Джейн Эйр / Jane Eyre

The roads were heavy, the night misty: my conductor let his horse walk all the way, and the hour and a half extended, I verily believe, to two hours; at last he turned in his seat and said:

�You’re noan so far fro’ Thornfield now.’

Again I looked out; we were passing a church: I saw its low broad tower against the sky, and its bell was tolling a quarter, I saw a narrow galaxy of lights too, on a hill-side, marking a village or hamlet. About ten minutes after, the driver got down and opened a pair of gates, we passed through, and they clashed to behind us.

We now slowly ascended a drive, and came upon the long front of a house: candle-light gleamed from one curtained bow-window; all the rest were dark. The car stopped at the front door; it was opened by a maidservant; I alighted and went in.

�Will you walk this way, ma’am,’ said the girl; and I followed her across a square hall with high doors all round; she ushered me into a room whose double illumination of fire and candle at first dazzled me, contrasting as it did with the darkness to which my eyes had been for two hours inured; when I could see, however, a cosy and agreeable picture presented itself to my view.

A snug small room; a round table by a cheerful fire: an armchair, high-backed and old-fashioned, wherein sat the neatest imaginable little elderly lady, in widow’s cap, black silk gown and snowy muslin apron; exactly like what I had fancied Mrs. Fairfax, only less stately and milder looking. She was occupied in knitting; a large cat sat demurely at her feet; nothing in short was wanting to complete the beau-ideal of domestic comfort.

A more reassuring introduction for a new governess could scarcely be conceived; there was no grandeur to overwhelm, no stateliness to embarrass; and then, as I entered, the old lady got up and promptly and kindly came forward to meet me.

�How do you do, my dear? I am afraid you have had a tedious ride; John drives so slowly; you must be cold, come to the fire.

’

�Mrs. Fairfax, I suppose?’ said I.

�Yes, you are right; do sit down.’

She conducted me to her own chair, and then began to remove my shawl and untie my bonnet-strings; I begged she would not give herself so much trouble.

�Oh, it is no trouble; I dare say your own hands are almost numbed with cold. Leah, make a little hot negus[21 - Negus – род глинтвейна.] and cut a sandwich or two; here are the keys of the storeroom.