\'Isityou，Mr。St。John？\'criedHannah。
\'Yes—yes;openquickly。\'
\'Well，howwetandcoldyoumustbe，suchawildnightasitis！
Comein—yoursistersarequiteuneasyaboutyou，andIbelievetherearebadfolksabout。Therehasbeenabeggar—woman—Ideclaresheisnotgoneyet！—laiddownthere。Getup！forshame！Moveoff，Isay！\'
\'Hush，Hannah！Ihaveawordtosaytothewoman。Youhavedoneyourdutyinexcluding，nowletmedomineinadmittingher。Iwasnear，andlistenedtobothyouandher。Ithinkthisisapeculiarcase—Imustatleastexamineintoit。Youngwoman，rise，andpassbeforemeintothehouse。\'
WithdifficultyIobeyedhim。PresentlyIstoodwithinthatclean，brightkitchen—ontheveryhearth—trembling，sickening;
consciousofanaspectinthelastdegreeghastly，wild，andweather—beaten。Thetwoladies，theirbrother，Mr。St。John，theoldservant，wereallgazingatme。
\'St。John，whoisit？\'Iheardoneask。
\'Icannottell:Ifoundheratthedoor，\'wasthereply。
\'Shedoeslookwhite，\'saidHannah。
\'Aswhiteasclayordeath，\'wasresponded。\'Shewillfall:
lethersit。\'
Andindeedmyheadswam:Idropped，butachairreceivedme。I
stillpossessedmysenses，thoughjustnowIcouldnotspeak。
\'Perhapsalittlewaterwouldrestoreher。Hannah，fetchsome。
Butsheisworntonothing。Howverythin，andhowverybloodless！\'
\'Amerespectre！\'
\'Issheill，oronlyfamished？\'
\'Famished，Ithink。Hannah，isthatmilk？Giveitme，andapieceofbread。\'
Diana（IknewherbythelongcurlswhichIsawdroopingbetweenmeandthefireasshebentoverme）brokesomebread，dippeditinmilk，andputittomylips。Herfacewasnearmine:Isawtherewaspityinit，andIfeltsympathyinherhurriedbreathing。Inhersimplewords，too，thesamebalm—likeemotionspoke:\'Trytoeat。\'
\'Yes—try，\'repeatedMarygently;andMary\'shandremovedmysoddenbonnetandliftedmyhead。Itastedwhattheyofferedme:feeblyatfirst，eagerlysoon。
\'Nottoomuchatfirst—restrainher，\'saidthebrother;
\'shehashadenough。\'Andhewithdrewthecupofmilkandtheplateofbread。
\'Alittlemore，St。John—lookattheavidityinhereyes。\'
\'Nomoreatpresent，sister。Tryifshecanspeaknow—
askherhername。\'
IfeltIcouldspeak，andIanswered—\'MynameisJaneElliott。\'
Anxiousasevertoavoiddiscovery，Ihadbeforeresolvedtoassumeanalias。
\'Andwheredoyoulive？Whereareyourfriends？\'
Iwassilent。
\'Canwesendforanyoneyouknow？\'
Ishookmyhead。
\'Whataccountcanyougiveofyourself？\'
Somehow，nowthatIhadoncecrossedthethresholdofthishouse，andoncewasbroughtfacetofacewithitsowners，Ifeltnolongeroutcast，vagrant，anddisownedbythewideworld。Idaredtoputoffthemendicant—toresumemynaturalmannerandcharacter。Ibeganoncemoretoknowmyself;andwhenMr。St。Johndemandedanaccount—
whichatpresentIwasfartooweaktorender—Isaidafterabriefpause—
\'Sir，Icangiveyounodetailsto—night。\'
\'Butwhat，then，\'saidhe，\'doyouexpectmetodoforyou？\'
\'Nothing，\'Ireplied。Mystrengthsufficedforbutshortanswers。
Dianatooktheword—
\'Doyoumean，\'sheasked，\'thatwehavenowgivenyouwhataidyourequire？andthatwemaydismissyoutothemoorandtherainynight？\'
Ilookedather。Shehad，Ithought，aremarkablecountenance，instinctbothwithpowerandgoodness。Itooksuddencourage。
Answeringhercompassionategazewithasmile，Isaid—\'Iwilltrustyou。IfIwereamasterlessandstraydog，Iknowthatyouwouldnotturnmefromyourhearthto—night:asitis，Ireallyhavenofear。
