Esther hardly knew what to do, but she tried to soothe and comfort her by following what was evidently the feeling predominating in Jane’s mind, as indicated by her broken sentences, and said, ’It was a pity, to be sure, that Mr. Devereux came and talked so long, he could not know of your being so very weak, Miss Jane.’

‘Yes,’ said Jane, faintly, ’I could have borne it better if he had waited a few days.’

’Yes, Miss, when you had not been so very ill.  Mr. Devereux is a very good gentleman, but they do say he is very sharp.’

‘He means to be kind,’ said Jane, ’but I do not think he has much consideration, always.’

‘Yes, Miss Jane, that is just what Mrs. White said, when—­’

Esther’s speech was cut short by the entrance of Miss Weston.  Jane started up, dashed off her tears, and tried to look as usual, but the paleness of her face, and the redness of her eyes, made this impossible, and she was obliged to lie down again.  Esther left the room, and Miss Weston did not feel intimate enough with Jane to ask any questions; she gave her some sal volatile, talked kindly to her of her weakness, and offered to read to her; all the time leaving an opening for confidence, if Jane wished to relieve her mind.  The book which lay near her accounted, as she thought, for her agitation, and she blamed herself for having judged her harshly as deficient in feeling, now that she found her so much distressed, because illness had prevented her confirmation.  Under this impression she honoured her reserve, while she thought with more affection of Lily’s open heart.  Jane, who never took, or expected others to take, the most favourable view of people’s motives, thought Alethea knew the cause of her distress, and disliked her the more, as having witnessed her humiliation.

Such was Jane’s love of gossip that the next time she was alone with Esther she asked for the history of Mrs. White, thus teaching her maid disrespect to her pastor, indirectly complaining of his unkindness, and going far to annul the effect of what she had learnt at school.  Perhaps during her hysterics Jane’s conduct was not under control, but subsequent silence was in her power, and could she be free from blame if Esther’s faults gained greater ascendency?

The next day Mr. Mohun attempted to speak to Jane, but being both frightened and unhappy, she found it very easy and natural, as well as very convenient, to fall into hysterics again, and her father was obliged to desist, regretting that, at the only time she was subdued enough to listen to reproof, she was too weak to bear it without injury.  Rachel, who was nearly as despotic among the young ladies as she had been in former times in the nursery, now insisted on Emily’s going into the schoolroom, and when there, she made rapid progress.  Alethea was amused to see how Jane’s decided will and lively spirit would induce Emily to make exertions, which no persuasions of hers could make her think other than impossible.