WhatwasItodo？Wheretogo？Oh，intolerablequestions，whenI
coulddonothingandgonowhere！—whenalongwaymustyetbemeasuredbymyweary，tremblinglimbsbeforeIcouldreachhumanhabitation—
whencoldcharitymustbeentreatedbeforeIcouldgetalodging:
reluctantsympathyimportuned，almostcertainrepulseincurred，beforemytalecouldbelistenedto，oroneofmywantsrelieved！
Itouchedtheheath:itwasdry，andyetwarmwiththeheatofthesummerday。Ilookedatthesky;itwaspure:akindlystartwinkledjustabovethechasmridge。Thedayfell，butwithpropitioussoftness;nobreezewhispered。Natureseemedtomebenignandgood;
Ithoughtshelovedme，outcastasIwas;andI，whofrommancouldanticipateonlymistrust，rejection，insult，clungtoherwithfilialfondness。To—night，atleast，Iwouldbeherguest，asIwasherchild:mymotherwouldlodgemewithoutmoneyandwithoutprice。
I
hadonemorselofbreadyet:theremnantofarollIhadboughtinatownwepassedthroughatnoonwithastraypenny—mylastcoin。Isawripebilberriesgleaminghereandthere，likejetbeadsintheheath:Igatheredahandfulandatethemwiththebread。Myhunger，sharpbefore，was，ifnotsatisfied，appeasedbythishermit\'smeal。
I
saidmyeveningprayersatitsconclusion，andthenchosemycouch。
Besidethecragtheheathwasverydeep:whenIlaydownmyfeetwereburiedinit;risinghighoneachside，itleftonlyanarrowspaceforthenight—airtoinvade。Ifoldedmyshawldouble，andspreaditovermeforacoverlet;alow，mossyswellwasmypillow。
Thuslodged，Iwasnot，atleastatthecommencementofthenight，cold。
Myrestmighthavebeenblissfulenough，onlyasadheartbrokeit。
Itplainedofitsgapingwounds，itsinwardbleeding，itsrivenchords。IttrembledforMr。Rochesterandhisdoom;itbemoanedhimwithbitterpity;itdemandedhimwithceaselesslonging;and，impotentasabirdwithbothwingsbroken，itstillquivereditsshatteredpinionsinvainattemptstoseekhim。
Wornoutwiththistortureofthought，Irosetomyknees。
Nightwascome，andherplanetswererisen:asafe，stillnight:toosereneforthecompanionshipoffear。WeknowthatGodiseverywhere;butcertainlywefeelHispresencemostwhenHisworksareonthegrandestscalespreadbeforeus;anditisintheuncloudednight—sky，whereHisworldswheeltheirsilentcourse，thatwereadclearestHisinfinitude，Hisomnipotence，Hisomnipresence。IhadrisentomykneestoprayforMr。Rochester。Lookingup，I，withtear—dimmedeyes，sawthemightyMilky—way。Rememberingwhatitwas—
whatcountlesssystemstheresweptspacelikeasofttraceoflight—
I
feltthemightandstrengthofGod。SurewasIofHisefficiencytosavewhatHehadmade:convincedIgrewthatneitherearthshouldperish，noroneofthesoulsittreasured。Iturnedmyprayertothanksgiving:theSourceofLifewasalsotheSaviourofspirits。
Mr。Rochesterwassafe:hewasGod\'s，andbyGodwouldhebeguarded。Iagainnestledtothebreastofthehill;anderelonginsleepforgotsorrow。
Butnextday，Wantcametomepaleandbare。Longafterthelittlebirdshadlefttheirnests;longafterbeeshadcomeinthesweetprimeofdaytogathertheheathhoneybeforethedewwasdried—
whenthelongmorningshadowswerecurtailed，andthesunfilledearthandsky—Igotup，andIlookedroundme。
Whatastill，hot，perfectday！Whatagoldendesertthisspreadingmoor！Everywheresunshine。IwishedIcouldliveinitandonit。I
sawalizardrunoverthecrag;Isawabeebusyamongthesweetbilberries。Iwouldfainatthemomenthavebecomebeeorlizard，thatImighthavefoundfittingnutriment，permanentshelterhere。ButI
