We couldn't go outside at all on that cold,rainy afternoon.The rain was pouring down, and the wind was blowing hard.I didn't care, I was happy to stay indoors.Trying to take long walks in the winter was terrible! It was supposed to be healthy for our bodies, but I hated coming home in the dark with my feet and hands as cold as ice. And I was always unhappy because Bessie, one of the servants, was always scolding me. I had always known that I was different from my cousins, John, Eliza, and Georgiana Reed. They were prettier and taller than I, and everyone loved them.

These three children were not very nice to other people or to each other. Usually they spent their time fighting, and crying with each other. However, today they were with their mother in the sitting room, sitting quietly and talking in front of the warm fire. I wanted to join them but Mrs. Reed, my aunt,said I could not. She was angry with me because Bessie had told her I was being troublesome

"No,I'm sorry, Jane," she said,looking at me as if I was a rat on the floor.

"Until I know that you are really trying to be good and quiet,I will not treat you like one of my children.

They are good!" "What did Bessie tell you? What have I done? "I asked.

"Jane Eyre,do not ask me any more questions.

You must do what you are told. If you cannot speak nicely and obey me.then be quiet! " After she left me I went into the little room next door.

I got a picture book from the shelf and climbed on to the windowseat, closing the curtains around me.

Now no one could find me. I stared out the window at the cold,gray November day.

The rain fell hard on the garden, which had no leaves or flowers.Then I looked at the picture book. I was inside a world of imagination. For a while,I forgot my sad, lonely life and felt a little happier.

I was only afraid that the Reed children might find me.

Because they were cruel to me,I tried to talk to them as little as I could.

Suddenly the door opened. John Reed ran in.

"Where are you, your little rat? " he said. He did not see my hiding place. "Eliza! Georgy! I Jane is not here! Tell Mamma she's gone outside - what a bad girl she is! "

"How lucky I drew the curtain! " I thought. I knew he would never find me, because he was very stupid. But his sister Eliza was not stupid,and she knew exactly where I was.

"She's in the window seat., John!" she said. Immediately I came out, because I did not want them to be angry with me. "What do you want?" I asked him.

"Say,what would you like,Master Reed? "he said, sitting in a comfortable chair. "I want you to come here."

" John Reed was fourteen, and I was only ten. He was large, ugly, and fat. He often ate too much at meals which made him look like a pig. Usually he was away at school, but his mother had made him come home for a while, because she thought his health was not good. He did not have anything to do but fight with his sisters, get into troube with Bessie, and treat me badly.

John did not love his mother or his sisters, and he hated me. He was always cruel to me. Sometimes he hit me, and sometimes he just threatened me. But I was always afraid when he was near. I did not know how to make him treat me well. The servants did not want to make him angry, so they did whatever he wanted. Mrs. Reed, his mother, loved him too much and thought he never did anything wrong.