Iresistedalltheway:ahingforme,andacircumstancewhichgreatlystrehebadopinionBessieandMissAbbotweredisposedtoeaihefactis,Iwasatriflebesidemyself;orratheroutofmyself,astheFrenchwouldsay:Iwassciousthatamoment’smutinyhadalreadyrenderedmeliabletepenalties,and,likeanyotherrebelslave,Ifeltresolved,inmydesperation,togoalllengths.

    “Holdherarms,MissAbbot:she’slikeamadcat.”

    “Forshame!forshame!”criedthelady’s-maid.“Whatshogduct,MissEyre,tostrikeayouleman,yourberess’sson!Youryoungmaster.”

    “Master!Howishemymaster?AmIaservant?”

    “No;youarelessthanaservant,foryoudonothingforyourkeep.There,sitdown,andthinkoveryourwiess.”

    TheyhadgotmebythistimeintotheapartmentindicatedbyMrs.Reed,andhadthrustmeuponastool:myimpulsewastorisefromitlikeaspring;theirtwopairofhandsarrestedmeinstantly.

    “Ifyoudon’tsitstill,youmustbetieddown,”saidBessie.“MissAbbot,lendmeyarters;shewouldbreakminedirectly.”

    MissAbbotturodivestastoutlegofthenecessaryligature.Thispreparationforbonds,andtheadditionalignominyitinferred,tookalittleoftheexcitementoutofme.

    “Don’ttakethemoff,”Icried;“Iwillnotstir.”

    Inguaranteewhereof,Iattachedmyselftomyseatbymyhands.

    “Mindyoudon’t,”saidBessie;andwhenshehadascertaihatIwasreallysubsiding,sheloosenedherholdofme;thensheandMissAbbotstoodwithfoldedarms,lookingdarklyanddoubtfullyonmyface,asincredulousofmysanity.

    “Sheneverdidsobefore,”atlastsaidBessie,turningtotheAbigail.

    “Butitwasalwaysinher,”wasthereply.“I’vetoldMissis