wasahumanbeing，andhadahumanbeing\'swants:Imustnotlingerwheretherewasnothingtosupplythem。Irose;IlookedbackatthebedIhadleft。Hopelessofthefuture，Iwishedbutthis—thatmyMakerhadthatnightthoughtgoodtorequiremysoulofmewhileI
slept;andthatthiswearyframe，absolvedbydeathfromfurtherconflictwithfate，hadnowbuttodecayquietly，andmingleinpeacewiththesoilofthiswilderness。Life，however，wasyetinmypossession，withallitsrequirements，andpains，andresponsibilities。Theburdenmustbecarried;thewantprovidedfor;
thesufferingendured;theresponsibilityfulfilled。Isetout。
Whitcrossregained，Ifollowedaroadwhichledfromthesun，nowferventandhigh。BynoothercircumstancehadIwilltodecidemychoice。Iwalkedalongtime，andwhenIthoughtIhadnearlydoneenough，andmightconscientiouslyyieldtothefatiguethatalmostoverpoweredme—mightrelaxthisforcedaction，and，sittingdownonastoneIsawnear，submitresistlesslytotheapathythatcloggedheartandlimb—Iheardabellchime—achurchbell。
Iturnedinthedirectionofthesound，andthere，amongsttheromantichills，whosechangesandaspectIhadceasedtonoteanhourago，Isawahamletandaspire。Allthevalleyatmyrighthandwasfullofpasture—fields，andcornfields，andwood;andaglitteringstreamranzigzagthroughthevariedshadesofgreen，themellowinggrain，thesombrewoodland，theclearandsunnylea。
Recalledbytherumblingofwheelstotheroadbeforeme，Isawaheavily—ladenwaggonlabouringupthehill，andnotfarbeyondweretwocowsandtheirdrover。Humanlifeandhumanlabourwerenear。I
muststruggleon:strivetoliveandbendtotoilliketherest。
Abouttwoo\'clockP。M。Ienteredthevillage。Atthebottomofitsonestreettherewasalittleshopwithsomecakesofbreadinthewindow。Icovetedacakeofbread。WiththatrefreshmentIcouldperhapsregainadegreeofenergy:withoutit，itwouldbedifficulttoproceed。ThewishtohavesomestrengthandsomevigourreturnedtomeassoonasIwasamongstmyfellow—beings。Ifeltitwouldbedegradingtofaintwithhungeronthecausewayofahamlet。HadI
nothingaboutmeIcouldofferinexchangeforoneoftheserolls？I
considered。Ihadasmallsilkhandkerchieftiedroundmythroat;I
hadmygloves。Icouldhardlytellhowmenandwomeninextremitiesofdestitutionproceeded。Ididnotknowwhethereitherofthesearticleswouldbeaccepted:probablytheywouldnot;butImusttry。
Ienteredtheshop:awomanwasthere。Seeingarespectably—dressedperson，aladyasshesupposed，shecameforwardwithcivility。Howcouldsheserveme？Iwasseizedwithshame:mytonguewouldnotuttertherequestIhadprepared。Idarednotofferherthehalf—worngloves，thecreasedhandkerchief:besides，Ifeltitwouldbeabsurd。Ionlybeggedpermissiontositdownamoment，asIwastired。
Disappointedintheexpectationofacustomer，shecoollyaccededtomyrequest。Shepointedtoaseat;Isankintoit。Ifeltsorelyurgedtoweep;butconscioushowunseasonablesuchamanifestationwouldbe，Irestrainedit。SoonIaskedher\'iftherewereanydressmakerorplain—workwomaninthevillage？\'
\'Yes;twoorthree。Quiteasmanyastherewasemploymentfor。\'
Ireflected。Iwasdriventothepointnow。IwasbroughtfacetofacewithNecessity。Istoodinthepositionofonewithoutaresource，withoutafriend，withoutacoin。Imustdosomething。What？
Imustapplysomewhere。Where？
\'Didsheknowofanyplaceintheneighbourhoodwhereaservantwaswanted？\'
