牛津书虫第6级6-01.Jane Eyre Chapter 4

39

Chapter4

FrommydiscoursewithMr.Lloyd,andfromtheabovereportedconferencebetweenBessieandAbbot,Igatheredenoughofhopetosufficeasamotiveforwishingtogetwell:achangeseemednear,—Idesiredandwaiteditinsilence.Ittarried,however:daysandweekspassed:Ihadregainedmynormalstateofhealth,butnonewallusionwasmadetothesubjectoverwhichIbrooded.Mrs.Reedsurveyedmeattimeswithasevereeye,butseldomaddressedme:sincemyillness,shehaddrawnamoremarkedlineofseparationthaneverbetweenmeandherownchildren;appointingmeasmallclosettosleepinbymyself,condemningmetotakemymealsalone,andpassallmytimeinthenursery,whilemycousinswereconstantlyinthedrawing-room.Notahint,however,didshedropaboutsendingmetoschool:stillIfeltaninstinctivecertaintythatshewouldnotlongenduremeunderthesameroofwithher;forherglance,nowmorethanever,whenturnedonme,expressedaninsuperableandrootedaversion.

ElizaandGeorgiana,evidentlyactingaccordingtoorders,spoketomeaslittleaspossible:Johnthrusthistongueinhischeekwheneverhesawme,andonceattemptedchastisement;butasIinstantlyturnedagainsthim,rousedbythesamesentimentofdeepireanddesperaterevoltwhichhadstirredmycorruptionbefore,hethoughtitbettertodesist,andranfrommetitteringexecrations,andvowingIhadbursthisnose.Ihadindeedlevelledatthatprominentfeatureasharda

40

blowasmyknucklescouldinflict;andwhenIsawthateitherthatormylookdauntedhim,Ihadthegreatestinclinationtofollowupmyadvantagetopurpose;buthewasalreadywithhismama.Iheardhiminablubberingtonecommencethetaleofhow“thatnastyJaneEyre”hadflownathimlikeamadcat:hewasstoppedratherharshly-

“Don’ttalktomeabouther,John:Itoldyounottogonearher;sheisnotworthyofnotice;Idonotchoosethateitheryouoryoursistersshouldassociatewithher.”

Here,leaningoverthebanister,Icriedoutsuddenly,

andwithoutatalldeliberatingonmywords-

“Theyarenotfittoassociatewithme.”

Mrs.Reedwasratherastoutwoman;but,onhearingthisstrangeandaudaciousdeclaration,sherannimblyupthestair,sweptmelikeawhirlwindintothenursery,andcrushingmedownontheedgeofmycrib,daredmeinanemphaticvoicetorisefromthatplace,orutteronesyllableduringtheremainderoftheday.

“WhatwouldUncleReedsaytoyou,ifhewerealive?”wasmyscarcelyvoluntarydemand.Isayscarcelyvoluntary,foritseemedasifmytonguepronouncedwordswithoutmywillconsentingtotheirutterance:somethingspokeoutofmeoverwhichIhadnocontrol.

41

“What?”saidMrs.Reedunderherbreath:herusuallycoldcomposedgreyeyebecametroubledwithalooklikefear;shetookherhandfrommyarm,andgazedatmeasifshereallydidnotknowwhetherIwerechildorfiend.Iwasnowinforit.

“MyUncleReedisinheaven,andcanseeallyoudoandthink;andsocanpapaandmama:theyknowhowyoushutmeupalldaylong,andhowyouwishmedead.”

Mrs.Reedsoonralliedherspirits:sheshookmemostsoundly,sheboxedbothmyears,andthenleftmewithoutaword.Bessiesuppliedthehiatusbyahomilyofanhour’slength,inwhichsheprovedbeyondadoubtthatIwasthemostwickedandabandonedchildeverrearedunderaroof.Ihalfbelievedher;forIfeltindeedonlybadfeelingssurginginmybreast.

