders，fedoureagerattentionwithpassagesofloveandadventuretakenfromoldfairytalesandotherballads;or（asatalaterperiodIdiscovered）fromthepagesofPamela，andHenry，EarlofMoreland。
WithBewickonmyknee，Iwasthenhappy:happyatleastinmyway。
Ifearednothingbutinterruption，andthatcametoosoon。Thebreakfast—roomdooropened。
\'Boh！MadamMope！\'criedthevoiceofJohnReed;thenhepaused:hefoundtheroomapparentlyempty。
\'Wherethedickensisshe！\'hecontinued。\'Lizzy！Georgy！
（callingtohissisters）Joanisnothere:tellmamasheisrunoutintotherain—badanimal！\'
\'ItiswellIdrewthecurtain，\'thoughtI;andIwishedferventlyhemightnotdiscovermyhiding—place:norwouldJohnReedhavefounditouthimself;hewasnotquickeitherofvisionorconception;butElizajustputherheadinatthedoor，andsaidatonce—
\'Sheisinthewindow—seat，tobesure，Jack。\'
AndIcameoutimmediately，forItrembledattheideaofbeingdraggedforthbythesaidJack。
\'Whatdoyouwant？\'Iasked，withawkwarddiffidence。
\'Say，\"Whatdoyouwant，MasterReed？\"\'wastheanswer。
\'Iwantyoutocomehere;\'andseatinghimselfinanarmchair，heintimatedbyagesturethatIwastoapproachandstandbeforehim。
JohnReedwasaschoolboyoffourteenyearsold;fouryearsolderthanI，forIwasbutten:largeandstoutforhisage，withadingyandunwholesomeskin;thicklineamentsinaspaciousvisage，heavylimbsandlargeextremities。Hegorgedhimselfhabituallyattable，whichmadehimbilious，andgavehimadimandblearedeyeandflabbycheeks。Heoughtnowtohavebeenatschool;buthismamahadtakenhimhomeforamonthortwo，\'onaccountofhisdelicatehealth。\'Mr。Miles，themaster，affirmedthathewoulddoverywellifhehadfewercakesandsweetmeatssenthimfromhome;butthemother\'sheartturnedfromanopinionsoharsh，andinclinedrathertothemorerefinedideathatJohn\'ssallownesswasowingtoover—applicationand，perhaps，topiningafterhome。
Johnhadnotmuchaffectionforhismotherandsisters，andanantipathytome。Hebulliedandpunishedme;nottwoorthreetimesintheweek，noronceortwiceintheday，butcontinually:everynerveI
hadfearedhim，andeverymorseloffleshinmybonesshrankwhenhecamenear。ThereweremomentswhenIwasbewilderedbytheterrorheinspired，becauseIhadnoappealwhateveragainsteitherhismenacesorhisinflictions;theservantsdidnotliketooffendtheiryoungmasterbytakingmypartagainsthim，andMrs。Reedwasblindanddeafonthesubject:sheneversawhimstrikeorheardhimabuseme，thoughhedidbothnowandtheninherverypresence，morefrequently，however，behindherback。
HabituallyobedienttoJohn，Icameuptohischair:hespentsomethreeminutesinthrustingouthistongueatmeasfarashecouldwithoutdamagingtheroots:Iknewhewouldsoonstrike，andwhiledreadingtheblow，Imusedonthedisgustinganduglyappearanceofhimwhowouldpresentlydealit。Iwonderifhereadthatnotioninmyface;for，allatonce，withoutspeaking，hestrucksuddenlyandstrongly。Itottered，andonregainingmyequilibriumretiredbackasteportwofromhischair。
\'Thatisforyourimpudenceinansweringmamaawhilesince，\'
saidhe，\'andforyoursneakingwayofgettingbehindcurtains，andforthelookyouhadinyoureyestwominutessince，yourat！\'