Dowithmeandformeasyoulike;butexcusemefrommuchdiscourse—
mybreathisshort—IfeelaspasmwhenIspeak。\'Allthreesurveyedme，andallthreeweresilent。
\'Hannah，\'saidMr。St。John，atlast，\'lethersitthereatpresent，andaskhernoquestions;intenminutesmore，givehertheremainderofthatmilkandbread。MaryandDiana，letusgointotheparlourandtalkthematterover。\'
Theywithdrew。Verysoononeoftheladiesreturned—I
couldnottellwhich。AkindofpleasantstuporwasstealingovermeasIsatbythegenialfire。InanundertoneshegavesomedirectionstoHannah。
Erelong，withtheservant\'said，Icontrivedtomountastaircase;
mydrippingclotheswereremoved;soonawarm，drybedreceivedme。I
thankedGod—experiencedamidstunutterableexhaustionaglowofgratefuljoy—andslept。
chapter29
CHAPTERXXIX
THErecollectionofaboutthreedaysandnightssucceedingthisisverydiminmymind。Icanrecallsomesensationsfeltinthatinterval;butfewthoughtsframed，andnoactionsperformed。IknewIwasinasmallroomandinanarrowbed。TothatbedIseemedtohavegrown;Ilayonitmotionlessasastone;andtohavetornmefromitwouldhavebeenalmosttokillme。Itooknonoteofthelapseoftime—ofthechangefrommorningtonoon，fromnoontoevening。I
observedwhenanyoneenteredorlefttheapartment:Icouldeventellwhotheywere;Icouldunderstandwhatwassaidwhenthespeakerstoodneartome;butIcouldnotanswer;toopenmylipsormovemylimbswasequallyimpossible。Hannah，theservant，wasmymostfrequentvisitor。Hercomingdisturbedme。Ihadafeelingthatshewishedmeaway:thatshedidnotunderstandmeormycircumstances;thatshewasprejudicedagainstme。DianaandMaryappearedinthechamberonceortwiceaday。Theywouldwhispersentencesofthissortatmybedside—
\'Itisverywellwetookherin。\'
\'Yes;shewouldcertainlyhavebeenfounddeadatthedoorinthemorninghadshebeenleftoutallnight。Iwonderwhatshehasgonethrough？\'
\'Strangehardships，Iimagine—poor，emaciated，pallidwanderer？\'
\'Sheisnotanuneducatedperson，Ishouldthink，byhermannerofspeaking;heraccentwasquitepure;andtheclothesshetookoff，thoughsplashedandwet，werelittlewornandfine。\'
\'Shehasapeculiarface;fleshlessandhaggardasitis，I
ratherlikeit;andwheningoodhealthandanimated，Icanfancyherphysiognomywouldbeagreeable。\'
NeveronceintheirdialoguesdidIhearasyllableofregretatthehospitalitytheyhadextendedtome，orofsuspicionof，oraversionto，myself。Iwascomforted。
Mr。St。Johncamebutonce:helookedatme，andsaidmystateoflethargywastheresultofreactionfromexcessiveandprotractedfatigue。Hepronounceditneedlesstosendforadoctor:nature，hewassure，wouldmanagebest，lefttoherself。Hesaideverynervehadbeenoverstrainedinsomeway，andthewholesystemmustsleeptorpidawhile。Therewasnodisease。Heimaginedmyrecoverywouldberapidenoughwhenoncecommenced。Theseopinionshedeliveredinafewwords，inaquiet，lowvoice;andadded，afterapause，inthetoneofamanlittleaccustomedtoexpansivecomment，\'Ratheranunusualphysiognomy;certainly，notindicativeofvulgarityordegradation。\'
\'Farotherwise，\'respondedDiana。\'Tospeaktruth，St。
John，myheartratherwarmstothepoorlittlesoul。Iwishwemaybeabletobenefitherpermanently。\'
