One night as I lay in bed, I heard a strange sound. My room was dark and I sat up in bed listening. All was quiet. 1 lay down again and tried to sleep. A clock struck two.

Chapter 9 FIRE

One night as I lay in bed, I heard a strange sound. My room was dark and I sat up in bed listening. All was quiet. 1 lay down again and tried to sleep. A clock struck two.

Just then I thought 1 heard someone at my door.

"Who's there?" I asked.

No one answered. I felt cold with fear.

"Perhaps it is Pilot, the dog," 1 thought.

Then I heard a fearful sound —a low, wicked laugh. It seemed to me at my very door. Something groaned, and I heard steps run along the gallery.A door was opened and closed.

'•Was that Grace Poole?" I thought. "Is she mad? I must go for Mrs. Fairfax al once."

I put on my dress and shawl and opened my door. I was shaking with fear.

There was a lighted candle on the carpet outside. The air was filled with smoke which enmc in clouds from Mr. Rochester's bedroom.

I thought no more of Mrs. Fairfax, or of Grace Poole. I ran to Mr. Rochester's room.

Flames were leaping round my master's bed, while he lay fast asleep.

"Wake up! Wake up!" I cried, shaking him.

His sheets were already alight, and still he slept on. I rushed for a large jug of water and poured it over the bed. The cold water wakened him and put out the flames.

I heard him mutlcr angrily when he found himself in a pool of

Chapter 8

TEA WITH MR. ROCHESTER

The next d:iy Adclc was cxcilcd and would not do ficr lessons properly.

After dinner Mrs. Fairfax said:

"Mr. Rochester would be glad if you and Adelc would have lea wiih him in ihe drawing-room Ihis evening. He has been loo busy to see you lodav."

"When doe;, he have lea?" I asked.

"Al six o'clock."

1 put on my black silk dress before going lo ihe drawing-room.

M r, Rochester was sealed on a couch wiih one foot on a cushion. I recognized his broad figure and dark hair, lie lay looking al Adele, who sal on ihe floor wiih the dog.

"Here is Miss Eyre, sir/' said Mrs. Fairfax.

"Lei Miss Eyre be sealed," lie replied, wilhoui looking al mc.

Mrs. Fairfax began lo dialler in her kindly bul simple way, bul Mr. Rochester neither spoke nor moved.

"Madam, I should like some lea," was ail he replied.

Mrs. Fairfax poured out the lea and I handed a cup 10 Mr. Rochester.

After lea Mr. Rochester (old Adele lo play wiih Pilot, the dog, and asked mc lo sil by Ihe fire.

"You have been in my house for lliree mouths." lie said, "and during Ihai lime you have laken much (rouble lo leach Adele. She

Thank you, I am all right," he answered. "I have no broken bones — only a strain. Where do you live?" "At Thornficld Hall." "Whose house is il?" lie asked. "Mr. Rochester's. I am the governess there." Ah, the governess," lie said. "Do you know Mr. Rochester?" "No. I have never met him." He tried lo stand, but found il was loo painful. Perhaps you help me after all," he said. He pul his hand on mv shoulder, limped towards his horse and mounted il with difficulty. Then he asked me tohand him his whip. Thank you," he said. "Nowhurry. Posl your letler.and rclurn home as quickly as you can."

Suddenly the horse with ils rider, followed by the dog, bounded away from me and were soon oui of sighl.I look up my muff and

II was gelling dark and Ihc house looked gloomy when I came back from the village. Bui inside Ihc lamps were lit and a fire burned in Ihc dining-room.

As I passed the open door on my way lo Mrs. Fairfax's room,I heard cheerful voices. 1 could hear Adclc's lilllc voice among others,

Mrs. Fairfax was nol in her room, but Ihc grcal black dog I had seen in ili_c |pne was lying beside Mrs. Fairfax's fire. Where did this dog come from?" I asked Ihc maid. II came with Mr. Rochester," she answered. "The master has just arrived. He has had an accident; his horse fell on the ice in the lane. The doctor has come and is with Mr. Rochester."

