第7章

MissTemple，throughallchanges，hadthusfarcontinuedsuperintendentoftheseminary:toherinstructionIowedthebestpartofmyacquirements;herfriendshipandsocietyhadbeenmycontinualsolace;shehadstoodmeinthesteadofmother，governess，and，latterly，companion。Atthisperiodshemarried，removedwithherhusband（aclergyman，anexcellentman，almostworthyofsuchawife）toadistantcounty，andconsequentlywaslosttome。

FromthedaysheleftIwasnolongerthesame:withherwasgoneeverysettledfeeling，everyassociationthathadmadeLowoodinsomedegreeahometome。Ihadimbibedfromhersomethingofhernatureandmuchofherhabits:moreharmoniousthoughts:whatseemedbetterregulatedfeelingshadbecometheinmatesofmymind。Ihadgiveninallegiancetodutyandorder;Iwasquiet;IbelievedIwascontent:totheeyesofothers，usuallyeventomyown，Iappearedadisciplinedandsubduedcharacter。

Butdestiny，intheshapeoftheRev。Mr。Nasmyth，camebetweenmeandMissTemple:Isawherinhertravellingdressstepintoapost—chaise，shortlyafterthemarriageceremony;Iwatchedthechaisemountthehillanddisappearbeyonditsbrow;andthenretiredtomyownroom，andtherespentinsolitudethegreatestpartofthehalf—holidaygrantedinhonouroftheoccasion。

Iwalkedaboutthechambermostofthetime。Iimaginedmyselfonlytoberegrettingmyloss，andthinkinghowtorepairit;butwhenmyreflectionswereconcluded，andIlookedupandfoundthattheafternoonwasgone，andeveningfaradvanced，anotherdiscoverydawnedonme，namely，thatintheintervalIhadundergoneatransformingprocess;thatmymindhadputoffallithadborrowedofMissTemple—orratherthatshehadtakenwithherthesereneatmosphereIhadbeenbreathinginhervicinity—andthatnowIwasleftinmynaturalelement，andbeginningtofeelthestirringofoldemotions。Itdidnotseemasifapropwerewithdrawn，butratherasifamotiveweregone:itwasnotthepowertobetranquilwhichhadfailedme，butthereasonfortranquillitywasnomore。MyworldhadforsomeyearsbeeninLowood:myexperiencehadbeenofitsrulesandsystems;nowIrememberedthattherealworldwaswide，andthatavariedfieldofhopesandfears，ofsensationsandexcitements，awaitedthosewhohadcouragetogoforthintoitsexpanse，toseekrealknowledgeoflifeamidstitsperils。

Iwenttomywindow，openedit，andlookedout。Therewerethetwowingsofthebuilding;therewasthegarden;thereweretheskirtsofLowood;therewasthehillyhorizon。Myeyepassedallotherobjectstorestonthosemostremote，thebluepeaks;itwasthoseIlongedtosurmount;allwithintheirboundaryofrockandheathseemedprison—ground，exilelimits。Itracedthewhiteroadwindingroundthebaseofonemountain，andvanishinginagorgebetweentwo;howIlongedtofollowitfarther！IrecalledthetimewhenIhadtravelledthatveryroadinacoach;Iremembereddescendingthathillattwilight;anageseemedtohaveelapsedsincethedaywhichbroughtmefirsttoLowood，andIhadneverquitteditsince。Myvacationshadallbeenspentatschool:Mrs。ReedhadneversentformetoGateshead;neithershenoranyofherfamilyhadeverbeentovisitme。Ihadhadnocommunicationbyletterormessagewiththeouterworld:school—rules，school—duties，school—habitsandnotions，andvoices，andfaces，andphrases，andcostumes，andpreferences，andantipathies—suchwaswhatIknewofexistence。AndnowIfeltthatitwasnotenough;Itiredoftheroutineofeightyearsinoneafternoon。Idesiredliberty;forlibertyIgasped;forlibertyIutteredaprayer;itseemedscatteredonthewindthenfaintlyblowing。Iabandoneditandframedahumblersupplication;forchange，stimulus:thatpetition，too，seemedsweptoffintovaguespace:“Then，”Icried，halfdesperate，“grantmeatleastanewservitude！”

