Jane Eyre

Charlotte Bronte

Academic Industries, Inc.

West Haven, Connecticut 06516
COPYRIGHT© 1984 BY ACADEMIC INDUSTRIES, INC,
All Rights Reserved

ISBN 0-88301-729-6

Published by
Academic Industries, Inc.
The Academic Building
Saw Mill Road
West Haven, Connecticut 06516

Printed in the United States ot America

 about the author
Charlotte Bronte was born in Yorkshire, England, in
1816. Her father was a minister, and her mother was a
frail woman who died when Charlotte was five.
Charlotte and three of her sisters were sent to a
school nearby where conditions were so bad that two of
them grew sick and died. .Many believe that Charlotte used
this school as a model for Lowood in jane Eyre.
When her education was complete, Charlotte and her
sister Emily planned to open a school for girls. But no one
applied to the school, and the sisters were forced to give it
up. Then a new idea occurred to them. Charlotte had
been writing stories since she was a child; finally she de¬
cided to publish one. In 1847, under the pen name of
Currer Bell, Charlotte's novel jane Eyre was printed. It
was an instant success.
Her financial worries were over, but Charlotte had
other sufferings to endure. Her brother and her two sisters
died within a short time, leaving her alone. Yet she
managed to write two more novels, Shirley and Villette.
Then in 1854 she married Arthur Bell Nichoils, her
father’s assistant minister.
Charlotte’s happiness as an author and a wife,
however, was cut short. After only a year of marriage, she
died in 1855 at the age of thirty-nine.
<

Ckarlotte
Bronte

JaneEgre
 Jane Eyre

This is my story. As a child I was left an orphan in the

care of my mother's brother. AH was well until he died,
He left a widow and three children who had room in their
house, but not in their hearts, for me.

it was a rainy winter day at Gateshead Hall, My

cousins Eliza, John, and Georgiana gathered
around their mother in the drawing room.

See, Mama? He
can sit up!

7
 c

POCKET CLASSICS

8
 Jane Eyre

It did not last long. Soon John came in.

Jane, come
here!
What do you want?

John picked on me all the

time. I was deathly a fraid
of him.
TT^-

You have no right

to read our books!
You have no
money. You
ought to beg,
instead of living
here with us and
eating our food!

AH at once he struck
me

That $ for the

nasty way you
answered mama!
POCKET CLASSICS

Then, picking up the book, John threw it

at me.

And that is
for reading
my books!

John rushed at me.

For once, f answered
back. / had been
What? Did you
reading a history of
hear what she
Rome. said, Eliza and
Georgiana? Wait
till I get over
there!

Wicked boy! You

are like the Roman
emperors!

He grasped me
by the hair.
Angrily f fought
back,
 Jane Eyre

Mrs. Reed arrived, followed by her maid Abbot, and Bessie the
nurse. We were quickly separated.
What a fury, to Did anybody ever
fly at Master see such a
John! thing?

I was carried upstairs,

struggling all the way.

She never
did so
before.

JL
It was always in
her! She's an under¬
handed little
thing!

II
POCKET CLASSICS

In the red
,
room nine You must know, Miss,
yean before, you owe a great deal
Mr. Reed to Mrs, Reed, If she
Just because she
had died turned you out, you
allows you to be
and had would go to the poor-
brought up with
lain in state. house!
the Misses and
It was an Master John, it
elegant, cold doesn't make you
room, and their equal. They
was seldom will have a lot of
used. money, and you
will have none!

It is your place
It's for your Say vour prayers! If you
to be humble! aren't sorry, something bad
X own good!
might come down the
chimney and take you away!
 Jane Eyre

They left, locking the door.

My head ached and bled. I
sat trying to think.

Eliza and
Georgians are
selfish and
spoiled; John
is cruel to me
and to every¬
one! But they
are loved and
praised and
never punished!

Mr. Reed had / walked to the

been my uncle,
my mother's
brother. When
window.
nMmSm
my parents If Mr. Reed were
died soon after here, he would treat
my birth, he me kindly! But he
took me into is out there in a
his own home. grave in the
And at his churchyard.
death, he had
made Mrs.
Reed promise
to bring me up
as one of her
own children.

He died in that
very bed. If he
were here he
would be a
ghost! Wo! no!
I don't want to
see him!