Chapter 6 TI10RNF1ELDHALL

I went by coach lo Millcoic, where a servant met mc with a horse and cab.

"How far is it to Thornficld?" I asked.

"About six miles, miss." he replied, putting my trunk on lop of the cab.

He climbed up beside it. I got inside, and off we drove, very slowly. It took us an hour and a half fo travel six miles. It was dark when we reached Thornficld Hall.

I was shown into a small warm room. A litllc elderly lady, in a black silk dress and a dainty white apron, sat by the fire, knit ling. She got up to meet mc.

"How do you do, my dear," she said. "Conic to the fire and h:vc supper."

"Shall 1 sec Miss Fairfax tonight?" I asked.

"MISS Fairfax? Adelc Varcns is the name of your pupil."

"Then she is not your daughter?" I said.

"Oh, no!" said Mrs. Fairfax. "1 have no family. 1 am so glad you have come. It can be lonely here."

"A situation is vacant where there is one pupil, a lilllcgirl under 10 years old. The salary is 30 pounds a year. J.E. is asked to send name, address, and particulars to Mrs. Fairfax, Thornfield, Nr. Millcole."

I looked at the old-fashioned writing. Mrs. Fairfax must bean old lady. 1 should feel safe under her roof, 1 thought.

Thirty pounds a yearsounded a lot to me. Al Lowood 1 was earning 15 pounds a year.

1 wrote to Mrs. Fairfax, and it was arranged that I should goto Thornfield in a fortnight's lime.

I felt very excited as 1 gathered my things together before leaving Lowood. I had not many clothes to pack in the trunk 1 had brought from Gateshead, eight years before, but I had all 1 needed.

1 laid out my black wool travelling dress, my bonnet, muff, and gloves, for the journey.

Later Mrs. Fairfax look mc up a wide staircase and along a gallery to my room.

The house looked large and cold, bul my bedroom was small and neal. It had bright blue curtains and cheerful wallpaper, and a carpel on ilic floor. How differcnl il was from ihc slained plaster walls and bare boards at Lowood.

I said a prayer of lhankfulncss before I slept that nighl.

I got up early iicxl morning and went out of doors to look at the house and garden. Soon Mrs. Fairfax appeared.

"Thornfield is a pretty place, is it not?" she said.

"I like il very much." 1 replied.

"Bul it will gel out of order unless Mr. Rochester visits II more often."

"Mr. Rochester? Who is he?" I asked.

"The man who owns Thornfield,"she replied.

"I (bought it belonged lo you," I said.

"Tome?" Mrs. Fairfax laughed. "I am only Ihc housekeeper."

"And the litllc girl, my pupil?" I asked.

"She is Mr. Rochester's ward. He asked mc to find a governess for her. Here she comes with her nurse. Miss Adclc, this lady is going lo be your teacher."

A thin little girl of about seven or eight wild fair curls ran towards us.

"Adclc was born in France," said Mrs. Fairfax. "Her mother died six months ago. She and her nurse speak French. I cannot understand a word Ihcy say."

Fortunately I was able lo talk to Adclc, and she was dclighled when 1 spoke to her in her own language.

When I had given Adelc her lessons, Mrs. Fairfax said she would show mc the house. After we had visited all the large rooms, with their rich furniture, she look me up lo Ihc lop floor of the house. We climbed a ladder lo the roof, and stood behind the battlements looking at (he gardens, fields, and woods which stretched out below us.

"What is Mr. Rochester like?" I asked.

"He is rather a strange man, bul he is a good master," said Mrs. Fairfax. "He docs not often come here."

Wc then came down ihc ladder into Ihc dark lop floor of Ihc house. The doors on both sides of the corridor were shut. The only light came from a small window at the end of Ihc passage.

Suddenly I heard a strange sound, like a short harsh laugh. If slopped, then began again, louderand louder, until il rang through ihc house. Il was a horrible sound.

"Mrs. Fairfax, what's that?" I cried.

Mrs. Fairfax looked worried.