\'Nay;shecouldn\'tsay。\'
\'Whatwasthechieftradeinthisplace？Whatdidmostofthepeopledo？\'
\'Somewerefarmlabourers;agooddealworkedatMr。Oliver\'sneedle—factory，andatthefoundry。\'
\'DidMr。Oliveremploywomen？\'
\'Nay;itwasmen\'swork。\'
\'Andwhatdothewomendo？\'
\'Iknawn\'t，\'wastheanswer。\'Somedoesonething，andsomeanother。Poorfolkmungetonastheycan。\'
Sheseemedtobetiredofmyquestions:and，indeed，whatclaimhadItoimportuneher？Aneighbourortwocamein;mychairwasevidentlywanted。Itookleave。
Ipassedupthestreet，lookingasIwentatallthehousestotherighthandandtotheleft;butIcoulddiscovernopretext，norseeaninducementtoenterany。Irambledroundthehamlet，goingsometimestoalittledistanceandreturningagain，foranhourormore。Muchexhausted，andsufferinggreatlynowforwantoffood，I
turnedasideintoalaneandsatdownunderthehedge。Eremanyminuteshadelapsed，Iwasagainonmyfeet，however，andagainsearchingsomething—aresource，oratleastaninformant。Aprettylittlehousestoodatthetopofthelane，withagardenbeforeit，exquisitelyneatandbrilliantlyblooming。Istoppedatit。WhatbusinesshadItoapproachthewhitedoorortouchtheglitteringknocker？Inwhatwaycoulditpossiblybetheinterestoftheinhabitantsofthatdwellingtoserveme？YetIdrewnearandknocked。
Amild—looking，cleanly—attiredyoungwomanopenedthedoor。Insuchavoiceasmightbeexpectedfromahopelessheartandfaintingframe—
avoicewretchedlylowandfaltering—Iaskedifaservantwaswantedhere？
\'No，\'saidshe;\'wedonotkeepaservant。\'
\'CanyoutellmewhereIcouldgetemploymentofanykind？\'
I
continued。\'Iamastranger，withoutacquaintanceinthisplace。I
wantsomework:nomatterwhat。\'
Butitwasnotherbusinesstothinkforme，ortoseekaplaceforme:besides，inhereyes，howdoubtfulmusthaveappearedmycharacter，position，tale。Sheshookherhead，she\'wassorryshecouldgivemenoinformation，\'andthewhitedoorclosed，quitegentlyandcivilly:butitshutmeout。Ifshehadhelditopenalittlelonger，IbelieveIshouldhavebeggedapieceofbread;forIwasnowbroughtlow。
Icouldnotbeartoreturntothesordidvillage，where，besides，noprospectofaidwasvisible。IshouldhavelongedrathertodeviatetoawoodIsawnotfaroff，whichappearedinitsthickshadetoofferinvitingshelter;butIwassosick，soweak，sognawedwithnature\'scravings，instinctkeptmeroamingroundabodeswheretherewasachanceoffood。Solitudewouldbenosolitude—restnorest—
whilethevulture，hunger，thussankbeakandtalonsinmyside。
Idrewnearhouses;Ileftthem，andcamebackagain，andagainI
wanderedaway:alwaysrepelledbytheconsciousnessofhavingnoclaimtoask—norighttoexpectinterestinmyisolatedlot。Meantime，theafternoonadvanced，whileIthuswanderedaboutlikealostandstarvingdog。Incrossingafield，Isawthechurchspirebeforeme:
I
hastenedtowardsit。Nearthechurchyard，andinthemiddleofagarden，stoodawell—builtthoughsmallhouse，whichIhadnodoubtwastheparsonage。Irememberedthatstrangerswhoarriveataplacewheretheyhavenofriends，andwhowantemployment，sometimesapplytotheclergymanforintroductionandaid。Itistheclergyman\'sfunctiontohelp—atleastwithadvice—thosewhowishedtohelpthemselves。Iseemedtohavesomethinglikearighttoseekcounselhere。Renewingthenmycourage，andgatheringmyfeebleremainsofstrength，Ipushedon。Ireachedthehouse，andknockedatthekitchen—door。Anoldwomanopened:Iaskedwasthistheparsonage？