Hereabell，ringingthehourofsupper，calledmedownstairs。

Iwasnotfreetoresumetheinterruptedchainofmyreflectionstillbedtime:eventhenateacherwhooccupiedthesameroomwithmekeptmefromthesubjecttowhichIlongedtorecur，byaprolongedeffusionofsmalltalk。HowIwishedsleepwouldsilenceher。Itseemedasif，couldIbutgobacktotheideawhichhadlastenteredmymindasIstoodatthewindow，someinventivesuggestionwouldriseformyrelief。

MissGrycesnoredatlast;shewasaheavyWelshwoman，andtillnowherhabitualnasalstrainshadneverbeenregardedbymeinanyotherlightthanasanuisance;to—nightIhailedthefirstdeepnoteswithsatisfaction;Iwasdebarrassedofinterruption;myhalf—effacedthoughtinstantlyrevived。

“Anewservitude！Thereissomethinginthat，”Isoliloquised（mentally，beitunderstood;Ididnottalkaloud），“Iknowthereis，becauseitdoesnotsoundtoosweet;itisnotlikesuchwordsasLiberty，Excitement，Enjoyment:delightfulsoundstruly;butnomorethansoundsforme;andsohollowandfleetingthatitismerewasteoftimetolistentothem。ButServitude！Thatmustbematteroffact。Anyonemayserve:Ihaveservedhereeightyears;nowallIwantistoserveelsewhere。CanInotgetsomuchofmyownwill？Isnotthethingfeasible？Yes—yes—theendisnotsodifficult;ifIhadonlyabrainactiveenoughtoferretoutthemeansofattainingit。”

Isatupinbedbywayofarousingthissaidbrain:itwasachillynight;Icoveredmyshoulderswithashawl，andthenIproceededTOthinkagainwithallmymight。

“WhatdoIwant？Anewplace，inanewhouse，amongstnewfaces，undernewcircumstances:Iwantthisbecauseitisofnousewantinganythingbetter。Howdopeopledotogetanewplace？Theyapplytofriends，Isuppose:Ihavenofriends。Therearemanyotherswhohavenofriends，whomustlookaboutforthemselvesandbetheirownhelpers;andwhatistheirresource？”

Icouldnottell:nothingansweredme;Ithenorderedmybraintofindaresponse，andquickly。Itworkedandworkedfaster:Ifeltthepulsesthrobinmyheadandtemples;butfornearlyanhouritworkedinchaos;andnoresultcameofitsefforts。Feverishwithvainlabour，Igotupandtookaturnintheroom;undrewthecurtain，notedastarortwo，shiveredwithcold，andagaincrepttobed。

Akindfairy，inmyabsence，hadsurelydroppedtherequiredsuggestiononmypillow;forasIlaydown，itcamequietlyandnaturallytomymind。—“Thosewhowantsituationsadvertise;youmustadvertiseinthe—shireHerald。”

“How？Iknownothingaboutadvertising。”

Repliesrosesmoothandpromptnow:—

“YoumustenclosetheadvertisementandthemoneytopayforitunderacoverdirectedtotheeditoroftheHerald;youmustputit，thefirstopportunityyouhave，intothepostatLowton;answersmustbeaddressedtoJ。E。，atthepost—officethere;youcangoandinquireinaboutaweekafteryousendyourletter，ifanyarecome，andactaccordingly。”

ThisschemeIwentovertwice，thrice;itwasthendigestedinmymind;Ihaditinaclearpracticalform:Ifeltsatisfied，andfellasleep。

Withearliestday，Iwasup:Ihadmyadvertisementwritten，enclosed，anddirectedbeforethebellrangtorousetheschool;itranthus:—

“Ayoungladyaccustomedtotuition”（hadInotbeenateachertwoyears？）“isdesirousofmeetingwithasituationinaprivatefamilywherethechildrenareunderfourteen（IthoughtthatasIwasbarelyeighteen，itwouldnotdotoundertaketheguidanceofpupilsnearermyownage）。SheisqualifiedtoteachtheusualbranchesofagoodEnglisheducation，togetherwithFrench，Drawing，andMusic”（inthosedays，reader，thisnownarrowcatalogueofaccomplishments，wouldhavebeenheldtolerablycomprehensive）。“Address，J。E。，Post—office，Lowton，—shire。”

