dbyhisextravagance;sohewentbackagain,anewswasthathewasdead.Howhedied,Godknows!—theysayhekilledhimself.”

    Iwassilent:thethingswerefrightful.RobertLeavenresumed—

    “Missishadbeenoutofhealthherselfforsometime:shehadgotverystout,butwasnwithit;andthelossofmoneyandfearofpovertywerequitebreakingherdown.TheinformationaboutMr.Johhandthemannerofitcametoosuddenly:itbroughtonastroke.Shewasthreedayswithoutspeaking;butlastTuesdaysheseemedratherbetter:sheappearedasifshewaosaysomething,amakingsignstomywifeandmumbling.Itwasoerdaym,however,thatBessieuoodsheronoungyourname;andatlastshemadeoutthewords,‘BringJaeEyre:Iwanttospeaktoher.’Bessieisnotsurewhethersheisinherrightmind,ormeansanythingbythewords;butshetoldMissReedandMissGeiana,andadvisedthemtosendforyou.Theyoungladiesputitoffatfirst;buttheirmrewsorestless,andsaid,‘Jane,Jane,’somanytimes,thatatlasttheysented.IleftGatesheadyesterday:andifyougetready,Miss,Ishouldliketotakeyoubackwithmeearlyto-morr.”

    “Yes,Robert,Ishallbeready:itseemstomethatIoughttogo.”

    “Ithinksotoo,Miss.Bessiesaidshewassureyouwouldnotrefuse:butIsupposeyouwillhavetoaskleavebeforeyougetoff?”

    “Yes;andIwilldoitnow;”andhavingdirectedhimtotheservants’hall,andreendedhimtothecareofJohn’swife,aentionsofJohnhimself,Iwentinsearr.Rochester.

    Hewasnotinanyofthelowerrooms;hewasnotintheyard,thestables,rounds.IaskedMrs.Fairfaxifshehadseenhim;—yes:shebelievedhelayingbilliardswithMissIngram.Tothebilliard-roomIhasteheclickofballsandthehumofvoicesresouhence;M