\'Yes。\'
\'Wastheclergymanin？\'
\'No。\'
\'Wouldhebeinsoon？\'
\'No，hewasgonefromhome。\'
\'Toadistance？\'
\'Notsofar—happenthreemile。Hehadbeencalledawaybythesuddendeathofhisfather:hewasatMarshEndnow，andwouldverylikelystaythereafortnightlonger。\'
\'Wasthereanyladyofthehouse？\'
\'Nay，therewasnaughtbuther，andshewashousekeeper\';
andofher，reader，IcouldnotbeartoaskthereliefforwantofwhichI
wassinking;Icouldnotyetbeg;andagainIcrawledaway。
OncemoreItookoffmyhandkerchief—oncemoreIthoughtofthecakesofbreadinthelittleshop。Oh，forbutacrust！forbutonemouthfultoallaythepangoffamine！InstinctivelyIturnedmyfaceagaintothevillage;Ifoundtheshopagain，andIwentin;andthoughothersweretherebesidesthewomanIventuredtherequest—
\'Wouldshegivemearollforthishandkerchief？\'
Shelookedatmewithevidentsuspicion:\'Nay，sheneversoldstuffi\'thatway。\'
Almostdesperate，Iaskedforhalfacake;sheagainrefused。
\'HowcouldshetellwhereIhadgotthehandkerchief？\'shesaid。
\'Wouldshetakemygloves？\'
\'No！whatcouldshedowiththem？\'
Reader，itisnotpleasanttodwellonthesedetails。Somesaythereisenjoymentinlookingbacktopainfulexperiencepast;butatthisdayIcanscarcelybeartoreviewthetimestowhichIallude:
themoraldegradation，blentwiththephysicalsuffering，formtoodistressingarecollectionevertobewillinglydwelton。Iblamednoneofthosewhorepulsedme。Ifeltitwaswhatwastobeexpected，andwhatcouldnotbehelped:anordinarybeggarisfrequentlyanobjectofsuspicion;awell—dressedbeggarinevitablyso。Tobesure，whatIbeggedwasemployment;butwhosebusinesswasittoprovidemewithemployment？Not，certainly，thatofpersonswhosawmethenforthefirsttime，andwhoknewnothingaboutmycharacter。Andastothewomanwhowouldnottakemyhandkerchiefinexchangeforherbread，why，shewasright，iftheofferappearedtohersinisterortheexchangeunprofitable。Letmecondensenow。Iamsickofthesubject。
AlittlebeforedarkIpassedafarmhouse，attheopendoorofwhichthefarmerwassitting，eatinghissupperofbreadandcheese。
I
stoppedandsaid—
\'Willyougivemeapieceofbread？forIamveryhungry。\'
Hecastonmeaglanceofsurprise;butwithoutanswering，hecutathickslicefromhisloaf，andgaveittome。IimaginehedidnotthinkI
wasabeggar，butonlyaneccentricsortoflady，whohadtakenafancytohisbrownloaf。AssoonasIwasoutofsightofhishouse，I
satdownandateit。
Icouldnothopetogetalodgingunderaroof，andsoughtitinthewoodIhavebeforealludedto。Butmynightwaswretched，myrestbroken:thegroundwasdamp，theaircold:besides，intruderspassednearmemorethanonce，andIhadagainandagaintochangemyquarters:nosenseofsafetyortranquillitybefriendedme。Towardsmorningitrained;thewholeofthefollowingdaywaswet。Donotaskme，reader，togiveaminuteaccountofthatday;asbefore，I
soughtwork;asbefore，Iwasrepulsed;asbefore，Istarved;butoncedidfoodpassmylips。AtthedoorofacottageIsawalittlegirlabouttothrowamessofcoldporridgeintoapigtrough。\'Willyougivemethat？\'Iasked。
Shestaredatme。\'Mother！\'sheexclaimed，\'thereisawomanwantsmetogivehertheseporridge。\'
\'Well，lass，\'repliedavoicewithin，\'giveitherifshe\'sabeggar。T\'pigdoesn\'twantit。\'
ThegirlemptiedthestiffenedmouldintomyhandsandIdevoureditravenously。
