ndgiveheratune:Iplayedawaltzortwo,andshewascharmed.

    “TheMissReedscouldnotplayaswell!”saidsheexultingly.“Ialwayssaidyouwouldsurpasstheminlearning:andyoudraw?”

    “Thatisoneofmypaintingsovertheey-piece.”Itwasalandscapeinwatercolours,ofwhichIhadmadeapresenttothesuperinte,inaowledgmentofherobligiionwiththeitteeonmybehalf,andwhichshehadframedandglazed.

    “Well,thatisbeautiful,MissJaisasfineapictureasanyMissReed’sdrawing-mastercouldpaialoheyoungladiesthemselves,whocouldnote:andhaveyoulearntFrench?”

    “Yes,Bessie,Ibothreadita.”

    “Andyouworkonmuslinandvas?”

    “I.”

    “Oh,youarequitealady,MissJane!Iknewyouwouldbe:youwillgetoheryourrelationsnoticeyouornot.TherewassomethingIwaoaskyou.Haveyoueverheardanythingfromyourfather’skinsfolk,theEyres?”

    “Neverinmylife.”

    “Well,youknowMissisalwayssaidtheywerepoorandquitedespicable:andtheymaybepoor;butIbelievetheyareasmutryastheReedsare;foroneday,nearlysevenyearsago,aMr.EyrecametoGatesheadandwaoseeyou;Mississaidyouwereitschoolfiftymilesoff;heseemedsomuchdisappointed,forhecouldnotstay:hewasgoingonavoyagetntry,andtheshipwastosailfromLondoninadayortwo.Helookedquiteagentleman,andIbelievehewasyourfather’sbrother.”

    “Whatfntrywashegoingto,Bessie?”

    “Anislandthousandsofmilesoff,wheretheymakewihebutlerdidtellme—”

    “Madeira?”Isuggested.

    “Yes,thatisit—thatistheveryword.”

    “Sohewent?”

    “Yes;hedidnotstaymanymihehouse:Missiswasveryhighwithhim;shecalledhimafterwardsa‘sneakingtra