doubtless: so much the better; it would be a complete change at least.

Not that my fancy was much captivated by the idea of long chimneys and

clouds of smoke- 'but,' I argued, 'Thornfield will, probably, be a

good way from the town.'

Here the socket of the candle dropped, and the wick went out.

Next day new steps were to be taken; my plans could no longer be

confined to my own breast; I must impart them in order to achieve

their success. Having sought and obtained an audience of the

superintendent during the noontiderecreation, I told her I had a

prospect of getting a new situation where the salary would be double

what I now received (for at Lowood I only got L15 per annum); and

requested she would break the matter for me to Mr. Brocklehurst, or

some of the committee, and ascertain whether they would permit me to

mention them as references. She obligingly consented to act as

mediatrix in the matter. The next day she laid the affair before Mr.

Brocklehurst, who said that Mrs. Reed must be written to, as she was

my natural guardian. A note was accordingly addressed to that lady,

who returned for answer, that 'I might do as I pleased: she had long

relinquished all interference in my affairs.' This note went the round

of the committee, and at last, after what appeared to me most

tedious delay, formal leave was given me to better my condition if I

could; and an assurance added, that as I had always conducted myself

well, both as teacher and pupil, at Lowood, a testimonial of character

and capacity, signed by the inspectors of that institution, should

forthwith be furnished me.

This testimonial I accordingly received in about a month, forwarded

a copy of it to Mrs. Fairfax, and got that lady's reply, stating

that she was satisfied, and fixing that day fortnight as the period

for my assuming the post of governess in her house.

I now busied myself in preparations: the fortnight passed

rapidly. I had not a very large wardrobe, though it was adequate to my

wants; and the last day sufficed to pack my trunk,- the same I had

brought with me eight years ago from Gateshead.

The box was corded, the card nailed on. In half an hour the carrier

was to call for it to take it to Lowton, whither I myself was to

repair at an early hour the next morning to meet the coach. I had

brushed my black stuff travelling-dress, prepared my bonnet, gloves,

and muff; sought in all my drawers to see that no article was left

behind; and now having nothing more to do, I sat down and tried to

rest. I could not; though I had been on foot all day, I could not

now repose an instant; I was too much excited. A phase of my life

was closing tonight, a new one opening to-morrow: impossible to

slumber in the interval; I must watch feverishly while the change

was being accomplished.

'Miss,' said a servant who met me in the lobby, where I was

wandering like a troubled spirit, 'a person below wishes to see you.'

'The carrier, no doubt,' I thought, and ran downstairs without

inquiry. I was passing the back-parlour or teachers' sitting-room, the

door of which was half open, to go to the kitchen, when some one ran

out-

'It's her, I am sure!- I could have told her anywhere!' cried the

individual who stopped my progress and took my hand.

I looked: I saw a woman attired like a well-dressed servant,

matronly, yet still young; very good-looking, with black hair and

eyes, and lively complexion.

'Well, who is it?' she asked, in a voice and with a smile I half

recognised; 'you've not quite forgotten me, I think, Miss Jane?'

In another second I was embracing and kissing her rapturously:

'Bessie! Bessie! Bessie!' that was all I said; whereat she half

laughed, half cried, and we both went into the parlour. By the fire

stood a little fellow of three years old, in plaid frock and trousers.

'That is my little boy,' said Bessie directly.

'Then you are married, Bessie?'

'Yes; nearly five years since to Robert Leaven, the coachman; and

I've a little girl besides Bobby there, that I've christened Jane.'

'And you don't live at Gateshead?'

'I live at the lodge: the old porter has left.'

'Well, and how do they all get on? Tell me everything about them,

Bessie: but sit down first; and, Bobby, come and sit on my knee,

will you?' but Bobby preferred sidling over to his mother.

'You're not grown so very tall, Miss Jane, nor so very stout,'

continued Mrs. Leaven. 'I daresay they've not kept you too well at

school: Miss Reed is the head and shoulders taller than you are; and

Miss Georgiana would make two of you in breadth.'

'Georgiana is handsome, I suppose, Bessie?'

