"How dare you affirm that，Jane Eyre?"

"How dare I，Mrs. Reed? How dare I? Because it is the truth. You think I have no feelings，and that I can do without one bit of love or kindness; but I cannot live so: and you have no pity. I shall remember how you thrust me back- roughly and violently thrust me back- into the red-room，and locked me up there，to my dying day; though I was in agony; though I cried out，while suffocating with distress，"Have mercy! Have mercy，Aunt Reed!" And that punishment you made me suffer because your wicked boy struck me- knocked me down for nothing.

I will tell anybody who asks me questions，this exact tale. people think you a good woman，but you are bad，hard-hearted. You are deceitful!"

Ere I had finished this reply，my soul began to expand，to exult，with the strangest sense of freedom，of triumph，I ever felt. It seemed as if an invisible bond had burst，and that I had struggled out into unhoped-for liberty. Not without cause was this sentiment: Mrs. Reed looked frightened; her work had slipped from her knee; she was lifting up her hands，rocking herself to and fro，and even twisting her face as if she would cry.

"Jane，you are under a mistake: what is the matter with you? Why do you tremble so violently? Would you like to drink some water?"

"No，Mrs. Reed."