牛津书虫第6级6-01.Jane Eyre Chapter 21

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Chapter21

Presentimentsarestrangethings!andsoaresympathies;andsoaresigns;andthethreecombinedmakeonemysterytowhichhumanityhasnotyetfoundthekey.Ineverlaughedatpresentimentsinmylife,becauseIhavehadstrangeonesofmyown.Sympathies,Ibelieve,exist(forinstance,betweenfar-distant,long-absent,whollyestrangedrelativesasserting,notwithstandingtheiralienation,theunityofthesourcetowhicheachtraceshisorigin)whoseworkingsbafflemortalcomprehension.Andsigns,foraughtweknow,maybebutthesympathiesofNaturewithman.

WhenIwasalittlegirl,onlysixyearsold,IonenightheardBessieLeavensaytoMarthaAbbotthatshehadbeendreamingaboutalittlechild;andthattodreamofchildrenwasasuresignoftrouble,eithertoone’sselforone’skin.Thesayingmighthavewornoutofmymemory,hadnotacircumstanceimmediatelyfollowedwhichservedindeliblytofixitthere.ThenextdayBessiewassentforhometothedeathbedofherlittlesister.

OflateIhadoftenrecalledthissayingandthisincident;forduringthepastweekscarcelyanighthadgoneovermycouchthathadnotbroughtwithitadreamofaninfant,whichIsometimeshushedinmyarms,sometimesdandledonmyknee,sometimeswatchedplayingwithdaisiesonalawn,oragain,dabblingitshandsinrunningwater.Itwasawailing

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childthisnight,andalaughingonethenext:nowitnestledclosetome,andnowitranfromme;butwhatevermoodtheapparitionevinced,whateveraspectitwore,itfailednotforsevensuccessivenightstomeetmethemomentIenteredthelandofslumber.

Ididnotlikethisiterationofoneidea—thisstrangerecurrenceofoneimage,andIgrewnervousasbedtimeapproachedandthehourofthevisiondrewnear.Itwasfromcompanionshipwiththisbaby-phantomIhadbeenrousedonthatmoonlightnightwhenIheardthecry;anditwasontheafternoonofthedayfollowingIwassummoneddownstairsbyamessagethatsomeonewantedmeinMrs.Fairfax’sroom.Onrepairingthither,Ifoundamanwaitingforme,havingtheappearanceofagentleman’sservant:hewasdressedindeepmourning,andthehatheheldinhishandwassurroundedwithacrapeband.

“Idaresayyouhardlyrememberme,Miss,”hesaid,risingasIentered;“butmynameisLeaven:IlivedcoachmanwithMrs.ReedwhenyouwereatGateshead,eightornineyearssince,andIlivetherestill.”

“Oh,Robert!howdoyoudo?Irememberyouverywell:youusedtogivemearidesometimesonMissGeorgiana’sbaypony.AndhowisBessie?YouaremarriedtoBessie?”

“Yes,Miss:mywifeisveryhearty,thankyou;shebroughtmeanotherlittleoneabouttwomonthssince—wehavethreenow—andbothmotherandchildarethriving.”

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“Andarethefamilywellatthehouse,Robert?”

“IamsorryIcan’tgiveyoubetternewsofthem,Miss:theyareverybadlyatpresent—ingreattrouble.”

“Ihopenooneisdead,”Isaid,glancingathisblackdress.Hetoolookeddownatthecraperoundhishatandreplied-

“Mr.Johndiedyesterdaywasaweek,athischambersinLondon.”

“Mr.John?”

“Yes.”

“Andhowdoeshismotherbearit?”

“Why,yousee,MissEyre,itisnotacommonmishap:hislifehasbeenverywild:theselastthreeyearshegavehimselfuptostrangeways,andhisdeathwasshocking.”

“IheardfromBessiehewasnotdoingwell.”

“Doingwell!Hecouldnotdoworse:heruinedhishealthandhisestateamongsttheworstmenandtheworstwomen.Hegotintodebtandintojail:hismotherhelpedhimouttwice,butassoonashewasfreehereturnedtohisoldcompanionsandhabits.Hisheadwasnotstrong:theknaveshelivedamongstfooledhimbeyondanythingIeverheard.HecamedowntoGatesheadaboutthreeweeksagoandwantedmissistogiveupalltohim.Missisrefused:hermeanshavelongbeenmuchreducedbyhisextravagance;so

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hewentbackagain,andthenextnewswasthathewasdead.Howhedied,Godknows!—theysayhekilledhimself.”

