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“All men must die；” said a voice quite close at hand； “but all are not condemned to meet a lingering and premature doom； such as yours would be if you perished here of want。”
“Who or what speaks？” I asked； terrified at the unexpected sound； and incapable now of deriving from any occurrence a hope of aid。 A form was near—what form； the pitch…dark night and my enfeebled vision prevented me from distinguishing。 With a loud long knock； the new…er appealed to the door。
“Is it you； Mr。 St。 John？” cried Hannah。
“Yes—yes； open quickly。”
“Well； how wet and cold you must be； such a wild night as it is！ e in—your sisters are quite uneasy about you； and I believe there are bad folks about。 There has been a beggar…woman—I declare she is not gone yet！—laid down there。 Get up！ for shame！ Move off； I say！”
“Hush； Hannah！ I have a word to say to the woman。 You have done your duty in excluding； now let me do mine in admitting her。 I was near； and listened to both you and her。 I think this is a peculiar case—I must at least examine into it。 Young woman； rise； and pass before me into the house。”
With difficulty I obeyed him。 Presently I stood within that clean； bright kitchen—on the very hearth—trembling； sickening； conscious of an aspect in the last degree ghastly； wild； and weather…beaten。 The two ladies； their brother； Mr。 St。 John； the old servant； were all gazing at me。
“St。 John； who is it？” I heard one ask。
“I cannot tell： I found her at the door；” was the reply。
“She does look white；” said Hannah。
“As white as clay or death；” was responded。 “She will fall： let her sit。”
And indeed my head swam： I dropped； but a chair received me。 I still possessed my senses； though just now I could not speak。
“Perhaps a little water would restore her。 Hannah； fetch some。 But she is worn to nothing。 How very thin； and how very bloodless！”
“A mere spectre！”
“Is she ill； or only famished？”
“Famished； I think。 Hannah； is that milk？ Give it me； and a piece of bread。”
Diana （I knew her by the long curls which I saw drooping between me and the fire as she bent over me） broke some bread； dipped it in milk； and put it to my lips。 Her face was near mine： I saw there was pity in it； and I felt sympathy in her hurried breathing。 In her simple words； too； the same balm…like emotion spoke： “Try to eat。”
“Yes—try；” repeated Mary gently； and Mary’s hand removed my sodden bon and lifted my head。 I tasted what they offered me： feebly at first； eagerly soon。
“Not too much at first—restrain her；” said the brother； “she has had enough。” And he withdrew the cup of milk and the plate of bread。
“A little more； St。 John—look at the avidity in her eyes。”
“No more at present； sister。 Try if she can speak now—ask her her name。”
I felt I could speak； and I answered—“My name is Jane Elliott。” Anxious as ever to avoid discovery； I had before resolved to assume an alias。
“And where do you live？ Where are your friends？”
I was silent。
“Can we send for any one you know？”
I shook my head。
“What account can you give of yourself？”
Somehow； now that I had once crossed the threshold of this house； and once was brought face to face with its owners； I felt no longer outcast； vagrant； and disowned by the wide world。 I dared to put off the mendicant—to resume my natural manner and character。 I began once more to know myself； and when Mr。 St。 John demanded an account—which at present I was far too weak to render—I said after a brief pause—
“Sir； I can give you no details to…night。”
“But what； then；” said he； “do you expect me to do for you？”
“Nothing；” I replied。 My strength sufficed for but short answers。 Diana took the word—
“Do you mean；” she asked； “that we have now given you ay dismiss you to the moor and the rainy night？”
I looked at her。 She had； I thought； a remarkable countenance； instinct both with power and goodness。 I took sudden courage。 Answering her passionate gate with a smile； I said—“I will trust you。 If I were a masterless and stray dog； I know that you would not turn me from your hearth to…night： as it is； I really have no fear。 Do with me and for me as you like； but excuse me from much discourse—my breath is short—I feel a spasm when I speak。” All three surveyed me； and all three were silent。
“Hannah；” said Mr。 St。 John； at last； “let her sit there at present； and ask her no questions； in ten minutes more； give her the remainder of that milk and bread。 Mary and Diana； let us go into the parlour and talk the matter over。”
They withdrew。 Very soon one of the ladies returned—I could not tell which。 A kind of pleasant stupor was stealing over me as I sat by the genial fire。 In an undertone she gave some directions to Hannah。 Ere long； with the servant’s aid； I contrived to mount a staircase； my dripping clothes were removed； soon a warm； dry bed received me。 I thanked God—experienced amidst unutterable exhaustion a glow of grateful joy—and slept。
Chapter 29
The recollection of about three days and nights succeeding this is very dim in my mind。 I can recall some sensations felt in that interval； but few thoughts framed； and no actions performed。 I knew I was in a small room and in a narrow bed。 To that bed I seemed to have grown； I lay on it motionless as a stone； and to have torn me from it would have been almost to kill me。 I took no note of the lapse of time—of the change from morning to noon； from noon to evening。 I observed when any one entered or left the apartment： I could even tell who they were； I could understand what was said when the speaker stood near to me； but I could not answer； to open my lips or move my limbs possible。 Hannah； the servant； ing disturbed me。 I had a feeling that she wished me away： that she did not understand me or my circumstances； that she was prejudiced against me。 Diana and Mary appeared in the chamber once or twice a day。 They would whisper sentences of this sort at my bedside—
“It is very well we took her in。”
“Yes； she would certainly have been found dead at the door in the morning had she been left out all night。 I wonder what she has gone through？”
“Strange hardships； I imagine—poor； emaciated； pallid wanderer？”
“She is not an uneducated person； I should think； by her manner of speaking； her accent was quite pure； and the clothes she took off； though splashed and wet； were little worn and fine。”
“She has a peculiar face； fleshless and haggard as it is； I rather like it； and when in good health and animated； I can fancy her physiognomy would be agreeable。”
Never once in their dialogues did I hear a syllable of regret at the hospitality they had extended to me； or of suspicion of； or aversion to； myself。 I was forted。
Mr。 St。 John came but once： he looked at me； and said my state of lethargy was the result of reaction from excessive and protracted fatigue。 He pronounced it needless to send for a doctor： nature； he was sure； would manage best； left to herself。 He said every nerve had been overstrained in some way； and the whole system must sleep torpid a while。 There was no disease。 He imagined my recovery would be rapid enough when once menced。 These opinions he delivered in a few words； in a quiet； low voice； and added； after a pause； in the tone of a man little accustomed to expansive ment； “Rather an unusual physiognomy； certainly； not indicative of vulgarity or degradation。”
“Far otherwise；” responded Diana。 “To speak truth； St。 John； my heart rather warms to the poor little soul。 I wish we may be able to benefit her permanently。”
“That is hardly likely；” was the reply。 “You will find she is some young lady who has had a misunderstanding with her friends； and has probably injudiciously left them。 We may； perhaps； succeed in restoring her to them； if she is not obstinate： but I trace lines of force in her face which make me sceptical of her tractability。” He stood considering me some minutes； then added； “She looks sensible； but not at all handsome。”
“She is so ill； St。 John。”
“Ill or well； she would always be plain。 The grace and harmony of beauty are quite wanting in those features。”
On the third day I was better； on the fourth； I could speak； move； rise in bed； and turn。 Hann