Jane Eyre - Pennsylvania State University

Charlotte Brontë
handsome and regular features, languishing blue eyes, and a remarkable way of letting you know that they think you a
ringleted yellow hair. The hue of her dress was black too; but “quiz” without actually saying the words. A certain supercil-
its fashion was so different from her sister’s—so much more iousness of look, coolness of manner, nonchalance of tone, ex-
flowing and becoming—it looked as stylish as the other’s press fully their sentiments on the point, without committing
looked puritanical.
them by any positive rudeness in word or deed.
In each of the sisters there was one trait of the mother— A sneer, however, whether covert or open, had now no longer
and only one; the thin and pallid elder daughter had her parent’s that power over me it once possessed: as I sat between my
Cairngorm eye: the blooming and luxuriant younger girl had cousins, I was surprised to find how easy I felt under the total
her contour of jaw and chin—perhaps a little softened, but neglect of the one and the semi-sarcastic attentions of the
still imparting an indescribable hardness to the countenance other—Eliza did not mortify, nor Georgiana ruffle me. The
otherwise so voluptuous and buxom.
fact was, I had other things to think about; within the last
Both ladies, as I advanced, rose to welcome me, and both few months feelings had been stirred in me so much more
addressed me by the name of “Miss Eyre.” Eliza’s greeting was potent than any they could raise—pains and pleasures so much
delivered in a short, abrupt voice, without a smile; and then she more acute and exquisite had been excited than any it was in
sat down again, fixed her eyes on the fire, and seemed to forget their power to inflict or bestow—that their airs gave me no
me. Georgiana added to her “How d’ye do?” several concern either for good or bad.
commonplaces about my journey, the weather, and so on, ut- “How is Mrs. Reed?” I asked soon, looking calmly at
tered in rather a drawling tone: and accompanied by sundry Georgiana, who thought fit to bridle at the direct address, as
side-glances that measured me from head to foot—now tra- if it were an unexpected liberty.
versing the folds of my drab merino pelisse, and now lingering “Mrs. Reed? Ah! mama, you mean; she is extremely poorly:
on the plain trimming of my cottage bonnet. Young ladies have I doubt if you can see her to-night.”
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