The next day I got a letter from Gateshead. There was much trouble and sadness there.
My cousin, John Reed, had spent all his money and most of his mother's. He had been in prison most of his life. He owed many people money. A week before this, he had killed himself. [-----1-----] Although she could hardly speak, she told my cousins Eliza and Georgiana that she had to see me. Why, I did not know.
Of course, I did not want to go there, but I could not refuse to see Mrs. Reed, when she might die. So I went to ask Mr. Rochester if I could travel to Gateshead for a short time.
"What is it, Jane?" he asked when I saw him. We had left the guests and were sitting alone in the library.
"Well, sir, I would like to visit my aunt, who is ill, for a week or two."
"Jane, I thought you had no family!"
"[-----2-----]"
"Well, Jane, I see you are determined to go. Where does she live, and how long will you stay?"
"She lives at Gateshead, sir. It is one hundred miles away. I'll come back as soon as I can."
"You must promise me to stay only a week," Mr. Rochester said. I wondered why he looked so worried.
"[-----3-----]"
"But you can't travel a hundred miles all alone, can you?"
"My cousins sent a carriage for me, sir, so I can leave tomorrow."
Mr. Rochester did not say anything for a moment. |