AccustomedtoJohnReed\'sabuse，Ineverhadanideaofreplyingtoit;mycarewashowtoenduretheblowwhichwouldcertainlyfollowtheinsult。
\'Whatwereyoudoingbehindthecurtain？\'heasked。
\'Iwasreading。\'
\'Showthebook。\'
Ireturnedtothewindowandfetcheditthence。
\'Youhavenobusinesstotakeourbooks;youareadependant，mamasays;youhavenomoney;yourfatherleftyounone;yououghttobeg，andnottoliveherewithgentlemen\'schildrenlikeus，andeatthesamemealswedo，andwearclothesatourmama\'sexpense。Now，I\'llteachyoutorummagemybookshelves:fortheyaremine;allthehousebelongstome，orwilldoinafewyears。Goandstandbythedoor，outofthewayofthemirrorandthewindows。\'
Ididso，notatfirstawarewhatwashisintention;butwhenIsawhimliftandpoisethebookandstandinacttohurlit，I
instinctivelystartedasidewithacryofalarm:notsoonenough，however;thevolumewasflung，ithitme，andIfell，strikingmyheadagainstthedoorandcuttingit。Thecutbled，thepainwassharp:
myterrorhadpasseditsclimax;otherfeelingssucceeded。
\'Wickedandcruelboy！\'Isaid。\'Youarelikeamurderer—
youarelikeaslave—driver—youareliketheRomanemperors！\'
IhadreadGoldsmith\'sHistoryofRome，andhadformedmyopinionofNero，Caligula，etc。AlsoIhaddrawnparallelsinsilence，whichI
neverthoughtthustohavedeclaredaloud。
\'What！what！\'hecried。\'Didshesaythattome？Didyouhearher，ElizaandGeorgiana？Won\'tItellmama？butfirst—\'
Heranheadlongatme:Ifelthimgraspmyhairandmyshoulder:hehadclosedwithadesperatething。Ireallysawinhimatyrant，amurderer。Ifeltadroportwoofbloodfrommyheadtrickledownmyneck，andwassensibleofsomewhatpungentsuffering:thesesensationsforthetimepredominatedoverfear，andIreceivedhiminfranticsort。Idon\'tverywellknowwhatIdidwithmyhands，buthecalledme\'Rat！Rat！\'andbellowedoutaloud。Aidwasnearhim:ElizaandGeorgianahadrunforMrs。Reed，whowasgoneupstairs:shenowcameuponthescene，followedbyBessieandhermaidAbbot。Wewereparted:
Iheardthewords—
\'Dear！dear！WhatafurytoflyatMasterJohn！\'
\'Dideveranybodyseesuchapictureofpassion！\'
ThenMrs。Reedsubjoined—
\'Takeherawaytothered—room，andlockherinthere。\'
Fourhandswereimmediatelylaiduponme，andIwasborneupstairs。
chapter02CHAPTERII
IRESISTEDalltheway:anewthingforme，andacircumstancewhichgreatlystrengthenedthebadopinionBessieandMissAbbotweredisposedtoentertainofme。Thefactis，Iwasatriflebesidemyself;orratheroutofmyself，astheFrenchwouldsay:Iwasconsciousthatamoment\'smutinyhadalreadyrenderedmeliabletostrangepenalties，and，likeanyotherrebelslave，Ifeltresolved，inmydesperation，togoalllengths。
\'Holdherarms，MissAbbot:she\'slikeamadcat。\'
\'Forshame！forshame！\'criedthelady\'s—maid。\'Whatshockingconduct，MissEyre，tostrikeayounggentleman，yourbenefactress\'sson！Youryoungmaster。\'
\'Master！Howishemymaster？AmIaservant？\'
\'No;youarelessthanaservant，foryoudonothingforyourkeep。
There，sitdown，andthinkoveryourwickedness。\'
TheyhadgotmebythistimeintotheapartmentindicatedbyMrs。
Reed，andhadthrustmeuponastool:myimpulsewastorisefromitlikeaspring;theirtwopairofhandsarrestedmeinstantly。
\'Ifyoudon\'tsitstill，youmustbetieddown，\'saidBessie。
\'MissAbbot，lendmeyourgarters;shewouldbreakminedirectly。\'