Thisdocumentremainedlockedinmydrawerallday:aftertea，IaskedleaveofthenewsuperintendenttogotoLowton，inordertoperformsomesmallcommissionsformyselfandoneortwoofmyfellow—teachers;permissionwasreadilygranted;Iwent。Itwasawalkoftwomiles，andtheeveningwaswet，butthedayswerestilllong;Ivisitedashoportwo，slippedtheletterintothepost—office，andcamebackthroughheavyrain，withstreaminggarments，butwitharelievedheart。

Thesucceedingweekseemedlong:itcametoanendatlast，however，likeallsublunarythings，andoncemore，towardsthecloseofapleasantautumnday，IfoundmyselfafootontheroadtoLowton。Apicturesquetrackitwas，bytheway;lyingalongthesideofthebeckandthroughthesweetestcurvesofthedale:butthatdayIthoughtmoreoftheletters，thatmightormightnotbeawaitingmeatthelittleburghwhitherIwasbound，thanofthecharmsofleaandwater。

Myostensibleerrandonthisoccasionwastogetmeasuredforapairofshoes;soIdischargedthatbusinessfirst，andwhenitwasdone，Isteppedacrossthecleanandquietlittlestreetfromtheshoemaker’stothepost—office:itwaskeptbyanolddame，whoworehornspectaclesonhernose，andblackmittensonherhands。

“ArethereanylettersforJ。E。？”Iasked。

Shepeeredatmeoverherspectacles，andthensheopenedadrawerandfumbledamongitscontentsforalongtime，solongthatmyhopesbegantofalter。Atlast，havingheldadocumentbeforeherglassesfornearlyfiveminutes，shepresenteditacrossthecounter，accompanyingtheactbyanotherinquisitiveandmistrustfulglance—itwasforJ。E。

“Isthereonlyone？”Idemanded。

“Therearenomore，”saidshe;andIputitinmypocketandturnedmyfacehomeward:Icouldnotopenitthen;rulesobligedmetobebackbyeight，anditwasalreadyhalf—pastseven。

Variousdutiesawaitedmeonmyarrival。Ihadtositwiththegirlsduringtheirhourofstudy;thenitwasmyturntoreadprayers;toseethemtobed:afterwardsIsuppedwiththeotherteachers。Evenwhenwefinallyretiredforthenight，theinevitableMissGrycewasstillmycompanion:wehadonlyashortendofcandleinourcandlestick，andIdreadedlestsheshouldtalktillitwasallburntout;fortunately，however，theheavysuppershehadeatenproducedasoporificeffect:shewasalreadysnoringbeforeIhadfinishedundressing。Therestillremainedaninchofcandle:Inowtookoutmyletter;thesealwasaninitialF。;Ibrokeit;thecontentswerebrief。

“IfJ。E。，whoadvertisedinthe—shireHeraldoflastThursday，possessestheacquirementsmentioned，andifsheisinapositiontogivesatisfactoryreferencesastocharacterandcompetency，asituationcanbeofferedherwherethereisbutonepupil，alittlegirl，undertenyearsofage;andwherethesalaryisthirtypoundsperannum。J。E。isrequestedtosendreferences，name，address，andallparticularstothedirection:—

“Mrs。Fairfax，Thornfield，nearMillcote，—shire。”

Iexaminedthedocumentlong:thewritingwasold—fashionedandratheruncertain，likethatofinelderlylady。Thiscircumstancewassatisfactory:aprivatefearhadhauntedme，thatinthusactingformyself，andbymyownguidance，Irantheriskofgettingintosomescrape;and，aboveallthings，Iwishedtheresultofmyendeavourstoberespectable，proper，enrègle。InowfeltthatanelderlyladywasnobadingredientinthebusinessIhadonhand。Mrs。Fairfax！Isawherinablackgownandwidow’scap;frigid，perhaps，butnotuncivil:amodelofelderlyEnglishrespectability。Thornfield！that，doubtless，wasthenameofherhouse:aneatorderlyspot，Iwassure;thoughIfailedinmyeffortstoconceiveacorrectplanofthepremises。Millcote，—shire;IbrushedupmyrecollectionsofthemapofEngland，yes，Isawit;boththeshireandthetown。—shirewasseventymilesnearerLondonthantheremotecountywhereInowresided:thatwasarecommendationtome。Ilongedtogowheretherewaslifeandmovement:MillcotewasalargemanufacturingtownonthebanksoftheA—;abusyplaceenough，doubtless:somuchthebetter;itwouldbeacompletechangeatleast。Notthatmyfancywasmuchcaptivatedbytheideaoflongchimneysandcloudsofsmoke—“but，”Iargued，“Thornfieldwill，probably，beagoodwayfromthetown。”

