rapidly. I had not a very large wardrobe, though it was adequate to
my wants; and the last day sufficed to pack my trunk,—the same I
had brought with me eight years ago from Gateshead.
The box was corded, the card nailed on. In half-an-hour the
carrier was to call for it to take it to Lowton, whether I myself was
to repair at an early hour the next morning to meet the coach. I
had brushed my black stuff travelling-dress, prepared my bonnet,
gloves, and muff; sought in all my drawers to see that no article
was left behind; and now having nothing more to do, I sat down
and tried to rest. I could not; though I had been on foot all day, I
could not now repose an instant; I was too much excited. A phase
of my life was closing to-night, a new one opening to-morrow:
impossible to slumber in the interval; I must watch feverishly
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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. By the fire
stood a little fellow of three years old, in plaid frock and trousers.
“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.
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“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: I believe she was envious; and now she and her sister lead a
cat and dog life together; they are always quarrelling—”
“Well, and what of John Reed?”
“Oh, he is not doing so well as his mama could wish. He went to
college, and he got—plucked, I think they call it: and then his
uncles wanted him to be a barrister, and study the law: but he is
such a dissipated young man, they will never make much of him, I
think.”
“What does he look like?”
“He is very tall: some people call him a fine-looking young man;
but he has such thick lips.”
“And Mrs. Reed?”
“Missis looks stout and well enough in the face, but I think she’s
not quite easy in her mind: Mr. John’s conduct does not please
her—he spends a deal of money.”
“Did she send you here, Bessie?”
“N"};
