Jane Eyre

Charlotte Brontë
ever come there to see you?”
“Rivers taught you Hindostanee?”
“Now and then?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Of an evening?”
“And his sisters also?”
“Once or twice.”
“No.”
A pause.
“Only you?”
“How long did you reside with him and his sisters after the “Only me.”
cousinship was discovered?”
“Did you ask to learn?”
“Five months.”
“No.”
“Did Rivers spend much time with the ladies of his family?” “He wished to teach you?”
“Yes; the back parlour was both his study and ours: he sat “Yes.”
near the window, and we by the table.”
A second pause.
“Did he study much?”
“Why did he wish it? Of what use could Hindostanee be to
“A good deal.”
you?”
“What?”
“He intended me to go with him to India.”
“Hindostanee.”
“Ah! here I reach the root of the matter. He wanted you to
“And what did you do meantime?”
marry him?”
“I learnt German, at first.”
“He asked me to marry him.”
“Did he teach you?”
“That is a fiction—an impudent invention to vex me.”
“He did not understand German.”
“I beg your pardon, it is the literal truth: he asked me more
“Did he teach you nothing?”
than once, and was as stiff about urging his point as ever you
“A little Hindostanee.”
could be.”
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