Jane Eyre

Charlotte Brontë
missionary’s career—I see it now.”
drew there as to a place of refuge.
“They are coming! they are coming!” cried Hannah, throwing
open the parlour door. At the same moment old Carlo give hospitable orders respecting the driver; this done, both
I had lit their candles to go upstairs, but Diana had first to
barked joyfully. Out I ran. It was now dark; but a rumbling followed me. They were delighted with the renovation and
of wheels was audible. Hannah soon had a lantern lit. The decorations of their rooms; with the new drapery, and fresh
vehicle had stopped at the wicket; the driver opened the door: carpets, and rich tinted china vases: they expressed their gratification
ungrudgingly. I had the pleasure of feeling that my
first one well-known form, then another, stepped out. In a
minute I had my face under their bonnets, in contact first arrangements met their wishes exactly, and that what I had
with Mary’s soft cheek, then with Diana’s flowing curls. They done added a vivid charm to their joyous return home.
laughed—kissed me—then Hannah: patted Carlo, who was Sweet was that evening. My cousins, full of exhilaration,
half wild with delight; asked eagerly if all was well; and being were so eloquent in narrative and comment, that their fluency
covered St. John’s taciturnity: he was sincerely glad to
assured in the affirmative, hastened into the house.
They were stiff with their long and jolting drive from see his sisters; but in their glow of fervour and flow of joy he
Whitcross, and chilled with the frosty night air; but their pleasant
countenances expanded to the cheerful firelight. While turn of Diana and Mary—pleased him; but the accompani-
could not sympathise. The event of the day—that is, the re-
the driver and Hannah brought in the boxes, they demanded ments of that event, the glad tumult, the garrulous glee of
St. John. At this moment he advanced from the parlour. They reception irked him: I saw he wished the calmer morrow was
both threw their arms round his neck at once. He gave each come. In the very meridian of the night’s enjoyment, about
one quiet kiss, said in a low tone a few words of welcome, an hour after tea, a rap was heard at the door. Hannah entered
stood a while to be talked to, and then, intimating that he with the intimation that “a poor lad was come, at that unlikely
time, to fetch Mr. Rivers to see his mother, who supposed they would soon rejoin him in the parlour, with-
was
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