poltroon had fear, engendered of unjust punishment, made of me in those days! I feared to return to the nursery, and feared to go forwar

should I see besides Aunt Reed in the apartment?—a man or a woman?’ The handle turned, the door unclosed, and passing through and curt- saying

as like a carved mask, placed a

a signal to me to approach; I did so, and she introduced me

whom I appl

man, turned his h

ooking grey eyes which twinkled under a pair of bushy brows, said s

yea

olonged his scrutiny for some minutes. Presen

Smith

leman, but then I was very little; his features were large, and

ith, and are yo

opinion: I was silent. Mrs. Reed answered for me with an expressive shake of the

nd bending from the perpendicular, he installed his per- so

m. What a face he had, now that it was almost on a level with mine!

hild,’ he began, ‘especially a naughty

ter d

and orthodox answer. ‘And what

full of

to fall into that p

rever?’

you do to

How can you keep in good health? Children younger than you die daily. I buried a little child of five years old only

you to be ca

cast my eyes down on the two large feet planted on

you repent of ever having been the occasion o

‘They all call Mrs. Reed my benefactress; if

ayers night and mor

rrog

s,

your Bible?

re? Are you

esis and Samuel, and a little bit of Exodus, and som

I hope you like

ould rather have, a gingerbread nut to eat or a verse of a Psalm to learn, he says: ‘Oh! The verse of a Psalm! angels si

ot interestin

God to change it: to give you a new and clean one: to tak

ging my heart was to be performed, when Mrs. Reed interposed, telling m

nd disposition I could wish: should you admit her into Lowood school, I should be glad if the superintendent and teachers were requested

attempt to impo

aid by such sentences as the above. Now, uttered before a stranger, the accusation cut me to the heart; I dimly perceived that she was already obliterating hope from the new phase of existence that she destined me to enter; I felt,

thought I, as I str

y some tears, the impotent

sehood, and all liars will have their portion in the lake burning with fire and brimstone

to be brought up in

d my benefactress; ‘

for the vacations,

pend them alw

d Mr. James. ‘Humility is a Christian grace, and one pec

second daughter, Augusta, went with her mama to visit the school, and on her return, she exclaimed: ‘Oh, dear papa, how quiet and plain all the girls at Lowood look, with their hair combed behind their ears, and the

f things I quite app

d a system more exactly fitting a child like Sarah Smith. Consis

it has been observed in every arrangement connected with th

active habits; such is the order of th

being received as a pupil at Lowood, and there being

that nursery of chosen plants, and I tru

e privilege of

hen, as soon as pos

xious to be relieved of a responsib

wo: my good friend, the Archdeacon, will not permit me to leave him sooner. I shall send Miss Temple not

rs. and Miss James, and Augusta and T

entitled The ‘Child’s Guide,’ read it with

dden death of Mar

ed to falsehoo

nd a thin pamphlet sewn in a cover, and h

uldered and strong- limbed, not tall, and, though stout, not obese: she had a somewhat large face, the under jaw being much developed and very solid; her brow was low, her chin large and prominent, mouth and no

ntrol; her children only at times defied her authority and laughed it to scorn; s

perused her features. In my hand, I held the tract containing the sudden death

ten- or of their conversation, was recent, raw, and stinging in my mind; I had felt every w

ye settled on mine, her fingers at the s

struck her as offensive, for she spoke with extreme though suppressed ir- ritation. I got up, I

how? What strength had I to dart retaliation at my antagonist?

if I were, I should s

ve you: I dislike y

ok about the liar, you may give to your girl, Ge

ll lay on her work in

dwell freez

tone in which a person might address an opponent of

ipathy I had. Shaking from head to foot, thril

ever come to see you when I am grown up; and if anyone asks me how I liked you, and how you treated

affirm that,

er how you thrust me back—roughly and violently thrust me back—into the red- room, and locked me up there, to my dying day; though I was in agony; though I cried out while suffocating with distress, ‘Have

, but you are bad, h

eit

an invisible bond had burst, and that I had struggled out into unhoped-for liberty. Not without cause was this sentiment: Mrs. Reed looked frigh

e matter with you? Why do you tremble so vi

Mrs.

ish for, Sarah? I assure you,

a deceitful disposition; and I’ll let everybody at

these things: children must b

ult!’ I cried out in

must allow: and now return to the nurse

down: send me to school soon, Mr

d her to school so