Asthewettwilightdeepened，Istoppedinasolitarybridle—path，whichIhadbeenpursuinganhourormore。
\'Mystrengthisquitefailingme，\'Isaidinasoliloquy。
\'IfeelI
cannotgomuchfarther。ShallIbeanoutcastagainthisnight？
Whiletheraindescendsso，mustIlaymyheadonthecold，drenchedground？IfearIcannotdootherwise:forwhowillreceiveme？Butitwillbeverydreadful，withthisfeelingofhunger，faintness，chill，andthissenseofdesolation—thistotalprostrationofhope。
Inalllikelihood，though，Ishoulddiebeforemorning。AndwhycannotIreconcilemyselftotheprospectofdeath？WhydoIstruggletoretainavaluelesslife？BecauseIknow，orbelieve，Mr。Rochesterisliving:andthen，todieofwantandcoldisafatetowhichnaturecannotsubmitpassively。Oh，Providence！sustainmealittlelonger！
Aid！—directme！\'
Myglazedeyewanderedoverthedimandmistylandscape。
IsawI
hadstrayedfarfromthevillage:itwasquiteoutofsight。Theverycultivationsurroundingithaddisappeared。Ihad，bycross—waysandby—paths，oncemoredrawnnearthetractofmoorland;
andnow，onlyafewfields，almostaswildandunproductiveastheheathfromwhichtheywerescarcelyreclaimed，laybetweenmeandtheduskyhill。
\'Well，Iwouldratherdieyonderthaninastreetoronafrequentedroad，\'Ireflected。\'Andfarbetterthatcrowsandravens—ifanyravenstherebeintheseregions—shouldpickmyfleshfrommybones，thanthattheyshouldbeprisonedinaworkhousecoffinandmoulderinapauper\'sgrave。\'
Tothehill，then，Iturned。Ireachedit。ItremainednowonlytofindahollowwhereIcouldliedown，andfeelatleasthidden，ifnotsecure。Butallthesurfaceofthewastelookedlevel。Itshowednovariationbutoftint:green，whererushandmossovergrewthemarshes;black，wherethedrysoilboreonlyheath。Darkasitwasgetting，Icouldstillseethesechanges，thoughbutasmerealternationsoflightandshade;forcolourhadfadedwiththedaylight。
Myeyestillrovedoverthesullenswellandalongthemoor—edge，vanishingamidstthewildestscenery，whenatonedimpoint，farinamongthemarshesandtheridges，alightsprangup。\'Thatisanignisfatuus，\'wasmyfirstthought;andIexpecteditwouldsoonvanish。
Itburnton，however，quitesteadily，neitherrecedingnoradvancing。\'Isit，then，abonfirejustkindled？\'Iquestioned。Iwatchedtoseewhetheritwouldspread:butno;asitdidnotdiminish，soitdidnotenlarge。\'Itmaybeacandleinahouse，\'Ithenconjectured;\'butifso，Icanneverreachit。Itismuchtoofaraway:andwereitwithinayardofme，whatwoulditavail？Ishouldbutknockatthedoortohaveitshutinmyface。\'
AndIsankdownwhereIstood，andhidmyfaceagainsttheground。Ilaystillawhile:thenight—windsweptoverthehillandoverme，anddiedmoaninginthedistance;therainfellfast，wettingmeafreshtotheskin。CouldIbuthavestiffenedtothestillfrost—thefriendlynumbnessofdeath—itmighthavepeltedon;I
shouldnothavefeltit;butmyyetlivingfleshshudderedatitschillinginfluence。Iroseerelong。
Thelightwasyetthere，shiningdimbutconstantthroughtherain。
Itriedtowalkagain:Idraggedmyexhaustedlimbsslowlytowardsit。
Itledmeaslantoverthehill，throughawidebog，whichwouldhavebeenimpassableinwinter，andwassplashyandshakingevennow，intheheightofsummer。HereIfelltwice;butasoftenIroseandralliedmyfaculties。Thislightwasmyforlornhope:Imustgainit。
Havingcrossedthemarsh，Isawatraceofwhiteoverthemoor。I
approachedit;itwasaroadoratrack:itledstraightuptothelight，whichnowbeamedfromasortofknoll，amidstaclumpoftrees—
