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By Charlotte Bronte
I resisted all the way: a new thing for me, and a circum-
stance which greatly strengthened the bad opinion Bessie
and Miss Abbot were disposed to entertain of me. The fact
‘Mind you don’t,’ said Bessie; and when she had ascer-
tained that I was really subsiding, she loosened her hold of
me; then she and Miss Abbot stood with folded arms, look-
is, I was a trifle beside myself; or rather OUT of myself, as ing darkly and doubtfully on my face, as incredulous of my
the French would say: I was conscious that a moment’s mu- sanity.
tiny had already rendered me liable to strange penalties, ‘She never did so before,’ at last said Bessie, turning to
and, like any other rebel slave, I felt resolved, in my desper- the Abigail.
ation, to go all lengths. ‘But it was always in her,’ was the reply. ‘I’ve told Missis
‘Hold her arms, Miss Abbot: she’s like a mad cat.’ often my opinion about the child, and Missis agreed with
‘For shame! for shame!’ cried the lady’s-maid. ‘What me. She’s an underhand little thing: I never saw a girl of her
shocking conduct, Miss Eyre, to strike a young gentleman, age with so much cover.’
your benefactress’s son! Your young master.’ Bessie answered not; but ere long, addressing me, she
‘Master! How is he my master? Am I a servant?’ said—‘You ought to be aware, Miss, that you are under ob-
‘No; you are less than a servant, for you do nothing for ligations to Mrs. Reed: she keeps you: if she were to turn you
your keep. There, sit down, and think over your wicked- off, you would have to go to the poorhouse.’
ness.’ I had nothing to say to these words: they were not new to
They had got me by this time into the apartment indi- me: my very first recollections of existence included hints of
cated by Mrs. Reed, and had thrust me upon a stool: my the same kind. This reproach of my dependence had become
impulse was to rise from it like a spring; their two pair of a vague sing-song in my ear: very painful and crushing, but
hands arrested me instantly. only half intelligible. Miss Abbot joined in—
‘If you don’t sit still, you must be tied down,’ said Bessie. ‘And you ought not to think yourself on an equality with
‘Miss Abbot, lend me your garters; she would break mine the Misses Reed and Master Reed, because Missis kindly al-
directly.’ lows you to be brought up with them. They will have a great
Miss Abbot turned to divest a stout leg of the necessary deal of money, and you will have none: it is your place to be
But wide as pathless was the space Though haughty Hate should strike me down,
That lay our lives between, Right, bar approach to me,
And dangerous as the foamy race And grinding Might, with furious frown,
Of ocean-surges green. Swear endless enmity.
I dangers dared; I hindrance scorned; My love has sworn, with sealing kiss,
I omens did defy: With me to live—to die;
Whatever menaced, harassed, warned, I have at last my nameless bliss.
I passed impetuous by. As I love—loved am I!’
On sped my rainbow, fast as light; He rose and came towards me, and I saw his face all kin-
I flew as in a dream; dled, and his full falcon-eye flashing, and tenderness and
For glorious rose upon my sight passion in every lineament. I quailed momentarily—then I
That child of Shower and Gleam. rallied. Soft scene, daring demonstration, I would not have;
and I stood in peril of both: a weapon of defence must be
Still bright on clouds of suffering dim prepared—I whetted my tongue: as he reached me, I asked
Shines that soft, solemn joy; with asperity, ‘whom he was going to marry now?’
Nor care I now, how dense and grim ‘That was a strange question to be put by his darling
Disasters gather nigh. Jane.’