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?"