firs，apparently，fromwhatIcoulddistinguishofthecharacteroftheirformsandfoliagethroughthegloom。MystarvanishedasI
drewnear:someobstaclehadintervenedbetweenmeandit。Iputoutmyhandtofeelthedarkmassbeforeme:Idiscriminatedtheroughstonesofalowwall—aboveit，somethinglikepalisades，andwithin，ahighandpricklyhedge。Igropedon。Againawhitishobjectgleamedbeforeme:itwasagate—awicket;itmovedonitshingesasItouchedit。Oneachsidestoodasablebush—hollyoryew。
Enteringthegateandpassingtheshrubs，thesilhouetteofahouserosetoview，black，low，andratherlong;buttheguidinglightshonenowhere。Allwasobscurity。Weretheinmatesretiredtorest？Ifeareditmustbeso。Inseekingthedoor，Iturnedanangle:thereshotoutthefriendlygleamagain，fromthelozengedpanesofaverysmalllatticedwindow，withinafootoftheground，madestillsmallerbythegrowthofivyorsomeothercreepingplant，whoseleavesclusteredthickovertheportionofthehousewallinwhichitwasset。Theaperturewassoscreenedandnarrow，thatcurtainorshutterhadbeendeemedunnecessary;andwhenIstoopeddownandputasidethesprayoffoliageshootingoverit，Icouldseeallwithin。
I
couldseeclearlyaroomwithasandedfloor，cleanscoured;adresserofwalnut，withpewterplatesrangedinrows，reflectingtherednessandradianceofaglowingpeat—fire。Icouldseeaclock，awhitedealtable，somechairs。Thecandle，whoserayhadbeenmybeacon，burntonthetable;andbyitslightanelderlywoman，somewhatrough—looking，butscrupulouslyclean，likeallabouther，wasknittingastocking。
Inoticedtheseobjectscursorilyonly—inthemtherewasnothingextraordinary。Agroupofmoreinterestappearednearthehearth，sittingstillamidsttherosypeaceandwarmthsuffusingit。Twoyoung，gracefulwomen—ladiesineverypoint—sat，oneinalowrocking—chair，theotheronalowerstool;bothworedeepmourningofcrapeandbombazeen，whichsombregarbsingularlysetoffveryfairnecksandfaces:alargeoldpointerdogresteditsmassiveheadonthekneeofonegirl—inthelapoftheotherwascushionedablackcat。
Astrangeplacewasthishumblekitchenforsuchoccupants！
Whowerethey？Theycouldnotbethedaughtersoftheelderlypersonatthetable;forshelookedlikearustic，andtheywerealldelicacyandcultivation。Ihadnowhereseensuchfacesastheirs:andyet，asIgazedonthem，Iseemedintimatewitheverylineament。Icannotcallthemhandsome—theyweretoopaleandgravefortheword:astheyeachbentoverabook，theylookedthoughtfulalmosttoseverity。A
standbetweenthemsupportedasecondcandleandtwogreatvolumes，towhichtheyfrequentlyreferred，comparingthem，seemingly，withthesmallerbookstheyheldintheirhands，likepeopleconsultingadictionarytoaidtheminthetaskoftranslation。Thisscenewasassilentasifallthefigureshadbeenshadowsandthefirelitapartmentapicture:sohushedwasit，Icouldhearthecindersfallfromthegrate，theclocktickinitsobscurecorner;andIevenfanciedIcoulddistinguishtheclick—clickofthewoman\'sknitting—needles。When，therefore，avoicebrokethestrangestillnessatlast，itwasaudibleenoughtome。
\'Listen，Diana，\'saidoneoftheabsorbedstudents;\'FranzandoldDanielaretogetherinthenight—time，andFranzistellingadreamfromwhichhehasawakenedinterror—listen！\'Andinalowvoiceshereadsomething，ofwhichnotonewordwasintelligibletome;foritwasinanunknowntongue—neitherFrenchnorLatin。WhetheritwereGreekorGermanIcouldnottell。