\'Thatishardlylikely，\'wasthereply。\'Youwillfindsheissomeyoungladywhohashadamisunderstandingwithherfriends，andhasprobablyinjudiciouslyleftthem。Wemay，perhaps，succeedinrestoringhertothem，ifsheisnotobstinate:butItracelinesofforceinherfacewhichmakemescepticalofhertractability。\'Hestoodconsideringmesomeminutes;thenadded，\'Shelookssensible，butnotatallhandsome。\'
\'Sheissoill，St。John。\'
\'Illorwell，shewouldalwaysbeplain。Thegraceandharmonyofbeautyarequitewantinginthosefeatures。\'
OnthethirddayIwasbetter;onthefourth，Icouldspeak，move，riseinbed，andturn。Hannahhadbroughtmesomegruelanddrytoast，about，asIsupposed，thedinner—hour。Ihadeatenwithrelish:thefoodwasgood—voidofthefeverishflavourwhichhadhithertopoisonedwhatIhadswallowed。Whensheleftme，Ifeltcomparativelystrongandrevived:erelongsatietyofreposeanddesireforactionstirredme。Iwishedtorise;butwhatcouldIputon？Onlymydampandbemiredapparel;inwhichIhadsleptonthegroundandfalleninthemarsh。Ifeltashamedtoappearbeforemybenefactorssoclad。Iwassparedthehumiliation。
Onachairbythebedsidewereallmyownthings，cleananddry。Myblacksilkfrockhungagainstthewall。Thetracesofthebogwereremovedfromit;thecreasesleftbythewetsmoothedout:itwasquitedecent。Myveryshoesandstockingswerepurifiedandrenderedpresentable。Therewerethemeansofwashingintheroom，andacombandbrushtosmoothmyhair。Afterawearyprocess，andrestingeveryfiveminutes，Isucceededindressingmyself。Myclotheshunglooseonme;forIwasmuchwasted，butIcovereddeficiencieswithashawl，andoncemore，cleanandrespectablelooking—nospeckofthedirt，notraceofthedisorderIsohated，andwhichseemedsotodegrademe，left—Icreptdownastonestaircasewiththeaidofthebanisters，toanarrowlowpassage，andfoundmywaypresentlytothekitchen。
Itwasfullofthefragranceofnewbreadandthewarmthofagenerousfire。Hannahwasbaking。Prejudices，itiswellknown，aremostdifficulttoeradicatefromtheheartwhosesoilhasneverbeenloosenedorfertilisedbyeducation:theygrowthere，firmasweedsamongstones。Hannahhadbeencoldandstiff，indeed，atthefirst:
latterlyshehadbeguntorelentalittle;andwhenshesawmecomeintidyandwell—dressed，sheevensmiled。
\'What，youhavegotup！\'shesaid。\'Youarebetter，then。
Youmaysityoudowninmychaironthehearthstone，ifyouwill。\'
Shepointedtotherocking—chair:Itookit。Shebustledabout，examiningmeeverynowandthenwiththecornerofhereye。Turningtome，asshetooksomeloavesfromtheoven，sheaskedbluntly—
\'Didyouevergoa—beggingaforeyoucamehere？\'
Iwasindignantforamoment;butrememberingthatangerwasoutofthequestion，andthatIhadindeedappearedasabeggartoher，I
answeredquietly，butstillnotwithoutacertainmarkedfirmness—
\'Youaremistakeninsupposingmeabeggar。Iamnobeggar;
anymorethanyourselforyouryoungladies。\'
Afterapauseshesaid，\'Idunnutunderstandthat:you\'velikenohouse，nornobrass，Iguess？\'
\'Thewantofhouseorbrass（bywhichIsupposeyoumeanmoney）
doesnotmakeabeggarinyoursenseoftheword。\'
\'Areyoubook—learned？\'sheinquiredpresently。
\'Yes，very。\'
\'Butyou\'veneverbeentoaboarding—school？\'
\'Iwasataboarding—schooleightyears。\'
Sheopenedhereyeswide。\'Whatevercannotyekeepyourselffor，then？\'
\'Ihavekeptmyself;and，Itrust，shallkeepmyselfagain。
Whatareyougoingtodowiththesegooseberries？\'Iinquiredasshebroughtoutabasketofthefruit。
\'Mak\'\'emintopies。\'
\'GivethemtomeandI\'llpickthem。\'
