"This will be your luggage, I suppose?" said the man rather abruptly

when he saw me, pointing to my trunk in the passage.

"Yes." He hoisted it on to the 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.

"A matter of six miles."

"How long shall we be before we get there?"

"Happen an hour and a half."

He fastened the car door, climbed to his own seat outside, and we

set off. Our progress was leisurely, and gave me ample time to

reflect; I was content to be at length so near the end of my

journey; and as I leaned back in the comfortable though not elegant

conveyance, I meditated much at my ease.

"I suppose," thought I, "judging from the plainness of the servant

and carriage, Mrs. Fairfax is not a very dashing person: so much

the better; I never lived amongst fine people but once, and I was

very miserable with them. I wonder if she lives alone except this

little girl; if so, and if she is in any degree amiable, 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 always answer. At Lowood, indeed, I

took that resolution, kept it, and succeeded in pleasing; but with

Mrs. Reed, I remember my best was always spurned with scorn. I pray

God Mrs. Fairfax may not turn out a second Mrs. Reed; but if she

does, 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 road now, I

wonder?"

I let down the window and looked out; Millcote was behind us;

judging by the number of its lights, it seemed a place of

considerable magnitude, much larger than Lowton. We were now, as

far as I could see, on a sort of common; but there were houses

scattered all over the district; I felt we were in a different

region to Lowood, more populous, less picturesque; more stirring,

less romantic.

The roads were heavy, the night misty; my conductor let his horse

walk all the way, and the hour and a half extended, I verify

believe, to two hours; at last he turned in his seat and said "You're noan so far fro' Thornfield now."

Again I looked out: we were passing a church; I saw its low broad

tower against the sky, and its bell was tolling a quarter; I saw a

narrow galaxy of lights too, on a hillside, marking a village or

hamlet. About ten minutes after, the driver got down and opened a

pair of gates: we passed through, and they clashed to behind us.

We now slowly ascended a drive, and came upon the long front of a

house: candlelight gleamed from one curtained bow-window; all the

rest were dark. The car stopped at the front door; it was opened by

a maid-servant; I alighted and went in.




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