Chapter 06 (Jane Eyre (Full Cast))

01Chapter 6 of Jane Eyre.

02The next day commenced as before, getting up and dressing by rushlight, but this morning we were obliged to dispense with the ceremony of washing.

03The water in the pitchers was frozen.

04A change had taken place in the weather the preceding evening, and a keen north-east wind, whistling through the crevices of our bedroom windows all night long, had made us shiver in our beds, and turned the contents of the ewers to ice.

05Before the long hour and a half of prayers and Bible-reading was over, I felt ready to perish with cold.

06Breakfast-time came at last, and this morning the porridge was not burnt.

07The quality was eatable, the quantity small.

08How small my portion seemed!

09I wished it had been doubled.

10In the course of the day I was enrolled a member of the fourth class, and regular tasks and occupations were assigned me.

11Hitherto I had only been a spectator of the proceedings at Lowood.

12I was now to become an actor therein.

13At first, being little accustomed to learn by heart, the lessons appeared to me both long and difficult.

14The frequent change from task to task too bewildered me, and I was glad when, about three o'clock in the afternoon, Miss Smith put into my hands a border of muslin two yards long, together with needle, thimble, etc., and sent me to sit in a quiet corner of the schoolroom, with directions to hem the same.

15At that hour most of the others were sewing likewise, but one glass still stood round Miss Gatchard's chair reading, and, as all was quiet, the subject of their lessons could be heard, together with the manner in which each girl acquitted herself, and the animated versions or commendations of Miss Gatchard on the performance.

16It was English history.

17Among the readers I observed my acquaintance of the veranda.

18At the commencement of the lesson, her place had been at the top of the class, but for some error of pronunciation or some inattention to stops, she was suddenly sent to the very bottom.

19Even in that obscure position, Miss Gatchard continued to make her an object of constant notice.

20She was continually addressing to her such phrases as the following, Burns, such, it seems, was her name.

21The girls here were all called by their surnames, as boys are elsewhere.

22Burns, you are standing on the side of your shoe.

23Turn your toes out immediately.

24Burns, you poke your chin most unpleasantly.

25Draw it in.

26Burns, I insist on your holding your head up.

27I will not have you before me in that attitude.

28It, etc., etc.

29A chapter having been read through twice, the books were closed and the girls examined.

30The lesson had comprised part of the reign of Charles I, and there were sundry questions about tonnage and poundage and ship money, which most of them appeared unable to answer.

31Still, every little difficulty was solved instantly when it reached Burns.

32Her memory seemed to have retained the substance of the whole lesson, and she was ready with answers on every point.

33I kept expecting that Miss Gatchard would praise her attention, but instead of that she suddenly cried out, You dirty, disagreeable girl!

34You have never cleaned your nails this morning.

35Burns made no answer.

36I wondered at her silence.

37Why, thought I, does she not explain that she could neither clean her nails nor wash her face, as the water was frozen?

38My attention was now called off by Miss Smith desiring me to hold a skein of thread.

39While she was winding it, she talked to me from time to time, asking whether I had ever been at school before, whether I could mark, stitch, knit, etc.

40Till she dismissed me, I could not pursue my observations on Miss Gatchard's movements.

41When I returned to my seat, that lady was just delivering an order of which I did not catch the import.

42But Burns immediately left the class, and, going to the small inner room where the books were kept, returned in half a minute, carrying in her hand a bundle of twigs tied together at one end.

43This ominous tool she presented to Miss Gatchard with a respectful curtsy.

44Then she quietly, and without being told, unloosed her pinafore, and the teacher instantly and sharply inflicted on her neck a dozen strokes with the bunch of twigs.

45Not a tear rose to Burns's eye, and while I paused from my sewing, because my fingers quivered at this spectacle with a sentiment of unavailing and impotent anger, not a feature of her pensive face altered its ordinary expression.

46Hardened girl!

47exclaimed Miss Gatchard.

48Nothing can correct you of your slatternly habit.

49Carry the rod away.

50Burns obeyed.

51I looked at her narrowly as she emerged from the book closet.

52She was just putting back her handkerchief into her pocket, and the trace of a tear glistened on her thin cheek.

53The play hour in the evening I thought the pleasantest fraction of the day it lowered.

54The bit of bread, the draught of coffee swallowed at five o'clock, had revived vitality, if it had not satisfied hunger.

55The long restraint of the day was slackened.

56The schoolroom felt warmer than in the morning, its fires being allowed to burn a little more brightly to supply, in some measure, the place of candles not yet introduced.

57The ruddy gloaming, the licensed uproar, the confusion of many voices gave one a welcome sense of liberty.

58On the evening of the day on which I had seen Miss Gatchard flog her pupil Burns, I wandered as usual among the forms and tables and laughing groups without a companion, yet not feeling lonely.