MissAbbotturnedtodivestastoutlegofthenecessaryligature。Thispreparationforbonds，andtheadditionalignominyitinferred，tookalittleoftheexcitementoutofme。
\'Don\'ttakethemoff，\'Icried;\'Iwillnotstir。\'
Inguaranteewhereof，Iattachedmyselftomyseatbymyhands。
\'Mindyoudon\'t，\'saidBessie;andwhenshehadascertainedthatIwasreallysubsiding，sheloosenedherholdofme;thensheandMissAbbotstoodwithfoldedarms，lookingdarklyanddoubtfullyonmyface，asincredulousofmysanity。
\'Sheneverdidsobefore，\'atlastsaidBessie，turningtotheAbigail。
\'Butitwasalwaysinher，\'wasthereply。\'I\'vetoldMissisoftenmyopinionaboutthechild，andMissisagreedwithme。She\'sanunderhandlittlething:Ineversawagirlofheragewithsomuchcover。\'
Bessieanswerednot;buterelong，addressingme，shesaid—
\'Yououghttobeaware，Miss，thatyouareunderobligationstoMrs。Reed:shekeepsyou:ifsheweretoturnyouoff，youwouldhavetogotothepoorhouse。\'
Ihadnothingtosaytothesewords:theywerenotnewtome:myveryfirstrecollectionsofexistenceincludedhintsofthesamekind。
Thisreproachofmydependencehadbecomeavaguesing—songinmyear:
verypainfulandcrushing，butonlyhalfintelligible。MissAbbotjoinedin—
\'AndyououghtnottothinkyourselfonanequalitywiththeMissesReedandMasterReed，becauseMissiskindlyallowsyoutobebroughtupwiththem。Theywillhaveagreatdealofmoney，andyouwillhavenone:itisyourplacetobehumble，andtotrytomakeyourselfagreeabletothem。\'
\'Whatwetellyouisforyourgood，\'addedBessie，innoharshvoice;\'youshouldtrytobeusefulandpleasant，then，perhaps，youwouldhaveahomehere;butifyoubecomepassionateandrude，Missiswillsendyouaway，Iamsure。\'
\'Besides，\'saidMissAbbot，\'Godwillpunishher:Hemightstrikeherdeadinthemidstofhertantrums，andthenwherewouldshego？
Come，Bessie，wewillleaveher:Iwouldn\'thaveherheartforanything。Sayyourprayers，MissEyre，whenyouarebyyourself;forifyoudon\'trepent，somethingbadmightbepermittedtocomedownthechimneyandfetchyouaway。\'
Theywent，shuttingthedoor，andlockingitbehindthem。
Thered—roomwasasquarechamber，veryseldomsleptin，Imightsaynever，indeed，unlesswhenachanceinfluxofvisitorsatGatesheadHallrendereditnecessarytoturntoaccountalltheaccommodationitcontained:yetitwasoneofthelargestandstateliestchambersinthemansion。Abedsupportedonmassivepillarsofmahogany，hungwithcurtainsofdeepreddamask，stoodoutlikeatabernacleinthecentre;thetwolargewindows，withtheirblindsalwaysdrawndown，werehalfshroudedinfestoonsandfallsofsimilardrapery;thecarpetwasred;thetableatthefootofthebedwascoveredwithacrimsoncloth;thewallswereasoftfawncolourwithablushofpinkinit;thewardrobe，thetoilet—table，thechairswereofdarklypolishedoldmahogany。Outofthesedeepsurroundingshadesrosehigh，andglaredwhite，thepiled—upmattressesandpillowsofthebed，spreadwithasnowyMarseillescounterpane。
Scarcelylessprominentwasanamplecushionedeasy—chairneartheheadofthebed，alsowhite，withafootstoolbeforeit;andlooking，asIthought，likeapalethrone。