Herethesocketofthecandledropped，andthewickwentout。

Nextdaynewstepsweretobetaken;myplanscouldnolongerbeconfinedtomyownbreast;Imustimparttheminordertoachievetheirsuccess。Havingsoughtandobtainedanaudienceofthesuperintendentduringthenoontiderecreation，ItoldherIhadaprospectofgettinganewsituationwherethesalarywouldbedoublewhatInowreceived（foratLowoodIonlygot￡15perannum）;andrequestedshewouldbreakthematterformetoMr。Brocklehurst，orsomeofthecommittee，andascertainwhethertheywouldpermitmetomentionthemasreferences。Sheobliginglyconsentedtoactasmediatrixinthematter。ThenextdayshelaidtheaffairbeforeMr。Brocklehurst，whosaidthatMrs。Reedmustbewrittento，asshewasmynaturalguardian。Anotewasaccordinglyaddressedtothatlady，whoreturnedforanswer，that“ImightdoasIpleased:shehadlongrelinquishedallinterferenceinmyaffairs。”Thisnotewenttheroundofthecommittee，andatlast，afterwhatappearedtomemosttediousdelay，formalleavewasgivenmetobettermyconditionifIcould;andanassuranceadded，thatasIhadalwaysconductedmyselfwell，bothasteacherandpupil，atLowood，atestimonialofcharacterandcapacity，signedbytheinspectorsofthatinstitution，shouldforthwithbefurnishedme。

ThistestimonialIaccordinglyreceivedinaboutamonth，forwardedacopyofittoMrs。Fairfax，andgotthatlady’sreply，statingthatshewassatisfied，andfixingthatdayfortnightastheperiodformyassumingthepostofgovernessinherhouse。

Inowbusiedmyselfinpreparations:thefortnightpassedrapidly。Ihadnotaverylargewardrobe，thoughitwasadequatetomywants;andthelastdaysufficedtopackmytrunk，—thesameIhadbroughtwithmeeightyearsagofromGateshead。

Theboxwascorded，thecardnailedon。Inhalf—an—hourthecarrierwastocallforittotakeittoLowton，whetherImyselfwastorepairatanearlyhourthenextmorningtomeetthecoach。Ihadbrushedmyblackstufftravelling—dress，preparedmybonnet，gloves，andmuff;soughtinallmydrawerstoseethatnoarticlewasleftbehind;andnowhavingnothingmoretodo，Isatdownandtriedtorest。Icouldnot;thoughIhadbeenonfootallday，Icouldnotnowreposeaninstant;Iwastoomuchexcited。Aphaseofmylifewasclosingto—night，anewoneopeningto—morrow:impossibletoslumberintheinterval;Imustwatchfeverishlywhilethechangewasbeingaccomplished。

“Miss，”saidaservantwhometmeinthelobby，whereIwaswanderinglikeatroubledspirit，“apersonbelowwishestoseeyou。”

“Thecarrier，nodoubt，”Ithought，andrandownstairswithoutinquiry。Iwaspassingtheback—parlourorteachers’sitting—room，thedoorofwhichwashalfopen，togotothekitchen，whensomeoneranout—

“It’sher，Iamsure！—Icouldhavetoldheranywhere！”criedtheindividualwhostoppedmyprogressandtookmyhand。

Ilooked:Isawawomanattiredlikeawell—dressedservant，matronly，yetstillyoung;verygood—looking，withblackhairandeyes，andlivelycomplexion。

“Well，whoisit？”sheasked，inavoiceandwithasmileIhalfrecognised;“you’venotquiteforgottenme，Ithink，MissJane？”

InanothersecondIwasembracingandkissingherrapturously:“Bessie！Bessie！Bessie！”thatwasallIsaid;whereatshehalflaughed，halfcried，andwebothwentintotheparlour。Bythefirestoodalittlefellowofthreeyearsold，inplaidfrockandtrousers。

“Thatismylittleboy，”saidBessiedirectly。

“Thenyouaremarried，Bessie？”

