第2部分(第6/7 页)

did　so　before；”　at　last　said　Bessie；　turning　to　the　Abigail。

“But　it　was　always　in　her；”　was　the　reply。　“I’ve　told　Missis　often　my　opinion　about　the　child；　and　Missis　agreed　with　me。　She’s　an　underhand　little　thing：　I　never　saw　a　girl　of　her　age　with　so　much　cover。”

Bessie　answered　not；　but　ere　long；　addressing　me；　she　said—“You　ought　to　be　aware；　Miss；　that　you　are　under　obligations　to　Mrs。　Reed：　she　keeps　you：　if　she　were　to　turn　you　off；　you　would　have　to　go　to　the　poorhouse。”

I　had　nothing　to　say　to　these　words：　they　were　not　new　to　me：　my　very　first　recollections　of　existence　included　hints　of　the　same　kind。　This　reproach　of　my　dependence　had　bee　a　vague　sing…song　in　my　ear：　very　painful　and　crushing；　but　only　half　intelligible。　Miss　Abbot　joined　in—

“And　you　ought　not　to　think　yourself　on　an　equality　with　the　Misses　Reed　and　Master　Reed；　because　Missis　kindly　allows　you　to　be　brought　up　with　them。　They　will　have　a　great　deal　of　money；　and　you　will　have　none：　it　is　your　place　to　be　humble；　and　to　try　to　make　yourself　agreeable　to　them。”

“What　we　tell　you　is　for　your　good；”　added　Bessie；　in　no　harsh　voice；　“you　should　try　to　be　useful　and　pleasant；　then；　perhaps；　you　would　have　a　home　here；　but　if　you　bee　passionate　and　rude；　Missis　will　send　you　away；　I　am　sure。”

“Besides；”　said　Miss　Abbot；　“God　will　punish　her：　He　might　strike　her　dead　in　the　midst　of　her　tantrums；　and　then　where　would　she　go？　e；　Bessie；　we　will　leave　her：　I　wouldn’t　have　her　heart　for　anything。　Say　your　prayers；　Miss　Eyre；　when　you　are　by　yourself；　for　if　you　don’t　repent；　something　bad　might　be　permitted　to　e　down　the　chimney　and　fetch　you　away。”

They　went；　shutting　the　door；　and　locking　it　behind　them。

The　red…room　ber；　very　seldom　slept　i