Thisroomwaschill，becauseitseldomhadafire;itwassilent，becauseremotefromthenurseryandkitchen;solemn，becauseitwasknowntobesoseldomentered。ThehousemaidalonecamehereonSaturdays，towipefromthemirrorsandthefurnitureaweek\'squietdust:andMrs。Reedherself，atfarintervals，visitedittoreviewthecontentsofacertainsecretdrawerinthewardrobe，wherewerestoreddiversparchments，herjewel—casket，andaminiatureofherdeceasedhusband;andinthoselastwordsliesthesecretofthered—room—thespellwhichkeptitsolonelyinspiteofitsgrandeur。
Mr。Reedhadbeendeadnineyears:itwasinthischamberhebreathedhislast;herehelayinstate;hencehiscoffinwasbornebytheundertaker\'smen;and，sincethatday，asenseofdrearyconsecrationhadguardeditfromfrequentintrusion。
Myseat，towhichBessieandthebitterMissAbbothadleftmeriveted，wasalowottomannearthemarblechimney—piece;thebedrosebeforeme;tomyrighthandtherewasthehigh，darkwardrobe，withsubdued，brokenreflectionsvaryingtheglossofitspanels;tomyleftwerethemuffledwindows;agreatlooking—glassbetweenthemrepeatedthevacantmajestyofthebedandroom。Iwasnotquitesurewhethertheyhadlockedthedoor;andwhenIdaredmove，Igotupandwenttosee。Alas！yes:nojailwasevermoresecure。Returning，I
hadtocrossbeforethelooking—glass;myfascinatedglanceinvoluntarilyexploredthedepthitrevealed。Alllookedcolderanddarkerinthatvisionaryhollowthaninreality:andthestrangelittlefiguretheregazingatme，withawhitefaceandarmsspeckingthegloom，andglitteringeyesoffearmovingwhereallelsewasstill，hadtheeffectofarealspirit:Ithoughtitlikeoneofthetinyphantoms，halffairy，halfimp，Bessie\'seveningstoriesrepresentedascomingoutoflone，fernydellsinmoors，andappearingbeforetheeyesofbelatedtravellers。Ireturnedtomystool。
Superstitionwaswithmeatthatmoment;butitwasnotyetherhourforcompletevictory:mybloodwasstillwarm;themoodoftherevoltedslavewasstillbracingmewithitsbittervigour;IhadtostemarapidrushofretrospectivethoughtbeforeIquailedtothedismalpresent。
AllJohnReed\'sviolenttyrannies，allhissisters\'proudindifference，allhismother\'saversion，alltheservants\'partiality，turnedupinmydisturbedmindlikeadarkdepositinaturbidwell。
WhywasIalwayssuffering，alwaysbrowbeaten，alwaysaccused，forevercondemned？WhycouldIneverplease？Whywasituselesstotrytowinanyone\'sfavour？Eliza，who，washeadstrongandselfish，wasrespected。Georgiana，whohadaspoiledtemper，averyacridspite，acaptiousandinsolentcarriage，wasuniversallyindulged。Herbeauty，herpinkcheeksandgoldencurls，seemedtogivedelighttoallwho，lookedather，andtopurchaseindemnityforeveryfault。
Johnnoonethwarted，muchlesspunished;thoughhetwistedthenecksofthepigeons，killedthelittlepea—chicks，setthedogsatthesheep，strippedthehothousevinesoftheirfruit，andbrokethebudsoffthechoicestplantsintheconservatory:hecalledhismother\'oldgirl，\'too;sometimesreviledherforherdarkskin，similartohisown;bluntlydisregardedherwishes;notunfrequentlytoreandspoiledhersilkattire;andhewasstill\'herowndarling。\'Idaredcommitnofault:Istrovetofulfileveryduty;andIwastermednaughtyandtiresome，sullenandsneaking，frommorningtonoon，andfromnoontonight。
MyheadstillachedandbledwiththeblowandfallIhadreceived:
