Page:Jane Eyre (1st edition), Volume 2.djvu/186

178 some inward sensation—the precursor, perhaps, of the last pang.

"Well: I must get it over. Eternity is "before me: I had better tell her. Go to my dressing-case, open it, and take out a letter you will see there."

I obeyed her directions. "Read the letter," she said.

It was short, and thus conceived:—

It was dated three years back.

"Why did I never hear of this?" I asked.

"Because I disliked you too fixedly and thoroughly ever to lend a hand in lifting you to prosperity. I could not forget your