“Icameonpurposetofindyou，JaneEyre，”saidshe;“Iwantyouinmyroom;andasHelenBurnsiswithyou，shemaycometoo。”
　　Wewent;followingthesuperintendent’sguidance，wehadtothreadsomeintricatepassages，andmountastaircasebeforewereachedherapartment;itcontainedagoodfire，andlookedcheerful。MissTempletoldHelenBurnstobeseatedinalowarm—chairononesideofthehearth，andherselftakinganother，shecalledmetoherside。
　　“Isitallover？”sheasked，lookingdownatmyface。“Haveyoucriedyourgriefaway？”
　　“IamafraidInevershalldothat。”
　　“Why？”
　　“BecauseIhavebeenwronglyaccused;andyou，ma’am，andeverybodyelse，willnowthinkmewicked。”
　　“Weshallthinkyouwhatyouproveyourselftobe，mychild。Continuetoactasagoodgirl，andyouwillsatisfyus。”
　　“ShallI，MissTemple？”
　　“Youwill，”saidshe，passingherarmroundme。“AndnowtellmewhoistheladywhomMr。Brocklehurstcalledyourbenefactress？”
　　“Mrs。Reed，myuncle’swife。Myuncleisdead，andheleftmetohercare。”
　　“Didshenot，then，adoptyouofherownaccord？”
　　“No，ma’am;shewassorrytohavetodoit:butmyuncle，asIhaveoftenheardtheservantssay，gothertopromisebeforehediedthatshewouldalwayskeepme。”
　　“Wellnow，Jane，youknow，oratleastIwilltellyou，thatwhenacriminalisaccused，heisalwaysallowedtospeakinhisowndefence。Youhavebeenchargedwithfalsehood;defendyourselftomeaswellasyoucan。Saywhateveryourmemorysuggestsistrue;butaddnothingandexaggeratenothing。”
　　Iresolved，inthedepthofmyheart，thatIwouldbemostmoderate—mostcorrect;and，havingreflectedafewminutesinordertoarrangecoherentlywhatIhadtosay，Itoldherallthestoryofmysadchildhood。Exhaustedbyemotion，mylanguagewasmoresubduedthanitgenerallywaswhenitdevelopedthatsadtheme;andmindfulofHelen’swarningsagainsttheindulgenceofresentment，Iinfusedintothenarrativefarlessofgallandwormwoodthanordinary。Thusrestrainedandsimplified，itsoundedmorecredible:IfeltasIwentonthatMissTemplefullybelievedme。
　　InthecourseofthetaleIhadmentionedMr。Lloydashavingcometoseemeafterthefit:forIneverforgotthe，tome，frightfulepisodeofthered—room:indetailingwhich，myexcitementwassure，insomedegree，tobreakbounds;fornothingcouldsofteninmyrecollectionthespasmofagonywhichclutchedmyheartwhenMrs。Reedspurnedmywildsupplicationforpardon，andlockedmeasecondtimeinthedarkandhauntedchamber。
　　Ihadfinished:MissTempleregardedmeafewminutesinsilence;shethensaid—
　　“IknowsomethingofMr。Lloyd;Ishallwritetohim;ifhisreplyagreeswithyourstatement，youshallbepubliclyclearedfromeveryimputation;tome，Jane，youareclearnow。”
　　Shekissedme，andstillkeepingmeatherside（whereIwaswellcontentedtostand，forIderivedachild’spleasurefromthecontemplationofherface，herdress，heroneortwoornaments，herwhiteforehead，herclusteredandshiningcurls，andbeamingdarkeyes），sheproceededtoaddressHelenBurns。
　　“Howareyouto—night，Helen？Haveyoucoughedmuchto—day？”
　　“Notquitesomuch，Ithink，ma’am。”
　　“Andthepaininyourchest？”
　　“Itisalittlebetter。”
　　MissTemplegotup，tookherhandandexaminedherpulse;thenshereturnedtoherownseat:assheresumedit，Iheardhersighlow。Shewaspensiveafewminutes，thenrousingherself，shesaidcheerfully—
　　“Butyoutwoaremyvisitorsto—night;Imusttreatyouassuch。”Sherangherbell。
　　“Barbara，”shesaidtotheservantwhoansweredit，“Ihavenotyethadtea;bringthetrayandplacecupsforthesetwoyoungladies。”