"Probably il is Grace Poole, one of Ihc scrvanls." she replied. Then she called, "Grace!"

A door near nic opened, and oul came a big, heavy-looking woman, wilh red hair and a hard, plain face.

"Toomuch noise, Grace," said Mrs. Fairfax. "Rcmcmbcrwhal you were lold."

Grace curlscycd wilhoul a word and wcnl back into Ihc room, shulling Ihc door behind her.

"She is a person we have lo sew for us," said Mrs. Fairfax.

The doclor came. When he heard my falhcr and molhcr were dead and lhal I was unhappy, he said:

"This child should be scnl lo school."

Some weeks lalcr, a visitor came lo Gateshead. My aunl sent for mc. She sat by the fire, and a tall, dark man stood on Ihc hearthrug.

'Mr. Brocklchursl, this is Jane Eyre," said my aunl.

"Arc you a good child, Jane?" asked the visitor.

I could nol say "Yes", when everyone else thought "No". I kept silent.

- "She is sly, and a liar," said my aunt. "Tell the teachers soat Lowood."

"How very sad," said Mr. Brocklchursl. "1 shall certainly tell Miss Temple, the headmistress, about her. At Lowood School the girls gel plain food, simple clothes, bare rooms, and plenty of work."

"Just what Jane needs," said my aunt. "I wish her to spend her holidays always at Lowood."

"Very well, Mrs. Reed. I shall tell Miss Temple to expect her

Mr. Brocklchursl went away.

"I am not a liar," I burst out. "If 1 were 1 should say I loved you, but I do not. I dislike you more than anyone in the world, except John Reed. You are bad and cruel."

"How dare you say lhal, Jane Eyre!'

"Because il is the trulh," I cried. "Send mc to school soon, Mrs. Reed, for I hate lo live here!'

Chapter l I THE PROPOSAL

The ncxl day my aunt, Mrs. Rccd of Gateshead, scnl forme. She was dying and wanted lo sec mc. Mr. Rocheslcr did not want lo Icl me go, bill 1 promised to comeback to Thornficld as soon as possible.

At Gateshead I found that my aunt was dying. The night before she died she lold me how, three years before, my father's brother had written to her from Madeira to ask for my address. He had madea forlune.and wanted lo adopt ntc as his daughter.

Mrs. Reed told mc she had written and lold him I had died of fever at Lowood.

I tried loshowmyauni thai I forgave her. but she was hard and bitter, and she died still hating mc.

While! was al Gateshead, Mrs. Fairfax wrote lo tell mc Mr. Rochester had gone lo London.

"We think he has gone to make plans for his wedding lo Miss Ingram," she wrote.

I was very sad fori knew that if Mr. Rochester married Blanche Ingram, I should have to leave Thomficld.

The day came for mc to return to Thornficld. I did noi tell M rs. Fairfax when to expect mc, for I did not want llic carriage to meet meat Millcotc. I meanl to walk along the road quiellvby myself.

When 1 came near Thornficld, there on the slile I saw Mr. Rochester. He was silling, writing. The sight of him made mc tremble so much I could not speak.

"Hullo!" lie cried. "I thought you had forgotten mc."

"Mrs. Fairfax told mc you were In London, sir."

"And did she tell you what I went lo do?" he asked.

"Oh, yes," I replied. "Everybody knows that."

When I reached Thornficld Mrs. Fairfax looked glad losccmc, and Adelc jumped about wilh dclighl. Their welcome made mc very happy.

The moon wakened me in the middle of llic night. Suddenly I heard a loud cry. In ihc room above llicrc was the sound of a struggle, and a voice shouted:

"Help, help! Save me. Rochester!",

A door opened. Someone ran along the gallery. I heard some­thing fall on the floor above. Then all was quiet.

1 dressed quikly and went out of mv room. All the guests were at their doors asking, "What is it? Who is hurl? Where is Mr. Rochester?"

My master came Trom Hie floor above.

"A servant has had a nightmare," he said, "but everything is all right now. Please go back to bed."

I went back to my room, but I d.id not gel into bed. When all was quiet I heard a knock at my door.

