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aloud。 She sat down on the ground near me； embraced her knees with her
arms； and rested her head upon them； in that attitude she remained
silent as an Indian。 I was the first who spoke…
'Helen； why do you stay with a girl whom everybody believes to be a
liar？'
'Everybody； Jane？ Why； there are only eighty people who have
heard you called so； and the world contains hundreds of millions。'
'But what have I to do with millions？ The eighty； I know； despise
me。'
'Jane； you are mistaken： probably not one in the school either
despises or dislikes you： many； I am sure； pity you much。'
'How can they pity me after what Mr。 Brocklehurst has said？'
'Mr。 Brocklehurst is not a god： nor is he even a great and
admired man； he is little liked here； he never took steps to make
himself liked。 Had he treated you as an especial favourite； you
would have found enemies； declared or covert； all around you； as it
is； the greater number would offer you sympathy if they dared。
Teachers and pupils may look coldly on you for a day or two； but
friendly feelings are concealed in their hearts； and if you
persevere in doing well； these feelings will ere long appear so much
the more evidently for their temporary suppression。 Besides； Jane'…
she paused。
'Well； Helen？' said I； putting my hand into hers： she chafed my
fingers gently to warm them； and went on…
'If all the world hated you； and believed you wicked； while your
own conscience approved you； and absolved you from guilt； you would
not be without friends。'
'No； I know I should think well of myself； but that is not
enough： if others don't love me I would rather die than live… I cannot
bear to be solitary and hated； Helen。 Look here； to gain some real
affection from you； or Miss Temple； or any other whom I truly love；
I would willingly submit to have the bone of my arm broken； or to
let a bull toss me； or to stand behind a kicking horse； and let it
dash its hoof at my chest…'
'Hush； Jane！ you think too much of the love of human beings； you
are too impulsive； too vehement； the sovereign hand that created
your frame； and put life into it； has provided you with other
resources than your feeble self； or than creatures feeble as you。
Besides this earth； and besides the race of men； there is an invisible
world and a kingdom of spirits： that world is round us； for it is
everywhere； and those spirits watch us； for they are commissioned to
guard us； and if we were dying in pain and shame； if scorn smote us on
all sides； and hatred crushed us； angels see our tortures； recognise
our innocence （if innocent we be： as I know you are of this charge
which Mr。 Brocklehurst has weakly and pompously repeated at secondhand
from Mrs。 Reed； for I read a sincere nature in your ardent eyes and on
your clear front）； and God waits only the separation of spirit from
flesh to crown us with a full reward。 Why； then； should we ever sink
overwhelmed with distress； when life is so soon over； and death is
so certain an entrance to happiness… to glory？'
I was silent； Helen had calmed me； but in the tranquillity she
imparted there was an alloy of inexpressible sadness。 I felt the
impression of woe as she spoke； but I could not tell whence it came；
and when； having done speaking； she breathed a little fast and coughed
a short cough； I momentarily forgot my own sorrows to yield to a vague
concern for her。
Resting my head on Helen's shoulder； I put my arms round her waist；
she drew me to her； and we reposed in silence。 We had not sat long
thus； when another person came in。 Some heavy clouds； swept from the
sky by a rising wind； had left the moon bare； and her light； streaming
in through a window near； shone full both on us and on the approaching
figure； which we at once recognised as Miss Temple。
'I came on purpose to find you； Jane Eyre；' said she； 'I want you
in my room； and as Helen Burns is with you； she may come too。'
We went； following the superintendent's guidance； we had to
thread some intricate passages； and mount a staircase before we
reached her apartment； it contained a good fire； and looked
cheerful。 Miss Temple told Helen Burns to be seated in a low arm…chair
on one side of the hearth； and herself taking another； she called me
to her side。
'Is it all over？' she asked； looking down at my face。 'Have you
cried your grief away？'
'I am afraid I never shall do that。'
'Why？'
'Because I have been wrongly accused； and you； ma'am； and everybody