　　Andatraywassoonbrought。Howpretty，tomyeyes，didthechinacupsandbrightteapotlook，placedonthelittleroundtablenearthefire！Howfragrantwasthesteamofthebeverage，andthescentofthetoast！ofwhich，however，I，tomydismay（forIwasbeginningtobehungry）discernedonlyaverysmallportion:MissTemplediscernedittoo。
　　“Barbara，”saidshe，“canyounotbringalittlemorebreadandbutter？Thereisnotenoughforthree。”
　　Barbarawentout:shereturnedsoon—
　　“Madam，Mrs。Hardensaysshehassentuptheusualquantity。”
　　Mrs。Harden，beitobserved，wasthehousekeeper:awomanafterMr。Brocklehurst’sownheart，madeupofequalpartsofwhaleboneandiron。
　　“Oh，verywell！”returnedMissTemple;“wemustmakeitdo，Barbara，Isuppose。”Andasthegirlwithdrewsheadded，smiling，“Fortunately，Ihaveitinmypowertosupplydeficienciesforthisonce。”
　　HavinginvitedHelenandmetoapproachthetable，andplacedbeforeeachofusacupofteawithonedeliciousbutthinmorseloftoast，shegotup，unlockedadrawer，andtakingfromitaparcelwrappedinpaper，disclosedpresentlytooureyesagood—sizedseed—cake。
　　“Imeanttogiveeachofyousomeofthistotakewithyou，”saidshe，“butasthereissolittletoast，youmusthaveitnow，”andsheproceededtocutsliceswithageneroushand。
　　Wefeastedthateveningasonnectarandambrosia;andnottheleastdelightoftheentertainmentwasthesmileofgratificationwithwhichourhostessregardedus，aswesatisfiedourfamishedappetitesonthedelicatefaresheliberallysupplied。
　　Teaoverandthetrayremoved，sheagainsummonedustothefire;wesatoneoneachsideofher，andnowaconversationfollowedbetweenherandHelen，whichitwasindeedaprivilegetobeadmittedtohear。
　　MissTemplehadalwayssomethingofserenityinherair，ofstateinhermien，ofrefinedproprietyinherlanguage，whichprecludeddeviationintotheardent，theexcited，theeager:somethingwhichchastenedthepleasureofthosewholookedonherandlistenedtoher，byacontrollingsenseofawe;andsuchwasmyfeelingnow:butastoHelenBurns，Iwasstruckwithwonder。
　　Therefreshingmeal，thebrilliantfire，thepresenceandkindnessofherbelovedinstructress，or，perhaps，morethanallthese，somethinginherownuniquemind，hadrousedherpowerswithinher。Theywoke，theykindled:first，theyglowedinthebrighttintofhercheek，whichtillthishourIhadneverseenbutpaleandbloodless;thentheyshoneintheliquidlustreofhereyes，whichhadsuddenlyacquiredabeautymoresingularthanthatofMissTemple’s—abeautyneitheroffinecolournorlongeyelash，norpencilledbrow，butofmeaning，ofmovement，ofradiance。Thenhersoulsatonherlips，andlanguageflowed，fromwhatsourceIcannottell。Hasagirloffourteenaheartlargeenough，vigorousenough，toholdtheswellingspringofpure，full，fervideloquence？SuchwasthecharacteristicofHelen’sdiscourseonthat，tome，memorableevening;herspiritseemedhasteningtolivewithinaverybriefspanasmuchasmanyliveduringaprotractedexistence。
　　TheyconversedofthingsIhadneverheardof;ofnationsandtimespast;ofcountriesfaraway;ofsecretsofnaturediscoveredorguessedat:theyspokeofbooks:howmanytheyhadread！Whatstoresofknowledgetheypossessed！ThentheyseemedsofamiliarwithFrenchnamesandFrenchauthors:butmyamazementreacheditsclimaxwhenMissTempleaskedHelenifshesometimessnatchedamomenttorecalltheLatinherfatherhadtaughther，andtakingabookfromashelf，badeherreadandconstrueapageofVirgil;andHelenobeyed，myorganofvenerationexpandingateverysoundingline。Shehadscarcelyfinishederethebellannouncedbedtime！nodelaycouldbeadmitted;MissTempleembracedusboth，saying，asshedrewustoherheart—
　　“Godblessyou，mychildren！”
　　Helensheheldalittlelongerthanme:shelethergomorereluctantly;itwasHelenhereyefollowedtothedoor;itwasforhersheasecondtimebreathedasadsigh;forhershewipedatearfromhercheek。