November,December,andhalfofJanuarypassedaway.ChristmasandtheNewYearhadbeencelebratedatGatesheadwiththeusualfestivecheer;presentshadbeeninterchanged,dinnersandeveningpartiesgiven.FromeveryenjoymentIwas,ofcourse,excluded:myshareofthegaietyconsistedinwitnessingthedailyapparellingofElizaandGeorgiana,andseeingthemdescendtothedrawing-room,dressedoutinthinmuslinfrocksandscarletsashes,withhairelaboratelyringletted;andafterwards,inlisteningtothesoundofthepianoortheharpplayedbelow,tothepassingtoandfroofthebutlerandfootman,tothejinglingofglassandchinaasrefreshmentswerehanded,tothe

42

brokenhumofconversationasthedrawing-roomdooropenedandclosed.Whentiredofthisoccupation,Iwouldretirefromthestairheadtothesolitaryandsilentnursery:there,thoughsomewhatsad,Iwasnotmiserable.Tospeaktruth,Ihadnottheleastwishtogointocompany,forincompanyIwasveryrarelynoticed;andifBessiehadbutbeenkindandcompanionable,Ishouldhavedeemeditatreattospendtheeveningsquietlywithher,insteadofpassingthemundertheformidableeyeofMrs.Reed,inaroomfullofladiesandgentlemen.ButBessie,assoonasshehaddressedheryoungladies,usedtotakeherselfofftothelivelyregionsofthekitchenandhousekeeper’sroom,generallybearingthecandlealongwithher.Ithensatwithmydollonmykneetillthefiregotlow,glancingroundoccasionallytomakesurethatnothingworsethanmyselfhauntedtheshadowyroom;andwhentheemberssanktoadullred,Iundressedhastily,tuggingatknotsandstringsasIbestmight,andsoughtshelterfromcoldanddarknessinmycrib.TothiscribIalwaystookmydoll;humanbeingsmustlovesomething,and,inthedearthofworthierobjectsofaffection,Icontrivedtofindapleasureinlovingandcherishingafadedgravenimage,shabbyasaminiaturescarecrow.ItpuzzlesmenowtorememberwithwhatabsurdsincerityIdoatedonthislittletoy,halffancyingitaliveandcapableofsensation.Icouldnotsleepunlessitwasfoldedinmynight-gown;andwhenitlaytheresafeandwarm,Iwascomparativelyhappy,believingittobehappylikewise.

43

LongdidthehoursseemwhileIwaitedthedepartureofthecompany,andlistenedforthesoundofBessie’ssteponthestairs:sometimesshewouldcomeupintheintervaltoseekherthimbleorherscissors,orperhapstobringmesomethingbywayofsupper—abunoracheese-cake—thenshewouldsitonthebedwhileIateit,andwhenIhadfinished,shewouldtucktheclothesroundme,andtwiceshekissedme,andsaid,“Goodnight,MissJane.”Whenthusgentle,Bessieseemedtomethebest,prettiest,kindestbeingintheworld;andIwishedmostintenselythatshewouldalwaysbesopleasantandamiable,andneverpushmeabout,orscold,ortaskmeunreasonably,asshewastoooftenwonttodo.BessieLeemust,Ithink,havebeenagirlofgoodnaturalcapacity,forshewassmartinallshedid,andhadaremarkableknackofnarrative;so,atleast,Ijudgefromtheimpressionmadeonmebyhernurserytales.Shewasprettytoo,ifmyrecollectionsofherfaceandpersonarecorrect.Irememberherasaslimyoungwoman,withblackhair,darkeyes,verynicefeatures,andgood,clearcomplexion;butshehadacapriciousandhastytemper,andindifferentideasofprincipleorjustice:still,suchasshewas,IpreferredhertoanyoneelseatGatesheadHall.

ItwasthefifteenthofJanuary,aboutnineo’clockinthemorning:Bessiewasgonedowntobreakfast;mycousinshadnotyetbeensummonedtotheirmama;Elizawasputtingonherbonnetandwarmgarden-coattogoandfeedherpoultry,anoccupationofwhichshewasfond:andnotlesssoofsellingtheeggstothe

44

housekeeperandhoardingupthemoneyshethusobtained.Shehadaturnfortraffic,andamarkedpropensityforsaving;shownnotonlyinthevendingofeggsandchickens,butalsoindrivinghardbargainswiththegardeneraboutflower-roots,seeds,andslipsofplants;thatfunctionaryhavingordersfromMrs.Reedtobuyofhisyoungladyalltheproductsofherparterreshewishedtosell:andElizawouldhavesoldthehairoffherheadifshecouldhavemadeahandsomeprofitthereby.Astohermoney,shefirstsecreteditinoddcorners,wrappedinaragoranoldcurl-paper;butsomeofthesehoardshavingbeendiscoveredbythehousemaid,Eliza,fearfulofonedaylosinghervaluedtreasure,consentedtointrustittohermother,atausuriousrateofinterest—fiftyorsixtypercent.;whichinterestsheexactedeveryquarter,keepingheraccountsinalittlebookwithanxiousaccuracy.

