store in a drawer in the attic。 I was making my bed; having received strict orders from Bessie to get it arranged before she returned (for Bessie noe as a sort of under…nurserymaid; to tidy the room; dust the chairs; &c。)。 Having spread the quilt and folded my night…dress; I went to the window…seat to put in order some picture…books and doll’s house furniture scattered there; an abrupt mand from Georgiana to let her playthings alone (for the tiny chairs and mirrors; the fairy plates and cups; were her property) stopped my proceedings; and then; for lack of other occupation; I fell to breathing on the frost…flowers with which the window was fretted; and thus clearing a space in the glass through which I might look out on the grounds; where all was still and petrified under the influence of a hard frost。
From this window were visible the porter’s lodge and the carriage… road; and just as I had dissolved so much of the silver…white foliage veiling the panes as left room to look out; I saw the gates thrown open and a carriage roll through。 I watched it ascending the drive with indifference; carriages often came to Gateshead; but none ever brought visitors in whom I was interested; it stopped in front of the house; the door…bell rang loudly; the new…er was admitted。 All this being nothing to me; my vacant attention soon found livelier attraction in the spectacle of a little hungry robin; which came and chirruped on the twigs of the leafless cherry…tree nailed against the wall near the casement。 The remains of my breakfast of bread and milk stood on the table; and having crumbled a morsel of roll; I was tugging at the sash to put out the crumbs on the window… sill; when Bessie came running upstairs into the nursery。
“Miss Jane; take off your pinafore; what are y