　　Onreachingthebedroom，weheardthevoiceofMissScatcherd:shewasexaminingdrawers;shehadjustpulledoutHelenBurns’s，andwhenweenteredHelenwasgreetedwithasharpreprimand，andtoldthatto—morrowsheshouldhavehalf—a—dozenofuntidilyfoldedarticlespinnedtohershoulder。
　　“Mythingswereindeedinshamefuldisorder，”murmuredHelentome，inalowvoice:“Iintendedtohavearrangedthem，butIforgot。”
　　Nextmorning，MissScatcherdwroteinconspicuouscharactersonapieceofpasteboardtheword“Slattern，”andbounditlikeaphylacteryroundHelen’slarge，mild，intelligent，andbenign—lookingforehead。Sheworeittillevening，patient，unresentful，regardingitasadeservedpunishment。ThemomentMissScatcherdwithdrewafterafternoonschool，IrantoHelen，toreitoff，andthrustitintothefire:thefuryofwhichshewasincapablehadbeenburninginmysoulallday，andtears，hotandlarge，hadcontinuallybeenscaldingmycheek;forthespectacleofhersadresignationgavemeanintolerablepainattheheart。
　　Aboutaweeksubsequentlytotheincidentsabovenarrated，MissTemple，whohadwrittentoMr。Lloyd，receivedhisanswer:itappearedthatwhathesaidwenttocorroboratemyaccount。MissTemple，havingassembledthewholeschool，announcedthatinquiryhadbeenmadeintothechargesallegedagainstJaneEyre，andthatshewasmosthappytobeabletopronouncehercompletelyclearedfromeveryimputation。Theteachersthenshookhandswithmeandkissedme，andamurmurofpleasureranthroughtheranksofmycompanions。
　　Thusrelievedofagrievousload，Ifromthathoursettoworkafresh，resolvedtopioneermywaythrougheverydifficulty:Itoiledhard，andmysuccesswasproportionatetomyefforts;mymemory，notnaturallytenacious，improvedwithpractice;exercisesharpenedmywits;inafewweeksIwaspromotedtoahigherclass;inlessthantwomonthsIwasallowedtocommenceFrenchanddrawing。Ilearnedthefirsttwotensesoftheverbetre，andsketchedmyfirstcottage（whosewalls，by—the—bye，outrivalledinslopethoseoftheleaningtowerofPisa），onthesameday。Thatnight，ongoingtobed，IforgottoprepareinimaginationtheBarmecidesupperofhotroastpotatoes，orwhitebreadandnewmilk，withwhichIwaswonttoamusemyinwardcravings:Ifeastedinsteadonthespectacleofidealdrawings，whichIsawinthedark;alltheworkofmyownhands:freelypencilledhousesandtrees，picturesquerocksandruins，Cuyp—likegroupsofcattle，sweetpaintingsofbutterflieshoveringoverunblownroses，ofbirdspickingatripecherries，ofwren’snestsenclosingpearl—likeeggs，wreathedaboutwithyoungivysprays。Iexamined，too，inthought，thepossibilityofmyeverbeingabletotranslatecurrentlyacertainlittleFrenchstorywhichMadamePierrothadthatdayshownme;norwasthatproblemsolvedtomysatisfactionereIfellsweetlyasleep。
　　WellhasSolomonsaid—“Betterisadinnerofherbswhereloveis，thanastalledoxandhatredtherewith。”
　　IwouldnotnowhaveexchangedLowoodwithallitsprivationsforGatesheadanditsdailyluxuries。
　　Chapter9
　　Buttheprivations，orratherthehardships，ofLowoodlessened。Springdrewon:shewasindeedalreadycome;thefrostsofwinterhadceased;itssnowsweremelted，itscuttingwindsameliorated。Mywretchedfeet，flayedandswollentolamenessbythesharpairofJanuary，begantohealandsubsideunderthegentlerbreathingsofApril;thenightsandmorningsnolongerbytheirCanadiantemperaturefrozetheverybloodinourveins;wecouldnowenduretheplay—hourpassedinthegarden:sometimesonasunnydayitbeganeventobepleasantandgenial，andagreennessgrewoverthosebrownbeds，which，fresheningdaily，suggestedthethoughtthatHopetraversedthematnight，andlefteachmorningbrightertracesofhersteps。Flowerspeepedoutamongsttheleaves;snow—drops，crocuses，purpleauriculas，andgolden—eyedpansies。OnThursdayafternoons（half—holidays）wenowtookwalks，andfoundstillsweeterflowersopeningbythewayside，underthehedges。