13
POCKET CLASSICS

A beam of light slanted

into the room, glided
to the ceiling, and came
to rest over my head.
I was terrified.

Then / heard Are you hurt?

footsteps Did you see
and the key something?
turned.

What y
dreadful J
noise!

Take me outlu^,
Let me go to Y' /
my room!

Then Mrs. Reed appeared.

 Jane Eyre

I gave orders Miss Jane Oh, Aunt, have

that Jane Eyre screamed so pity! Punish me
should be left loud, ma'am! some other way!
in the red room
until I came
tor her!

Silence! This out¬ f heard the door lock and the

burst is hateful! footsteps move away.

( fell to the floor in a faint.

The next
thing I re¬
membered
was a red
ligh t and
the sound
of voices.

15
POCKET CLASSICS

Well, who Mr, Lloyd, She'll do very well now. See

am I? sir—the that she is not upset tonight,
apothecary, I will call again tomorrow.

There is no sight so
Talking to me the This is the little sad as that of a
next day, Mr. girl I told you naughty child!
Uoyd Seamed about, Mr.
that i ia/jc vsry Brocktehurst.
7d
wouta nKe co go
to sc/700/. He
told this to Mrs.
Reedi Several
weeks later / was
brought to her
in the drawing
room.

I wish her to be brought up I take care to

very simpiy. She must be do this at
made useful, be kept humble Lowood! Plain
fare, simple
dress, hardy
and active
habits . ., ■
 Jane Eyre

Goodbye, Goodbye, Miss

So it was that Bessie , . . you've Jane! I'm fonder
f was sent to been kind to me. than of al l
Lowood, a
chanty school
for orphans.
Bessie pot me
on the public
coach early
one morning.

After travelling all day, / was A loud bell awakened us

tired when I arrived. I noticed before daylight. ft was very
little more than the long cold.
dormitory where we slept Dress yourself,
two in a bed. then get in line
to wash your
You will face.
sleep here
with me
tonight.

17
 f

POCKET CLASSICS

Then we went
to the c/ass- _Smeff it! The
room for an porridge is
hour's work. ^burnt again!
At last, about
daybreak,
another bell
sent us to the
dining room.

f had eaten little the day But after two spoonfuls, /

before. I was hungry. could eat no more.

It's Like
terrible! rotten
potatoes!

The eighty girls were divided into four classes, You will sit here,
all meeting in the same room. , Jane, in the lowest
dess.

s iijj
18
 Jane Eyre

At noon Miss Temple, the I have ordered that a lunch of

principal, rose and spoke to us. bread and cheese be served to all.

You Had a
breakfast this
morning you
could not eat,
you must be
hungry.

After this welcome lunch, we

went to the garden for some "Lowood School. She was Mr.
exercise. Here / made a Rebuilt by Naomi Brocklehurst's
friend, Helen Burns. Brocklehurst of mother. He
Brockfehurst runs every¬
Hall/' What does thing here.
Will you tell me Anything that mean?
something about I can.
the school?

19
POCKET CLASSICS

Then the school Oh, no! She Why do all the We make our own
does not belong must answer girls look so "lrtthes—all from
to Miss Temple? to Mr. same materials
much alike?
Brocklehurst the same
for everything. patterns.

One afternoon Mr, Brock/ehurst

visited the school. Madam, my plan is to make these
girls hardy, patient, and humble!
I find in I ordered it, A little thing like burnt porridge
settling the sir, Breakfast should be allowed every now
accounts was so badly and then!
that a lunch prepared that
of bread and they could not
cheese has
eat it.

20
 Jane Eyre

Suddenly one of the older I wish the hair to be arranged

girls caught his eye. plainly! That girl's hair must be
cut short enough never to curl
What is this? That is Julia again!
Red hair, ma'am, S evern, Her
curled—curled
all over!

Mr, Brocktehurst
Spring came. It was warm, and the world
was a dreadful man. blossomed.
t was very afraid of
him. But l worked Oh, Helen it's
hard, learned my lovely? It's warm!
lessons, and was
promoted to a
higher class. I began
to learn French and
drawing, t made
many friends. At
last f began to be
happy.

