CHAPTER IV 38
" Ten years ."
" So much ?" was the doubtful answer ; and he prolonged his scrutiny for some minutes . Presently he addressed me -- " Your name , little girl ?"
" Jane Eyre , sir ."
In uttering these words I looked up : he seemed to me a tall gentleman ; but then I was very little ; his features were large , and they and all the lines of his frame were equally harsh and prim .
" Well , Jane Eyre , and are you a good child ?"
Impossible to reply to this in the affirmative : my little world held a contrary opinion : I was silent . Mrs . Reed answered for me by an expressive shake of the head , adding soon , " Perhaps the less said on that subject the better , Mr . Brocklehurst ."
" Sorry indeed to hear it ! she and I must have some talk ;" and bending from the perpendicular , he installed his person in the arm- chair opposite Mrs . Reed ' s . " Come here ," he said .
I stepped across the rug ; he placed me square and straight before him . What a face he had , now that it was almost on a level with mine ! what a great nose ! and what a mouth ! and what large prominent teeth !
" No sight so sad as that of a naughty child ," he began , " especially a naughty little girl . Do you know where the wicked go after death ?"
" They go to hell ," was my ready and orthodox answer . " And what is hell ? Can you tell me that ?" " A pit full of fire ." " And should you like to fall into that pit , and to be burning there for ever ?"