　　Idiscovered，too，thatagreatpleasure，anenjoymentwhichthehorizononlybounded，layalloutsidethehighandspike—guardedwallsofourgarden:thispleasureconsistedinprospectofnoblesummitsgirdlingagreathill—hollow，richinverdureandshadow;inabrightbeck，fullofdarkstonesandsparklingeddies。HowdifferenthadthisscenelookedwhenIvieweditlaidoutbeneaththeironskyofwinter，stiffenedinfrost，shroudedwithsnow！—whenmistsaschillasdeathwanderedtotheimpulseofeastwindsalongthosepurplepeaks，androlleddown“ing”andholmtilltheyblendedwiththefrozenfogofthebeck！Thatbeckitselfwasthenatorrent，turbidandcurbless:ittoreasunderthewood，andsentaravingsoundthroughtheair，oftenthickenedwithwildrainorwhirlingsleet;andfortheforestonitsbanks，thatshowedonlyranksofskeletons。
　　ApriladvancedtoMay:abrightsereneMayitwas;daysofbluesky，placidsunshine，andsoftwesternorsoutherngalesfilledupitsduration。Andnowvegetationmaturedwithvigour;Lowoodshooklooseitstresses;itbecameallgreen，allflowery;itsgreatelm，ash，andoakskeletonswererestoredtomajesticlife;woodlandplantssprangupprofuselyinitsrecesses;unnumberedvarietiesofmossfilleditshollows，anditmadeastrangeground—sunshineoutofthewealthofitswildprimroseplants:Ihaveseentheirpalegoldgleaminovershadowedspotslikescatteringsofthesweetestlustre。AllthisIenjoyedoftenandfully，free，unwatched，andalmostalone:forthisunwontedlibertyandpleasuretherewasacause，towhichitnowbecomesmytasktoadvert。
　　HaveInotdescribedapleasantsiteforadwelling，whenIspeakofitasbosomedinhillandwood，andrisingfromthevergeofastream？Assuredly，pleasantenough:butwhetherhealthyornotisanotherquestion。
　　Thatforest—dell，whereLowoodlay，wasthecradleoffogandfog—bredpestilence;which，quickeningwiththequickeningspring，creptintotheOrphanAsylum，breathedtyphusthroughitscrowdedschoolroomanddormitory，and，ereMayarrived，transformedtheseminaryintoanhospital。
　　Semi—starvationandneglectedcoldshadpredisposedmostofthepupilstoreceiveinfection:forty—fiveoutoftheeightygirlslayillatonetime。Classeswerebrokenup，rulesrelaxed。Thefewwhocontinuedwellwereallowedalmostunlimitedlicense;becausethemedicalattendantinsistedonthenecessityoffrequentexercisetokeeptheminhealth:andhaditbeenotherwise，noonehadleisuretowatchorrestrainthem。MissTemple’swholeattentionwasabsorbedbythepatients:shelivedinthesick—room，neverquittingitexcepttosnatchafewhours’restatnight。Theteacherswerefullyoccupiedwithpackingupandmakingothernecessarypreparationsforthedepartureofthosegirlswhowerefortunateenoughtohavefriendsandrelationsableandwillingtoremovethemfromtheseatofcontagion。Many，alreadysmitten，wenthomeonlytodie:somediedattheschool，andwereburiedquietlyandquickly，thenatureofthemaladyforbiddingdelay。
　　WhilediseasehadthusbecomeaninhabitantofLowood，anddeathitsfrequentvisitor;whiletherewasgloomandfearwithinitswalls;whileitsroomsandpassagessteamedwithhospitalsmells，thedrugandthepastillestrivingvainlytoovercometheeffluviaofmortality，thatbrightMayshoneuncloudedovertheboldhillsandbeautifulwoodlandoutofdoors。Itsgarden，too，glowedwithflowers:hollyhockshadsprunguptallastrees，lilieshadopened，tulipsandroseswereinbloom;thebordersofthelittlebedsweregaywithpinkthriftandcrimsondoubledaisies;thesweetbriarsgaveout，morningandevening，theirscentofspiceandapples;andthesefragranttreasureswerealluselessformostoftheinmatesofLowood，excepttofurnishnowandthenahandfulofherbsandblossomstoputinacoffin。