More than half The building is in

But the warm the pupils are an unhealthy place
weather brought The girls are not
illness. Typhus fed enough. Their
Turned the school bodies cannot
into a hospital. fight off the disease,

nni f"1;

21
POCKET CLASSICS

Before the sickness had run its course, there were many deaths, among
them Helen Burgs. But some good came out of all our suffering. ,
All of us were Many people in the county have raised
shocked to learn the money for a new school. It will
about fife at Lowood. be built in a much better place*

I am so thankful! Lowood can

become a truly noble school!

And so it proved to he, i re*

mained there for six years as a
pupil, receiving a fine education,
i stayed on for two more years
as a teacher. And Miss Temple's
friendship was always my
greatest joy.

22
 Jane Eyre

Then Miss Temple got married. / watched herr after the ceremony,
step into the coach that would carry her away to a distant home.

/ went to For eight years There is another world out there!

my room. my school duties, I want a new place, in a new
school rules, and house, with new faces!
school habits
have been my
world.

/ wrote out an
advertisement.

23
POCKET CLASSICS

it was not until bedtime that

/ mailed it to Are there any / couid read my letter.
the newspaper. letters for
A week later / J. E One pupil, a
visited the - little girl,..
Lowton Post thirty pounds
Office. a year...
references ., ,
Mrs. Fairfax
of Thomfield!

/ tofd the principal of my chance

at a new job. She spoke to Mr. Soon I prepared to leave
Brockiehurst, who said that Mrs. Lowood. My last evening
Peed, as my guardian, must arrived.
agree.
Miss, a person
downstairs
Mrs. Reed wishes to
writes that I've neither seen
you may do nor heard from
as you wish. any of the Reeds
She long since I came to
ago gave up Lowood, I was
any interest would
in your life.

24
 Jane Eyre

/ went to the teachers' in another second / was

sitting-room. A woman took kissing her.
my hand.
\ would have Bessie!
known you any¬ Bessie!
where! And Bessie!
you've not
quite forgotten
me, J think. Miss
Jane?

Bessie told me her own news, * afraid No, Miss Jane.

and that of the Reeds. "Ot You are quite
a lady, and ever
Did Mrs. Oh, no! I've have become, so smart! You'1
Reed send often wanted to Bessie! do well, even
you, Bessie? see you. Then without your
when I heard rich relatives!
you were mov¬
ing far away, I
thought I would
come and say
goodbye.

25
 i

POCKET CLASSICS

Have you ever M issus always said they were

heard anything Never in poor and low-class. But seven
years ago, a Mr. Eyre came to
Gateshead and wanted to see
you. He was as much of a
as any of the

He was sorry to An island far

hear that you away , . . where they
were away at What make wine , , . Well, I have
school. He was Madeira, that's it! never heard
leaving in a day him.
or two for another
^country j

We talked of old
times for an hour
or more. Then
Bessie left for
home, and /
went to bed. The
next morning I
mounted the
coach which
would take me
to new duties
and a new fife.
 Jane Eyre

After a sixteen-hour drive i reached my goat, a country house outside

of Miiicote.

The maid showed me to a Yes, Do sit down! I will

cozy sitting-room. order you a hot drink and
something to eat!
Mrs. Fairfax,
Come in, my I suppose?

/ had expected to see someone

very formai, but she treated
me /ike a visitor. Mrs. Fairfax
paid more attention to my
comfort than / had ever before
received!

27
POCKET CLASSICS

After my Sate Supper she led me
upstairs through great, dark
hallways to my bedroom.
The next morning t arose early,
f found my way downstairs and
stepped out through an open
door to took at my new home.
^ v ■ ■ .. .. . . .. ■
1

This is the room next to mine. kT ^ A gentleman's manor

It is only a small apartment, gr^jhouse! It is not a noble- >
but I thought you would prefer .1 p* ■ "“v ri ^ r*
man's home, but it is1%, >tin 1-% Ji ■ ♦* :* S\

it to one of the front rooms, quite lovely anyway!

grand as *

Thank you!
That was
very kind.

ft was here that Mrs. Fairfax Yes, a pretty place. But I fear
found me. it will run down, unless Mr.
Rochester should decide to live
here the year round.
are an early Very
Much!

28
 Jane Eyre

The owner of Bless you, child! And the

Thornfieldf Thorn field I am only the little girl,
Did you not S_.belonged housekeeper my pupil?
know? / to you! although a

,7* relative of his.

