Secrets, deep dark secrets - sometimes one only leads to another... Mwah haha!
JENNY Chapter 3
I was alone in the Red Room and I was afraid. I was also very tired from my outburst; before I knew it, my aching head grew heavy; my eyes, swollen from weeping, fluttered shut; my tired body relaxed; and I fell asleep on the carpet. I slept for a long time and when I awoke, I was thirsty; but there was no water to drink, since the room was never used, none had been provided.
I wandered about—looking at things—my Uncle's portrait hung on the wall; I studied it for a long time, I wondered if he knew how I was being treated; I wondered how things would have been if he had not died so soon. I felt very keenly the lack of a person who would interest himself in what had happened to me—someone who would care whether or not I was happy and well-treated.
I fell into a sort of trance while I was staring at the portrait and it seemed to me that I could hear a voice in the back of my mind. It told me to look closely at the fireplace. I did so—thinking of another secret place that I had found. There was a cupboard next to the ornate mantel—I opened it—thinking that it was big enough to hide in. I tripped as I stepped inside, and fell against the wall at the back. To my great surprise—it moved—I found myself in a narrow passageway with steps that rose very steeply, ladderlike up the side of the chimney. Everything was dark and there was a vast quantity of ancient dust—up the ladder stairway I went—curious to see where it would lead me.
There was a trapdoor at the top—I pushed at it—it opened rather creakily and with a great deal of falling debris—but it opened, and I found myself in the attic, near my private hiding place. I could see with a glance at the windows that it was late in the day—it would soon be dark and cold. I took a shawl from my cache and wrapped myself in it, then I slipped out of the house.
I stopped at the pump in the yard and washed my face and hands and had a drink of the water to allay my thirst. Then I walked for a while—no one was about—everyone was involved in whatever task they were assigned. I went through the gardens, walked through some fields, and came out at a road. There was a stile there between the field and the road—I sat down to rest and to ponder my next actions. It was chilly, but I was warm in my shawl.
There were the sounds of horses and a carriage in the distance—not many used this road as it was more of a farm lane—I was curious, so I sat and waited to see who it might be. Visitors to Gateshead were few, perhaps these were the London gentlemen, come at last. The carriage was not alone, a rider on horseback accompanied it. The cavalier paused when he saw me, and the carriage stopped also.
"Behold!" he cried, "I have disclosed a wood-sprite sitting here, waiting for the moon to shine upon her while it turns these humble fields to silver!"
I could not suppress the giggle that his fantastical words called forth.
"Ah, it seems I was mistook, I beg your pardon, fair maid..."
I was laughing even harder—that he should think me a 'fair maid'!
"Well then, Miss Gigglepot, how should I address you?"
"If you please, sir—I am known as Jenny."
"Jenny?" and here he gave me a keen glance, "Please, we are strangers here—perhaps you would know what house that is over there?" He indicated Gateshead Hall, which loomed in the distance.
"If you please, sir, that is Gateshead Hall—Mrs. Reed and her family live there."
"Will this lane take us to it?"
"Ay sir, but not very directly, the main entrance is back there a ways."
"Perhaps you could guide us..."
I had already backed off the stile, and stood now on the other side of the hedge, "I must go now, I'll be looked for!" I called, and then I ran away across the field—into a small patch of woodland where I concealed myself, hunkering down under the dark shawl.
The horseman had dismounted and was searching for me, he called my name several times, but I remained mute. He soon gave up his pursuit—I heard his say something about Fairies to the occupant of the carriage, there was a short conversation, and then I heard them turning the carriage about; a difficult maneuver in such a small area. There was a certain amount of colorful invective involved—I took note of several terms new to my ears—I believe it was necessary to unhitch the horses at one point—but, in the end, they were successful in the endeavor. I waited until I heard them go—carriage, horses and single rider. After the sounds of their passage had died away, I finally came out of hiding.
"Aha! There you are, little one—I know you must still be hereabouts."
Do you understand the phrase 'my heart was in my mouth'? Believe me when I say that I both understood and felt it at that moment in time. I stood for a moment—frozen in place—unable to scream due to the constriction in my throat from my heart's temporary dislocation.
Yes, the Mysterious Stranger appears - are you having fun yet? Read and review - puh leeze!
