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1This testimonial I accordingly received in about a month, forwarded a copy of it to Mrs. Fairfax, and got that lady's
2reply, stating that she was satisfied, and fixing that day fortnight as the period for my assuming the post of governess
3in her house. I now busied myself in preparations: the fortnight passed rapidly. I had not a very large wardrobe, though
4it was adequate to my wants; and the last day sufficed to pack my trunk,--the same I had brought with me eight years ago
5from Gateshead. The box was corded, the card nailed on. In half-an-hour the carrier was to call for it to take it to
6Lowton, whither I myself was to repair at an early hour the next morning to meet the coach. I had brushed my black stuff
7travelling-dress, prepared my bonnet, gloves, and muff; sought in all my drawers to see that no article was left behind;
8and 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
9not now repose an instant; I was too much excited. A phase of my life was closing to-night, a new one opening to-morrow:
10impossible to slumber in the interval; I must watch feverishly while the change was being accomplished. "Miss," said a
11servant who met me in the lobby, where I was wandering like a troubled spirit, "a person below wishes to see you." "The
12carrier, no doubt," I thought, and ran downstairs without inquiry. I was passing the back-parlour or teachers'
13sitting-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
14could have told her anywhere!" cried the individual who stopped my progress and took my hand. I looked: I saw a woman
15attired like a well-dressed servant, matronly, yet still young; very good-looking, with black hair and eyes, and lively
16complexion. "Well, who is it?" she asked, in a voice and with a smile I half recognised; "you've not quite forgotten me,
17I think, Miss Jane?" In another second I was embracing and kissing her rapturously: "Bessie! Bessie! Bessie!" that was
18all I said; whereat she half laughed, half cried, and we both went into the parlour. By the fire stood a little fellow
19of three years old, in plaid frock and trousers. "That is my little boy," said Bessie directly. "Then you are married,
20Bessie?" "Yes; nearly five years since to Robert Leaven, the coachman; and I've a little girl besides Bobby there, that
21I've christened Jane." "And you don't live at Gateshead?" "I live at the lodge: the old porter has left." "Well, and how
22do they all get on? Tell me everything about them, Bessie: but sit down first; and, Bobby, come and sit on my knee, will
23you?" but Bobby preferred sidling over to his mother. "You're not grown so very tall, Miss Jane, nor so very stout,"
24continued Mrs. Leaven. "I dare say they've not kept you too well at school: Miss Reed is the head and shoulders taller
25than you are; and Miss Georgiana would make two of you in breadth." "Georgiana is handsome, I suppose, Bessie?" "Very.
26She went up to London last winter with her mama, and there everybody admired her, and a young lord fell in love with
27her: but his relations were against the match; and--what do you think?--he and Miss Georgiana made it up to run away;
28but they were found out and stopped. It was Miss Reed that found them out: I believe she was envious; and now she and
29her sister lead a cat and dog life together; they are always quarrelling--" "Well, and what of John Reed?" "Oh, he is
30not doing so well as his mama could wish. He went to college, and he got--plucked, I think they call it: and then his
31uncles wanted him to be a barrister, and study the law: but he is such a dissipated young man, they will never make much
32of him, I think." "What does he look like?" "He is very tall: some people call him a fine-looking young man; but he has
33such thick lips." "And Mrs. Reed?" "Missis looks stout and well enough in the face, but I think she's not quite easy in
34her mind: Mr. John's conduct does not please her--he spends a deal of money." "Did she send you here, Bessie?" "No,
35indeed: but I have long wanted to see you, and when I heard that there had been a letter from you, and that you were
36going 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
37reach." "I am afraid you are disappointed in me, Bessie." I said this laughing: I perceived that Bessie's glance, though
38it expressed regard, did in no shape denote admiration. "No, Miss Jane, not exactly: you are genteel enough; you look
39like 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
40answer: I felt that it was correct, but I confess I was not quite indifferent to its import: at eighteen most people
41wish to please, and the conviction that they have not an exterior likely to second that desire brings anything but
42gratification. "I dare say you are clever, though," continued Bessie, by way of solace. "What can you do? Can you play
43on the piano?" "A little." There was one in the room; Bessie went and opened it, and then asked me to sit down and give
44her a tune: I played a waltz or two, and she was charmed. "The Miss Reeds could not play as well!" said she exultingly.
45"I always said you would surpass them in learning: and can you draw?" "That is one of my paintings over the
46chimney-piece." It was a landscape in water colours, of which I had made a present to the superintendent, in
47acknowledgment of her obliging mediation with the committee on my behalf, and which she had framed and glazed. "Well,
48that is beautiful, Miss Jane! It is as fine a picture as any Miss Reed's drawing-master could paint, let alone the young
49ladies themselves, who could not come near it: and have you learnt French?" "Yes, Bessie, I can both read it and speak
50it." "And you can work on muslin and canvas?" "I can." "Oh, you are quite a lady, Miss Jane! I knew you would be: you
51will get on whether your relations notice you or not. There was something I wanted to ask you. Have you ever heard
52anything from your father's kinsfolk, the Eyres?" "Never in my life." "Well, you know Missis always said they were poor
53and quite despicable: and they may be poor; but I believe they are as much gentry as the Reeds are; for one day, nearly
54seven years ago, a Mr. Eyre came to Gateshead and wanted to see you; Missis said you were at school fifty miles off; he
55seemed so much disappointed, for he could not stay: he was going on a voyage to a foreign country, and the ship was to
56sail from London in a day or two. He looked quite a gentleman, and I believe he was your father's brother." "What
57foreign country was he going to, Bessie?" "An island thousands of miles off, where they make wine--the butler did tell
58me--" "Madeira?" I suggested. "Yes, that is it--that is the very word." "So he went?" "Yes; he did not stay many minutes
59in the house: Missis was very high with him; she called him afterwards a 'sneaking tradesman.' My Robert believes he was
60a wine-merchant." "Very likely," I returned; "or perhaps clerk or agent to a wine-merchant." Bessie and I conversed
61about old times an hour longer, and then she was obliged to leave me: I saw her again for a few minutes the next morning
62at Lowton, while I was waiting for the coach. We parted finally at the door of the Brocklehurst Arms there: each went
63her separate way; she set off for the brow of Lowood Fell to meet the conveyance which was to take her back to
64Gateshead, I mounted the vehicle which was to bear me to new duties and a new life in the unknown environs of Millcote.
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