　　ButI，andtherestwhocontinuedwell，enjoyedfullythebeautiesofthesceneandseason;theyletusrambleinthewood，likegipsies，frommorningtillnight;wedidwhatweliked，wentwhereweliked:welivedbettertoo。Mr。BrocklehurstandhisfamilynevercamenearLowoodnow:householdmatterswerenotscrutinisedinto;thecrosshousekeeperwasgone，drivenawaybythefearofinfection;hersuccessor，whohadbeenmatronattheLowtonDispensary，unusedtothewaysofhernewabode，providedwithcomparativeliberality。Besides，therewerefewertofeed;thesickcouldeatlittle;ourbreakfast—basinswerebetterfilled;whentherewasnotimetopreparearegulardinner，whichoftenhappened，shewouldgiveusalargepieceofcoldpie，orathicksliceofbreadandcheese，andthiswecarriedawaywithustothewood，whereweeachchosethespotwelikedbest，anddinedsumptuously。
　　Myfavouriteseatwasasmoothandbroadstone，risingwhiteanddryfromtheverymiddleofthebeck，andonlytobegotatbywadingthroughthewater;afeatIaccomplishedbarefoot。Thestonewasjustbroadenoughtoaccommodate，comfortably，anothergirlandme，atthattimemychosencomrade—oneMaryAnnWilson;ashrewd，observantpersonage，whosesocietyItookpleasurein，partlybecauseshewaswittyandoriginal，andpartlybecauseshehadamannerwhichsetmeatmyease。SomeyearsolderthanI，sheknewmoreoftheworld，andcouldtellmemanythingsIlikedtohear:withhermycuriosityfoundgratification:tomyfaultsalsoshegaveampleindulgence，neverimposingcurborreinonanythingIsaid。Shehadaturnfornarrative，Iforanalysis;shelikedtoinform，Itoquestion;sowegotonswimminglytogether，derivingmuchentertainment，ifnotmuchimprovement，fromourmutualintercourse。
　　Andwhere，meantime，wasHelenBurns？WhydidInotspendthesesweetdaysoflibertywithher？HadIforgottenher？orwasIsoworthlessastohavegrowntiredofherparesociety？SurelytheMaryArmWilsonIhavementionedwasinferiortomyfirstacquaintance:shecouldonlytellmeamusingstories，andreciprocateanyracyandpungentgossipIchosetoindulgein;while，ifIhavespokentruthofHelen，shewasqualifiedtogivethosewhoenjoyedtheprivilegeofherconverseatasteoffarhigherthings。
　　True，reader;andIknewandfeltthis:andthoughIamadefectivebeing，withmanyfaultsandfewredeemingpoints，yetInevertiredofHelenBurns;noreverceasedtocherishforherasentimentofattachment，asstrong，tender，andrespectfulasanythateveranimatedmyheart。Howcoulditbeotherwise，whenHelen，atalltimesandunderallcircumstances，evincedformeaquietandfaithfulfriendship，whichill—humourneversoured，norirritationnevertroubled？ButHelenwasillatpresent:forsomeweeksshehadbeenremovedfrommysighttoIknewnotwhatroomupstairs。Shewasnot，Iwastold，inthehospitalportionofthehousewiththefeverpatients;forhercomplaintwasconsumption，nottyphus:andbyconsumptionI，inmyignorance，understoodsomethingmild，whichtimeandcarewouldbesuretoalleviate。
　　Iwasconfirmedinthisideabythefactofheronceortwicecomingdownstairsonverywarmsunnyafternoons，andbeingtakenbyMissTempleintothegarden;but，ontheseoccasions，Iwasnotallowedtogoandspeaktoher;Ionlysawherfromtheschoolroomwindow，andthennotdistinctly;forshewasmuchwrappedup，andsatatadistanceundertheverandah。
