tred　crushed　us；　angels　see　our　tortures；　recognise　our　innocence　（if　innocent　we　be：　as　I　know　you　are　of　this　charge　which　Mr。　Brocklehurst　has　weakly　and　pompously　repeated　at　second…hand　from　Mrs。　Reed；　for　I　read　a　sincere　nature　in　your　ardent　eyes　and　on　your　clear　front）；　and　God　waits　only　the　separation　of　spirit　from　flesh　to　crown　us　with　a　full　reward。　Why；　then；　should　we　ever　sink　overwhelmed　with　distress；　when　life　is　so　soon　over；　and　death　is　so　certain　an　entrance　to　happiness—　to　glory？”

I　was　silent；　Helen　had　calmed　me；　but　in　the　tranquillity　she　imparted　there　was　an　alloy　of　inexpressible　sadness。　I　felt　the　impression　of　woe　as　she　spoke；　but　I　could　not　tell　whence　it　came；　and　when；　having　done　speaking；　she　breathed　a　little　fast　and　coughed　a　short　cough；　I　momentarily　forgot　my　own　sorrows　to　yield　to　a　vague　concern　for　her。

Resting　my　head　on　Helen’s　shoulder；　I　put　my　arms　round　her　waist；　she　drew　me　to　her；　and　we　reposed　in　silence。　We　had　not　sat　long　thus；　when　another　person　came　in。　Some　heavy　clouds；　swept　from　the　sky　by　a　rising　wind；　had　left　the　moon　bare；　and　her　light；　streaming　in　through　a　window　near；　shone　full　both　on　us　and　on　the　approaching　figure；　which　we　at　once　recognised　as　Miss　Temple。

“I　came　on　purpose　to　find　you；　Jane　Eyre；”　said　she；　“I　want　you　in　my　room；　and　as　Helen　Burns　is　with　you；　she　may　e　too。”

We　went；　following　the　superintendent’s　guidance；　we　had　to　thread　some　intricate　passages；　and　mount　a　staircase　before　we　reached　her　apartment；　it　contained　a　good　fire；　and　looked　cheerful。　Miss　Temple　told　Helen　Burns　to　be　seated　in　a　low　arm…chair　on　one　side　of　the　hearth；　and　herself　taking　another；　she　called　me　to　her　side。

“Is　it　all　over？”　she　asked；　looki