she proceeded to cut slices with a generous hand。
We feasted that evening as on nectar and ambrosia； and not the
least delight of the entertainment was the smile of gratification with
which our hostess regarded us； as we satisfied our famished
appetites on the delicate fare she liberally supplied。
Tea over and the tray removed； she again summoned us to the fire；
we sat one on each side of her； and now a conversation followed
between her and Helen； which it was indeed a privilege to be
admitted to hear。
Miss Temple had always something of serenity in her air； of state
in her mien； of refined propriety in her language； which precluded
deviation into the ardent； the excited； the eager： something which
chastened the pleasure of those who looked on her and listened to her；
by a controlling sense of awe； and such was my feeling now： but as
to Helen Burns； I was struck with wonder。
The refreshing meal； the brilliant fire； the presence and
kindness of her beloved instructress； or； perhaps； more than all
these； something in her own unique mind； had roused her powers
within her。 They woke； they kindled： first； they glowed in the
bright tint of her cheek； which till this hour I had never seen but
pale and bloodless； then they shone in the liquid lustre of her
eyes； which had suddenly acquired a beauty more singular than that
of Miss Temple's… a beauty neither of fine colour nor long eyelash；
nor pencilled brow； but of meaning； of movement； of radiance。 Then her
soul sat on her lips； and language flowed； from what source I cannot
tell。 Has a girl of fourteen a heart large enough； vigorous enough； to
hold the swelling spring of pure； full； fervid eloquence？ Such was the
characteristic of Helen's discourse on that； to me； memorable evening；
her spirit seemed hastening to live within a very brief span as much
as many live during a protracted existence。
They conversed of things I had never heard of； of nations and times
past； of countries far away； of secrets of nature discovered or
guessed at： they spoke of books： how many they had read！ What stores
of knowledge they possessed！ Then they seemed so familiar with
French names and French authors： but my amazement reached its climax
when Miss Temple asked Helen if she sometimes snatched a moment to
recall the Latin her father had taught her； and taking a book from a
shelf； bade her read and construe a page of Virgil； and Helen
obeyed； my organ of veneration expanding at every sounding line。 She
had scarcely finished ere the bell announced bedtime！ no delay could
be admitted； Miss Temple embraced us both； saying； as she drew us to
her heart…
'God bless you； my children！'
Helen she held a little longer than me： she let her go more
reluctantly； it was Helen her eye followed to the door； it was for her
she a second time breathed a sad sigh； for her she wiped a tear from
her cheek。
On reaching the bedroom； we heard the voice of Miss Scatcherd：
she was examining drawers； she had just pulled out Helen Burns's；
and when we entered Helen was greeted with a sharp reprimand； and told
that to…morrow she should have half a dozen of untidily folded
articles pinned to her shoulder。
'My things were indeed in shameful disorder；' murmured Helen to me；
in a low voice： 'I intended to have arranged them； but I forgot。'
Next morning； Miss Scatcherd wrote in conspicuous characters on a
piece of pasteboard the word 'Slattern；' and bound it like a
phylactery round Helen's large； mild； intelligent； and
benign…looking forehead。 She wore it till evening； patient；
unresentful； regarding it as a deserved punishment。 The moment Miss
Scatcherd withdrew after afternoon school； I ran to Helen； tore it
off； and thrust it into the fire： the fury of which she was
incapable had been burning in my soul all day； and tears； hot and
large； had continually been scalding my cheek； for the spectacle of
her sad resignation gave me an intolerable pain at the heart。
About a week subsequently to the incidents above narrated； Miss
Temple； who had written to Mr。 Lloyd； received his answer： it appeared
that what he said went to corroborate my account。 Miss Temple；
having assembled the whole school； announced that inquiry had been
made into the charges alleged against Jane Eyre； and that she was most
happy to be able to pronounce her completely cleared from every
imputation。 The teachers then shook hands with me and kissed me； and a
murmur of pleasure ran through the ranks of my companions。