Mr. Rochester was standing outside my door with a candle in his hand. '

"Come at once." he said.

He led me to an upstairs room. When I had been there before with Mrs. Fairfax, I had not noticed a door hidden behind a curtain. That door was open now. and from it came a low growl,and a shout of laughter. It sounded like Grace Poole's laughter. She must be there.

Mr. Rochester quickly shut Ihc door and pointed loan armchair in an outer bedroom.

Mr. Mason sal there with his coal off. He leaned back and his eyes were closed. I saw that one of his shirt sleeves was torn and red with blood.

Mr. Rochester made me hold the candle while he bathed the arm. Then he left me with Mr. Mason, while he went for a doctor.

"How did this happen?" asked (he doctor. "The flesh is lorn. There have been teeth here."

"She bit me, after Rochester got hold of Ihc knife," groaned Mr. Mason.

"I warned you not logo near her alone," said Mr. Rochester. "Hurrv.Doclor.Iwanl him away from this house before my friends sec him."

Chaplcr 7 THE DARK HORSEMAN

ll was January. I had been ilircc monllis in Thornficld Hall with Mrs. Fairfax, Adclc, and Ihc servants.

One afternoon, I sel off lo posl a Icllcr at Ihc village two miles away. The ground was frozen hard, and in places ice covered the pathway. I walked fasl for about a mile; Ihcn I sat on a slile to rest.

As I sat, a great black dog came out of the bushes,;md a man on horseback came along Ihc palh.

The man wore a riding cloak with a fur collar. He was broad-shouldered and of medium height, and he had a dark face with a heavy brow. He was perhaps about thirty-five years old.

He passed me, and as 1 got up from the stile to go on my way, Ihc horse suddenly slipped and fell on the ice. The dog began to bark round them, then it ran to me for help. By the time I reached them the man was trying to get to his feet.

He got to his feci and pulled the horse up, while Ihc dog went on barking.

"Arc you hurl?" I asked. "If you are, 1 can fetch help from Thornficld Hall."

The man felt his foot and leg, then he limped lo the stile and sat on it.

Chapter 3 MR. BR0CKLE11URST VISITS LOWOOD

One day Mr. Brocklchursl came (o Ihc school.I hid my face behind my slate, bill Iheslaic fell on Ihc floor and broke.

"Careless girl," said Mr. Brocklchursl. "Come here."

I was so afraid lhal I had lo be pushed forward. Mr. Brocklchursl put mcon a slool.

"You all sec this girl," he said. "She is wicked. Her kind aunt had lo send her from home. Children, do not speak lo her. Teachers, walch her carefully. Stand llicre for half an hour, child."

Before ihc half-hour ended, Mr. Brocklchursl wcnl home, and the girls went lo lea. 1 was lefl alone. I gol off Ihc stool, sal on die floor in a corner, and cried.

I heard someone coming. It was an older girl, called Helen Burns. She was kind and friendly. She brought mc something lo cat and tried to comfort mc.

"Don'i cry, Jane", she said. "No one here likes Mr. Brocklchursl. We all pily you. Don'l cry."

While Helen was talking Miss Temple came along.

"I came to find you, Jane," she said. "Come lo my room. Helen, you may come too."

Her room was warm and cheerful. We sat by Ihc fire and had

"Have you cried all your sadness away?" she asked mc.

One Kill girl from each tabic rose and put away llie books.

"Monitors, fetch the supper trays!"

The tall girls weni Out, and came back carrying trays wiih small pieces of oatcake on Ihem, which they handed round. On each tray there was one mug of water. If you were thirsty, you drank from that.

I was too lircd and excited to cat, but I drank some water.

After supper wc had prayers, and then we went to bed.

The bedroom was long, like the schoolroom. On each side there was a row of beds which were placed very close together.

Tlicgiris undressed quickly, and two got into each bed.

Miss Miller helped me to undress and iold me thai I was tosharc her bed that night. In ten minutes the light was put out, everything was dark and quiet. Very soon 1 was asleep.