\'Nay;Idunnutwantyetodonought。\'
\'ButImustdosomething。Letmehavethem。\'
Sheconsented;andsheevenbroughtmeacleantoweltospreadovermydress，\'lest，\'asshesaid，\'Ishouldmuckyit。\'
\'Ye\'venotbeenusedtosarvant\'swark，Iseebyyourhands，\'
sheremarked。\'Happenye\'vebeenadressmaker？\'
\'No，youarewrong。Andnow，nevermindwhatIhavebeen:
don\'ttroubleyourheadfurtheraboutme;buttellmethenameofthehousewhereweare。\'
\'SomecallsitMarshEnd，andsomecallsitMoorHouse。\'
\'AndthegentlemanwholiveshereiscalledMr。St。John？\'
\'Nay;hedoesn\'tlivehere:heisonlystayingawhile。
Whenheisathome，heisinhisownparishatMorton。\'
\'Thatvillageafewmilesoff？\'
\'Aye。\'
\'Andwhatishe？\'
\'Heisaparson。\'
Irememberedtheansweroftheoldhousekeeperattheparsonage，whenIhadaskedtoseetheclergyman。\'This，then，washisfather\'sresidence？\'
\'Aye;oldMr。Riverslivedhere，andhisfather，andgrandfather，andgurt（great）grandfatheraforehim。\'
\'Thename，then，ofthatgentleman，isMr。St。JohnRivers？\'
\'Aye;St。Johnislikehiskirstenedname。\'
\'AndhissistersarecalledDianaandMaryRivers？\'
\'Yes。\'
\'Theirfatherisdead？\'
\'Deadthreeweekssin\'ofastroke。\'
\'Theyhavenomother？\'
\'Themistresshasbeendeadthismonyayear。\'
\'Haveyoulivedwiththefamilylong？\'
\'I\'velivedherethirtyyear。Inursedthemallthree\'
\'Thatprovesyoumusthavebeenanhonestandfaithfulservant。I
willsaysomuchforyou，thoughyouhavehadtheincivilitytocallmeabeggar。\'
Sheagainregardedmewithasurprisedstare。\'Ibelieve，\'
shesaid，\'Iwasquitemista\'eninmythoughtsofyou:butthereissomonycheatsgoesabout，youmunforgieme。\'
\'Andthough，\'Icontinued，ratherseverely，\'youwishedtoturnmefromthedoor，onanightwhenyoushouldnothaveshutoutadog。\'
\'Well，itwashard:butwhatcanabodydo？Ithoughtmoreo\'th\'
childernorofmysel:poorthings！They\'velikenobodytotak\'careon\'embutme。I\'mliketolooksharpish。\'
Imaintainedagravesilenceforsomeminutes。
\'Youmunnutthinktoohardlyofme，\'sheagainremarked。
\'ButIdothinkhardlyofyou，\'Isaid;\'andI\'lltellyouwhy—notsomuchbecauseyourefusedtogivemeshelter，orregardedmeasanimpostor，asbecauseyoujustnowmadeitaspeciesofreproachthatI
hadno\"brass\"andnohouse。SomeofthebestpeoplethateverlivedhavebeenasdestituteasIam;andifyouareaChristian，yououghtnottoconsiderpovertyacrime。\'
\'NomoreIought，\'saidshe:\'Mr。St。Johntellsmesotoo;andI
seeIworwrang—butI\'veclearadifferentnotiononyounowtowhatIhad。Youlookaraightdowndacentlittlecrater。\'
\'Thatwilldo—Iforgiveyounow。Shakehands。\'
Sheputherflouryandhornyhandintomine;anotherandheartiersmileilluminedherroughface，andfromthatmomentwewerefriends。
Hannahwasevidentlyfondoftalking。WhileIpickedthefruit，andshemadethepasteforthepies，sheproceededtogivemesundrydetailsaboutherdeceasedmasterandmistress，and\'thechilder，\'
asshecalledtheyoungpeople。
OldMr。Rivers，shesaid，wasaplainmanenough，butagentleman，andofasancientafamilyascouldbefound。MarshEndhadbelongedtotheRiverseversinceitwasahouse:anditwas，sheaffirmed，\'aboontwohundredyearold—forallitlookedbutasmall，humbleplace，naughttocomparewi\'Mr。Oliver\'sgrandhalldowni\'MortonVale。ButshecouldrememberBillOliver\'sfatherajourneymanneedle—maker;andth\'Riversworgentryi\'th\'owddayso\'th\'Henrys，asonybodymightseebylookingintoth\'registersi\'
