Besides this earth，and besides the race of men，there is an invisible world and a kingdom of spirits: that world is round us，for it is everywhere; and those spirits watch us，for they are missioned to guard us; and if we were dying in pain and shame，if scorn smote us on all sides，and hatred crushed us，angels see our tortures，recognise our innocence (if innocent we be: as I know you are of this chargewhich Mr. Brocklehurst has weakly and pompously repeated at secondhand from Mrs. Reed; for I read a sincere nature in your ardent eyes and on your clear front)，and God waits only the separation of spirit from flesh to crown us with a full reward. Why，then，should we ever sink overwhelmed with distress，when life is so soon over，and death is so certain an entrance to happiness- to glory?"

I was silent; Helen had calmed me; but in the tranquillity she imparted there was an alloy of inexpressible sadness. I felt the impression of woe as she spoke，but I could not tell whence it came; and when，having done speaking，she breathed a little fast and coughed a short cough，I momentarily forgot my own sorrows to yield to a vague concern for her.

Resting my head on Helen"s shoulder，I put my arms round her waist; she drew me to her，and we reposed in silence. We had not sat long thus，when another person came in. Some heavy clouds，swept from the sky by a rising wind，had left the moon bare; and her light，streaming in through a window near，shone full both on us and on the approaching figure，which we at once recognised as Miss Temple.

"I came on purpose to find you，Jane Eyre," said she; "I want you in my room; and as Helen Burns is with you，she may e too."