Jane Eyre

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 and cut a sandwich or two: here are the keys of the storeroom.«
    And she produced from her pocket a most housewifely bunch of keys, and delivered them to the servant.
    »Now, then, draw nearer to the fire;« she continued. »You've brought your luggage with you, haven't you, my dear?«
    »Yes, ma'am.«
    »I'll see it carried into your room,« she said, and bustled out.
    »She treats me like a visitor,« thought I. »I little expected such a reception; I anticipated only coldness and stiffness: this is not like what I have heard of the treatment of governesses; but I must not exult too soon.«
    She returned; with her own hands cleared her knitting apparatus and a book or two from the table, to make room for the tray which Leah now brought, and then herself handed me the refreshments. I felt rather confused at being the object of more attention than I had ever before received, and that, too, shewn by my employer and superior; but as she did not herself seem to consider she was doing anything out of her place, I thought it better to take her civilities quietly.
    »Shall I have the pleasure of seeing Miss Fairfax to-night?« I asked, when I had partaken of what she offered me.
    »What did you say, my dear? I am a little deaf,« returned the good lady, approaching her ear to my mouth.
    I repeated the question more distinctly.
    »Miss Fairfax? Oh, you mean Miss Varens! Varens is the name of your future pupil.«
    »Indeed! Then she is not your daughter?«
    »No, – I have no family.«
    I should have followed up my first inquiry, by asking in what way Miss Varens was connected with her; but I recollected it was not polite to ask too many questions: besides, I was sure to hear in time.
    »I am so glad –« she continued, as she sat down opposite to me, and took the cat on her knee: »I am so glad you are come; it will be quite pleasant living here now with a companion. To be sure it is pleasant at any time; for Thornfield is a fine old hall, rather neglected of late years perhaps, but still it is a respectable place; yet you know in winter time, one feels dreary quite alone, in the best quarters. I say alone – Leah is a nice girl to be sure, and John and his wife are very decent people; but then you see they are only servants, and one can't converse with them on terms of equality: one must keep them at due distance, for fear of losing one's authority. I'm sure last winter (it was a very severe one, if you recollect, and when it did not snow, it rained and blew), not a creature but the butcher and postman came to the house, from November till February; and I really got quite melancholy with sitting night after night alone; I had Leah in to read to me sometimes; but I don't think the poor girl liked the task much: she felt it confining. In spring and summer one got on better: sunshine and long days make such a difference; and then just at the commencement of this autumn, little Adela Varens came and her nurse: a child makes a house alive all at once; and now you are here I shall be quite gay.«
    My heart really warmed to the worthy lady as I heard her talk; and I drew my chair a little nearer to her, and expressed my sincere wish that she might find my company as agreeable as she anticipated.
    »But I'll not keep you sitting up late to-night,« said she; »it is on the stroke of twelve now, and you have been travelling all day: you must feel tired. If you have got your feet well warmed, I'll shew you your bed-room. I've had the room next to mine prepared for you; it is only a small apartment, but I thought you would like it better than one of the large front chambers: to be sure they have finer furniture,