A loud bell woke me early next morning. Wc dressed quickly, and then wc had prayers and a Bible lesson in the schoolroom before breakfast. In the dining-room basins of porridge were set on two long tables. The porridge was bad; even I could not cat it, although I was starving.

My first days at Lowood passed slowly. The weather was very cold* Our clothes did not keep us warm, and wc had too little to cat.

Chapter 5 CHANGES AT LOWOOD

I.slaved for eight years at Lowood.I worked hard at my lessons, and at (he end of six years 1 became head girl. Then Ihcy made me a teacher.

AH through these years Miss Temple was like a mother and friend to me, as well as a teacher. I learned more from her than from anyone else in school. While she was at Lowood 1 was content and happy.

When 1 had been leaching for two years. Miss Temple married a clergyman and left Lowood.

As I watched Hie carriage take her and her husband away from school, I knew I could not be happy at Lowood without her. I must find another job, in a new place, with new people.

1 did not know how to do this. 1 knew nothing of the outside world. Then a newspaper gave me an idea.

I put an advertisement in the — shire Herald, asking for replies to be sent lo J.E. at Lowlon Post Office.

A week later I called at the post office. There was one letter for melt said:

and wcnl lo find her. Miss Temple's door was open, and a faint light shone out. I looked into the room.

Miss Temple was not there, but I saw Helen's bed half-hidden by white curtains.

"Helen," 1 whispered, "arc you awake?*

"Is that you, Jane?" she asked in her gentle voice.

I saw that her face was pale and thin. She smiled at me. I climbed on her bed and kissed her.

"I heard you were ill, and I could not sleep till I had spoken to you."

"You have come to say good-bye."

"Arc you going away, Helen?" I said, trying noi locry.

Helen had a fit of coughing. When it was over, she covered me up with her quilt.

"I feel as if I could sleep," she said. "Don't leave mo* Jane. I like to have you near me.''

Soon we were asleep.

When I woke it was morning. Someone was carrying me back lo my bed. Helen was - dead.

Chapter 2 LOWOOD

One cold morning in January I was put on llic coach at Gateshead, and scnl away to school at Lowood. The coach was drawn by horses, and the journey look a whole day.

Il"was dark when ihe coach slopped. Someone called "Is Ihcrc a lilllc girl colled Jane Eyre here?" I had arrived at Lowood.

Through the darkness 1 could jusl see a large house with many windows. Lights shone from some of them. I was led from the coach into the house and was taken to Miss Temple, the headmistress of the school.

"Are you lircd, my dear?" she asked kindly.

"A little, ma'am," I replied.

"Give her supper, Miss Miller, then put her to bed," she said to a teacher.

Miss Miller took mc to a large room. Eighty girls sat there at four long tables, doing their homework by candlelight. Their ages were from nine to twenly.and they were dressed alike in old-fashioned brown frocks and pinafores. Miss Miller made me sit on a bench near the door.

"Monitors, collect the lesson books!" called Miss Miller.

is not clever, but she has improved very much since you came. Where did you conic from?"

"Lowood School,"! answered.

"How long were you there?" he asked.

"Eight years. I went there when I was ten."

"Who arc your parents?" he asked.

"I have none. I don't even remember ihem," I replied.

He asked if 1 played the piano, and then lold me to play to him.

I played the piano until he called, "Enough. You play better than some — but not well. Adclc showed nic some drawings you had done. Have you any more? If so, show them to me."

1 brought my drawings. He looked at them carefully, and lold me they were strange pictures for a schoolgirl to have made. Then he said suddenly:

"It is nine o'clock. What arc you thinking of, Miss Eyre, to let Adele sit up so laic? I wish you all good night."

After I had put Adclc to bed 1 went to Mrs. Fairfax's room.

"Mr. Rochester is very abrupt," I said.

"He has family troubles to worry him," she replied. "He docs not like Thornficld. and never slays here longer than two weeks at a lime."

Bui Mr.Rochcsicr stayed much longer this time. His manner towards mc became kind and friendly, and I enjoyed talking to him. At firsl I had thought him ugly, but I grew to like his looks.