“Yes;nearlyfiveyearssincetoRobertLeaven，thecoachman;andI’vealittlegirlbesidesBobbythere，thatI’vechristenedJane。”

“Andyoudon’tliveatGateshead？”

“Iliveatthelodge:theoldporterhasleft。”

“Well，andhowdotheyallgeton？Tellmeeverythingaboutthem，Bessie:butsitdownfirst;and，Bobby，comeandsitonmyknee，willyou？”butBobbypreferredsidlingovertohismother。

“You’renotgrownsoverytall，MissJane，norsoverystout，”continuedMrs。Leaven。“Idaresaythey’venotkeptyoutoowellatschool:MissReedistheheadandshoulderstallerthanyouare;andMissGeorgianawouldmaketwoofyouinbreadth。”

“Georgianaishandsome，Isuppose，Bessie？”

“Very。ShewentuptoLondonlastwinterwithhermama，andthereeverybodyadmiredher，andayounglordfellinlovewithher:buthisrelationswereagainstthematch;and—whatdoyouthink？—heandMissGeorgianamadeituptorunaway;buttheywerefoundoutandstopped。ItwasMissReedthatfoundthemout:Ibelieveshewasenvious;andnowsheandhersisterleadacatanddoglifetogether;theyarealwaysquarrelling—”

“Well，andwhatofJohnReed？”

“Oh，heisnotdoingsowellashismamacouldwish。Hewenttocollege，andhegot—plucked，Ithinktheycallit:andthenhisuncleswantedhimtobeabarrister，andstudythelaw:butheissuchadissipatedyoungman，theywillnevermakemuchofhim，Ithink。”

“Whatdoeshelooklike？”

“Heisverytall:somepeoplecallhimafine—lookingyoungman;buthehassuchthicklips。”

“AndMrs。Reed？”

“Missislooksstoutandwellenoughintheface，butIthinkshe’snotquiteeasyinhermind:Mr。John’sconductdoesnotpleaseher—hespendsadealofmoney。”

“Didshesendyouhere，Bessie？”

“No，indeed:butIhavelongwantedtoseeyou，andwhenIheardthattherehadbeenaletterfromyou，andthatyouweregoingtoanotherpartofthecountry，IthoughtI’djustsetof，andgetalookatyoubeforeyouwerequiteoutofmyreach。”

“Iamafraidyouaredisappointedinme，Bessie。”Isaidthislaughing:IperceivedthatBessie’sglance，thoughitexpressedregard，didinnoshapedenoteadmiration。

“No，MissJane，notexactly:youaregenteelenough;youlooklikealady，anditisasmuchaseverIexpectedofyou:youwerenobeautyasachild。”

IsmiledatBessie’sfrankanswer:Ifeltthatitwascorrect，butIconfessIwasnotquiteindifferenttoitsimport:ateighteenmostpeoplewishtoplease，andtheconvictionthattheyhavenotanexteriorlikelytosecondthatdesirebringsanythingbutgratification。

“Idaresayyouareclever，though，”continuedBessie，bywayofsolace。“Whatcanyoudo？Canyouplayonthepiano？”

“Alittle。”

Therewasoneintheroom;Bessiewentandopenedit，andthenaskedmetositdownandgiveheratune:Iplayedawaltzortwo，andshewascharmed。

“TheMissReedscouldnotplayaswell！”saidsheexultingly。“Ialwayssaidyouwouldsurpasstheminlearning:andcanyoudraw？”

“Thatisoneofmypaintingsoverthechimney—piece。”Itwasalandscapeinwatercolours，ofwhichIhadmadeapresenttothesuperintendent，inacknowledgmentofherobligingmediationwiththecommitteeonmybehalf，andwhichshehadframedandglazed。

“Well，thatisbeautiful，MissJane！ItisasfineapictureasanyMissReed’sdrawing—mastercouldpaint，letalonetheyoungladiesthemselves，whocouldnotcomenearit:andhaveyoulearntFrench？”

“Yes，Bessie，Icanbothreaditandspeakit。”

“Andyoucanworkonmuslinandcanvas？”

“Ican。”

“Oh，youarequitealady，MissJane！Iknewyouwouldbe:youwillgetonwhetheryourrelationsnoticeyouornot。TherewassomethingIwantedtoaskyou。Haveyoueverheardanythingfromyourfather’skinsfolk，theEyres？”

“Neverinmylife。”

