nthemrepeatedthevatmajestyofthebedandroom.Iwasnotquitesurewhethertheyhadlockedthedoor;andwhenIdaredmove,Igotupaosee.Alas!yes:nojailwasevermoresecure.Returning,Ihadtocrossbeforethelooking-glass;myfasatedglanvoluntarilyexploredthedepthitrevealed.Alllookedcolderanddarkerinthatvisionaryhollowthay:aralefiguretheregazingatme,withawhitefadarmsspegthegloom,andglitteringeyesoffearmovingwhereallelsewasstill,hadtheeffectofarealspirit:Ithoughtitlikeohetinyphantoms,halffairy,halfimp,Bessie’seveningstoriesrepresentedasingoutoflone,fernydellsinmoors,andappearingbeforetheeyesofbelatedtravellers.Ireturomystool.

    Superstitionwaswithmeatthatmoment;butitwasherhourforpleteviybloodwasstillwarm;themoodoftherevoltedslavewasstillbragmewithitsbittervigour;IhadtostemarapidrushofretrospectivethoughtbeforeIquailedtothedismalpresent.

    AllJohnReed’sviolenttyrannies,allhissisters’proudindifference,allhismother’saversion,alltheservants’partiality,turnedupinmydisturbedmindlikeadarkdepositinaturbidwell.WhywasIalwayssuffering,alwaysbrowbeaten,alwaysaccused,foreverned?WhycouldIneverplease?Whywasituselesstotrytowinanyone’sfavour?Eliza,whowasheadstrongandselfish,wasrespected.Geiana,oiledtemper,averyacridspite,acaptiousandicarriage,wasuniversallyindulged.Herbeauty,herpinkcheeksandgoldencurls,seemedtogivedelighttoallwholookedather,andtopurchaseiyforeveryfault.Johnhwarted,muchlesspuhoughhetwistedthenecksofthepigeons,killedthelittlepea-chicks,setthedogsatthesheep,strippedthehothouseviheirfruit,andbroketheb