\'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，willpromisethatIandAdeleshallbebothsafeoutofthehousebeforeyourbrideentersit。\'
\'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。
I
shouldlikesomethingelse: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，asI
entered。
\'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。Itoldherhewasratheranuglyman，butquiteagentleman;andthathetreatedmekindly，andIwascontent。ThenIwentontodescribetoherthegaycompanythathadlatelybeenstayingatthehouse;andtothesedetailsBessielistenedwithinterest:theywerepreciselyofthekindsherelished。
Insuchconversationanhourwassoongone:Bessierestoredtomemybonnet，etc。，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，wasaugmentedbytheextremeplainnessofastraight—skirted，black，stuffdress，astarchedlinencollar，haircombedawayfromthetemples，andthenun—likeornamentofastringofebonybeadsandacrucifix。ThisI
feltsurewasEliza，thoughIcouldtracelittleresemblancetoherformerselfinthatelongatedandcolourlessvisage。
TheotherwasascertainlyGeorgiana:butnottheGeorgianaI
remembered—theslimandfairy—likegirlofeleven。Thiswasafull—blown，veryplumpdamsel，fairaswaxwork，withhandsomeandregularfeatures，languishingblueeyes，andringletedyellowhair。
Thehueofherdresswasblacktoo;butitsfashionwassodifferentfromhersister\'s—somuchmoreflowingandbecoming—itlookedasstylishastheother\'slookedpuritanical。
Ineachofthesisterstherewasonetraitofthemother—
andonlyone;thethinandpallidelderdaughterhadherparent\'sCairngormeye:thebloomingandluxuriantyoungergirlhadhercontourofjawandchin—perhapsalittlesoftened，butstillimpartinganindescribablehardnesstothecountenance，otherwisesovoluptuousandbuxom。
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，\'andI
wouldnotdeferattendingtoherdesirelongerthanisabsolutelynecessary。\'
\'Mamadislikesbeingdisturbedinanevening，\'remarkedEliza。I
soonrose，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，towhichI
hadsooftenbeensummonedforchastisementorreprimandinformerdays。IhastenedbeforeBessie;Isoftlyopenedthedoor:ashadedlightstoodonthetable，foritwasnowgettingdark。Therewasthegreatfour—postbedwithamberhangingsasofold;therethetoilet—table，thearm—chair，andthefootstool，atwhichIhadahundredtimesbeensentencedtokneel，toaskpardonforoffencesbymeuncommitted。Ilookedintoacertaincornernear，halfexpectingtoseetheslimoutlineofaoncedreadedswitchwhichusedtolurkthere，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:
I
thoughtitnosintoforgetandbreakthatvownow。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，andI
haveadifficultyinrecallingthem。ButtherewassomethingI
wishedtosay—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，\'thereisanotherthingI
wishedtosay。Hethreatensme—hecontinuallythreatensmewithhisowndeath，ormine:andIdreamsometimesthatIseehimlaidoutwithagreatwoundinhisthroat，orwithaswollenandblackenedface。I
amcometoastrangepass: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。I
offeredtosketchtheirportraits;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。
Elizastillspokelittle:shehadevidentlynotimetotalk。I
neversawabusierpersonthansheseemedtobe;yetitwasdifficulttosaywhatshedid:orrather，todiscoveranyresultofherdiligence。Shehadanalarmtocallherupearly。Iknownothowsheoccupiedherselfbeforebreakfast，butafterthatmealshedividedhertimeintoregularportions，andeachhourhaditsallottedtask。