“Well，youknowMissisalwayssaidtheywerepoorandquitedespicable:andtheymaybepoor;butIbelievetheyareasmuchgentryastheReedsare;foroneday，nearlysevenyearsago，aMr。EyrecametoGatesheadandwantedtoseeyou;Mississaidyouwereitschoolfiftymilesoff;heseemedsomuchdisappointed，forhecouldnotstay:hewasgoingonavoyagetoaforeigncountry，andtheshipwastosailfromLondoninadayortwo。Helookedquiteagentleman，andIbelievehewasyourfather’sbrother。”

“Whatforeigncountrywashegoingto，Bessie？”

“Anislandthousandsofmilesoff，wheretheymakewine—thebutlerdidtellme—”

“Madeira？”Isuggested。

“Yes，thatisit—thatistheveryword。”

“Sohewent？”

“Yes;hedidnotstaymanyminutesinthehouse:Missiswasveryhighwithhim;shecalledhimafterwardsa‘sneakingtradesman。’MyRobertbelieveshewasawine—merchant。”

“Verylikely，”Ireturned;“orperhapsclerkoragenttoawine—merchant。”

BessieandIconversedaboutoldtimesanhourlonger，andthenshewasobligedtoleaveme:IsawheragainforafewminutesthenextmorningatLowton，whileIwaswaitingforthecoach。WepartedfinallyatthedooroftheBrocklehurstArmsthere:eachwentherseparateway;shesetoffforthebrowofLowoodFelltomeettheconveyancewhichwastotakeherbacktoGateshead，ImountedthevehiclewhichwastobearmetonewdutiesandanewlifeintheunknownenvironsofMillcote。

Chapter11

Anewchapterinanovelissomethinglikeanewsceneinaplay;andwhenIdrawupthecurtainthistime，reader，youmustfancyyouseearoomintheGeorgeInnatMillcote，withsuchlargefiguredpaperingonthewallsasinnroomshave;suchacarpet，suchfurniture，suchornamentsonthemantelpiece，suchprints，includingaportraitofGeorgetheThird，andanotherofthePrinceofWales，andarepresentationofthedeathofWolfe。Allthisisvisibletoyoubythelightofanoillamphangingfromtheceiling，andbythatofanexcellentfire，nearwhichIsitinmycloakandbonnet;mymuffandumbrellalieonthetable，andIamwarmingawaythenumbnessandchillcontractedbysixteenhours’exposuretotherawnessofanOctoberday:IleftLowtonatfouro’clocka。m。，andtheMillcotetownclockisnowjuststrikingeight。

Reader，thoughIlookcomfortablyaccommodated，Iamnotverytranquilinmymind。Ithoughtwhenthecoachstoppedheretherewouldbesomeonetomeetme;IlookedanxiouslyroundasIdescendedthewoodenstepsthe“boots”placedformyconvenience，expectingtohearmynamepronounced，andtoseesomedescriptionofcarriagewaitingtoconveymetoThornfield。Nothingofthesortwasvisible;andwhenIaskedawaiterifanyonehadbeentoinquireafteraMissEyre，Iwasansweredinthenegative:soIhadnoresourcebuttorequesttobeshownintoaprivateroom:andhereIamwaiting，whileallsortsofdoubtsandfearsaretroublingmythoughts。

Itisaverystrangesensationtoinexperiencedyouthtofeelitselfquitealoneintheworld，cutadriftfromeveryconnection，uncertainwhethertheporttowhichitisboundcanbereached，andpreventedbymanyimpedimentsfromreturningtothatithasquitted。Thecharmofadventuresweetensthatsensation，theglowofpridewarmsit;butthenthethroboffeardisturbsit;andfearwithmebecamepredominantwhenhalf—an—hourelapsedandstillIwasalone。Ibethoughtmyselftoringthebell。

“IsthereaplaceinthisneighbourhoodcalledThornfield？”Iaskedofthewaiterwhoansweredthesummons。

“Thornfield？Idon’tknow，ma’am;I’llinquireatthebar。”Hevanished，butreappearedinstantly—

“IsyournameEyre，Miss？”

“Yes。”

“Personherewaitingforyou。”

Ijumpedup，tookmymuffandumbrella，andhastenedintotheinn—passage:amanwasstandingbytheopendoor，andinthelamp—litstreetIdimlysawaone—horseconveyance。