Thus relieved of a grievous load； I from that hour set to work
afresh； resolved to pioneer my way through every difficulty： I
toiled hard； and my success was proportionate to my efforts； my
memory； not naturally tenacious； improved with practice； exercise
sharpened my wits； in a few weeks I was promoted to a higher class； in
less than two months I was allowed to commence French and drawing。 I
learned the first two tenses of the verb Etre； and sketched my first
cottage （whose walls； by the bye； outrivalled in slope those of the
leaning tower of Pisa）； on the same day。 That night； on going to
bed； I forgot to prepare in imagination the Barmecide supper of hot
roast potatoes； or white bread and new milk； with which I was wont
to amuse my inward cravings： I feasted instead on the spectacle of
ideal drawings； which I saw in the dark； all the work of my own hands：
freely pencilled houses and trees； picturesque rocks and ruins；
Cuyp…like groups of cattle； sweet paintings of butterflies hovering
over unblown roses； of birds picking at ripe cherries； of wrens' nests
enclosing pearl…like eggs； wreathed about with young ivy sprays。 I
examined； too； in thought； the possibility of my ever being able to
translate currently a certain little French story which Madame Pierrot
had that day shown me； nor was that problem solved to my
satisfaction ere I fell sweetly asleep。
Well has Solomon said… 'Better is a dinner of herbs where love
is； than a stalled ox and hatred therewith。'
I would not now have exchanged Lowood with all its privations for
Gateshead and its daily luxuries。
CHAPTER IX
BUT the privations； or rather the hardships； of Lowood lessened。
Spring drew on： she was indeed already come； the frosts of winter
had ceased； its snows were melted； its cutting winds ameliorated。 My
wretched feet； flayed and swollen to lameness by the sharp air of
January； began to heal and subside under the gentler breathings of
April； the nights and mornings no longer by their Canadian temperature
froze the very blood in our veins； we could now endure the play…hour
passed in the garden： sometimes on a sunny day it began even to be
pleasant and genial； and a greenness grew over those brown beds；
which； freshening daily； suggested the thought that Hope traversed
them at night； and left each morning brighter traces of her steps。
Flowers peeped out amongst the leaves； snowdrops； crocuses； purple
auriculas； and golden…eyed pansies。 On Thursday afternoons
（half…holidays） we now took walks； and found still sweeter flowers
opening by the wayside； under the hedges。
I discovered； too； that a great pleasure； an enjoyment which the
horizon only bounded； lay all outside the high and spike…guarded walls
of our garden： this pleasure consisted in prospect of noble summits
girdling a great hill…hollow； rich in verdure and shadow； in a
bright beck； full of dark stones and sparkling eddies。 How different
had this scene looked when I viewed it laid out beneath the iron sky
of winter； stiffened in frost； shrouded with snow！… when mists as
chill as death wandered to the impulse of east winds along those
purple peaks； and rolled down 'ing' and holm till they blended with
the frozen fog of the beck！ That beck itself was then a torrent；
turbid and curbless： it tore asunder the wood； and sent a raving sound
through the air； often thickened with wild rain or whirling sleet； and
for the forest on its banks； that showed only ranks of skeletons。
April advanced to May： a bright； serene May it was； days of blue
sky； placid sunshine； and soft western or southern gales filled up its
duration。 And now vegetation matured with vigour； Lowood shook loose
its tresses； it became all green； all flowery； its great elm； ash； and
oak skeletons were restored to majestic life； woodland plants sprang
up profusely in its recesses； unnumbered varieties of moss filled
its hollows； and it made a strange ground…sunshine out of the wealth
of its wild primrose plants： I have seen their pale gold gleam in
overshadowed spots like scatterings of the sweetest lustre。 All this I
enjoyed often and fully； free； unwatched； and almost alone： for this
unwonted liberty and pleasure there was a cause； to which it now
becomes my task to advert。
Have I not described a pleasant site for a dwelling； when I speak
of it as bosomed in hill and wood； and rising from the verge of a
stream？ Assuredly； pleasant enough： but whether healthy or not is
another question。
That forest…dell； where Lowood lay； was the cra