ssEyre,areyouill?”saidBessie.

    “Whatadreadfulwentquitethroughme!”exclaimedAbbot.

    “Takemeout!Letmegointothenursery!”wasmycry.

    “Whatfor?Areyouhurt?Haveyouseehing?”againdemandedBessie.

    “Oh!Isawalight,andIthoughtaghostwoulde.”IhadnowgotholdofBessie’shand,andshedidnotsnatchitfromme.

    “Shehasscreamedoutonpurpose,”declaredAbbot,insomedisgust.“Andwhatascream!Ifshehadbeenipainonewouldhaveexcusedit,butsheonlywausallhere:Iknhtytricks.”

    “Whatisallthis?”demandedanothervoiceperemptorily;andMrs.Reedcamealongthecorridor,hercapflyingwide,hergownrustlingstormily.“AbbotandBessie,IbelieveIgaveordersthatJaneEyreshouldbeleftinthered-roomtillIcametohermyself.”

    “MissJanescreamedsoloud,ma’am,”pleadedBessie.

    “Lethergo,”wastheonlyanswer.“LooseBessie’shand,child:youotsucceediingoutbythesemeans,beassured.Iabhorartifice,particularlyinchildren;itismydutytoshowyouthattrickswillnotanswer:youwillnowstayhereanher,anditisonlyonditionofperfectsubmissionandstillhatIshallliberateyouthen.”

    “Oaunt!havepity!Fiveme!Iote—letmebepunishedsomeotherway!Ishallbekilledif—”

    “Silehisviolenceisallmostrepulsive:”andso,nodoubt,shefeltit.Irecociousactressinhereyes;shesincerelylookedonmeasapoundofvirulentpassions,meanspirit,anddangerousduplicity.

    BessieandAbbothavireated,Mrs.Reed,impatientofmynowfrantiguishandwildsobs,abruptlythrustmebadlockedmein,withoutfartherparley.Iheardhersweepingaway;andsoonaftershewasgone,IsupposeIhadaspeciesoffit:unsciousnessclosedth