　　Oneevening，inthebeginningofJune，IhadstayedoutverylatewithMaryAnninthewood;wehad，asusual，separatedourselvesfromtheothers，andhadwanderedfar;sofarthatwelostourway，andhadtoaskitatalonelycottage，whereamanandwomanlived，wholookedafteraherdofhalf—wildswinethatfedonthemastinthewood。Whenwegotback，itwasaftermoonrise:apony，whichweknewtobethesurgeon’s，wasstandingatthegardendoor。MaryAnnremarkedthatshesupposedsomeonemustbeveryill，asMr。Bateshadbeensentforatthattimeoftheevening。Shewentintothehouse;IstayedbehindafewminutestoplantinmygardenahandfulofrootsIhaddugupintheforest，andwhichIfearedwouldwitherifIleftthemtillthemorning。Thisdone，Ilingeredyetalittlelonger:theflowerssmeltsosweetasthedewfell;itwassuchapleasantevening，soserene，sowarm;thestillglowingwestpromisedsofairlyanotherfinedayonthemorrow;themoonrosewithsuchmajestyinthegraveeast。Iwasnotingthesethingsandenjoyingthemasachildmight，whenitenteredmymindasithadneverdonebefore:—
　　“Howsadtobelyingnowonasickbed，andtobeindangerofdying！Thisworldispleasant—itwouldbedrearytobecalledfromit，andtohavetogowhoknowswhere？”
　　Andthenmymindmadeitsfirstearnestefforttocomprehendwhathadbeeninfusedintoitconcerningheavenandhell;andforthefirsttimeitrecoiled，baffled;andforthefirsttimeglancingbehind，oneachside，andbeforeit，itsawallroundanunfathomedgulf:itfelttheonepointwhereitstood—thepresent;alltherestwasformlesscloudandvacantdepth;anditshudderedatthethoughtoftottering，andplungingamidthatchaos。Whileponderingthisnewidea，Iheardthefrontdooropen;Mr。Batescameout，andwithhimwasanurse。Aftershehadseenhimmounthishorseanddepart，shewasabouttoclosethedoor，butIranuptoher。
　　“HowisHelenBurns？”
　　“Verypoorly，”wastheanswer。
　　“IsitherMr。Bateshasbeentosee？”
　　“Yes。”
　　“Andwhatdoeshesayabouther？”
　　“Hesaysshe’llnotbeherelong。”
　　Thisphrase，utteredinmyhearingyesterday，wouldhaveonlyconveyedthenotionthatshewasabouttoberemovedtoNorthumberland，toherownhome。Ishouldnothavesuspectedthatitmeantshewasdying;butIknewinstantlynow！ItopenedclearonmycomprehensionthatHelenBurnswasnumberingherlastdaysinthisworld，andthatshewasgoingtobetakentotheregionofspirits，ifsuchregiontherewere。Iexperiencedashockofhorror，thenastrongthrillofgrief，thenadesire—anecessitytoseeher;andIaskedinwhatroomshelay。
　　“SheisinMissTemple’sroom，”saidthenurse。
　　“MayIgoupandspeaktoher？”
　　“Ohno，child！Itisnotlikely;andnowitistimeforyoutocomein;you’llcatchthefeverifyoustopoutwhenthedewisfalling。”
　　Thenurseclosedthefrontdoor;Iwentinbythesideentrancewhichledtotheschoolroom:Iwasjustintime;itwasnineo’clock，andMissMillerwascallingthepupilstogotobed。
　　Itmightbetwohourslater，probablyneareleven，whenI—nothavingbeenabletofallasleep，anddeeming，fromtheperfectsilenceofthedormitory，thatmycompanionswereallwraptinprofoundrepose—rosesoftly，putonmyfrockovermynight—dress，and，withoutshoes，creptfromtheapartment，andsetoffinquestofMissTemple’sroom。Itwasquiteattheotherendofthehouse;butIknewmyway;andthelightoftheuncloudedsummermoon，enteringhereandthereatpassagewindows，enabledmetofinditwithoutdifficulty。AnodourofcamphorandburntvinegarwarnedmewhenIcamenearthefeverroom:andIpasseditsdoorquickly，fearfullestthenursewhosatupallnightshouldhearme。Idreadedbeingdiscoveredandsentback;forImustseeHelen，—Imustembraceherbeforeshedied，—Imustgiveheronelastkiss，exchangewithheronelastword。
