CHAPTER XI 118
" 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 innpassage : 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 abruptly when he saw me , pointing to my trunk in the passage .
" Yes ." He hoisted it on to the vehicle , which was a sort of car , and then I got in ; before he shut me up , I asked him how far it was to Thornfield .
" A matter of six miles ." " How long shall we be before we get there ?" " Happen an hour and a half ."
He fastened the car door , climbed to his own seat outside , and we set off . Our progress was leisurely , and gave me ample time to reflect ; I was content to be at length so near the end of my journey ; and as I leaned back in the comfortable though not elegant conveyance , I meditated much at my ease .
" I suppose ," thought I , " judging from the plainness of the servant and carriage , Mrs . Fairfax is not a very dashing person : so much the better ; I never lived amongst fine people but once , and I was very miserable with them . I wonder if she lives alone except this little girl ; if so , and if she is in any degree amiable , I shall surely be able to get on with her ; I will do my