Georgianasatonahighstool,dressingherhairattheglass,andinterweavinghercurlswithartificialflowersandfadedfeathers,ofwhichshehadfoundastoreinadrawerintheattic.Iwasmakingmybed,havingreceivedstrictordersfromBessietogetitarrangedbeforeshereturned(forBessienowfrequentlyemployedmeasasortofunder-nurserymaid,totidytheroom,dustthechairs,&c.).Havingspreadthequiltandfoldedmynight-dress,Iwenttothewindow-seattoputinordersomepicture-booksanddoll’shousefurniturescatteredthere;anabruptcommandfromGeorgianatoletherplaythingsalone(forthetinychairsandmirrors,thefairyplatesandcups,wereher

45

property)stoppedmyproceedings;andthen,forlackofotheroccupation,Ifelltobreathingonthefrost-flowerswithwhichthewindowwasfretted,andthusclearingaspaceintheglassthroughwhichImightlookoutonthegrounds,whereallwasstillandpetrifiedundertheinfluenceofahardfrost.

Fromthiswindowwerevisibletheporter’slodgeandthecarriage-road,andjustasIhaddissolvedsomuchofthesilver-whitefoliageveilingthepanesasleftroomtolookout,Isawthegatesthrownopenandacarriagerollthrough.Iwatcheditascendingthedrivewithindifference;carriagesoftencametoGateshead,butnoneeverbroughtvisitorsinwhomIwasinterested;itstoppedinfrontofthehouse,thedoor-bellrangloudly,thenew-comerwasadmitted.Allthisbeingnothingtome,myvacantattentionsoonfoundlivelierattractioninthespectacleofalittlehungryrobin,whichcameandchirrupedonthetwigsoftheleaflesscherry-treenailedagainstthewallnearthecasement.Theremainsofmybreakfastofbreadandmilkstoodonthetable,andhavingcrumbledamorselofroll,Iwastuggingatthesashtoputoutthecrumbsonthewindow-sill,whenBessiecamerunningupstairsintothenursery.

“MissJane,takeoffyourpinafore;whatareyoudoingthere?Haveyouwashedyourhandsandfacethismorning?”IgaveanothertugbeforeIanswered,forIwantedthebirdtobesecureofitsbread:thesashyielded;Iscatteredthecrumbs,someonthestonesill,

46

someonthecherry-treebough,then,closingthewindow,Ireplied-

“No,Bessie;Ihaveonlyjustfinisheddusting.”

“Troublesome,carelesschild!andwhatareyoudoingnow?Youlookquitered,asifyouhadbeenaboutsomemischief:whatwereyouopeningthewindowfor?”

Iwassparedthetroubleofanswering,forBessieseemedintoogreatahurrytolistentoexplanations;shehauledmetothewashstand,inflictedamerciless,buthappilybriefscrubonmyfaceandhandswithsoap,water,andacoarsetowel;disciplinedmyheadwithabristlybrush,denudedmeofmypinafore,andthenhurryingmetothetopofthestairs,bidmegodowndirectly,asIwaswantedinthebreakfast-room.

Iwouldhaveaskedwhowantedme:IwouldhavedemandedifMrs.Reedwasthere;butBessiewasalreadygone,andhadclosedthenursery-dooruponme.Islowlydescended.Fornearlythreemonths,IhadneverbeencalledtoMrs.Reed’spresence;restrictedsolongtothenursery,thebreakfast,dining,anddrawing-roomswerebecomeformeawfulregions,onwhichitdismayedmetointrude.

Inowstoodintheemptyhall;beforemewasthebreakfast-roomdoor,andIstopped,intimidatedandtrembling.Whatamiserablelittlepoltroonhadfear,engenderedofunjustpunishment,madeofmeinthosedays!Ifearedtoreturntothenursery,andfearedtogoforwardtotheparlour;tenminutesIstoodinagitated

47

hesitation;thevehementringingofthebreakfast-roombelldecidedme;IMUSTenter.