MortonChurchvestry。\'Still，sheallowed，\'theowdmaisterwaslikeotherfolk—naughtmichouto\'th\'commonway:starkmado\'
shooting，andfarming，andsichlike。\'Themistresswasdifferent。Shewasagreatreader，andstudiedadeal;andthe\'bairns\'hadtakenafterher。Therewasnothinglikethemintheseparts，noreverhadbeen;theyhadlikedlearning，allthree，almostfromthetimetheycouldspeak;andtheyhadalwaysbeen\'ofamak\'oftheirown。\'Mr。
St。John，whenhegrewup，wouldgotocollegeandbeaparson;andthegirls，assoonastheyleftschool，wouldseekplacesasgovernesses:fortheyhadtoldhertheirfatherhadsomeyearsagolostagreatdealofmoneybyamanhehadtrustedturningbankrupt;
andashewasnownotrichenoughtogivethemfortunes，theymustprovideforthemselves。Theyhadlivedverylittleathomeforalongwhile，andwereonlycomenowtostayafewweeksonaccountoftheirfather\'sdeath;buttheydidsolikeMarshEndandMorton，andallthesemoorsandhillsabout。TheyhadbeeninLondon，andmanyothergrandtowns;buttheyalwayssaidtherewasnoplacelikehome;andthentheyweresoagreeablewitheachother—neverfelloutnor\'threaped。\'Shedidnotknowwheretherewassuchafamilyforbeingunited。
Havingfinishedmytaskofgooseberrypicking，Iaskedwherethetwoladiesandtheirbrotherwerenow。
\'GoneovertoMortonforawalk;buttheywouldbebackinhalfanhourtotea。\'
TheyreturnedwithinthetimeHannahhadallottedthem:
theyenteredbythekitchendoor。Mr。St。John，whenhesawme，merelybowedandpassedthrough;thetwoladiesstopped:Mary，inafewwords，kindlyandcalmlyexpressedthepleasureshefeltinseeingmewellenoughtobeabletocomedown;Dianatookmyhand:sheshookherheadatme。
\'Youshouldhavewaitedformyleavetodescend，\'shesaid。
\'Youstilllookverypale—andsothin！Poorchild！—poorgirl！\'
Dianahadavoicetoned，tomyear，likethecooingofadove。
ShepossessedeyeswhosegazeIdelightedtoencounter。Herwholefaceseemedtomefullofcharm。Mary\'scountenancewasequallyintelligent—herfeaturesequallypretty;butherexpressionwasmorereserved，andhermanners，thoughgentle，moredistant。Dianalookedandspokewithacertainauthority:shehadawill，evidently。Itwasmynaturetofeelpleasureinyieldingtoanauthoritysupportedlikehers，andtobend，wheremyconscienceandself—respectpermitted，toanactivewill。
\'Andwhatbusinesshaveyouhere？\'shecontinued。\'Itisnotyourplace。MaryandIsitinthekitchensometimes，becauseathomeweliketobefree，eventolicense—butyouareavisitor，andmustgointotheparlour。\'
\'Iamverywellhere。\'
\'Notatall，withHannahbustlingaboutandcoveringyouwithflour。\'
\'Besides，thefireistoohotforyou，\'interposedMary。
\'Tobesure，\'addedhersister。\'Come，youmustbeobedient。\'
Andstillholdingmyhandshemademerise，andledmeintotheinnerroom。
\'Sitthere，\'shesaid，placingmeonthesofa，\'whilewetakeourthingsoffandgettheteaready;itisanotherprivilegeweexerciseinourlittlemoorlandhome—toprepareourownmealswhenwearesoinclined，orwhenHannahisbaking，brewing，washing，orironing。\'
Sheclosedthedoor，leavingmesoluswithMr。St。John，whosatopposite，abookornewspaperinhishand。Iexaminedfirst，theparlour，andthenitsoccupant。