'Very. She went up to London last winter with her mama, and there

everybody admired her, and a young lord fell in love with her: but his

relations were against the match; and- what do you think?- he and Miss

Georgiana made it up to run away; but they were found out and stopped.

It was Miss Reed that found them out: I believe she was envious; and

now she and her sister lead a cat and dog life together; they are

always quarrelling.'

'Well, and what of John Reed?'

'Oh, he is not doing so well as his mama could wish. He went to

college, and he got- plucked, I think they call it: and then his

uncles wanted him to be a barrister, and study the law: but he is such

a dissipated young man, they will never make much of him, I think.'

'What does he look like?'

'He is very tall: some people call him a fine-looking young man;

but he has such thick lips.'

'And Mrs. Reed?'

'Missis looks stout and well enough in the face, but I think

she's not quite easy in her mind: Mr. John's conduct does not please

her- he spends a deal of money.'

'Did she send you here, Bessie?'

'No, indeed: but I have long wanted to see you, and when I heard

that there had been a letter from you, and that you were going to

another part of the country, I thought I'd just set off, and get a

look at you before you were quite out of my reach.'

'I am afraid you are disappointed in me, Bessie.' I said this

laughing: I perceived that Bessie's glance, though it expressed

regard, did in no shape denote admiration.

'No, Miss Jane, not exactly: you are genteel enough; you look

like a lady, and it is as much as ever I expected of you: you were

no beauty as a child.'

I smiled at Bessie's frank answer: I felt that it was correct,

but I confess I was not quite indifferent to its import: at eighteen

most people wish to please, and the conviction that they have not an

exterior likely to second that desire brings anything but

gratification.

'I daresay you are clever, though,' continued Bessie, by way of

solace. 'What can you do? Can you play on the piano?'

'A little.'

There was one in the room; Bessie went and opened it, and then

asked me to sit down and give her a tune: I played a waltz or two, and

she was charmed.

'The Miss Reeds could not play as well!' said she exultingly. 'I

always said you would surpass them in learning: and can you draw?'

'That is one of my paintings over the chimney-piece.' It was a

landscape in water colours, of which I had made a present to the

superintendent, in acknowledgment of her obliging mediation with the

committee on my behalf, and which she had framed and glazed.

'Well, that is beautiful, Miss Jane! It is as fine a picture as any

Miss Reed's drawing-master could paint, let alone the young ladies

themselves, who could not come near it: and have you learnt French?'

'Yes, Bessie, I can both read it and speak it.'

'And you can work on muslin and canvas?'

'I can.'

'Oh, you are quite a lady, Miss Jane! I knew you would be: you will

get on whether your relations notice you or not. There was something I

wanted to ask you. Have you ever heard anything from your father's

kinsfolk, the Eyres?'

'Never in my life.'

'Well, you know, Missis always said they were poor and quite

despicable: and they may be poor; but I believe they are as much

gentry as the Reeds are; for one day, nearly seven years ago, a Mr.

Eyre came to Gateshead and wanted to see you; Missis said you were

at school fifty miles off; he seemed so much disappointed, for he

could not stay: he was going on a voyage to a foreign country, and the

ship was to sail from London in a day or two. He looked quite a

gentleman, and I believe he was your father's brother.'

'What foreign country was he going to, Bessie?'

'An island thousands of miles off, where they make wine- the butler

did tell me-'

'Madeira?' I suggested.

'Yes, that is it- that is the very word.'

'So he went?'

'Yes; he did not stay many minutes in the house: Missis was very

high with him; she called him afterwards a "sneaking tradesman." My

Robert believes he was a wine-merchant.'

'Very likely,' I returned; 'or perhaps clerk or agent to a

wine-merchant.'

Bessie and I conversed about old times an hour longer, and then she

was obliged to leave me: I saw her again for a few minutes the next

morning at Lowton, while I was waiting for the coach. We parted

finally at the door of the Brocklehurst Arms there, each went her

separate way; she set off for the brow of Lowood Fell to meet the

conveyance which was to take her back to Gateshead, I mounted the

vehicle which was to bear me to new duties and a new life in the

unknown environs of Millcote.