　　Havingdescendedastaircase，traversedaportionofthehousebelow，andsucceededinopeningandshutting，withoutnoise，twodoors，Ireachedanotherflightofsteps;theseImounted，andthenjustoppositetomewasMissTemple’sroom。Alightshonethroughthekeyholeandfromunderthedoor;aprofoundstillnesspervadedthevicinity。Comingnear，Ifoundthedoorslightlyajar;probablytoadmitsomefreshairintothecloseabodeofsickness。Indisposedtohesitate，andfullofimpatientimpulses—soulandsensesquiveringwithkeenthroes—Iputitbackandlookedin。MyeyesoughtHelen，andfearedtofinddeath。
　　ClosebyMissTemple’sbed，andhalfcoveredwithitswhitecurtains，therestoodalittlecrib。Isawtheoutlineofaformundertheclothes，butthefacewashidbythehangings:thenurseIhadspokentointhegardensatinaneasy—chairasleep;anunsnuffedcandleburntdimlyonthetable。MissTemplewasnottobeseen:Iknewafterwardsthatshehadbeencalledtoadeliriouspatientinthefever—room。Iadvanced;thenpausedbythecribside:myhandwasonthecurtain，butIpreferredspeakingbeforeIwithdrewit。Istillrecoiledatthedreadofseeingacorpse。
　　“Helen！”Iwhisperedsoftly，“areyouawake？”
　　Shestirredherself，putbackthecurtain，andIsawherface，pale，wasted，butquitecomposed:shelookedsolittlechangedthatmyfearwasinstantlydissipated。
　　“Canitbeyou，Jane？”sheasked，inherowngentlevoice。
　　“Oh！”Ithought，“sheisnotgoingtodie;theyaremistaken:shecouldnotspeakandlooksocalmlyifshewere。”
　　Igotontohercribandkissedher:herforeheadwascold，andhercheekbothcoldandthin，andsowereherhandandwrist;butshesmiledasofold。
　　“Whyareyoucomehere，Jane？Itispasteleveno’clock:Ihearditstrikesomeminutessince。”
　　“Icametoseeyou，Helen:Iheardyouwereveryill，andIcouldnotsleeptillIhadspokentoyou。”
　　“Youcametobidmegood—bye，then:youarejustintimeprobably。”
　　“Areyougoingsomewhere，Helen？Areyougoinghome？”
　　“Yes;tomylonghome—mylasthome。”
　　“No，no，Helen！”Istopped，distressed。WhileItriedtodevourmytears，afitofcoughingseizedHelen;itdidnot，however，wakethenurse;whenitwasover，shelaysomeminutesexhausted;thenshewhispered—
　　“Jane，yourlittlefeetarebare;liedownandcoveryourselfwithmyquilt。”
　　Ididso:sheputherarmoverme，andInestledclosetoher。Afteralongsilence，sheresumed，stillwhispering—
　　“Iamveryhappy，Jane;andwhenyouhearthatIamdead，youmustbesureandnotgrieve:thereisnothingtogrieveabout。Weallmustdieoneday，andtheillnesswhichisremovingmeisnotpainful;itisgentleandgradual:mymindisatrest。Ileavenoonetoregretmemuch:Ihaveonlyafather;andheislatelymarried，andwillnotmissme。Bydyingyoung，Ishallescapegreatsufferings。Ihadnotqualitiesortalentstomakemywayverywellintheworld:Ishouldhavebeencontinuallyatfault。”
　　“Butwhereareyougoingto，Helen？Canyousee？Doyouknow？”
　　“Ibelieve;Ihavefaith:IamgoingtoGod。”
　　“WhereisGod？WhatisGod？”
　　“MyMakerandyours，whowillneverdestroywhatHecreated。IrelyimplicitlyonHispower，andconfidewhollyinHisgoodness:IcountthehourstillthateventfulonearriveswhichshallrestoremetoHim，revealHimtome。”
　　“Youaresure，then，Helen，thatthereissuchaplaceasheaven，andthatoursoulscangettoitwhenwedie？”
　　“Iamsurethereisafuturestate;IbelieveGodisgood;IcanresignmyimmortalparttoHimwithoutanymisgiving。Godismyfather;Godismyfriend:IloveHim;IbelieveHelovesme。”
　　“AndshallIseeyouagain，Helen，whenIdie？”
　　“Youwillcometothesameregionofhappiness:bereceivedbythesamemighty，universalParent，nodoubt，dearJane。”
