Erethehalf-hourended,fiveo’clockstruck;schoolwasdismissed,andallweregootherefectorytotea.Iuredtodesd:itwasdeepdusk;Iretiredintoaerandsatdownonthefloor.ThespellbywhichIhadbeensofarsupportedbegantodissolve;reatookpladsoon,sooverwhelmingwasthegriefthatseizedme,Isankprostratewithmyfacetotheground.NowIwept:HelenBurnswasnothere;nothingsustainedme;lefttomyselfIabandonedmyself,andmytearswateredtheboards.Ihadmeanttobesogood,andtodosomuchatLowood:tomakesomanyfriends,toearnrespedwiion.AlreadyIhadmadevisibleprogress:thatverymIhadreachedtheheadofmyclass;MissMillerhadpraisedmewarmly;MissTemplehadsmiledapprobation;shehadpromisedtoteachmedrawing,andtoletmelearnFrench,ifItiomakesimilarimprovementtwomonthslonger:andthenIwaswellreceivedbymyfellow-pupils;treatedasanequalbythoseofmyownage,andnotmolestedbyany;now,hereIlayagaincrushedandtroddenon;andcouldIeverrisemore?

    “Never,”Ithought;andardentlyIwishedtodie.Whilesobbingoutthiswishinbrokes,someoneapproached:Istartedup—againHelenBurnswasnearme;thefadingfiresjustshowedheringupthelong,vatroom;shebroughtmycoffeeandbread.

    “e,eatsomething,”shesaid;butIputbothawayfromme,feelingasifadroporacrumbwouldhaveeinmypresentdition.Helenregardedme,probablywithsurprise:Icouldnotnowabatemyagitation,thoughItriedhard;Itioweepaloud.Shesatdownonthegroundnearme,embracedherkhherarms,aedherheaduponthem;inthatattitudesheremainedsilentasanIndian.Iwasthefirstwhospoke—

    “Helen,whydoyoustaywithagirlwhomeverybodybelievestobealiar?”

    “Everybody,Jane?W