59When I passed the windows, I now and then lifted a blind and looked out.

60It snowed fast.

61A drift was already forming against the lower panes.

62Putting my ear close to the window, I could distinguish from the gleeful tumult within, the disconsolate moan of the wind outside.

63Probably, if I had lately left a good home and kind parents, this would have been the hour when I should most keenly have regretted the separation.

64That wind would then have saddened my heart.

65This obscure chaos would have disturbed my peace.

66As it was, I derived from both a strange excitement, and, reckless and feverish, I wished the wind to howl more wildly, the gloom to deepen to darkness, and the confusion to rise to clamour.

67Jumping over forms and creeping under tables, I made my way to one of the fireplaces.

68There, kneeling by the high wire fender, I found Burns, absorbed, silent, abstracted from all round her by the companionship of a book, which she read by the dim glare of the embers.

69Is it still Rasselas?

70I asked, coming behind her.

71Yes, she said, and I'll just finish it.

72And in five minutes more she shut it up.

73I was glad of this.

74Now, thought I, I can perhaps get her to talk.

75I sat down by her on the floor.

76What is your name besides Burns?

77Helen.

78Do you come a long way from here?

79I come from a place farther north, quite in the borders of Scotland.

80Will you ever go back?

81I hope so.

82But nobody can't be shot for future.

83You must wish to leave Lowood.

84No.

85Why should I?

86I was into Lowood to get an education.

87And it would be of no use going away until I retains that object.

88But that teacher, Miss Scatcherd, is so cruel to you.

89Cruel?

90Not at all.

91She is severe.

92She dislikes my faults.

93And if I were in your place, I should dislike her.

94I should resist her.

95If she struck me with that rod, I should get it from her hand.

96I should break it under her nose.

97Probably you would do nothing of the sort.

98But if you did, Mr.

99Brucklehead would expel you from the school.

100That would be a great grief to your relations.

101It is far better to endure patiently as a mark which nobody feels but yourself, than to commit a haze reaction whose evil consequences will extend to all connection with you.

102And besides, the Bible bids us return good for evil.

103But then it seems disgraceful to be flogged, and to be sent to stand in the middle of a room full of people.

104And you are such a great girl.

105I am far younger than you, and I could not bear it.

106Yet it would be your duty to bear it.

107If you could not avoid it, it is reconsidered to say you cannot bear it as your fate to be required to bear.

108I heard her with wonder.

109I could not comprehend this doctrine of endurance, and still less could I understand or sympathize with the forbearance she expressed for her chastiser.

110Still I felt that Helen Burns considered things by a light invisible to my eyes.

111I suspected she might be right and I wrong, but I would not ponder the matter deeply.

112Like Felix, I put it off to a more convenient season.

113You say you have faults, Helen.

114What are they?

115To me you seem very good.

116Then learn from me, not to judge my appearances.

117I am, as Miss Ketcher said, slatteringly.

118I am certain, but I never get things in order.

119I am careless.

120I forget rules.

121I read whether I should learn my lessons.

122I have no method.

123And sometimes I say, like you, I cannot bear to be subjected to systematic arrangements.

124This is all very provoking to Miss Ketcher.

125Who is naturally neat, punctual, and particular?

126And cross and cruel, I added.

127But Helen Burns would not admit my addition.

128She kept silence.

129Is Miss Temple as severe to you as Miss Ketcher?

130At the utterance of Miss Temple's name, a soft smile flitted over her grave face.

131Miss Temple is full of goodness.

132It pains her to be severe to anyone.

133Even the vet in his school.

134She sees my errors, and tells me of them gently.

135And if I do anything worthy of praise, she gives me my maid liberally.

136One strong proof of my rudderly defective nature is that even her expostulations, so mild, so rational, have not influenced your killings with my faults.

137And even her praise, though valued Miss Hiley, cannot stimulate me to content care and foresight.

138That is curious, said I.

139It is so easy to be careful.

140For you, I have no doubt it is.

141I observed you in your class this morning, and saw you were closely attentive.

142Your thoughts never seemed to wonder while Miss Miller explained your lesson, and questioned you.

143Now, mind controller over why, when I should be listening to Miss Ketcher, and collecting all she says, with assiduity.

144Often I listen to the sound of a voice, and fall into a sore dream.

145Sometimes I think I am in Northumberland, and that the noises I hear around me are the bubbling of a little brook which runs through a deep den near our house.

146Then, when it comes to my turn to reply, I have to be awakened.

147And having heard nothing at all, was dreadful listening to the visionary brook.

148I have no answer ready.

149Yet how well you replied this afternoon.

150It was mere chance.

151The subject on which we had been reading had interested me.