　　AgainIquestioned，butthistimeonlyinthought。“Whereisthatregion？Doesitexist？”AndIclaspedmyarmscloserroundHelen;sheseemeddearertomethanever;IfeltasifIcouldnotlethergo;Ilaywithmyfacehiddenonherneck。Presentlyshesaid，inthesweetesttone—
　　“HowcomfortableIam！Thatlastfitofcoughinghastiredmealittle;IfeelasifIcouldsleep:butdon’tleaveme，Jane;Iliketohaveyounearme。”
　　“I’llstaywithyou，dearHelen:nooneshalltakemeway。”
　　“Areyouwarm，darling？”
　　“Yes。”
　　“Good—night，Jane。”
　　“Good—night，Helen。”
　　Shekissedme，andIher，andwebothsoonslumbered。
　　WhenIawokeitwasday:anunusualmovementrousedme;Ilookedup;Iwasinsomebody’sarms;thenurseheldme;shewascarryingmethroughthepassagebacktothedormitory。Iwasnotreprimandedforleavingmybed;peoplehadsomethingelsetothinkabout;noexplanationwasaffordedthentomymanyquestions;butadayortwoafterwardsIlearnedthatMissTemple，onreturningtoherownroomatdawn，hadfoundmelaidinthelittlecrib;myfaceagainstHelenBurns’sshoulder，myarmsroundherneck。Iwasasleep，andHelenwas—dead。
　　HergraveisinBrocklebridgechurchyard:forfifteenyearsafterherdeathitwasonlycoveredbyagrassymound;butnowagreymarbletabletmarksthespot，inscribedwithhername，andtheword“Resurgam。”
　　Chapter10
　　HithertoIhaverecordedindetailtheeventsofmyinsignificantexistence:tothefirsttenyearsofmylifeIhavegivenalmostasmanychapters。Butthisisnottobearegularautobiography。IamonlyboundtoinvokeMemorywhereIknowherresponseswillpossesssomedegreeofinterest;thereforeInowpassaspaceofeightyearsalmostinsilence:afewlinesonlyarenecessarytokeepupthelinksofconnection。
　　WhenthetyphusfeverhadfulfilleditsmissionofdevastationatLowood，itgraduallydisappearedfromthence;butnottillitsvirulenceandthenumberofitsvictimshaddrawnpublicattentionontheschool。Inquirywasmadeintotheoriginofthescourge，andbydegreesvariousfactscameoutwhichexcitedpublicindignationinahighdegree。Theunhealthynatureofthesite;thequantityandqualityofthechildren’sfood;thebrackish，fetidwaterusedinitspreparation;thepupils’wretchedclothingandaccommodations—allthesethingswerediscovered，andthediscoveryproducedaresultmortifyingtoMr。Brocklehurst，butbeneficialtotheinstitution。
　　Severalwealthyandbenevolentindividualsinthecountysubscribedlargelyfortheerectionofamoreconvenientbuildinginabettersituation;newregulationsweremade;improvementsindietandclothingintroduced;thefundsoftheschoolwereintrustedtothemanagementofacommittee。Mr。Brocklehurst，who，fromhiswealthandfamilyconnections，couldnotbeoverlooked，stillretainedthepostoftreasurer;buthewasaidedinthedischargeofhisdutiesbygentlemenofrathermoreenlargedandsympathisingminds:hisofficeofinspector，too，wassharedbythosewhoknewhowtocombinereasonwithstrictness，comfortwitheconomy，compassionwithuprightness。Theschool，thusimproved，becameintimeatrulyusefulandnobleinstitution。Iremainedaninmateofitswalls，afteritsregeneration，foreightyears:sixaspupil，andtwoasteacher;andinbothcapacitiesIbearmytestimonytoitsvalueandimportance。
　　Duringtheseeightyearsmylifewasuniform:butnotunhappy，becauseitwasnotinactive。Ihadthemeansofanexcellenteducationplacedwithinmyreach;afondnessforsomeofmystudies，andadesiretoexcelinall，togetherwithagreatdelightinpleasingmyteachers，especiallysuchasIloved，urgedmeon:Iavailedmyselffullyoftheadvantagesofferedme。IntimeIrosetobethefirstgirlofthefirstclass;thenIwasinvestedwiththeofficeofteacher;whichIdischargedwithzealfortwoyears:butattheendofthattimeIaltered。