Iwassilent:thethingswerefrightful.RobertLeavenresumed-

“Missishadbeenoutofhealthherselfforsometime:shehadgotverystout,butwasnotstrongwithit;andthelossofmoneyandfearofpovertywerequitebreakingherdown.TheinformationaboutMr.John’sdeathandthemannerofitcametoosuddenly:itbroughtonastroke.Shewasthreedayswithoutspeaking;butlastTuesdaysheseemedratherbetter:sheappearedasifshewantedtosaysomething,andkeptmakingsignstomywifeandmumbling.Itwasonlyyesterdaymorning,however,thatBessieunderstoodshewaspronouncingyourname;andatlastshemadeoutthewords,‘BringJane—fetchJaneEyre:Iwanttospeaktoher.’Bessieisnotsurewhethersheisinherrightmind,ormeansanythingbythewords;butshetoldMissReedandMissGeorgiana,andadvisedthemtosendforyou.Theyoungladiesputitoffatfirst;buttheirmothergrewsorestless,andsaid,‘Jane,Jane,’somanytimes,thatatlasttheyconsented.IleftGatesheadyesterday:andifyoucangetready,Miss,Ishouldliketotakeyoubackwithmeearlyto-morrowmorning.”

“Yes,Robert,Ishallbeready:itseemstomethatIoughttogo.”

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“Ithinksotoo,Miss.Bessiesaidshewassureyouwouldnotrefuse:butIsupposeyouwillhavetoaskleavebeforeyoucangetoff?”

“Yes;andIwilldoitnow;”andhavingdirectedhimtotheservants’hall,andrecommendedhimtothecareofJohn’swife,andtheattentionsofJohnhimself,IwentinsearchofMr.Rochester.

Hewasnotinanyofthelowerrooms;hewasnotintheyard,thestables,orthegrounds.IaskedMrs.Fairfaxifshehadseenhim;—yes:shebelievedhewasplayingbilliardswithMissIngram.Tothebilliard-roomIhastened:theclickofballsandthehumofvoicesresoundedthence;Mr.Rochester,MissIngram,thetwoMissesEshton,andtheiradmirers,wereallbusiedinthegame.Itrequiredsomecouragetodisturbsointerestingaparty;myerrand,however,wasoneIcouldnotdefer,soIapproachedthemasterwherehestoodatMissIngram’sside.SheturnedasIdrewnear,andlookedatmehaughtily:hereyesseemedtodemand,“Whatcanthecreepingcreaturewantnow?”andwhenIsaid,inalowvoice,“Mr.Rochester,”shemadeamovementasiftemptedtoordermeaway.Irememberherappearanceatthemoment—itwasverygracefulandverystriking:sheworeamorningrobeofsky-bluecrape;agauzyazurescarfwastwistedinherhair.Shehadbeenallanimationwiththegame,andirritatedpridedidnotlowertheexpressionofherhaughtylineaments.

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“Doesthatpersonwantyou?”sheinquiredofMr.Rochester;andMr.Rochesterturnedtoseewhothe“person”was.Hemadeacuriousgrimace—oneofhisstrangeandequivocaldemonstrations—threwdownhiscueandfollowedmefromtheroom.

“Well,Jane?”hesaid,asherestedhisbackagainsttheschoolroomdoor,whichhehadshut.

“Ifyouplease,sir,Iwantleaveofabsenceforaweekortwo.”

“Whattodo?—wheretogo?”

“Toseeasickladywhohassentforme.”

“Whatsicklady?—wheredoesshelive?”

“AtGateshead;in-shire.”

“-shire?Thatisahundredmilesoff!Whomayshebethatsendsforpeopletoseeherthatdistance?”

“HernameisReed,sir—Mrs.Reed.”

“ReedofGateshead?TherewasaReedofGateshead,amagistrate.”

“Itishiswidow,sir.”

“Andwhathaveyoutodowithher?Howdoyouknowher?”

“Mr.Reedwasmyuncle—mymother’sbrother.”

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“Thedeucehewas!Younevertoldmethatbefore:youalwayssaidyouhadnorelations.”

“Nonethatwouldownme,sir.Mr.Reedisdead,and

hiswifecastmeoff.”

