CHAPTER IV 32
CHAPTER IV
From my discourse with Mr . Lloyd , and from the above reported conference between Bessie and Abbot , I gathered enough of hope to suffice as a motive for wishing to get well : a change seemed near , -- I desired and waited it in silence . It tarried , however : days and weeks passed : I had regained my normal state of health , but no new allusion was made to the subject over which I brooded . Mrs . Reed surveyed me at times with a severe eye , but seldom addressed me : since my illness , she had drawn a more marked line of separation than ever between me and her own children ; appointing me a small closet to sleep in by myself , condemning me to take my meals alone , and pass all my time in the nursery , while my cousins were constantly in the drawing-room . Not a hint , however , did she drop about sending me to school : still I felt an instinctive certainty that she would not long endure me under the same roof with her ; for her glance , now more than ever , when turned on me , expressed an insuperable and rooted aversion .
Eliza and Georgiana , evidently acting according to orders , spoke to me as little as possible : John thrust his tongue in his cheek whenever he saw me , and once attempted chastisement ; but as I instantly turned against him , roused by the same sentiment of deep ire and desperate revolt which had stirred my corruption before , he thought it better to desist , and ran from me tittering execrations , and vowing I had burst his nose . I had indeed levelled at that prominent feature as hard a blow as my knuckles could inflict ; and when I saw that either that or my look daunted him , I had the greatest inclination to follow up my advantage to purpose ; but he was already with his mama . I heard him in a blubbering tone commence the tale of how " that nasty Jane Eyre " had flown at him like a mad cat : he was stopped rather harshly -
" Don ' t talk to me about her , John : I told you not to go near her ; she is not worthy of notice ; I do not choose that either you or your sisters should associate with her ."