\'Thatisstrong，\'shesaid，whenshehadfinished:\'Irelishit。\'
Theothergirl，whohadliftedherheadtolistentohersister，repeated，whileshegazedatthefire，alineofwhathadbeenread。
Atalaterday，Iknewthelanguageandthebook;therefore，Iwillherequotetheline:though，whenIfirstheardit，itwasonlylikeastrokeonsoundingbrasstome—conveyingnomeaning:—
\'\"DatrathervorEiner，anzusehenwiedieSternenNacht。\"
Good！
good！\'sheexclaimed，whileherdarkanddeepeyesparkled。\'Thereyouhaveadimandmightyarchangelfitlysetbeforeyou！Thelineisworthahundredpagesoffustian。\"IchwagedieGedankeninderSchalemeinesZornesunddieWerkemitdemGewichtemeinesGrimms。\"Ilikeit！\'
Bothwereagainsilent。
\'Isthereonycountrywheretheytalki\'thatway？\'askedtheoldwoman，lookingupfromherknitting。
\'Yes，Hannah—afarlargercountrythanEngland，wheretheytalkinnootherway。\'
\'Well，forsurecase，Iknawn\'thowtheycanunderstandt\'onet\'other:andifeithero\'yewentthere，yecouldtellwhattheysaid，Iguess？\'
\'Wecouldprobablytellsomethingofwhattheysaid，butnotall—
forwearenotascleverasyouthinkus，Hannah。Wedon\'tspeakGerman，andwecannotreaditwithoutadictionarytohelpus。\'
\'Andwhatgooddoesitdoyou？\'
\'Wemeantoteachitsometime—oratleasttheelements，astheysay;andthenweshallgetmoremoneythanwedonow。\'
\'Varrylike:butgiveowerstudying;ye\'vedoneenoughforto—night。\'
\'Ithinkwehave:atleastI\'mtired。Mary，areyou？\'
\'Mortally:afterall，it\'stoughworkfaggingawayatalanguagewithnomasterbutalexicon。\'
\'Itis，especiallysuchalanguageasthiscrabbedbutgloriousDeutsch。IwonderwhenSt。Johnwillcomehome。\'
\'Surelyhewillnotbelongnow:itisjustten（lookingatalittlegoldwatchshedrewfromhergirdle）。Itrainsfast，Hannah:
willyouhavethegoodnesstolookatthefireintheparlour？\'
Thewomanrose:sheopenedadoor，throughwhichIdimlysawapassage:soonIheardherstirafireinaninnerroom;shepresentlycameback。
\'Ah，childer！\'saidshe，\'itfairtroublesmetogointoyond\'roomnow:itlookssolonesomewi\'thechairemptyandsetbackinacorner。\'
Shewipedhereyeswithherapron:thetwogirls，gravebefore，lookedsadnow。
\'Butheisinabetterplace，\'continuedHannah:\'weshouldn\'twishhimhereagain。Andthen，nobodyneedtohaveaquieterdeathnorhehad。\'
\'Yousayhenevermentionedus？\'inquiredoneoftheladies。
\'Hehadn\'ttime，bairn:hewasgoneinaminute，wasyourfather。
Hehadbeenabitailinglikethedaybefore，butnaughttosignify;
andwhenMr。St。Johnaskedifhewouldlikeeithero\'yetobesentfor，hefairlaughedathim。Hebeganagainwithabitofaheavinessinhisheadthenextday—thatis，afortnightsin\'—andhewenttosleepandniverwakened:hewora\'moststarkwhenyourbrotherwentintot\'chamberandfandhim。Ah，childer！that\'st\'lasto\'t\'oldstock—foryeandMr。St。Johnislikeofdifferentsoarttothem\'at\'sgone;forallyourmotherwormichi\'yourway，anda\'mostasbook—learned。Sheworthepictur\'o\'ye，Mary:Dianaismorelikeyourfather。\'
IthoughtthemsosimilarIcouldnottellwheretheoldservant（forsuchInowconcludedhertobe）sawthedifference。Bothwerefaircomplexionedandslenderlymade;bothpossessedfacesfullofdistinctionandintelligence。One，tobesure，hadhairashadedarkerthantheother，andtherewasadifferenceintheirstyleofwearingit;Mary\'spalebrownlockswerepartedandbraidedsmooth:Diana\'sduskiertressescoveredherneckwiththickcurls。Theclockstruckten。