Threetimesadayshestudiedalittlebook，whichIfound，oninspection，wasaCommonPrayerBook。Iaskedheroncewhatwasthegreatattractionofthatvolume，andshesaid，\'theRubric。\'Threehoursshegavetostitching，withgoldthread，theborderofasquarecrimsoncloth，almostlargeenoughforacarpet。Inanswertomyinquiriesaftertheuseofthisarticle，sheinformedmeitwasacoveringforthealtarofanewchurchlatelyerectednearGateshead。Twohoursshedevotedtoherdiary;twotoworkingbyherselfinthekitchen—garden;andonetotheregulationofheraccounts。Sheseemedtowantnocompany;noconversation。Ibelieveshewashappyinherway:thisroutinesufficedforher;andnothingannoyedhersomuchastheoccurrenceofanyincidentwhichforcedhertovaryitsclockworkregularity。
Shetoldmeoneevening，whenmoredisposedtobecommunicativethanusual，thatJohn\'sconduct，andthethreatenedruinofthefamily，hadbeenasourceofprofoundafflictiontoher:butshehadnow，shesaid，settledhermind，andformedherresolution。Herownfortuneshehadtakencaretosecure;andwhenhermotherdied—anditwaswhollyimprobable，shetranquillyremarked，thatsheshouldeitherrecoverorlingerlong—shewouldexecutealong—cherishedproject:
seekaretirementwherepunctualhabitswouldbepermanentlysecuredfromdisturbance，andplacesafebarriersbetweenherselfandafrivolousworld。IaskedifGeorgianawouldaccompanyher。
\'Ofcoursenot。Georgianaandshehadnothingincommon:
theyneverhadhad。Shewouldnotbeburdenedwithhersocietyforanyconsideration。Georgianashouldtakeherowncourse;andshe，Eliza，wouldtakehers。\'
Georgiana，whennotunburdeningherhearttome，spentmostofhertimeinlyingonthesofa，frettingaboutthedulnessofthehouse，andwishingoverandoveragainthatherauntGibsonwouldsendheraninvitationuptotown。\'Itwouldbesomuchbetter，\'shesaid，\'ifshecouldonlygetoutofthewayforamonthortwo，tillallwasover。\'Ididnotaskwhatshemeantby\'allbeingover，\'butI
supposeshereferredtotheexpecteddeceaseofhermotherandthegloomysequeloffuneralrites。Elizagenerallytooknomorenoticeofhersister\'sindolenceandcomplaintsthanifnosuchmurmuring，loungingobjecthadbeenbeforeher。Oneday，however，assheputawayheraccount—bookandunfoldedherembroidery，shesuddenlytookherupthus—
\'Georgiana，amorevainandabsurdanimalthanyouwascertainlyneverallowedtocumbertheearth。Youhadnorighttobeborn，foryoumakenouseoflife。Insteadoflivingfor，in，andwithyourself，asareasonablebeingought，youseekonlytofastenyourfeeblenessonsomeotherperson\'sstrength:ifnoonecanbefoundwillingtoburdenherorhimselfwithsuchafat，weak，puffy，uselessthing，youcryoutthatyouareill—treated，neglected，miserable。Then，too，existenceforyoumustbeasceneofcontinualchangeandexcitement，orelsetheworldisadungeon:youmustbeadmired，youmustbecourted，youmustbeflattered—youmusthavemusic，dancing，andsociety—oryoulanguish，youdieaway。Haveyounosensetodeviseasystemwhichwillmakeyouindependentofallefforts，andallwills，butyourown？Takeoneday;shareitintosections;toeachsectionapportionitstask:leavenostrayunemployedquartersofanhour，tenminutes，fiveminutes—includeall;doeachpieceofbusinessinitsturnwithmethod，withrigidregularity。Thedaywillclosealmostbeforeyouareawareithasbegun;andyouareindebtedtonooneforhelpingyoutogetridofonevacantmoment:
youhavehadtoseeknoone\'scompany，conversation，sympathyforbearance;youhavelived，inshort，asanindependentbeingoughttodo。Takethisadvice:thefirstandlastIshallofferyou;thenyouwillnotwantmeoranyoneelse，happenwhatmay。Neglectit—
goonasheretofore，craving，whining，andidling—andsuffertheresultsofyouridiocy，howeverbadandinsufferabletheymaybe。I
tellyouthisplainly;andlisten:forthoughIshallnomorerepeatwhatIamnowabouttosay，Ishallsteadilyactonit。Aftermymother\'sdeath，Iwashmyhandsofyou:fromthedayhercoffiniscarriedtothevaultinGatesheadChurch，youandIwillbeasseparateasifwehadneverknowneachother。Youneednotthinkthatbecausewechancedtobebornofthesameparents，Ishallsufferyoutofastenmedownbyeventhefeeblestclaim:Icantellyouthis—
ifthewholehumanrace，ourselvesexcepted，weresweptaway，andwetwostoodaloneontheearth，Iwouldleaveyouintheoldworld，andbetakemyselftothenew。\'
Sheclosedherlips。