152This afternoon, instead of dreaming of deep den, I was wondering how a man who Richard Eurie could act so unjustly and unwisely as Charles I sometimes did.

153And I thought, what a pity it was that, with his integrity and conscientiousness, he could see no further than the prerogatives of the crown.

154If he had but been able to look to a distance, and see how a water-cold spirit of the age was standing.

155Still, I like Charles.

156I respect him.

157I pity him.

158Poor murdered king.

159Yes, his enemies were the vast.

160They shed blood they had no right to shed.

161How dare they kill him?

162Helen was talking to herself now.

163She had forgotten I could not very well understand her.

164But I was ignorant, or nearly so, of the subject she discussed.

165I recalled her to my level.

166And when Miss Temple teaches you, do your thoughts wander then?

167No, certainly.

168Not often.

169Because Miss Temple has generally something to say which is newer than my own reflections.

170Her language is singularly creable to me.

171And the information to communicate is often just what I wish to gain.

172Well then, with Miss Temple you are good.

173Yes, in a passive way.

174I make no effort.

175A follower's inclination guides me.

176There is no merit in such goodness.

177A great deal.

178You are good to those who are good to you.

179It is all I ever desire to be.

180If people were always kind and obedient to those who are cruel and unjust, the wicked people would have it all their own way.

181They would never feel afraid, and so they would never alter, but would grow worse and worse.

182When we are struck at without a reason, we should strike back again very hard.

183I am sure we should.

184So hard as to teach the person who struck us never to do it again.

185You will change your mind, I hope, when you grow older.

186As yet you are better little than a tall girl.

187But I feel this, Helen.

188I must dislike those who, whatever I do to please them, persist in disliking me.

189I must resist those who punish me unjustly.

190It is as natural as that I should love those who show me affection, or submit to punishment when I feel it is deserved.

191Heathens and savage tribes hold that doctrine, but Christians and civilised nations disown it.

192How?

193I don't understand.

194It is not violence that best overcomes hate, nor vengeance that most certainly heals injury.

195What then?

196Read the new testament, and observe what Christ says, and how he acts, makes his value rule, and is conduct your example.

197What does he say?

198Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and despitefully use you.

199Then I should love Mrs.

200Reed, which I cannot do.

201I should bless her son John, which is impossible.

202In her turn Helen Burns asked me to explain, and I proceeded forthwith to pour out, in my own way, the tale of my sufferings and resentments.

203Bitter and truculent when excited, I spoke as I felt, without reserve or softening.

204Helen heard me patiently to the end.

205I expected she would then make a remark, but she said nothing.

206Well?

207I asked impatiently.

208Is not Mrs.

209Reed a hard-hearted bad woman?

210She has been unkind to you, no doubt, because, you see, she dislikes your cast of character, as Miss Kutcher does mine.

211But how minute do you remember all she has done and said to you?

212What a singularly deep impression her injustice seems to have made on your heart.

213No illusage so brands its record in my feelings.

214Would you not be happier if you tried to forget her severity, together with the passionate emotions that excite it?

215Life would pass to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs.

216We are, and must be, one and all, bad and false in his wealth.

217But the time will soon come when, I trust, I should put them off in putting off our corruptible bodies.

218When debasement and sin will fall from us with this cumbrous frame of flesh, and only the spark of the spirit will remain.

219The impalpable principle of light and thought, pure as when it left a creator to inspire the creature.

220Whence it came, it will return.

221Perhaps it came to be communicated to some being higher than man.

222Perhaps to pass through gradations of glory.

223When a pale human soldier brought into the seraph.

224Surely it will never, on the contrary, be suffered to degenerate from man to fiend.

225No, I cannot believe that.

226I hold no degree.

227Which no one ever taught me.

228And which I seldom mention, but in which I delight.

229And to which I cling.

230For it extends hope to all.

231It makes eternity a rest.

232A mighty home.

233And all such error in an abyss.

234Besides, with this creed, I can so clearly distinguish between the criminal and his crime.

235I can so sincerely forgive the fairs while I behold the last.

236But this creed revenge never varies my heart.

237Degradation never deeply disgusts me.

238Injustice never crushes me too low.

239I'll live in calm, looking to the end.

240Helen's head, always drooping, sank a little lower as she finished this sentence.

241I saw by her look she wished no longer to talk to me, but rather to converse with her own thoughts.

242She was not allowed much time for meditation.

243A monitor, a great rough girl, presently came up, exclaiming in a strong Cumberland accent.

244Helen Burns, if you don't go and put your drawer in order and fold up your work this minute, I'll tell Miss Scatcherd to come and look at it.

245Helen sighed as her reverie fled, and, getting up, obeyed the monitor without reply, as without delay.

246End of chapter 6