“Thiswillbeyourluggage，Isuppose？”saidthemanratherabruptlywhenhesawme，pointingtomytrunkinthepassage。

“Yes。”Hehoisteditontothevehicle，whichwasasortofcar，andthenIgotin;beforeheshutmeup，IaskedhimhowfaritwastoThornfield。

“Amatterofsixmiles。”

“Howlongshallwebebeforewegetthere？”

“Happenanhourandahalf。”

Hefastenedthecardoor，climbedtohisownseatoutside，andwesetoff。Ourprogresswasleisurely，andgavemeampletimetoreflect;Iwascontenttobeatlengthsoneartheendofmyjourney;andasIleanedbackinthecomfortablethoughnotelegantconveyance，Imeditatedmuchatmyease。

“Isuppose，”thoughtI，“judgingfromtheplainnessoftheservantandcarriage，Mrs。Fairfaxisnotaverydashingperson:somuchthebetter;Ineverlivedamongstfinepeoplebutonce，andIwasverymiserablewiththem。Iwonderifshelivesaloneexceptthislittlegirl;ifso，andifsheisinanydegreeamiable，Ishallsurelybeabletogetonwithher;Iwilldomybest;itisapitythatdoingone’sbestdoesnotalwaysanswer。AtLowood，indeed，Itookthatresolution，keptit，andsucceededinpleasing;butwithMrs。Reed，Iremembermybestwasalwaysspurnedwithscorn。IprayGodMrs。FairfaxmaynotturnoutasecondMrs。Reed;butifshedoes，Iamnotboundtostaywithher！lettheworstcometotheworst，Icanadvertiseagain。Howfarareweonourroadnow，Iwonder？”

Iletdownthewindowandlookedout;Millcotewasbehindus;judgingbythenumberofitslights，itseemedaplaceofconsiderablemagnitude，muchlargerthanLowton。Wewerenow，asfarasIcouldsee，onasortofcommon;buttherewerehousesscatteredalloverthedistrict;IfeltwewereinadifferentregiontoLowood，morepopulous，lesspicturesque;morestirring，lessromantic。

Theroadswereheavy，thenightmisty;myconductorlethishorsewalkalltheway，andthehourandahalfextended，Iverifybelieve，totwohours;atlastheturnedinhisseatandsaid—

“You’renoansofarfro’Thornfieldnow。”

AgainIlookedout:wewerepassingachurch;Isawitslowbroadtoweragainstthesky，anditsbellwastollingaquarter;Isawanarrowgalaxyoflightstoo，onahillside，markingavillageorhamlet。Abouttenminutesafter，thedrivergotdownandopenedapairofgates:wepassedthrough，andtheyclashedtobehindus。Wenowslowlyascendedadrive，andcameuponthelongfrontofahouse:candlelightgleamedfromonecurtainedbow—window;alltherestweredark。Thecarstoppedatthefrontdoor;itwasopenedbyamaid—servant;Ialightedandwentin。

“Willyouwalkthisway，ma’am？”saidthegirl;andIfollowedheracrossasquarehallwithhighdoorsallround:sheusheredmeintoaroomwhosedoubleilluminationoffireandcandleatfirstdazzledme，contrastingasitdidwiththedarknesstowhichmyeyeshadbeenfortwohoursinured;whenIcouldsee，however，acosyandagreeablepicturepresenteditselftomyview。

Asnugsmallroom;aroundtablebyacheerfulfire;anarm—chairhigh—backedandold—fashioned，whereinsattheneatestimaginablelittleelderlylady，inwidow’scap，blacksilkgown，andsnowymuslinapron;exactlylikewhatIhadfanciedMrs。Fairfax，onlylessstatelyandmilderlooking。Shewasoccupiedinknitting;alargecatsatdemurelyatherfeet;nothinginshortwaswantingtocompletethebeau—idealofdomesticcomfort。Amorereassuringintroductionforanewgovernesscouldscarcelybeconceived;therewasnograndeurtooverwhelm，nostatelinesstoembarrass;andthen，asIentered，theoldladygotupandpromptlyandkindlycameforwardtomeetme。

“Howdoyoudo，mydear？Iamafraidyouhavehadatediousride;Johndrivessoslowly;youmustbecold，cometothefire。”

“Mrs。Fairfax，Isuppose？”saidI。

“Yes，youareright:dositdown。”