She is Adele Varens, a French Come, Adele,

child, Mr. Rochester's ward. speak to the
Here she comes now, with her lady who is to
nurse. teach you

29
POCKET CLASSICS

After breakfast, Books, a piano, I am so happy

Adete and / an easel, globes- that you speak
went to the we shall do very my language well,
libraryr which well here. mademoiselle!
would serve as
our schoolroom.

Things grow You keep things Though Mr, Rochester's visits

damp in rooms in wonderful are rare, they are always
that are seldom order! One unexpected. I like things to
used. would think be ready when he comes.

30
 jane Eyre

{followed her
through many
grand chambersf
then through
the attics and
onto the roof
for a fine view.
Returning, /
awaited her in
an attic hall.

Then t heard
a sound., . 'Mrs. Fairfax! Did
a ioudf strange \W \you hear it? Does
laugh. ^Thorrrfield Hall
have a ghost?

No ghosts at
Thornfield, my
dear. It is likely
one of the ser¬
vants ., , perhaps
Grace Poole.

She is a servant who

sews and helps with
the housemaid's work.

"X
She is not very
ghostlike!

31
POCKET CLASSICS

October, November, December passed. Mrs. Fairfax, Adefe, and f

got along well. One January afternoon f set out for a waik.

JI am happy, and
yet I wonder
what lies in the
towns beyond
hills.

As / started to walk again, a

horseman appeared.

Suddenly, with a clatter, the

What the
hone slipped on some ice.
deuce ..,
jr
 Jane Eyre

If you are hurt and want help,

I can fetch someone from

Down,
Pilot!
r

Thank you, I shall manage.

No broken bones, only a
sprain.V'j/frjE1'
You should be at home
I cannot leave you alone until
yourself. Go quickly!
I see vou

Very well,
then ...

33
POCKET CLASSICS

Back at Thorn field Ha/I, I went to Mrs. Fairfax's

room. She was not there, but a great dog fay
in front of the fireplace.

He came to me, iwagging his

tail. 1 rang for the maid.

Master's horse
slipped on the ice
He came and his ankle is i
the master, sprained. The
Mr. Rochester doctor is coming.J
He has just
arrived!

f did not see Mr.

Rochester that
night or the
next day, but
the silence of
the Half was
broken by
knocks at the
door, bells,
steps, voices.
Adele was not
easy to teach
that day.

34
 Jane Eyre

Later, Mrs. Fairfax came in Should I Yes. I always

change dress for the
my dress? evening when
he is here.
Mr. Rochester
would be glad
if you and
your pupil
would take
tea with him
this evening.

Mrs. Fairfax went with me to the drawing room.

Let Miss
Eyre be
seated.

Soon the tea tray was brought in.

Mrs. Fairfax asked me to hand Mr.
Rochester his cup.

Monsieur
Rochester,
did you
bring a gift
for
Mademoiselle,
Eyre? /

rjm
M

35
 I

POCKET CLASSICS

You have given me my

present, the thing that teachers
want most: praise of their
pupils' work.

After tea, / sat Learning that / played a You

by the fire, and little, he sent me to the any
Mr. Rochester piano. school¬
asked me about girl. You are
many things: better than some,
my family, my do not
years at Lowood,
the things i
could do.

36
 Jane Eyre

Ah, that pricks

your pride! Wet!
let me see the
others you have
done! _ ^

Mr. Rochester studied each But I was upset by the con¬

sketch and painting carefully. trast between my ideas and
He set aside three. my work._

You have captured the

shadow of your thought,
and the thoughts are “
elfish! Those eyes must -
have come from a >
dream .... And who
taught you to paint wind?

37
POCKET CLASSICS

Then, sweeping the drawings

into their folder, Mr.
Rochester looked at his watch

It is nine
o'clock!
Why are
you letting
Adele sit
up for so
long? Take
her to bed.

Later / joined What did you think of Mr. R

Mrs. Fairfax
in her room.

Yes, but he He broke with them

had had and traveled for many
troubles. years. Then, nine
As he grew years ago, when his
up, his brother died, he in¬
father and herited Thornfield Hall,
elder
brother
were unfair
to him.