“Whocouldwantme?”Iaskedinwardly,aswithbothhandsIturnedthestiffdoor-handle,which,forasecondortwo,resistedmyefforts.“WhatshouldIseebesidesAuntReedintheapartment?—amanorawoman?”Thehandleturned,thedoorunclosed,andpassingthroughandcurtseyinglow,Ilookedupat—ablackpillar!—such,atleast,appearedtome,atfirstsight,thestraight,narrow,sable-cladshapestandingerectontherug:thegrimfaceatthetopwaslikeacarvedmask,placedabovetheshaftbywayofcapital.

Mrs.Reedoccupiedherusualseatbythefireside;shemadeasignaltometoapproach;Ididso,andsheintroducedmetothestonystrangerwiththewords:“ThisisthelittlegirlrespectingwhomIappliedtoyou.”

HE,foritwasaman,turnedhisheadslowlytowardswhereIstood,andhavingexaminedmewiththetwoinquisitive-lookinggreyeyeswhichtwinkledunderapairofbushybrows,saidsolemnly,andinabassvoice,

“Hersizeissmall:whatisherage?”

“Tenyears.”

“Somuch?”wasthedoubtfulanswer;andheprolongedhisscrutinyforsomeminutes.Presentlyheaddressed

me—“Yourname,littlegirl?”

“JaneEyre,sir.”

48

InutteringthesewordsIlookedup:heseemedtomeatallgentleman;butthenIwasverylittle;hisfeatureswerelarge,andtheyandallthelinesofhisframewereequallyharshandprim.“Well,JaneEyre,andareyouagoodchild?”

Impossibletoreplytothisintheaffirmative:mylittle

worldheldacontraryopinion:Iwassilent.Mrs.Reedansweredformebyanexpressiveshakeofthehead,addingsoon,“Perhapsthelesssaidonthatsubjectthebetter,Mr.Brocklehurst.”“Sorryindeedtohearit!sheandImusthavesometalk;”andbendingfromtheperpendicular,heinstalledhispersoninthearm-chairoppositeMrs.Reed’s.“Comehere,”hesaid.Isteppedacrosstherug;heplacedmesquareandstraightbeforehim.Whatafacehehad,nowthatitwasalmostonalevelwithmine!whatagreatnose!andwhatamouth!andwhatlargeprominentteeth!“Nosightsosadasthatofanaughtychild,”hebegan,“especiallyanaughtylittlegirl.Doyouknowwherethewickedgoafterdeath?”“Theygotohell,”wasmyreadyandorthodoxanswer.“Andwhatishell?Canyoutellmethat?”“Apitfulloffire.”“Andshouldyouliketofallintothatpit,andtobeburningthereforever?”

49

“No,sir.”

“Whatmustyoudotoavoidit?”

Ideliberatedamoment;myanswer,whenitdidcome,wasobjectionable:“Imustkeepingoodhealth,andnotdie.”

“Howcanyoukeepingoodhealth?Childrenyoungerthanyoudiedaily.Iburiedalittlechildoffiveyearsoldonlyadayortwosince,—agoodlittlechild,whosesoulisnowinheaven.Itistobefearedthesamecouldnotbesaidofyouwereyoutobecalledhence.”

Notbeinginaconditiontoremovehisdoubt,Ionlycastmyeyesdownonthetwolargefeetplantedontherug,andsighed,wishingmyselffarenoughaway.

“Ihopethatsighisfromtheheart,andthatyourepentofeverhavingbeentheoccasionofdiscomforttoyourexcellentbenefactress.”

“Benefactress!benefactress!”saidIinwardly:“theyallcallMrs.Reedmybenefactress;ifso,abenefactressisadisagreeablething.”

“Doyousayyourprayersnightandmorning?”continuedmyinterrogator.

“Yes,sir.”

“DoyoureadyourBible?”

“Sometimes.”

“Withpleasure?Areyoufondofit?”

50

“IlikeRevelations,andthebookofDaniel,andGenesisandSamuel,andalittlebitofExodus,andsomeparts

ofKingsandChronicles,andJobandJonah.”“AndthePsalms?Ihopeyoulikethem?”“No,sir.”

“No?oh,shocking!Ihavealittleboy,youngerthanyou,whoknowssixPsalmsbyheart:andwhenyouaskhimwhichhewouldratherhave,agingerbread-nuttoeatoraverseofaPsalmtolearn,hesays:‘Oh!theverseofaPsalm!angelssingPsalms;’sayshe,‘Iwishtobealittleangelherebelow;’hethengetstwonutsin

recompenseforhisinfantpiety.”