else； will now think me wicked。'
'We shall think you what you prove yourself to be； my child。
Continue to act as a good girl； and you will satisfy us。'
'Shall I； Miss Temple？'
'You will；' said she； passing her arm round me。 'And now tell me
who is the lady whom Mr。 Brocklehurst called your benefactress？'
'Mrs。 Reed； my uncle's wife。 My uncle is dead； and he left me to
her care。'
'Did she not； then； adopt you of her own accord？'
'No； ma'am； she was sorry to have to do it： but my uncle； as I have
often heard the servants say； got her to promise before he died that
she would always keep me。'
'Well now； Jane； you know； or at least I will tell you； that when a
criminal is accused； he is always allowed to speak in his own defence。
You have been charged with falsehood； defend yourself to me as well as
you can。 Say whatever your memory suggests as true； but add nothing
and exaggerate nothing。'
I resolved； in the depth of my heart； that I would be most
moderate… most correct； and； having reflected a few minutes in order
to arrange coherently what I had to say； I told her all the story of
my sad childhood。 Exhausted by emotion； my language was more subdued
than it generally was when it developed that sad theme； and mindful of
Helen's warnings against the indulgence of resentment； I infused
into the narrative far less of gall and wormwood than ordinary。 Thus
restrained and simplified； it sounded more credible： I felt as I
went on that Miss Temple fully believed me。
In the course of the tale I had mentioned Mr。 Lloyd as having
come to see me after the fit： for I never forgot the； to me； frightful
episode of the red…room： in detailing which； my excitement was sure；
in some degree； to break bounds； for nothing could soften in my
recollection the spasm of agony which clutched my heart when Mrs。 Reed
spurned my wild supplication for pardon； and locked me a second time
in the dark and haunted chamber。
I had finished： Miss Temple regarded me a few minutes in silence；
she then said…
'I know something of Mr。 Lloyd； I shall write to him； if his
reply agrees with your statement； you shall be publicly cleared from
every imputation； to me； Jane； you are clear now。'
She kissed me； and still keeping me at her side （where I was well
contented to stand for I derived a child's pleasure from the
contemplation of her face； her dress； her one or two ornaments； her
white forehead； her clustered and shining curls； and beaming dark
eyes）； she proceeded to address Helen Burns。
'How are you to…night； Helen？ Have you coughed much to…day？'
'Not quite so much； I think； ma'am。'
'And the pain in your chest？'
'It is a little better。'
Miss Temple got up； took her hand and examined her pulse； then
she returned to her own seat： as she resumed it； I heard her sigh low。
She was pensive a few minutes； then rousing herself； she said
cheerfully…
'But you two are my visitors to…night； I must treat you as such。'
She rang her bell。
'Barbara；' she said to the servant who answered it； 'I have not yet
had tea； bring the tray and place cups for these two young ladies。'
And a tray was soon brought。 How pretty； to my eyes； did the
china cups and bright teapot look； placed on the little round table
near the fire！ How fragrant was the steam of the beverage； and the
scent of the toast！ of which； however； I； to my dismay （for I was
beginning to be hungry）； discerned only a very small portion： Miss
Temple discerned it too。
'Barbara；' said she； 'can you not bring a little more bread and
butter？ There is not enough for three。'
Barbara went out： she returned soon…
'Madam； Mrs。 Harden says she has sent up the usual quantity。'
Mrs。 Harden； be it observed； was the housekeeper： a woman after Mr。
Brocklehurst's own heart； made up of equal parts of whalebone and
iron。
'Oh； very well！' returned Miss Temple； 'we must make it do；
Barbara； I suppose。' And as the girl withdrew she added； smiling；
'Fortunately； I have it in my power to supply deficiencies for this
once。'
Having invited Helen and me to approach the table； and placed
before each of us a cup of tea with one delicious but thin morsel of
toast； she got up； unlocked a drawer； and taking from it a parcel
wrapped in paper； disclosed presently to our eyes a good…sized
seed…cake。
'I meant to give each of you some of this to take with you；' said
she； 'but as there is so little toast； you must have it now；' and
she proceeded to cut slices with a generous hand。
We feasted that evening as on nectar