Theparlourwasratherasmallroom，veryplainlyfurnished，yetcomfortable，becausecleanandneat。Theold—fashionedchairswereverybright，andthewalnut—woodtablewaslikealooking—glass。Afewstrange，antiqueportraitsofthemenandwomenofotherdaysdecoratedthestainedwalls;acupboardwithglassdoorscontainedsomebooksandanancientsetofchina。Therewasnosuperfluousornamentintheroom—notonemodernpieceoffurniture，saveabraceofworkboxesandalady\'sdeskinrosewood，whichstoodonaside—table:everything—includingthecarpetandcurtains—lookedatoncewellwornandwellsaved。
Mr。St。John—sittingasstillasoneofthedustypicturesonthewalls，keepinghiseyesfixedonthepageheperused，andhislipsmutelysealed—waseasyenoughtoexamine。Hadhebeenastatueinsteadofaman，hecouldnothavebeeneasier。Hewasyoung—perhapsfromtwenty—eighttothirty—tall，slender;hisfacerivetedtheeye;itwaslikeaGreekface，verypureinoutline:quiteastraight，classicnose;quiteanAthenianmouthandchin。Itisseldom，indeed，anEnglishfacecomessoneartheantiquemodelsasdidhis。
Hemightwellbealittleshockedattheirregularityofmylineaments，hisownbeingsoharmonious。Hiseyeswerelargeandblue，withbrownlashes;hishighforehead，colourlessasivory，waspartiallystreakedoverbycarelesslocksoffairhair。
Thisisagentledelineation，isitnot，reader？Yethewhomitdescribesscarcelyimpressedonewiththeideaofagentle，ayielding，animpressible，orevenofaplacidnature。Quiescentashenowsat，therewassomethingabouthisnostril，hismouth，hisbrow，which，tomyperceptions，indicatedelementswithineitherrestless，orhard，oreager。Hedidnotspeaktomeoneword，norevendirecttomeoneglance，tillhissistersreturned。Diana，asshepassedinandout，inthecourseofpreparingtea，broughtmealittlecake，bakedonthetopoftheoven。
\'Eatthatnow，\'shesaid:\'youmustbehungry。Hannahsaysyouhavehadnothingbutsomegruelsincebreakfast。\'
Ididnotrefuseit，formyappetitewasawakenedandkeen。
Mr。
Riversnowclosedhisbook，approachedthetable，and，ashetookaseat，fixedhisbluepictorial—lookingeyesfullonme。Therewasanunceremoniousdirectness，asearching，decidedsteadfastnessinhisgazenow，whichtoldthatintentionandnotdiffidence，hadhithertokeptitavertedfromthestranger。
\'Youareveryhungry，\'hesaid。
\'Iam，sir。\'Itismyway—italwayswasmyway，byinstinct—
evertomeetthebriefwithbrevity，thedirectwithplainness。
\'Itiswellforyouthatalowfeverhasforcedyoutoabstainforthelastthreedays:therewouldhavebeendangerinyieldingtothecravingsofyourappetiteatfirst。Nowyoumayeat，thoughstillnotimmoderately。\'
\'ItrustIshallnoteatlongatyourexpense，sir，\'wasmyveryclumsily—contrived，unpolishedanswer。
\'No，\'hesaidcoolly:\'whenyouhaveindicatedtoustheresidenceofyourfriends，wecanwritetothem，andyoumayberestoredtohome。\'
\'That，Imustplainlytellyou，isoutofmypowertodo;
beingabsolutelywithouthomeandfriends。\'
Thethreelookedatme，butnotdistrustfully;Ifelttherewasnosuspicionintheirglances:therewasmoreofcuriosity。Ispeakparticularlyoftheyoungladies。St。John\'seyes，thoughclearenoughinaliteralsense，inafigurativeoneweredifficulttofathom。Heseemedtousethemratherasinstrumentstosearchotherpeople\'sthoughts，thanasagentstorevealhisown:thewhichcombinationofkeennessandreservewasconsiderablymorecalculatedtoembarrassthantoencourage。
\'Doyoumeantosay，\'heasked，\'thatyouarecompletelyisolatedfromeveryconnection？\'
