Five o'clock had hardly struck on the morning of the 19th of

January, when Bessie brought a candle into my closet and found me

already up and nearly dressed. I had risen half-an-hour before her

entrance, and had washed my face, and put on my clothes by the light

of a half-moon just setting, whose rays streamed through the narrow

window near my crib. I was to leave Gateshead that day by a coach

which passed the lodge gates at six a.m. Bessie was the only person

yet risen; she had lit a fire in the nursery, where she now

proceeded to make my breakfast. Few children can eat when excited

with the thoughts of a journey; nor could I. Bessie, having pressed

me in vain to take a few spoonfuls of the boiled milk and bread she

had prepared for me, wrapped up some biscuits in a paper and put

them into my bag; then she helped me on with my pelisse and bonnet,

and wrapping herself in a shawl, she and I left the nursery. As we

passed Mrs. Reed's bedroom, she said, "Will you go in and bid Missis

good-bye?"

"No, Bessie: she came to my crib last night when you were gone down

to supper, and said I need not disturb her in the morning, or my

cousins either; and she told me to remember that she had always been

my best friend, and to speak of her and be grateful to her

accordingly."

"What did you say, Miss?"

"Nothing: I covered my face with the bedclothes, and turned from

her to the wall."

"That was wrong, Miss Jane."

"It was quite right, Bessie. Your Missis has not been my friend:

she has been my foe."

"O Miss Jane! don't say so!"

"Good-bye to Gateshead!" cried I, as we passed through the hall and

went out at the front door.

The moon was set, and it was very dark; Bessie carried a lantern,

whose light glanced on wet steps and gravel road sodden by a recent

thaw. Raw and chill was the winter morning: my teeth chattered as

I hastened down the drive. There was a light in the porter's lodge:

when we reached it, we found the porter's wife just kindling her

fire: my trunk, which had been carried down the evening before,

stood corded at the door. It wanted but a few minutes of six, and

shortly after that hour had struck, the distant roll of wheels

announced the coming coach; I went to the door and watched its lamps

approach rapidly through the gloom.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024