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1A new chapter in a novel is something like a new scene in a play; and when I draw up the curtain this time, reader, you
2must fancy you see a room in the George Inn at Millcote, with such large figured papering on the walls as inn rooms
3have; such a carpet, such furniture, such ornaments on the mantelpiece, such prints, including a portrait of George the
4Third, and another of the Prince of Wales, and a representation of the death of Wolfe. All this is visible to you by the
5light of an oil lamp hanging from the ceiling, and by that of an excellent fire, near which I sit in my cloak and
6bonnet; my muff and umbrella lie on the table, and I am warming away the numbness and chill contracted by sixteen hours'
7exposure to the rawness of an October day: I left Lowton at four o'clock A.M., and the Millcote town clock is now just
8striking eight. Reader, though I look comfortably accommodated, I am not very tranquil in my mind. I thought when the
9coach stopped here there would be some one to meet me; I looked anxiously round as I descended the wooden steps the
10"boots" placed for my convenience, expecting to hear my name pronounced, and to see some description of carriage waiting
11to convey me to Thornfield. Nothing of the sort was visible; and when I asked a waiter if any one had been to inquire
12after a Miss Eyre, I was answered in the negative: so I had no resource but to request to be shown into a private room:
13and here I am waiting, while all sorts of doubts and fears are troubling my thoughts. It is a very strange sensation to
14inexperienced youth to feel itself quite alone in the world, cut adrift from every connection, uncertain whether the
15port to which it is bound can be reached, and prevented by many impediments from returning to that it has quitted. The
16charm of adventure sweetens that sensation, the glow of pride warms it; but then the throb of fear disturbs it; and fear
17with me became predominant when half-an-hour elapsed and still I was alone. I bethought myself to ring the bell. "Is
18there a place in this neighbourhood called Thornfield?" I asked of the waiter who answered the summons. "Thornfield? I
19don't know, ma'am; I'll inquire at the bar." He vanished, but reappeared instantly-- "Is your name Eyre, Miss?" "Yes."
20"Person here waiting for you." I jumped up, took my muff and umbrella, and hastened into the inn-passage: a man was
21standing by the open door, and in the lamp-lit street I dimly saw a one-horse conveyance. "This will be your luggage, I
22suppose?" said the man rather abruptly when he saw me, pointing to my trunk in the passage. "Yes." He hoisted it on to
23the vehicle, which was a sort of car, and then I got in; before he shut me up, I asked him how far it was to Thornfield.
24"A matter of six miles." "How long shall we be before we get there?" "Happen an hour and a half." He fastened the car
25door, climbed to his own seat outside, and we set off. Our progress was leisurely, and gave me ample time to reflect; I
26was content to be at length so near the end of my journey; and as I leaned back in the comfortable though not elegant
27conveyance, I meditated much at my ease. "I suppose," thought I, "judging from the plainness of the servant and
28carriage, Mrs. Fairfax is not a very dashing person: so much the better; I never lived amongst fine people but once, and
29I was very miserable with them. I wonder if she lives alone except this little girl; if so, and if she is in any degree
30amiable, I shall surely be able to get on with her; I will do my best; it is a pity that doing one's best does not
31always answer. At Lowood, indeed, I took that resolution, kept it, and succeeded in pleasing; but with Mrs. Reed, I
32remember my best was always spurned with scorn. I pray God Mrs. Fairfax may not turn out a second Mrs. Reed; but if she
33does, I am not bound to stay with her! let the worst come to the worst, I can advertise again. How far are we on our
34road now, I wonder?" I let down the window and looked out; Millcote was behind us; judging by the number of its lights,
35it seemed a place of considerable magnitude, much larger than Lowton. We were now, as far as I could see, on a sort of
36common; but there were houses scattered all over the district; I felt we were in a different region to Lowood, more
37populous, less picturesque; more stirring, less romantic. The roads were heavy, the night misty; my conductor let his
38horse walk all the way, and the hour and a half extended, I verily believe, to two hours; at last he turned in his seat
39and said-- "You're noan so far fro' Thornfield now." Again I looked out: we were passing a church; I saw its low broad
40tower against the sky, and its bell was tolling a quarter; I saw a narrow galaxy of lights too, on a hillside, marking a
41village or hamlet. About ten minutes after, the driver got down and opened a pair of gates: we passed through, and they
42clashed to behind us. We now slowly ascended a drive, and came upon the long front of a house: candlelight gleamed from
43one curtained bow-window; all the rest were dark. The car stopped at the front door; it was opened by a maid-servant; I
44alighted and went in. "Will you walk this way, ma'am?" said the girl; and I followed her across a square hall with high
45doors all round: she ushered me into a room whose double illumination of fire and candle at first dazzled me,
46contrasting as it did with the darkness to which my eyes had been for two hours inured; when I could see, however, a
47cosy and agreeable picture presented itself to my view. A snug small room; a round table by a cheerful fire; an
48arm-chair high-backed and old-fashioned, wherein sat the neatest imaginable little elderly lady, in widow's cap, black
49silk gown, and snowy muslin apron; exactly like what I had fancied Mrs. Fairfax, only less stately and milder looking.
50She was occupied in knitting; a large cat sat demurely at her feet; nothing in short was wanting to complete the
51beau-ideal of domestic comfort. A more reassuring introduction for a new governess could scarcely be conceived; there
52was no grandeur to overwhelm, no stateliness to embarrass; and then, as I entered, the old lady got up and promptly and
53kindly came forward to meet me. "How do you do, my dear? I am afraid you have had a tedious ride; John drives so slowly;
54you must be cold, come to the fire." "Mrs. Fairfax, I suppose?" said I. "Yes, you are right: do sit down." She conducted
55me to her own chair, and then began to remove my shawl and untie my bonnet-strings; I begged she would not give herself
56so much trouble. "Oh, it is no trouble; I dare say your own hands are almost numbed with cold. Leah, make a little hot
57negus and cut a sandwich or two: here are the keys of the storeroom." And she produced from her pocket a most
58housewifely bunch of keys, and delivered them to the servant. "Now, then, draw nearer to the fire," she continued.
59"You've brought your luggage with you, haven't you, my dear?" "Yes, ma'am." "I'll see it carried into your room," she
60said, and bustled out. "She treats me like a visitor," thought I. "I little expected such a reception; I anticipated
61only coldness and stiffness: this is not like what I have heard of the treatment of governesses; but I must not exult
62too soon." She returned; with her own hands cleared her knitting apparatus and a book or two from the table, to make
63room for the tray which Leah now brought, and then herself handed me the refreshments. I felt rather confused at being
64the object of more attention than I had ever before received, and, that too, shown by my employer and superior; but as
65she did not herself seem to consider she was doing anything out of her place, I thought it better to take her civilities
66quietly. "Shall I have the pleasure of seeing Miss Fairfax to-night?" I asked, when I had partaken of what she offered
67me. "What did you say, my dear? I am a little deaf," returned the good lady, approaching her ear to my mouth. I repeated
68the question more distinctly. "Miss Fairfax? Oh, you mean Miss Varens! Varens is the name of your future pupil."
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