“Psalmsarenotinteresting,”Iremarked.

“Thatprovesyouhaveawickedheart;andyoumustpraytoGodtochangeit:togiveyouanewandcleanone:totakeawayyourheartofstoneandgiveyouaheartofflesh.”

Iwasabouttopropoundaquestion,touchingthemannerinwhichthatoperationofchangingmyheartwastobeperformed,whenMrs.Reedinterposed,tellingmetositdown;shethenproceededtocarryontheconversationherself.

“Mr.Brocklehurst,IbelieveIintimatedintheletterwhichIwrotetoyouthreeweeksago,thatthislittlegirlhasnotquitethecharacteranddispositionIcouldwish:shouldyouadmitherintoLowoodschool,Ishouldbegladifthesuperintendentandteacherswere

51

requestedtokeepastricteyeonher,and,aboveall,toguardagainstherworstfault,atendencytodeceit.Imentionthisinyourhearing,Jane,thatyoumaynotattempttoimposeonMr.Brocklehurst.”

WellmightIdread,wellmightIdislikeMrs.Reed;foritwashernaturetowoundmecruelly;neverwasIhappyinherpresence;howevercarefullyIobeyed,howeverstrenuouslyIstrovetopleaseher,myeffortswerestillrepulsedandrepaidbysuchsentencesastheabove.Now,utteredbeforeastranger,theaccusationcutmetotheheart;Idimlyperceivedthatshewasalreadyobliteratinghopefromthenewphaseofexistencewhichshedestinedmetoenter;Ifelt,thoughIcouldnothaveexpressedthefeeling,thatshewassowingaversionandunkindnessalongmyfuturepath;IsawmyselftransformedunderMr.Brocklehurst’seyeintoanartful,noxiouschild,andwhatcouldIdotoremedytheinjury?

“Nothing,indeed,”thoughtI,asIstruggledtorepressasob,andhastilywipedawaysometears,theimpotentevidencesofmyanguish.

“Deceitis,indeed,asadfaultinachild,”saidMr.Brocklehurst;“itisakintofalsehood,andallliarswillhavetheirportioninthelakeburningwithfireandbrimstone;sheshall,however,bewatched,Mrs.Reed.IwillspeaktoMissTempleandtheteachers.”

“Ishouldwishhertobebroughtupinamannersuitingherprospects,”continuedmybenefactress;“tobemadeuseful,tobekepthumble:asforthevacations,

52

shewill,withyourpermission,spendthemalwaysat

Lowood.”

“Yourdecisionsareperfectlyjudicious,madam,”returnedMr.Brocklehurst.“HumilityisaChristiangrace,andonepeculiarlyappropriatetothepupilsofLowood;I,therefore,directthatespecialcareshallbebestowedonitscultivationamongstthem.Ihavestudiedhowbesttomortifyinthemtheworldlysentimentofpride;and,onlytheotherday,Ihadapleasingproofofmysuccess.Myseconddaughter,Augusta,wentwithhermamatovisittheschool,andonherreturnsheexclaimed:‘Oh,dearpapa,howquietandplainallthegirlsatLowoodlook,withtheirhaircombedbehindtheirears,andtheirlongpinafores,andthoselittlehollandpocketsoutsidetheirfrocks—theyarealmostlikepoorpeople’schildren!and,’saidshe,‘theylookedatmydressandmama’s,asiftheyhadneverseenasilkgownbefore.’”

“ThisisthestateofthingsIquiteapprove,”returnedMrs.Reed;“hadIsoughtallEnglandover,IcouldscarcelyhavefoundasystemmoreexactlyfittingachildlikeJaneEyre.Consistency,mydearMr.Brocklehurst;Iadvocateconsistencyinallthings.”

“Consistency,madam,isthefirstofChristianduties;andithasbeenobservedineveryarrangementconnectedwiththeestablishmentofLowood:plainfare,simpleattire,unsophisticatedaccommodations,hardyandactivehabits;suchistheorderofthedayinthehouseanditsinhabitants.”

53

“Quiteright,sir.ImaythendependuponthischildbeingreceivedasapupilatLowood,andtherebeingtrainedinconformitytoherpositionandprospects?”