Sheconductedmetoherownchair，andthenbegantoremovemyshawlanduntiemybonnet—strings;Ibeggedshewouldnotgiveherselfsomuchtrouble。

“Oh，itisnotrouble;Idaresayyourownhandsarealmostnumbedwithcold。Leah，makealittlehotnegusandcutasandwichortwo:herearethekeysofthestoreroom。”

Andsheproducedfromherpocketamosthousewifelybunchofkeys，anddeliveredthemtotheservant。

“Now，then，drawnearertothefire，”shecontinued。“You’vebroughtyourluggagewithyou，haven’tyou，mydear？”

“Yes，ma’am。”

“I’llseeitcarriedintoyourroom，”shesaid，andbustledout。

“Shetreatsmelikeavisitor，”thoughtI。“Ilittleexpectedsuchareception;Ianticipatedonlycoldnessandstiffness:thisisnotlikewhatIhaveheardofthetreatmentofgovernesses;butImustnotexulttoosoon。”

Shereturned;withherownhandsclearedherknittingapparatusandabookortwofromthetable，tomakeroomforthetraywhichLeahnowbrought，andthenherselfhandedmetherefreshments。IfeltratherconfusedatbeingtheobjectofmoreattentionthanIhadeverbeforereceived，and，thattoo，shownbymyemployerandsuperior;butasshedidnotherselfseemtoconsidershewasdoinganythingoutofherplace，Ithoughtitbettertotakehercivilitiesquietly。

“ShallIhavethepleasureofseeingMissFairfaxto—night？”Iasked，whenIhadpartakenofwhatsheofferedme。

“Whatdidyousay，mydear？Iamalittledeaf，”returnedthegoodlady，approachinghereartomymouth。

Irepeatedthequestionmoredistinctly。

“MissFairfax？Oh，youmeanMissVarens！Varensisthenameofyourfuturepupil。”

“Indeed！Thensheisnotyourdaughter？”

“No，—Ihavenofamily。”

Ishouldhavefollowedupmyfirstinquiry，byaskinginwhatwayMissVarenswasconnectedwithher;butIrecollecteditwasnotpolitetoasktoomanyquestions:besides，Iwassuretohearintime。

“Iamsoglad，”shecontinued，asshesatdownoppositetome，andtookthecatonherknee;“Iamsogladyouarecome;itwillbequitepleasantlivingherenowwithacompanion。Tobesureitispleasantatanytime;forThornfieldisafineoldhall，ratherneglectedoflateyearsperhaps，butstillitisarespectableplace;yetyouknowinwinter—timeonefeelsdrearyquitealoneinthebestquarters。Isayalone—Leahisanicegirltobesure，andJohnandhiswifeareverydecentpeople;butthenyouseetheyareonlyservants，andonecan’tconversewiththemontermsofequality:onemustkeepthematduedistance，forfearoflosingone’sauthority。I’msurelastwinter（itwasaverysevereone，ifyourecollect，andwhenitdidnotsnow，itrainedandblew），notacreaturebutthebutcherandpostmancametothehouse，fromNovembertillFebruary;andIreallygotquitemelancholywithsittingnightafternightalone;IhadLeahintoreadtomesometimes;butIdon’tthinkthepoorgirllikedthetaskmuch:shefeltitconfining。Inspringandsummeronegotonbetter:sunshineandlongdaysmakesuchadifference;andthen，justatthecommencementofthisautumn，littleAdelaVarenscameandhernurse:achildmakesahousealiveallatonce;andnowyouarehereIshallbequitegay。”

MyheartreallywarmedtotheworthyladyasIheardhertalk;andIdrewmychairalittlenearertoher，andexpressedmysincerewishthatshemightfindmycompanyasagreeableassheanticipated。

“ButI’llnotkeepyousittinguplateto—night，”saidshe;“itisonthestrokeoftwelvenow，andyouhavebeentravellingallday:youmustfeeltired。Ifyouhavegotyourfeetwellwarmed，I’llshowyouyourbedroom。I’vehadtheroomnexttominepreparedforyou;itisonlyasmallapartment，butIthoughtyouwouldlikeitbetterthanoneofthelargefrontchambers:tobesuretheyhavefinerfurniture，buttheyaresodrearyandsolitary，Ineversleepinthemmyself。”