\'Ido。Notatielinksmetoanylivingthing:notaclaimdoI
possesstoadmittanceunderanyroofinEngland。\'
\'Amostsingularpositionatyourage！\'
HereIsawhisglancedirectedtomyhands，whichwerefoldedonthetablebeforeme。Iwonderedwhathesoughtthere:hiswordssoonexplainedthequest。
\'Youhaveneverbeenmarried？Youareaspinster？\'
Dianalaughed。\'Why，shecan\'tbeaboveseventeenoreighteenyearsold，St。John，\'saidshe。
\'Iamnearnineteen:butIamnotmarried。No。\'
Ifeltaburningglowmounttomyface;forbitterandagitatingrecollectionswereawakenedbytheallusiontomarriage。Theyallsawtheembarrassmentandtheemotion。DianaandMaryrelievedmebyturningtheireyeselsewherethantomycrimsonedvisage;butthecolderandsternerbrothercontinuedtogaze，tillthetroublehehadexcitedforcedouttearsaswellascolour。
\'Wheredidyoulastreside？\'henowasked。
\'Youaretooinquisitive，St。John，\'murmuredMaryinalowvoice;butheleanedoverthetableandrequiredananswerbyasecondfirmandpiercinglook。
\'Thenameoftheplacewhere，andofthepersonwithwhomI
lived，ismysecret，\'Irepliedconcisely。
\'Which，ifyoulike，youhave，inmyopinion，arighttokeep，bothfromSt。Johnandeveryotherquestioner，\'remarkedDiana。
\'YetifIknownothingaboutyouoryourhistory，Icannothelpyou，\'hesaid。\'Andyouneedhelp，doyounot？\'
\'Ineedit，andIseekitsofar，sir，thatsometruephilanthropistwillputmeinthewayofgettingworkwhichIcando，andtheremunerationforwhichwillkeepme，ifbutinthebarestnecessariesoflife。\'
\'IknownotwhetherIamatruephilanthropist;yetIamwillingtoaidyoutotheutmostofmypowerinapurposesohonest。First，then，tellmewhatyouhavebeenaccustomedtodo，andwhatyoucando。\'
Ihadnowswallowedmytea。Iwasmightilyrefreshedbythebeverage;asmuchsoasagiantwithwine:itgavenewtonetomyunstrungnerves，andenabledmetoaddressthispenetratingyoungjudgesteadily。
\'Mr。Rivers，\'Isaid，turningtohim，andlookingathim，ashelookedatme，openlyandwithoutdiffidence，\'youandyoursistershavedonemeagreatservice—thegreatestmancandohisfellow—being;youhaverescuedme，byyournoblehospitality，fromdeath。Thisbenefitconferredgivesyouanunlimitedclaimonmygratitude，andaclaim，toacertainextent，onmyconfidence。I
willtellyouasmuchofthehistoryofthewandereryouhaveharboured，asIcantellwithoutcompromisingmyownpeaceofmind—
myownsecurity，moralandphysical，andthatofothers。
\'Iamanorphan，thedaughterofaclergyman。MyparentsdiedbeforeIcouldknowthem。Iwasbroughtupadependant;educatedinacharitableinstitution。Iwilleventellyouthenameoftheestablishment，whereIpassedsixyearsasapupil，andtwoasaMr。Rivers？—theRev。RobertBrocklehurstisthetreasurer。\'
\'IhaveheardofMr。Brocklehurst，andIhaveseentheschool。\'
\'IleftLowoodnearlyayearsincetobecomeaprivategoverness。I
obtainedagoodsituation，andwashappy。ThisplaceIwasobligedtoleavefourdaysbeforeIcamehere。ThereasonofmydepartureI
cannotandoughtnottoexplain:itwouldbeuseless，dangerous，andwouldsoundincredible。Noblameattachedtome:Iamasfreefromculpabilityasanyoneofyouthree。MiserableIam，andmustbeforatime;forthecatastrophewhichdrovemefromahouseIhadfoundaparadisewasofastrangeanddirefulnature。Iobservedbuttwopointsinplanningmydeparture—speed，secrecy:tosecurethese，I
hadtoleavebehindmeeverythingIpossessedexceptasmallparcel;