FrommydiscoursewithMr.Lloyd,andfromtheabovereportedfereweenBessieandAbbot,Igatheredenoughofhopetosufficeasamotiveforwishingtogetwell:ageseemednear,—Idesiredandwaiteditinsilearried,however:daysandweekspassed:Ihadregainedmynormalstateofhealth,butnonewallusionwasmadetothesubjectoverwhichIbrooded.Mrs.Reedsurveyedmeattimeswithasevereeye,butseldomaddressedme:sincemyillness,shehaddrawnamoremarkedlineofseparationthaweenmeandherownchildren;appointingmeasmallclosettosleepinbymyself,niakemymealsalone,andpassallmytimeinthenursery,whilemycousinswerestantlyinthedrawing-room.Notahint,however,didshedropaboutsendioschool:stillIfeltaninstinctivecertaintythatshewouldnotlongenduremeuhesameroofwithher;flanorethanever,whenturnedonme,expressedaninsuperableandrootedaversion.

    ElizaandGeiana,evidentlyagacctoorders,spoketomeaslittleaspossible:Johnthrusthistongueinhischeekwheneverhesawme,andoemptedchastisement;butasIinstantlyturnedagainsthim,rousedbythesameseofdeepireanddesperaterevoltwhichhadstirredmycorruptionbefore,hethoughtitbettertodesist,andranfrommetitteriions,andvowingIhadbursthisnose.IhadindeedlevelledatthatpromifeatureashardablowasmyknucklescouldinflidwhenIsawthateitherthatormylookdauntedhim,Ihadthegreatestinationtofollowupmyadvaopurpose;buthewasalreadywithhismama.Iheardhiminablubberingtoneealeofhow“thatnastyJaneEyre”hadflownathimlikeamadcat:hewasstoppedratherharshly—

    “Don’ttalktomeabouther,John:Itoldyounottogonearher;sheisnotworthyofnotice;Idonotchoosethateitheryouoryoursist