CHAPTER II 19
ray from the moon penetrating some aperture in the blind ? No ; moonlight was still , and this stirred ; while I gazed , it glided up to the ceiling and quivered over my head . I can now conjecture readily that this streak of light was , in all likelihood , a gleam from a lantern carried by some one across the lawn : but then , prepared as my mind was for horror , shaken as my nerves were by agitation , I thought the swift darting beam was a herald of some coming vision from another world . My heart beat thick , my head grew hot ; a sound filled my ears , which I deemed the rushing of wings ; something seemed near me ; I was oppressed , suffocated : endurance broke down ; I rushed to the door and shook the lock in desperate effort . Steps came running along the outer passage ; the key turned , Bessie and Abbot entered .
" Miss Eyre , are you ill ?" said Bessie . " What a dreadful noise ! it went quite through me !" exclaimed Abbot . " Take me out ! Let me go into the nursery !" was my cry .
" What for ? Are you hurt ? Have you seen something ?" again demanded Bessie .
" Oh ! I saw a light , and I thought a ghost would come ." I had now got hold of Bessie ' s hand , and she did not snatch it from me .
" She has screamed out on purpose ," declared Abbot , in some disgust . " And what a scream ! If she had been in great pain one would have excused it , but she only wanted to bring us all here : I know her naughty tricks ."
" What is all this ?" demanded another voice peremptorily ; and Mrs . Reed came along the corridor , her cap flying wide , her gown rustling stormily . " Abbot and Bessie , I believe I gave orders that Jane Eyre should be left in the red-room till I came to her myself ."
" Miss Jane screamed so loud , ma ' am ," pleaded Bessie .