I had finished: Miss Temple regarded me a few minutes in silence; she then said⁠—

“I know something of Mr. Lloyd; I shall write to him; if his reply agrees with your statement, you shall be publicly cleared from every imputation; to me, Jane, you are clear now.”

She kissed me, and still keeping me at her side (where I was well contented to stand, for I derived a child’s pleasure from the contemplation of her face, her dress, her one or two ornaments, her white forehead, her clustered and shining curls, and beaming dark eyes), she proceeded to address Helen Burns.

“How are you tonight, Helen? Have you coughed much today?”

“Not quite so much, I think, ma’am.”

“And the pain in your chest?”

“It is a little better.”