38
 Jane Eyre

He also told me something of his past life.

In the days that
passed, f had (n the course of your
other talks with lif* Jane, you must
Mr. Rochester, d many
He liked to talk triends tell you their
bout the world secrets.
an a its beauties
to people who How can
had seen only a you guess
small part of it. all this,
sir?

I know it. You listen with I am fighting within

great understanding. I talk to myself. Life dares me
you as freely as if I were
writing in my diary.

39
POCKET CLASSICS

That night t coufd not steep, t

kept thinking of his took when If he goes ... if he is absent. . .
he spoke of staying at Thorn- how sad the fine days of spring,
field._ summer, and fall will seem!
Will he leave again soon? Mrs.
Fairfax said he seldom stays
longer than two weeks. He
has been here eight weeks

t put out my candle and iay

down. / heard the clock strike
two. Then there was a devilish
laugh.

40
 Jane Eyre

Forgetting everything else, / The smoke had made him

hurried to Mr. Rochester's groggy. / rushed for his basin
room. and pitcher and emptied them
onto the bed.

41
 %

POCKET CLASSICS

As Mr.
Rochester Shall I cat! Mrs.
What the looked at Fairfax? Or the
devil! 1$ the damage, servants?
there a flood? l told him
what had
happened'.

No, sir, but

there has been
a fire. Get up.
I will tight a
candle.

f sat in the dark and thought

of Grace Poole, whose laugh
i had heard. Then Mr.
Rochester returned.
As I thought, it
is Grace Poole, a
strange woman.
Say nothing
about this to

42
 Jane Eyre

I knew you would do me good;

I saw it in your eyes when I
first looked at you. My dear
protector, good night!

There was a But the day passed as usual. i met Mrs.

strange sound Fairfax in her room for tea.
in his voice, Well, Mr,
strange fire in Rochester has
his look, t had a good day
went to bed for his journey.
to
the
Yt
both wished
and feared to
see him again. Journey! I did
not know he had
gone anywhere.

Yes, to Mr. Eshton's place. Oh, yes. And one of them Is

There is quite a party, I Miss Blanche Ingram. She is
should think he might stay a a most beautiful woman, and
week or more. is admired also for her great
talents.
Are there
ladies there?

43
 «

POCKET CLASSICS

Two weeks passed. Then a In three days—and bringing

letter came for Mrs. Fairfax with him most of the fine
people from the Eshton party.
AH the best bedrooms are to
Well—sometimes be prepared ., . everything
Mr. Rochester
we are too quiet, is returning? cleaned ... extra kitchen
but we'll be busy helo hired . . .
enough now! y

On the
stated
afternoon
the party
S*w33£?3>\V- HU/ \\
arrived. jB jL...
1 -■‘ft
V

Mr. Rochester asks

Soon the house ^ that you bring Adeie
was fuff of to the drawing room
happy voices. after dinner each
In the hallways evening.
the maids and
valets of the
visitors rushed
about. Mrs.
Fairfax brought
me a message.

44
 j^ne Eyre

One night a Mr. Mason arrived.

An old friend of
Mr. Rochester's,
I understand.

45
 %

POCKET CLASSICS

That night / was awakened by Rochester! tt is from

a ternbie cry. For God's the third
sake, come! floor!

In a moment Who is it? Who

the halfway was is hurt? Is it a
full of excited fire?
people.

ft s alt right!
Calm down!

But the sounds had been

in the room above mine—
A servant has had both the cries and the
a nightmare, that noise of blows and fight-
is a ill NOW hark ing. Whatever it was, it
into was more than a servant's
nightmare. I dressed and
waited in my room, ready
for l knew not what. /
was not too surprised
when Mr. Rochester came
for me.

46
 Xane Eyre

in a third floor room an inner He led me around a large bed:

door, usualfy covered by a
curtain, stood open.
It sounds like Never mind! I
an animal will lock the
growling in
there!

ft seemed for¬ He will be all right— She bit

ever that l sat it is mostly loss of like a
beside Mason, blood. But there
wiping away have been teeth
the b/ood and here, as well as
holding smell¬ a knife!
ing salts to his
nose when he
felt faint. But
at last dawn
came, and Mr.
Rochester
and the doctor
arrived.

Mr. Rochester wanted Mason to be away before everyone woke up.