“Why?”

“BecauseIwaspoor,andburdensome,andshedislikedme.”

“ButReedleftchildren?—youmusthavecousins?SirGeorgeLynnwastalkingofaReedofGatesheadyesterday,who,hesaid,wasoneoftheveriestrascalsontown;andIngramwasmentioningaGeorgianaReedofthesameplace,whowasmuchadmiredforherbeautyaseasonortwoagoinLondon.”

“JohnReedisdead,too,sir:heruinedhimselfandhalf-ruinedhisfamily,andissupposedtohavecommittedsuicide.Thenewssoshockedhismotherthatitbroughtonanapoplecticattack.”

“Andwhatgoodcanyoudoher?Nonsense,Jane!Iwouldneverthinkofrunningahundredmilestoseeanoldladywhowill,perhaps,bedeadbeforeyoureachher:besides,yousayshecastyouoff.”

“Yes,sir,butthatislongago;andwhenhercircumstanceswereverydifferent:Icouldnotbeeasyto

neglectherwishesnow.”

“Howlongwillyoustay?”

“Asshortatimeaspossible,sir.”

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“Promisemeonlytostayaweek—“

“Ihadbetternotpassmyword:Imightbeobligedtobreakit.”

“AtalleventsyouWILLcomeback:youwillnotbeinducedunderanypretexttotakeupapermanentresidencewithher?”

“Oh,no!Ishallcertainlyreturnifallbewell.”

“Andwhogoeswithyou?Youdon’ttravelahundredmilesalone.”

“No,sir,shehassenthercoachman.”

“Apersontobetrusted?”

“Yes,sir,hehaslivedtenyearsinthefamily.”

Mr.Rochestermeditated.“Whendoyouwishtogo?”“Earlyto-morrowmorning,sir.”

“Well,youmusthavesomemoney;youcan’ttravelwithoutmoney,andIdaresayyouhavenotmuch:Ihavegivenyounosalaryyet.Howmuchhaveyouintheworld,Jane?”heasked,smiling.

Idrewoutmypurse;ameagrethingitwas.“Fiveshillings,sir.”Hetookthepurse,pouredthehoardintohispalm,andchuckledoveritasifitsscantinessamusedhim.Soonheproducedhispocket-book:“Here,”saidhe,offeringmeanote;itwasfiftypounds,andheowedmebutfifteen.ItoldhimIhadnochange.

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“Idon’twantchange;youknowthat.Takeyourwages.”

Ideclinedacceptingmorethanwasmydue.Hescowledatfirst;then,asifrecollectingsomething,hesaid-

“Right,right!Betternotgiveyouallnow:youwould,perhaps,stayawaythreemonthsifyouhadfifty

pounds.Thereareten;isitnotplenty?”

“Yes,sir,butnowyouowemefive.”

“Comebackforit,then;Iamyourbankerforfortypounds.”

“Mr.Rochester,ImayaswellmentionanothermatterofbusinesstoyouwhileIhavetheopportunity.”

“Matterofbusiness?Iamcurioustohearit.”

“Youhaveasgoodasinformedme,sir,thatyouare

goingshortlytobemarried?”

“Yes;whatthen?”

“Inthatcase,sir,Adeleoughttogotoschool:Iamsureyouwillperceivethenecessityofit.”

“Togetheroutofmybride’sway,whomightotherwisewalkoverherrathertooemphatically?There’ssenseinthesuggestion;notadoubtofit.Adele,asyousay,mustgotoschool;andyou,ofcourse,mustmarchstraightto—thedevil?”

“Ihopenot,sir;butImustseekanothersituationsomewhere.”

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“Incourse!”heexclaimed,withatwangofvoiceandadistortionoffeaturesequallyfantasticandludicrous.Helookedatmesomeminutes.

“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.”

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“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.”

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“Farewell,MissEyre,forthepresent;isthatall?”“Yes?”

“Itseemsstingy,tomynotions,anddry,andunfriendly.Ishouldlikesomethingelse: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,asIentered.

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“Yes,Bessie,”saidI,afterIhadkissedher;“andItrustIamnottoolate.HowisMrs.Reed?—Alivestill,Ihope.”

“Yes,sheisalive;andmoresensibleandcollectedthanshewas.Thedoctorsaysshemaylingeraweekortwo

yet;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.