\'Ye\'llwantyoursupper，Iamsure，\'observedHannah;\'andsowillMr。St。Johnwhenhecomesin。\'
Andsheproceededtopreparethemeal。Theladiesrose;
theyseemedabouttowithdrawtotheparlour。Tillthismoment，Ihadbeensointentonwatchingthem，theirappearanceandconversationhadexcitedinmesokeenaninterest，Ihadhalf—forgottenmyownwretchedposition:nowitrecurredtome。Moredesolate，moredesperatethanever，itseemedfromcontrast。Andhowimpossiblediditappeartotouchtheinmatesofthishousewithconcernonmybehalf;tomakethembelieveinthetruthofmywantsandwoes—toinducethemtovouchsafearestformywanderings！AsIgropedoutthedoor，andknockedatithesitatingly，Ifeltthatlastideatobeamerechimera。Hannahopened。
\'Whatdoyouwant？\'sheinquired，inavoiceofsurprise，asshesurveyedmebythelightofthecandlesheheld。
\'MayIspeaktoyourmistresses？\'Isaid。
\'Youhadbettertellmewhatyouhavetosaytothem。Wheredoyoucomefrom？\'
\'Iamastranger。\'
\'Whatisyourbusinesshereatthishour？\'
\'Iwantanight\'sshelterinanout—houseoranywhere，andamorselofbreadtoeat。\'
Distrust，theveryfeelingIdreaded，appearedinHannah\'sface。
\'I\'llgiveyouapieceofbread，\'shesaid，afterapause;\'butwecan\'ttakeinavagranttolodge。Itisn\'tlikely。\'
\'Doletmespeaktoyourmistresses。\'
\'No，notI。Whatcantheydoforyou？Youshouldnotberovingaboutnow;itlooksveryill。\'
\'ButwhereshallIgoifyoudrivemeaway？WhatshallIdo？\'
\'Oh，I\'llwarrantyouknowwheretogoandwhattodo。
Mindyoudon\'tdowrong，that\'sall。Hereisapenny;nowgo—\'
\'Apennycannotfeedme，andIhavenostrengthtogofarther。
Don\'tshutthedoor:—oh，don\'t，forGod\'ssake！\'
\'Imust;therainisdrivingin—\'
\'Telltheyoungladies。Letmeseethem—\'
\'Indeed，Iwillnot。Youarenotwhatyououghttobe，oryouwouldn\'tmakesuchanoise。Moveoff。\'
\'ButImustdieifIamturnedaway。\'
\'Notyou。I\'mfear\'dyouhavesomeillplansagate，thatbringyouaboutfolk\'shousesatthistimeo\'night。Ifyou\'veanyfollowers—housebreakersorsuchlike—anywherenear，youmaytellthemwearenotbyourselvesinthehouse;wehaveagentleman，anddogs，andguns。\'Herethehonestbutinflexibleservantclappedthedoortoandbolteditwithin。
Thiswastheclimax。Apangofexquisitesuffering—athroeoftruedespair—rentandheavedmyheart。Wornout，indeed，Iwas;notanotherstepcouldIstir。Isankonthewetdoorstep:Igroaned—I
wrungmyhands—Iweptinutteranguish。Oh，thisspectreofdeath！
Oh，thislasthour，approachinginsuchhorror！Alas，thisisolation—thisbanishmentfrommykind！Notonlytheanchorofhope，butthefootingoffortitudewasgone—atleastforamoment;
butthelastIsoonendeavouredtoregain。
\'Icanbutdie，\'Isaid，\'andIbelieveinGod。LetmetrytowaitHiswillinsilence。\'
ThesewordsInotonlythought，bututtered;andthrustingbackallmymiseryintomyheart，Imadeanefforttocompelittoremainthere—dumbandstill。
\'Allmenmustdie，\'saidavoicequitecloseathand;\'butallarenotcondemnedtomeetalingeringandprematuredoom，suchasyourswouldbeifyouperishedhereofwant。\'
\'Whoorwhatspeaks？\'Iasked，terrifiedattheunexpectedsound，andincapablenowofderivingfromanyoccurrenceahopeofaid。A
formwasnear—whatform，thepitch—darknightandmyenfeebledvisionpreventedmefromdistinguishing。Withaloudlongknock，thenewcomerappealedtothedoor。