"Madam，you may: she shall be placed in that nursery of chosen plants，and I trust she will show herself grateful for the inestimable privilege of her election."

"I will send her，then，as soon as possible，Mr. Brocklehurst; for，I assure you，I feel anxious to be relieved of a responsibility that was being too irksome."

"No doubt，no doubt，madam; and now I wish you good morning. I shall return to Brocklehurst Hall in the course of a week or two: my good friend，the Archdeacon，will not permit me to leave him sooner. I shall send Miss Temple notice that she is to expect a new girl，so that there will be no difficulty about receiving her. Good-bye."

"Good-bye，Mr. Brocklehurst; remember me to Mrs. and Miss Brocklehurst，and to Augusta and Theodore，and Master Broughton Brocklehurst."

"I will，madam. Little girl，here is a book entitled the Child"s Guide; read it with prayer，especially that part containing "An addicted to falsehood and deceit.""

With these words Mr. Brocklehurst put into my hand a thin pamphlet sewn in a cover，and having rung for his carriage，he departed.

Mrs. Reed and I were left alone: some minutes passed in silence; she was sewing，I was watching her. Mrs. Reed might be at that time some six or seven and thirty; she was a woman of robust frame，square-shouldered and strong-limbed，not tall，and，though stout，not obese: she had a somewhat large face，the under jaw being much developed and very solid; her brow was low，her chin large and prominent，mouth and nose sufficiently regular; under her light eyebrows glimmered an eye devoid of ruth; her skin was dark and opaque，her hair nearly flaxen; her constitution was sound as a bell- illness never came near her; she was an exact，clever manager; her household and tenantry were thoroughly under her control; her children only at times defied her authority and laughed it to scorn; she dressed well，and had a presence and port calculated to set off handsome attire.

Sitting on a low stool，a few yards from her arm-chair，I examined her figure; I perused her features. In my hand I held the tract containing the sudden death of the Liar，to which narrative my attention had been pointed as to an appropriate warning. What had just passed; what Mrs. Reed had said concerning me to Mr. Brocklehurst; the whole tenor of their conversation，was recent，raw，and stinging in my mind; I had felt every word as acutely as I had heard it plainly，and a passion of resentment fomented now within me.