roof now again rose before me: my prospects were doubtful yet; and I had yet an aching heart。 I still felt as a wanderer on the face of the earth; but I experienced firmer trust in myself and my own powers; and less withering dread of oppression。 The gaping wound of my wrongs; too; was now quite healed; and the flame of resentment extinguished。
“You shall go into the breakfast…room first;” said Bessie; as she preceded me through the hall; “the young ladies will be there。”
In another moment I was within that apartment。 There was every article of furniture looking just as it did on the morning I was first introduced to Mr。 Brocklehurst: the very rug he had stood upon still covered the hearth。 Glancing at the bookcases; I thought I could distinguish the two volumes of Bewick’s British Birds occupying their old place on the third shelf; and Gulliver’s Travels and the Arabian Nights ranged just above。 The inanimate objects were not changed; but the living things had altered past recognition。
Two young ladies appeared before me; one very tall; almost as tall as Miss Ingram—very thin too; with a sallow face and severe mien。 There was something ascetic in her look; which was augmented by the extreme plainness of a straight…skirted; black; stuff dress; a starched linen collar; hair bed away from the temples; and the nun…like ornament of a string of ebony beads and a crucifix。 This I felt sure was Eliza; though I could trace little resemblance to her former self in that elongated and colourless visage。
The other was as certainly Georgiana: but not the Georgiana I remembered—the slim and fairy…like girl of eleven。 This was a full…blown; very plump damsel; fair as waxwork; with handsome and regular features; languishing blue eyes; and ringleted yellow h