whethertriteorisshort.

    “Twentyyearsago,apoorcurate—nevermindhishismoment—fellihari’sdaughter;shefellihhim,andmarriedhim,againsttheadviceofallherfriends,whosequentlydisownedherimmediatelyafterthewedding.Beforetassed,therashpairwerebothdead,andlaidquietlysidebysideunderoneslab.(Ihaveseentheirgrave;itformedpartofthepavementofahugechurchyardsurroundingthegrim,soot-blackoldcathedralofanrownmanufacturingtownin—shire.)Theyleftadaughter,which,atitsverybirth,Charityreceivedinherlap—coldasthatofthesnow-driftIalmoststuckfastinto-night.Charitycarriedthefriehingtothehouseofitsrichmaterions;itwasrearedbyanaunt-in-law,called(Ietonamesnow)Mrs.ReedofGateshead.Youstart—didyouhearanoise?Idaresayitisonlyaratscramblingaloersoftheadjoiningschoolroom:itwasabarnbeforeIhaditrepairedandaltered,andbarnsaregenerallyhauntedbyrats.—Toproceed.Mrs.Reedkepttheorphantenyears:whetherityornotwithher,Iotsay,neverhaviold;butattheendofthattimeshetransferredittoaplaceyouknow—beingnootherthanLowoodSchool,whereyousolongresidedyourself.Itseemshercareertherewasveryhonourable:fromapupil,shebecameateacher,likeyourself—reallyitstrikesmethereareparallelpointsinherhistoryandyours—sheleftittobeagoverhere,again,yourfateswereanalogous;sheuooktheeducationofthewardofacertainMr.Rochester.”

    “Mr.Rivers!”Iinterrupted.

    “Iguessyourfeelings,”hesaid,“butrestrainthemforawhile:Ihavenearlyfinished;hearmetotheend.OfMr.Rochester’scharacterIknownothing,buttheothatheprofessedtoofferhonourablemarriagetothisyounggirl,andthat