a　good　home　and　kind　parents；　this　would　have　been　the　hour　when　I　should　most　keenly　have　regretted　the　separation；　that　wind　would　then　have　saddened　my　heart；　this　obscure　chaos　would　have　disturbed　my　peace！　as　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。

Jumping　over　forms；　and　creeping　under　tables；　I　made　my　way　to　one　of　the　fire…places；　there；　kneeling　by　the　high　wire　fender；　I　found　Burns；　absorbed；　silent；　abstracted　from　all　round　her　by　the　panionship　of　a　book；　which　she　read　by　the　dim　glare　of　the　embers。

“Is　it　still　Rasselas？”　I　asked；　ing　behind　her。

“Yes；”　she　said；　“and　I　have　just　finished　it。”

And　in　five　minutes　more　she　shut　it　up。　I　was　glad　of　this。　“Now；”　thought　I；　“I　can　perhaps　get　her　to　talk。”　I　sat　down　by　her　on　the　floor。

“What　is　your　name　besides　Burns？”

“Helen。”

“Do　you　e　a　long　way　from　here？”

“I　e　from　a　place　farther　north；　quite　on　the　borders　of　Scotland。”

“Will　you　ever　go　back？”

“I　hope　so；　but　nobody　can　be　sure　of　the　future。”

“You　must　wish　to　leave　Lowood？”

“No！　why　should　I？　I　was　sent　to　Lowood　to　get　an　education；　and　it　would　be　of　no　use　going　away　until　I　have　attained　that　object。”

“But　that　teacher；　Miss　Scatcherd；　is　so　cruel　to　you？”

“Cruel？　Not　at　all！　She　is　severe：　she　dislike