Chapter I GATESHEAD

My name is J:i no Eyre. My father was a poor clergyman. He and my molher died of fever when I was a baby. 1 was left alone in the world, wilh no money and no friends.

My mother's brother. Uncle Reed, took me to his home. He lived with his wife and three children in a large house called Gateshead. He was a kind man, and would have cared forme, but he died not long after 1 came to the house. My aunt and cousins were very unkind to me — especially John, the eldest..

John Reed was a fat schoolboy of fourteen. I was ten, and small for my iigc. He was often cruel to mc.

"Come here, Jane", said John one day. 1 was reading, but I slopped -it once because I was afraid of him.

When 1 came near, he hit mc hard.

"That's for reading out books," he said.

"Wicked, cruel boy," 1 cried.

He ran at mcand I fought with him. His mother heard him yell, and came running into the room.

"Lock her in ihe Red Room," she cried.

I was taken lo the Red Room, a cold, dark bedroom where my uncle had died. 1 was terrified and banged on the door.

"Let mc out! Let mc out!" I screamed.

My aunl had no pity. She left me there alone till I fainted.

Chapter 1 0 MR. MASON

Aflcr Ihc fire Mr. Rochester left Thornficld. A fortnight later he came back again, and brought a party of friends with him. Among litem was Miss Blanche Ingram, a very beautiful and rich young lady. She and Mr. Rochester sang and played Ihc piano together.

I did not like Blanche. To me she was cold and hard. Mr. Rochester sccnicd lo find her charming. He was always al her side.

One evening a stranger arrived when Mr. Rochester was out. When my master returned laical night 1 told him a manwaswoitlne to sec him.

"His name is Mason, sir." I said. "He comes from Ihc West Indies."

Mr. Rochester grew pale.

"Mason — the West Indies,"-lie gasped. "This has given me a shock, Jane. Show him into the library, and sec that we are left alone."

Much later I heard Mr. Rochester show the stranger to a bedroom. I was glad lo hear he sounded cheerful as he said. "GovhI nighl".

"Is (herea flood?" he cried.

sir, bul there has been a fire." I replied. "Do gel up, sir. Somebody was trying to harm you, and you must find out a! once who it was."

1 brought him (he candle from Hie gallery. He look it from my hand, held it up, and looked at the blackened sheets.

"Who did this?" he asked.

I told him what had happened, about the strange laugh I had heard.

He listened gravely. He looked more worried than surprised at what I told him.

"Shall I call Mrs. Fairfax?" I asked.

"No, let her sleep," my master replied. "Wrap my cloak^ibout you, and sit in this armchair. I am going to leave you for a few minutes, and I must take Hie candle. Stay where you are till I come back. Don't move or call anyone."

He look the candle and went out of the room. I heard him go upstairs.

After a long time he came back, looking very pate and sad.

"I have found out what it was," he said. "You say you heard an odd laugh when you opened your door? Have you heard it before?"

"Yes, sir, (here's a woman who sews here. Grace Poole is her name. She laughs like that."

"Grace Poole — you have guessed it. She is a strange person — very strange. Go to your room now, and don't say anything about what has happened tonight. I shall explain the fire myself."

"Good night, then, sir," I said,as I left him.

"What, are you leaving me before I can thank you?" he said. "You have saved my life tonight, Jane. I owe you a great debt."

"You owe me nothing," I replied. "I'm glad 1 was awake."

"Good night, my dear rescuer," he said, taking my hand in bolh his own.

Next morning I hoped to see my master, but he did'not come near the schoolroom.

As I went downstairs for dinner I saw that his bedroom had been put in order. Beside the bed a woman sat sewing rings on new curtains. It was Grace Poole.

"Has anything happened here?" I asked.

"Master fell asleep with his candle lit, and the curtains caught fire," she said. " But he put out the flames with water from the jug."

"I heard a strange laugh last night, and footsteps running away," I said, looking hard at her.

"You must have been dreaming, miss," said Grace Poole calmly.

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