We helped him down to a waiting carnage after the doctor had
finished.

47
POCKET CLASSICS

Only a short
time later { I went at once to find Mr, Rochester,
received a
message from 9 suppose I must
Bessie at Gates¬ give you leave to go.
head. My cousin But promise you 1 promise to return,
John Reed, will return in a week sir. But perhaps not
having gambled in a week's time.
away most of
the family's
fortune, had
shot himself
The shock had
given his mother
a stroke, and
she kept calling
for Jane Byre.

Indeed, when I Go to my dressing-

arrived at raw Onen it, take
Gateshead my er you
aunt was very we, and read it.
Hi, ft was more
than two weeks
before she could
tell me what she
wanted.

I obeyed her orders and read
the following, dated three
years back:
i could not bear to make you
wealthy! I wrote him that Jane
Eyre had died of typhus fever
at Lowood. Now act as you
please...
Love me or hate
me as you will.
Aunt. You have
my full forgiveness

48
 Jane Eyre

It was a beautiful summer evening as I left the

Mrs, Reed died coach and walked across the fields. My heart beat
that night, f faster as I saw a familiar figure.
had hoped to
leave after the
funeral, but jane! Is it you or a
dream?
stayed on to
give my cousins
what help I
could, A month
had passed
before I reached
Thorn field
again.

Jane, never Then, sir, I will

leave me again! _ I do; if only an marry you.
Will you marry Are V°u serious? oath will satisfy
me? Do you truly you, I swear it!

We shall be married in four I feel so surprised

The next few
days passed weeks. The wedding will t hardly know what
take place quit ‘ f
in a happy
dream as Mr.
Rochester
made his
plans.

/ill
lademoiselle
rear satin
nd jewels?

49
POCKET CLASSICS

I have sent to Suddenly I remembered the

the bank for my fetter from my uncle, f would
family jewels. write to him at once
And we shall go No, no! You
this very day to won't know me, I will tell my uncle that \ am
buy Jane silks sir. i will not alive and going to be married.
and satins! be Jane Eyre in I would be happier if I could
bring even a little money to
Mr. Rochester!

The month passed. Then, two
nights before my wedding, /
dreamed that Thom field Hall
was in ruins.
/ awoke, candlelight in my
eyes, to see a strange woman
staring at my wedding clothes.
She took my veil, and threw it
over her own head.

50
 Jane Eyre

Starting for the door, she stopped

at my bedside and put her candle
dose to my face. For the second
time in my fife, / fainted from
Terror.

For our wedding I charge you both ., . that if

there were no either knows any reason why
bridesmaids, no ye may not be lawfully married,
guests. Mr, now say so . . .
Rochester and f
walked the short
distance to the
church, and stood
before the
clergyman.

A voice spoke nearby.

A man came forward.
The marriage cannot go on.
There is a good reason. What is it? Simply . ,.
4,
that Mr. Rochester
a ti
1 has a wife now
living!

51
POCKET CLASSICS

My name is That may prove that I have

Briggs. 1 am a been married. It does not
lawyer, I can prove that the woman is still
prove that living.
fifteen years]
ago Edward
Fairfax
Rochester
married
Bertha
Mason in
Spanish
Town,
Jamaica.

Enough! We t now inform

can go no you that she is
further. There Bertha Mason,
has been gossip my wife. She
about the is mad and
crazy woman comes from a
kept at Thorn- mad family.
field under No one told
lock and key. me that before
She is Grace I married her!
Poole's patient.
3

52
 Jane Eyre

This girl knew nothing of the Your uncle My uncle!

secret. She thought all was will he glad to What of him?
fair and legal. hear of it—If, Do you
indeed, he is know him?

Too ill to come

Mr. Mason does. to England him¬
He was with
self, your uncle
your uncle
begged Mason to
when your
this
letter arrived
telling of your
coming marriage.
Mr. Mason re¬
vealed the facts
to him.

We returned
to Thorn-
fieid Hall. There was only
The coach, one answer. I
packed for must leave
our wedding Thorn fieid Hall,
trip, was un¬ for my dear
packed, and Edward's sake
the luggage my
was taken in¬ l must
side. / went away unseen
to my room, if he begged
changed from me to stay, I
my wedding would not be
dress, and able to leave
sat down to him.
think.