noonehadreprovedJohnforwantonlystrikingme;andbecauseIhadturnedagainsthimtoavertfartherirrationalviolence，Iwasloadedwithgeneralopprobrium。
\'Unjust！—unjust！\'saidmyreason，forcedbytheagonisingstimulusintoprecociousthoughtransitorypower:andResolve，equallywroughtup，instigatedsomestrangeexpedienttoachieveescapefrominsupportableoppression—asrunningaway，or，ifthatcouldnotbeeffected，nevereatingordrinkingmore，andlettingmyselfdie。
Whataconsternationofsoulwasminethatdrearyafternoon！
Howallmybrainwasintumult，andallmyheartininsurrection！Yetinwhatdarkness，whatdenseignorance，wasthementalbattlefought！I
couldnotanswertheceaselessinwardquestion—whyIthussuffered;
now，atthedistanceof—Iwillnotsayhowmanyyears，Iseeitclearly。
IwasadiscordinGatesheadHall:Iwaslikenobodythere;
IhadnothinginharmonywithMrs。Reedorherchildren，orherchosenvassalage。Iftheydidnotloveme，infact，aslittledidIlovethem。Theywerenotboundtoregardwithaffectionathingthatcouldnotsympathisewithoneamongstthem;aheterogeneousthing，opposedtothemintemperament，incapacity，inpropensities;auselessthing，incapableofservingtheirinterest，oraddingtotheirpleasure;anoxiousthing，cherishingthegermsofindignationattheirtreatment，ofcontemptoftheirjudgment。IknowthathadIbeenasanguine，brilliant，careless，exacting，handsome，rompingchild—
thoughequallydependentandfriendless—Mrs。Reedwouldhaveenduredmypresencemorecomplacently;herchildrenwouldhaveentertainedformemoreofthecordialityoffellow—feeling;theservantswouldhavebeenlesspronetomakemethescapegoatofthenursery。
Daylightbegantoforsakethered—room;itwaspastfouro\'clock，andthebecloudedafternoonwastendingtodreartwilight。Iheardtherainstillbeatingcontinuouslyonthestaircasewindow，andthewindhowlinginthegrovebehindthehall;Igrewbydegreescoldasastone，andthenmycouragesank。Myhabitualmoodofhumiliation，self—doubt，forlorndepression，felldampontheembersofmydecayingire。AllsaidIwaswicked，andperhapsImightbeso;whatthoughthadIbeenbutjustconceivingofstarvingmyselftodeath？Thatcertainlywasacrime:andwasIfittodie？OrwasthevaultunderthechancelofGatesheadChurchaninvitingbourne？InsuchvaultI
hadbeentolddidMr。Reedlieburied;andledbythisthoughttorecallhisidea，Idweltonitwithgatheringdread。Icouldnotrememberhim;butIknewthathewasmyownuncle—mymother\'sbrother—thathehadtakenmewhenaparentlessinfanttohishouse;
andthatinhislastmomentshehadrequiredapromiseofMrs。Reedthatshewouldrearandmaintainmeasoneofherownchildren。Mrs。
Reedprobablyconsideredshehadkeptthispromise;andsoshehad，Idaresay，aswellashernaturewouldpermither;buthowcouldshereallylikeaninterlopernotofherrace，andunconnectedwithher，afterherhusband\'sdeath，byanytie？Itmusthavebeenmostirksometofindherselfboundbyahard—wrungpledgetostandinthesteadofaparenttoastrangechildshecouldnotlove，andtoseeanuncongenialalienpermanentlyintrudedonherownfamilygroup。
Asingularnotiondawneduponme。Idoubtednot—neverdoubted—
thatifMr。Reedhadbeenalivehewouldhavetreatedmekindly;andnow，asIsatlookingatthewhitebedandovershadowedwalls—