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.