53
POCKET CLASSICS

At dawn l-packed a few clothes, took my

purse, and crept silently out of the house. Farewell, kind Mrs.
Fairfax! Farewell,
dear Adelef And
God bless you, my
dear master!

On the road / hailed a coach / was weak,

and rode for two days to Whit- tired, and
cross, as far as all the money hungry. / slept
in my purse would take me. that night under
a bush.
So Whitcross is
only a crossroad?!
And I have f
my things
coach!

The next morning I Do you know where

ate some berries, then might ftnd work?
walked to a nearby
village. / needed No. The
food and work. / local factory
entered a bake shop. ^uses only
men. People
who want
servants have
them already,
and there are
as many
dressmakers
as the town
needs.

54
 Jane Eyre

/ wandered here and there ask¬ At dark, f was outside the

ing at other places with always village, it began to rain.
the same answer. A t sundown,
t saw a farmer eating his
Will you give me a Am I to
piece of bread? \ am die of want
verv and cold?

Suddenly, across an empty space, a

light shone. Was this a sign? I tried
to reach it, and found a long, low
house.

How lucky / I found her on

was! The
people who
lived there
took me in.

55
 ft
POCKET CLASSICS

The Rivers I am the minister at

family; Diana, Moreton. When I
Mary, their arrived, it had no
brother St. school* I opened
John, and the one for boys; ! mean
old servant now to open one for
Hannah fed me, girls. The teacher
nursed me back will have a two-room
to health, and cottage and thirty
became my pounds a year.
friends. St.
John promised
to find me work.

It is only a village / moved into my little cottage

school. The pupils and started the school. St. John
will be poor girls * , often visited me and talked of
cottagers' children his p lans.
and farmers'
daughters. Will — Long ago I vowed
you accept the job to become a
7 missionary. My
father was
against it, but
aX since his death
^ 1 am free to go.
^I shall soon
&T' leave for the
East.

_o Come with me, Jane! I have watched you

work here for ten months. God wanted you
to be a missionary's wife!
I am not, '
fit for it.pv — llll! A__„ p-
God has of 1 h
not called ^>7^- - =7l^/l^\^T^TTnnirI^
me to (m?Tfl f
live that ’ X A" iti' JlVi-rtri
way! - mSMCt 1 ll i W

56
 Jane Eyre

I have a woman's Another day I have heard from

heart, and for he brought Briggs, a London
you, St. John, I a different lawyer, who has
have only a sister's sort of news. news for you,
love. I cannot Jane Eyre!
marry you. |

^^jane,
/ you What does
would not want
be sorry! me?
I will not
give up yet!

To tell you that your uncle,

Mr. Eyre of Madeira, is dead. And why
He has left you his property, did Mr. Because my
20,000 pounds. You are now Briggs mother's name
rich! write to was Eyre! She
you of was your
1? Rich? this? father's sister!
Perhaps it is Your Unde
a mistake. hn was also
our Uncle John!

You, Diana, You seem to it was true. / was

and Mary are care more about
happy to have
my cousins? that than about cousins whom I
I have the fortune! already loved. /
arranged at once
>h, I that the money
am yiau! I should be divided
am glad! among the four of
us. Five thousand
pounds was enough
for each. Diana and
Mary gave up their
jobs, and we met
for a happy reunion.

57
 I

POCKET CLASSICS

/ took a coach to Thornfield and

In all this time
walked across the fields toward the
i had heard no
great house.
news of Mr,
Rochester,
Now Iseemed
to feel him
calling me,
needing me.
Before f made
other plans, I
must knowhow
he was.

Eagerly / went forward. My

first view would be from the
front. / raised my eyes to see
a lovely home—and saw a
blackened ruin instead.

As in my dream, there was only a shell-like

waftr pane less windows. There was no roof,
no chimney. AH had crashed in. And the
silence of death lay around it.

I rushed to the nearby inn. There was a

The landlord would answer my lady kept in
questions. the house, a
lunatic. She
Is Mr, Rochester set the f ire,
living at Thornfield then died in
Hall now? it, despite
all Mr.
Oh, no, ma'am! Rochester's
Jy Thornfield Hall efforts to
is a ruin! It rescue her.
burnt down at
harvest time. And Mr.
Rochester?

