CHAPTER VI 69 book, which she read by the dim glare of the embers.
" Is it still ' Rasselas '?" I asked, coming behind her. " Yes," she said, " and I have just finished it."
And in five minutes more she shut it up. I was glad of this. " Now," thought I, " I can perhaps get her to talk." I sat down by her on the floor.
" What is your name besides Burns?" " Helen." " Do you come a long way from here?" " I come from a place farther north, quite on the borders of Scotland." " Will you ever go back?" " I hope so; but nobody can be sure of the future." " You must wish to leave Lowood?"
" No! why should I? I was sent to Lowood to get an education; and it would be of no use going away until I have attained that object."
" But that teacher, Miss Scatcherd, is so cruel to you?" " Cruel? Not at all! She is severe: she dislikes my faults."
" And if I were in your place I should dislike her; I should resist her. If she struck me with that rod, I should get it from her hand; I should break it under her nose."
" Probably you would do nothing of the sort: but if you did, Mr. Brocklehurst would expel you from the school; that would be a great grief