will never forget that kindness.”
“That is very kind. I can see why you would be attached to him.”
“You’ll grow fond of him too in short no doubt. That is if you are not already?” She smiled impishly. I was surprised that she would insinuate as she was doing.
“Mr. Lowood, as you know yourself by experience, is very kind. I will be forever grateful for him taking me in as he did.” Mrs. Whitby was hanging on to my every word. Only then did I realize she had no idea who I was or why Mr. Lowood had brought me here. Perhaps she thought it was for some low purpose and I was not as nice as she had hoped I was. Even though she was a servant, I did not want her to think wrong of me. Most people would not care what the help thought, but my father taught me that I was never to discriminate or judge someone because they were a servant. They were people just like myself with feelings and thoughts.
“It’s honest work and it takes discipline and humility to do it.” He told me in a gruff manner once. I stood up and grasped Mrs. Whitby’s hands resolving to make her a friend and hoping she would like me.
“You see, Mrs. Whitby, Mr. Lowood knew my aunt before she grew ill and died. I just recently lost my parents and I am still not quite over the shock of it. Mr. Lowood saved me from a horrible man, a criminal that wanted to marry me. Mr. Lowood has done nothing but treat me as he would a daughter and I am so grateful since I am orphaned now.” Tears sprang up in Mrs. Whitby’s eyes and she used the hem of her white apron to dab them.
“I’m sorry for your loss Miss. To think such a pretty young girl as yourself being orphaned. May God give you the strength to carry on.” She squeezed my hand and wiped her eyes once more.
“Dear me! I forgot the baking!”She turned on her plump heel and bustled downstairs. I hope I had done the right thing confiding in Mrs. Whitby.
After a light dinner, Mr. Lowood informed me he had to go out for some business tomorrow morning but would be back by lunch time. I was to be ready and waiting for him.
When I inquired as to why, he raised his eyebrow.
“It’s a surprise.”
That night as Naza and I settled in to bed with the warm glow of the firelight illuminating the room, I marveled at how contented I felt. The servants seemed happy and friendly, Mr. Lowood himself seemed more at ease, even Naza seemed happier. The environment was beautiful and Mr. Lowood seemed happy to have me here.
Perhaps I could be happy here, even if his son never appeared to me.
As I drifted off I heard Naza give a low “ruff”. She had gotten off the bed and was sniffing at the bottom of the door.
Does she smell someone in the hallway or does she need to go outside?
I rose from my bed and found my robe and slippers. I did not want to have to take her outside but I would be mortified if she had an accident in the middle of the night. I opened the door and faced the darkness of the hallway. It was after 10 p.m. and all the servants had gone home for the night. I walked Naza down the hallway where she stopped and sniffed the door leading to the staircase and tower room.
I called her away as I glanced towards Mr. Lowood’s room. There was a light showing through the bottom of the door. I urged Naza to follow me to the front door. I let her out and we walked to the pond in front of the house. While she sniffed every blade of grass and seemed totally disinterested in doing the business I had brought her out here to do, I sat down on the stone bench to look into the dark waters.
The moon was out and the night was still, so I did not understand why I heard the sudden rushing of wind. Naza looked up towards the wind break trees and gave another low “ruff” as she ran off. I stood up not knowing if I should follow her or not. I didn’t want her to go exploring further into those trees. I could no longer see where she had run
“That is very kind. I can see why you would be attached to him.”
“You’ll grow fond of him too in short no doubt. That is if you are not already?” She smiled impishly. I was surprised that she would insinuate as she was doing.
“Mr. Lowood, as you know yourself by experience, is very kind. I will be forever grateful for him taking me in as he did.” Mrs. Whitby was hanging on to my every word. Only then did I realize she had no idea who I was or why Mr. Lowood had brought me here. Perhaps she thought it was for some low purpose and I was not as nice as she had hoped I was. Even though she was a servant, I did not want her to think wrong of me. Most people would not care what the help thought, but my father taught me that I was never to discriminate or judge someone because they were a servant. They were people just like myself with feelings and thoughts.
“It’s honest work and it takes discipline and humility to do it.” He told me in a gruff manner once. I stood up and grasped Mrs. Whitby’s hands resolving to make her a friend and hoping she would like me.
“You see, Mrs. Whitby, Mr. Lowood knew my aunt before she grew ill and died. I just recently lost my parents and I am still not quite over the shock of it. Mr. Lowood saved me from a horrible man, a criminal that wanted to marry me. Mr. Lowood has done nothing but treat me as he would a daughter and I am so grateful since I am orphaned now.” Tears sprang up in Mrs. Whitby’s eyes and she used the hem of her white apron to dab them.
“I’m sorry for your loss Miss. To think such a pretty young girl as yourself being orphaned. May God give you the strength to carry on.” She squeezed my hand and wiped her eyes once more.
“Dear me! I forgot the baking!”She turned on her plump heel and bustled downstairs. I hope I had done the right thing confiding in Mrs. Whitby.
After a light dinner, Mr. Lowood informed me he had to go out for some business tomorrow morning but would be back by lunch time. I was to be ready and waiting for him.
When I inquired as to why, he raised his eyebrow.
“It’s a surprise.”
That night as Naza and I settled in to bed with the warm glow of the firelight illuminating the room, I marveled at how contented I felt. The servants seemed happy and friendly, Mr. Lowood himself seemed more at ease, even Naza seemed happier. The environment was beautiful and Mr. Lowood seemed happy to have me here.
Perhaps I could be happy here, even if his son never appeared to me.
As I drifted off I heard Naza give a low “ruff”. She had gotten off the bed and was sniffing at the bottom of the door.
Does she smell someone in the hallway or does she need to go outside?
I rose from my bed and found my robe and slippers. I did not want to have to take her outside but I would be mortified if she had an accident in the middle of the night. I opened the door and faced the darkness of the hallway. It was after 10 p.m. and all the servants had gone home for the night. I walked Naza down the hallway where she stopped and sniffed the door leading to the staircase and tower room.
I called her away as I glanced towards Mr. Lowood’s room. There was a light showing through the bottom of the door. I urged Naza to follow me to the front door. I let her out and we walked to the pond in front of the house. While she sniffed every blade of grass and seemed totally disinterested in doing the business I had brought her out here to do, I sat down on the stone bench to look into the dark waters.
The moon was out and the night was still, so I did not understand why I heard the sudden rushing of wind. Naza looked up towards the wind break trees and gave another low “ruff” as she ran off. I stood up not knowing if I should follow her or not. I didn’t want her to go exploring further into those trees. I could no longer see where she had run
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