58
 Jane Eyre

He lives at
He would not leave Ferndean,
until everyone was out,
thirty miles
and it crashed in on away, alone
him! He was taken with his old
from the ruins alive, servants. He
but he is blind, and cut himself
one hand is crippled. off from
everyone!
Where is
he now?
Can .
“X a carriage? I
must go to
Ferndean!

At the house, i made myself known to the

servants. Then l took the tray Mary had pre¬
pared, and carried it in to Mr. Rochester.
Down,
Pilot!

59
 4

POCKET CLASSICS

1His arm
touched my
shoulder,
my neck,
Is it Jane? This
is her shape,
her size ,,,
She is all here—
her heart, too.
God bless you,

my waist.
He took me
in his arms.

The other night sitting by my

open window, I was overcome
by my longing for you, I cried
a..* U..J I. I 1_I I ■ r<

And a voice
answered—
your voice- And I came
"Waitfor ^ sir. I am
me! I am \ here . . .
coming!" and will
never leave,
you! (

Pour days
later we
were
married.

I now pronounce
you man and wife

60
 Jane Eyre

Two years later, as he dictated And are you wear

a letter, he came and bent over ing a pale blue
me. dress?

Jane, have you a shining vDJpi cdward,

ornament around your see?
neck?

Yes,
Edward

He told me that he thought

one eye was improving. We
went to a London doctor at
once. Soon Edward recovered
the sight of that eye.

Edward,
When his first meet your
child was put into son!
his arms, he could
see that the boy
had eyes like his
own as they once
were, large and
black.

/ have now been married ten

years. / know what it is to five
with what f love best on earth.
I am great!y blessed. m
END.

61
COMPLETE LIST OF POCKET CLASSICS AVAILABLE
CLASSICS
C 1 8 lack Beauty
C 2 The Call of the Wild
C 3 Dr. Jekyli and Mr. Hyde
C 4 Dracula
C 5 Frankenstein
C 6 Huckleberry Finn
C 7 Moby Dick
C 8 The Red Badge of Courage
C 9 The Time Machine
CIO Tom Sawyer
C11 Treasure Island
Cl2 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Cl3 The Great Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
C14 Gulliver's Travels
Ct5 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Cl6 The Invisible Man
Cl 7 Journey to the Center of the Earth
Cl8 Kidnapped
Cl9 The Mysterious Island
C20 The Scarlet Letter
C21 The Story of My Life
C22 A Tale of Two Cities
C23 The Three Musketeers
C24 The War of the Worlds
C25 Around the World in Eighty Days
C26 Captains Courageous
C27 A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
C28 The Hound of the Baskervtlles
C29 The House of the Seven Gables
C30 Jane Eyre
C31 The Last of the Mohicans
C32 The Best of O. Henry
C33 The Best of Poe
C34 Two Years Before the Mast
C35 White Fang
C36 Wuthering Heights
C37 Ben Hur
C38 A Christmas Carol
C39 The Food of the Gods
C40 Ivanhoe
C41 The Man in the Iron Mask
C42 The Prince and the Pauper
C43 The Prisoner of Zenda
C44 The Return of the Native
C45 Robinson Crusoe
C46 The Scarlet Pimpernel
 f

COMPLETE LIST OF POCKET CLASSICS AVAILABLE

(cont'd)
C47 The Sea Wolf
C48 The Swiss Family Robinson
C49 Billy Budd
C50 Crime and Punishment
C51 Don Quixote
C52 Great Expectations
C53 Heidi
C54 The llliad
CBS Lord Jim
C56 The Mutiny on Board H.M.S. Bounty
C57 The Odyssey
C58 Oliver Twist
C59 Pride and Prejudice
C60 The Turn of the Screw

SHAKESPEARE
S 1 As You Like It
S 2 Hamlet
S 3 Julius Caesar
S 4 King Lear
S 5 Macbeth
S 6 The Merchant of Venice
S 7 A Midsummer Night's Dream
S 3 Othello
S 9 Romeo and Juliet
S10 The Taming of the Shrew
SI 1 The Tempest
SI2 Twelfth Night

I
Jane Eyre
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adventure and mystery. Turn the pages of history
and look into the frontiers of tomorrow. Live
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