CHAPTER X 115
" That is one of my paintings over the chimney-piece ." It was a landscape in water colours , of which I had made a present to the superintendent , in acknowledgment of her obliging mediation with the committee on my behalf , and which she had framed and glazed .
" Well , that is beautiful , Miss Jane ! It is as fine a picture as any Miss Reed ' s drawing-master could paint , let alone the young ladies themselves , who could not come near it : and have you learnt French ?"
" Yes , Bessie , I can both read it and speak it ." " And you can work on muslin and canvas ?" " I can ."
" Oh , you are quite a lady , Miss Jane ! I knew you would be : you will get on whether your relations notice you or not . There was something I wanted to ask you . Have you ever heard anything from your father ' s kinsfolk , the Eyres ?"
" Never in my life ."
" Well , you know Missis always said they were poor and quite despicable : and they may be poor ; but I believe they are as much gentry as the Reeds are ; for one day , nearly seven years ago , a Mr . Eyre came to Gateshead and wanted to see you ; Missis said you were it school fifty miles off ; he seemed so much disappointed , for he could not stay : he was going on a voyage to a foreign country , and the ship was to sail from London in a day or two . He looked quite a gentleman , and I believe he was your father ' s brother ."
" What foreign country was he going to , Bessie ?"
" An island thousands of miles off , where they make wine -- the butler did tell me -- "
" Madeira ?" I suggested .