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Teaready,Iwasgoingtoapproachthetable;butshedesiredmetositstill,quiteinheroldperemptorytones.Imustbeservedatthefireside,shesaid;andsheplacedbeforemealittleroundstandwithmycupandaplateoftoast,absolutelyassheusedtoaccommodatemewithsomeprivatelypurloineddaintyonanurserychair:andIsmiledandobeyedherasinbygonedays.

ShewantedtoknowifIwashappyatThornfieldHall,andwhatsortofapersonthemistresswas;andwhenItoldhertherewasonlyamaster,whetherhewasanicegentleman,andifIlikedhim.Itoldherhewasratheranuglyman,butquiteagentleman;andthathetreatedmekindly,andIwascontent.ThenIwentontodescribetoherthegaycompanythathadlatelybeenstayingatthehouse;andtothesedetailsBessielistenedwithinterest:theywerepreciselyofthekindsherelished.

Insuchconversationanhourwassoongone:Bessierestoredtomemybonnet,&c.,and,accompaniedbyher,Iquittedthelodgeforthehall.ItwasalsoaccompaniedbyherthatIhad,nearlynineyearsago,walkeddownthepathIwasnowascending.Onadark,misty,rawmorninginJanuary,Ihadleftahostileroofwithadesperateandembitteredheart—asenseofoutlawryandalmostofreprobation—toseekthechillyharbourageofLowood:thatbournesofarawayandunexplored.Thesamehostileroofnowagainrosebeforeme:myprospectsweredoubtfulyet;andIhadyetanachingheart.Istillfeltasawandereronthefaceoftheearth;butIexperiencedfirmertrustinmyself

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andmyownpowers,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,whichwasaugmentedbytheextremeplainnessofastraight-skirted,black,stuffdress,astarchedlinencollar,haircombedawayfromthetemples,andthenun-likeornamentofastringofebonybeadsandacrucifix.ThisIfeltsurewasEliza,thoughIcouldtracelittleresemblancetoherformerselfinthatelongatedandcolourlessvisage.

TheotherwasascertainlyGeorgiana:butnottheGeorgianaIremembered—theslimandfairy-likegirl

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ofeleven.Thiswasafull-blown,veryplumpdamsel,fairaswaxwork,withhandsomeandregularfeatures,languishingblueeyes,andringletedyellowhair.Thehueofherdresswasblacktoo;butitsfashionwassodifferentfromhersister’s—somuchmoreflowingandbecoming—itlookedasstylishastheother’slookedpuritanical.

Ineachofthesisterstherewasonetraitofthemother—andonlyone;thethinandpallidelderdaughterhadherparent’sCairngormeye:thebloomingandluxuriantyoungergirlhadhercontourofjawandchin—perhapsalittlesoftened,butstillimpartinganindescribablehardnesstothecountenanceotherwisesovoluptuousandbuxom.

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,expressfullytheir

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sentimentsonthepoint,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,“andIwouldnotdeferattendingtoherdesirelongerthanisabsolutelynecessary.”

“Mamadislikesbeingdisturbedinanevening,”remarkedEliza.Isoonrose,quietlytookoffmybonnet

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andgloves,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,towhichIhadsooftenbeensummonedforchastisementorreprimandinformerdays.IhastenedbeforeBessie;Isoftlyopenedthedoor:ashadedlightstoodonthetable,foritwasnowgettingdark.Therewasthegreatfour-postbedwithamberhangingsasofold;therethetoilet-table,thearmchair,andthefootstool,atwhichIhadahundredtimesbeensentencedtokneel,toaskpardonforoffencesbymeuncommitted.Ilookedintoacertaincornernear,half-expectingtoseetheslim

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outlineofaoncedreadedswitchwhichusedtolurkthere,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!And

yetIstoopeddownandkissedher:shelookedatme.“IsthisJaneEyre?”shesaid.

“Yes,AuntReed.Howareyou,dearaunt?”

IhadoncevowedthatIwouldnevercallherauntagain:Ithoughtitnosintoforgetandbreakthatvownow.Myfingershadfastenedonherhandwhichlayoutsidethesheet:hadshepressedminekindly,Ishouldatthatmomenthaveexperiencedtruepleasure.But

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unimpressionablenaturesarenotsosoonsoftened,norarenaturalantipathiessoreadilyeradicated.Mrs.Reedtookherhandaway,and,turningherfaceratherfrom