Jane Eyre

Chapter 37

The succeeding week seemed long： it came to an end at last， however， like all sublunary things， and once more， towards the close of a pleasant autumn day， I found myself afoot on the road to Lowton. A picturesque track it was， by the way； lying along the side of the beck and through the sweetest curves of the dale： but that day I thought more of the letters， that might or might not be awaiting me at the little burgh whither I was bound， than of the charms of lea and water.
My ostensible errand on this occasion was to get measured for apair of shoes； so I discharged that business first， and when it was done， I stepped across the clean and quiet little street from the shoemaker’s to the post-office： it was kept by an old dame， who wore horn spectacles on her nose， and black mittens on her hands.
“Are there any letters for J. E.？” I asked.
She peered at me over her spectacles， and then she opened a drawer and fumbled among its contents for a long time， so long that my hopes began to falter. At last， having held a document before her glasses for nearly five minutes， she presented it across the counter， accompanying the act by another inquisitive and mistrustful glance—it was for J. E.
“Is there only one？” I demanded.
“There are no more，” said she； and I put it in my pocket and turned my face homeward： I could not open it then； rules obliged me to be back by eight， and it was already half-past seven.
Various duties awaited me on my arrival. I had to sit with the girls during their hour of study； then it was my turn to read prayers； to see them to bed： afterwards I supped with the other teachers. Even when we finally retired for the night， the inevitable Miss Gryce was still my companion： we had only a short end of candle in our candlestick， and I dreaded lest she should talk till it was all burnt out； fortunately， however， the heavy supper she had eaten produced a soporific effect： she was already snoring before I had finished undressing. There still remained an inch of candle： I now took out my letter； the seal was an initial F.； I broke it； the contents were brief.
“If J.E.， who advertised in the —shire Herald of last Thursday， possesses the acquirements mentioned， and if she is in a position to give satisfactory references as to character and competency， a situation can be offered her where there is but one pupil， a little girl， under ten years of age； and where the salary is thirty pounds per annum. J. E. is requested to send references， name， address， and all particulars to the direction：—

“Mrs. Fairfax， Thornfield， near Millcote， —shire.”

I examined the document long： the writing was old-fashioned and rather uncertain， like that of in elderly lady. This circumstance was satisfactory： a private fear had haunted me， that in thus acting for myself， and by my own guidance， I ran the risk of getting into some scrape； and， above all things， I wished the result of my endeavours to be respectable， proper， en règle. I now felt that an elderly lady was no bad ingredient in the business I had on hand. Mrs. Fairfax！ I saw her in a black gown and widow’s cap；frigid， perhaps， but not uncivil： a model of elderly English respectability. Thornfield！ that， doubtless， was the name of her house： a neat orderly spot， I was sure； though I failed in my efforts to conceive a correct plan of the premises. Millcote， —shire； I brushed up my recollections of the map of England， yes， I saw it；both the shire and the town.—shire was seventy miles nearer London than the remote county where I now resided： that was a recommendation to me. I longed to go where there was life and movement： Millcote was a large manufacturing town on the banks of the A—； a busy place enough， doubtless： so much the better； it would be a complete change at least. Not that my fancy was much captivated by the idea of long chimneys and clouds of smoke—“but，” I argued， “Thornfield will， probably， be a good way from the town.”

Here the socket of the candle dropped， and the wick went out.
Next day new steps were to be taken； my plans could no longerbe confined to my own breast； I must impart them in order to achieve their success. Having sought and obtained an audience of the superintendent during the noontide recreation， I told her I had a prospect of getting a new situation where the salary would be double what I now received (for at Lowood I only got ā15 per annum)； and requested she would break the matter for me to Mr. Brocklehurst， or some of the committee， and ascertain whether they would permit me to mention them as references. She obligingly consented to act as mediatrix in the matter. The next day she laid the affair before Mr. Brocklehurst， who said that Mrs. Reed must be written to， as she was my natural guardian. A note was accordingly addressed to that lady， who returned for answer， that “I might do as I pleased： she had long relinquished all interference in my affairs.” This note went the round of the committee， and at last， after what appeared to me most tedious delay， formal leave was given me to better my condition if I could；and an assurance added， that as I had always conducted myself well， both as teacher and pupil， at Lowood， a testimonial of character and capacity， signed by the inspectors of that institution， should forthwith be furnished me.
This testimonial I accordingly received in about a month， forwarded a copy of it to Mrs. Fairfax， and got that lady’s reply， stating that she was satisfied， and fixing that day fortnight as the period for my assuming the post of governess in her house.
I now busied myself in preparations： the fortnight passed 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.
(End of this chapter)