“Madam,youmay:sheshallbeplacedinthatnurseryofchosenplants,andItrustshewillshowherselfgratefulfortheinestimableprivilegeofherelection.”

“Iwillsendher,then,assoonaspossible,Mr.Brocklehurst;for,Iassureyou,Ifeelanxioustoberelievedofaresponsibilitythatwasbecomingtooirksome.”

“Nodoubt,nodoubt,madam;andnowIwishyougoodmorning.IshallreturntoBrocklehurstHallinthecourseofaweekortwo:mygoodfriend,theArchdeacon,willnotpermitmetoleavehimsooner.IshallsendMissTemplenoticethatsheistoexpectanewgirl,sothattherewillhenodifficultyaboutreceivingher.Good-bye.”

“Good-bye,Mr.Brocklehurst;remembermetoMrs.andMissBrocklehurst,andtoAugustaandTheodore,andMasterBroughtonBrocklehurst.”

“Iwill,madam.Littlegirl,hereisabookentitledthe‘Child’sGuide,’readitwithprayer,especiallythatpartcontaining‘AnaccountoftheawfullysuddendeathofMarthaG-,anaughtychildaddictedtofalsehoodanddeceit.’”

54

WiththesewordsMr.Brocklehurstputintomyhandathinpamphletsewninacover,andhavingrungforhiscarriage,hedeparted.

Mrs.ReedandIwereleftalone:someminutespassedinsilence;shewassewing,Iwaswatchingher.Mrs.Reedmightbeatthattimesomesixorsevenandthirty;shewasawomanofrobustframe,square-shoulderedandstrong-limbed,nottall,and,thoughstout,notobese:shehadasomewhatlargeface,theunderjawbeingmuchdevelopedandverysolid;herbrowwaslow,herchinlargeandprominent,mouthandnosesufficientlyregular;underherlighteyebrowsglimmeredaneyedevoidofruth;herskinwasdarkandopaque,herhairnearlyflaxen;herconstitutionwassoundasabell—illnessnevercamenearher;shewasanexact,clevermanager;herhouseholdandtenantrywerethoroughlyunderhercontrol;herchildrenonlyattimesdefiedherauthorityandlaughedittoscorn;shedressedwell,andhadapresenceandportcalculatedtosetoffhandsomeattire.

Sittingonalowstool,afewyardsfromherarm-chair,Iexaminedherfigure;Iperusedherfeatures.InmyhandIheldthetractcontainingthesuddendeathoftheLiar,towhichnarrativemyattentionhadbeenpointedastoanappropriatewarning.Whathadjustpassed;whatMrs.ReedhadsaidconcerningmetoMr.Brocklehurst;thewholetenoroftheirconversation,wasrecent,raw,andstinginginmymind;IhadfelteverywordasacutelyasIhadhearditplainly,andapassionofresentmentfomentednowwithinme.

55

Mrs.Reedlookedupfromherwork;hereyesettledonmine,herfingersatthesametimesuspendedtheirnimblemovements.

“Gooutoftheroom;returntothenursery,”washermandate.Mylookorsomethingelsemusthavestruckherasoffensive,forshespokewithextremethoughsuppressedirritation.Igotup,Iwenttothedoor;Icamebackagain;Iwalkedtothewindow,acrosstheroom,thencloseuptoher.

SPEAKImust:Ihadbeentroddenonseverely,andMUSTturn:buthow?WhatstrengthhadItodartretaliationatmyantagonist?Igatheredmyenergiesandlaunchedtheminthisbluntsentence-

“Iamnotdeceitful:ifIwere,IshouldsayIlovedyou;butIdeclareIdonotloveyou:IdislikeyoutheworstofanybodyintheworldexceptJohnReed;andthisbookabouttheliar,youmaygivetoyourgirl,Georgiana,foritisshewhotellslies,andnotI.”

Mrs.Reed’shandsstilllayonherworkinactive:hereyeoficecontinuedtodwellfreezinglyonmine.

“Whatmorehaveyoutosay?”sheasked,ratherinthetoneinwhichapersonmightaddressanopponentofadultagethansuchasisordinarilyusedtoachild.

Thateyeofhers,thatvoicestirredeveryantipathyIhad.Shakingfromheadtofoot,thrilledwithungovernableexcitement,Icontinued—

56

“Iamgladyouarenorelationofmine:IwillnevercallyouauntagainaslongasIlive.Iwillnever