Джейн Эйр / Jane Eyre

A phase of my life was closing to-night, a new one opening tomorrow; impossible to slumber in the interval; I must watch feverishly while the change was being accomplished.

�Miss,’ said a servant who met me in the lobby, where I was wandering like a troubled spirit, �a person below wishes to see you.’

�The carrier, no doubt,’ I thought, and ran downstairs without inquiry. I was passing the back-parlour, or teachers’ sitting-room, the door of which was half open, to go to the kitchen, when some one ran out:

�It’s her, I am sure! – I could have told her anywhere!’ cried the individual who stopped my progress and took my hand.

I looked; I saw a woman attired like a well-dressed servant, matronly, yet still young; very good-looking, with black hair and eyes, and lively complexion.

�Well, who is it?’ she asked, in a voice and with a smile I half recognised; �you’ve not quite forgotten me, I think, Miss Jane?’

In another second I was embracing and kissing her rapturously: �Bessie! Bessie! Bessie!’ that was all I said; whereat she half laughed, half cried, and we both went into the parlour.

�That is my little boy,’ said Bessie directly.

�Then you are married, Bessie?’

�Yes; nearly five years since to Robert Leaven, the coachman; and I’ve a little girl besides Bobby there, that I’ve christened Jane.

�And you don’t live at Gateshead?’

�I live at the lodge; the old porter has left.’

�Well, and how do they all get on? Tell me everything about them, Bessie; but sit down first; and, Bobby, come and sit on my knee, will you?’ but Bobby preferred sidling over to his mother.

�You’re not grown so very tall, Miss Jane, nor so very stout,’ continued Mrs. Leaven. �I dare say they’ve not kept you too well at school. Miss Reed is the head and shoulders taller than you are; and Miss Georgiana would make two of you in breadth.

�Georgiana is handsome, I suppose, Bessie?’

�Very. She went up to London last winter with her mama, and there everybody admired her, and a young lord fell in love with her; but his relations were against the match; and – what do you think? – he and Miss Georgiana made it up to run away; but they were found out and stopped. It was Miss Reed that found them out.