the light of an oil lamp hanging from the ceiling, and by that
of an excellent fire, near which I sat in my cloak and bonnet;
my muff and umbrella lie on the table, and I am warming
away the numbness and chill contracted by sixteen hours' ex-
posure to the rawness of an October day: I left Lowton at
four o'clock a.m., and the Millcote town clock is now just
striking eight.

Reader, though I look comfortably accommodated, I am not
very tranquil in my mind. I thought when the coach stopped
here there would be some one to meet me; I looked anxiously
round as I descended the wooden steps the "boots" placed for
my convenience, expecting to hear my name pronounced,
and to see some description of carriage waiting to convey me
to Thornfield. Nothing of the sort was visible; and when I
asked a waiter if any one had been to inquire after a Miss
Eyre, I was answered in the negative: so I had no resource
but to request to be shown into a private room: and here I
am waiting, while all sorts of doubts and fears are troubling
my thoughts.

It is a very strange sensation to inexperienced youth to feel
itself quite alone in the world, cut adrift from every connec-
tion, uncertain whether the port to which it is bound can be
reached, and prevented by many impediments from returning
to that it has quitted. The charm of adventure sweetens that
sensation, the glow of pride warms it; but then the throb of
fear disturbs it; and fear with me became predominant, when
half an hour elapsed and still I was alone. I bethought my-
self to ring the bell.

"Is there a place in this neighbourhood called Thornfield?"
I asked of the waiter who answered the summons.

" Thornfield? I don't know, ma'am; I'll inquire at the bar."
He vanished, but reappeared instantly.

"Is your name Eyre, Miss?"

"Yes."

"Person here waiting for you."

I jumped up, took my muff and umbrella, and hastened
into the inn-passage; a man was standing by the open door,
and in the lamp-lit street I dimly saw a one-horse conveyance.

"This will be your luggage, I suppose?" said the man rather

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