Chapter 3: The Voyage Begins
In Cambridge, I finished my study of Hindustani with St. John when he was in our rented rooms. Most of the time, he was at the Church with the other missionaries who were to make the journey to India. They spent their time receiving what seemed to me like a very inadequate amount of training considering the dangers of life in India, and also praying, which was very smart, as I was sure only a miracle from God would keep us all safe. I'm sure it is obvious dear reader, how I was feeling about this journey, but I must remind you that this was all going on in the back of my mind, I was not really aware of it at the time, as I was caught up in the spirit of compassion and being a newlywed. Married life was not as I had imagined it, but I decided St. John's lack of warmth was due to his long hours at the Church. Within a week, we and the other two missionaries, two young men named Nathaniel Crane and Reginald Peters, were boarding a ship that would take us to our new and visionary lives. Once we were settled on board, St. John led me to the dining area, where we were to meet Nathaniel and Reginald. They stood as we entered, exclaiming warmly, "St. John!"
My husband smiled, his blue eyes flashing. He shook hand with the two men and put an arm around me, saying, "This is my wife, Jane."
I flinched noticeably at the use of first names and St. John hastened to inform me that missionary life was much less formal than life in England. I nodded and forced myself to smile, sure that it would take me quite a long time to get used to such informalities.
"I'm Nathaniel," the younger looking man said, extending his hand. His hair was a very light brown, his skin fair and his eyes the warmest brown I had ever seen. He smiled and I couldn't help but smile back. I took his hand and murmured, "Nice to meet you."
Reginald was Nathaniel's exact opposite as he slowly extended his hand and quietly spoke. "I'm Reginald." His face was unsure, his black hair combed neatly and precisely. I smiled warmly, hoping to put him at ease, and shook his hand, repeating, "Nice to meet you."
Nathaniel asked St. John about Morton, and while he talked, I found myself wondering how Mr. Rochester was faring. How I hoped he had found his salvation and pulled himself out of the awful depression I had left him in! I could not bear thinking of him sitting sullenly and silently day after day with only Mrs. Fairfax to keep him company. God will take care of him, I thought, coming out of my wonderings. I realized belatedly that Nathaniel had asked me a question.
"What did you say?" I was forced to ask, embarrassed at my manners.
Nathaniel smiled. "I only wondered how you came to find yourself in Morton, as your voice and mannerisms are not the same as your husband's."
What was I to tell him? My husband did not even know the story behind my wanderings on the moor that brought me to him. I stalled for time, remarking, "You have quite the powers of observation, Mr. Crane- I mean, Nathaniel."
"Thank you, Jane," he answered with a smile, and sat expectantly, awaiting my response. What was I going to tell him?
In Cambridge, I finished my study of Hindustani with St. John when he was in our rented rooms. Most of the time, he was at the Church with the other missionaries who were to make the journey to India. They spent their time receiving what seemed to me like a very inadequate amount of training considering the dangers of life in India, and also praying, which was very smart, as I was sure only a miracle from God would keep us all safe. I'm sure it is obvious dear reader, how I was feeling about this journey, but I must remind you that this was all going on in the back of my mind, I was not really aware of it at the time, as I was caught up in the spirit of compassion and being a newlywed. Married life was not as I had imagined it, but I decided St. John's lack of warmth was due to his long hours at the Church. Within a week, we and the other two missionaries, two young men named Nathaniel Crane and Reginald Peters, were boarding a ship that would take us to our new and visionary lives. Once we were settled on board, St. John led me to the dining area, where we were to meet Nathaniel and Reginald. They stood as we entered, exclaiming warmly, "St. John!"
My husband smiled, his blue eyes flashing. He shook hand with the two men and put an arm around me, saying, "This is my wife, Jane."
I flinched noticeably at the use of first names and St. John hastened to inform me that missionary life was much less formal than life in England. I nodded and forced myself to smile, sure that it would take me quite a long time to get used to such informalities.
"I'm Nathaniel," the younger looking man said, extending his hand. His hair was a very light brown, his skin fair and his eyes the warmest brown I had ever seen. He smiled and I couldn't help but smile back. I took his hand and murmured, "Nice to meet you."
Reginald was Nathaniel's exact opposite as he slowly extended his hand and quietly spoke. "I'm Reginald." His face was unsure, his black hair combed neatly and precisely. I smiled warmly, hoping to put him at ease, and shook his hand, repeating, "Nice to meet you."
Nathaniel asked St. John about Morton, and while he talked, I found myself wondering how Mr. Rochester was faring. How I hoped he had found his salvation and pulled himself out of the awful depression I had left him in! I could not bear thinking of him sitting sullenly and silently day after day with only Mrs. Fairfax to keep him company. God will take care of him, I thought, coming out of my wonderings. I realized belatedly that Nathaniel had asked me a question.
"What did you say?" I was forced to ask, embarrassed at my manners.
Nathaniel smiled. "I only wondered how you came to find yourself in Morton, as your voice and mannerisms are not the same as your husband's."
What was I to tell him? My husband did not even know the story behind my wanderings on the moor that brought me to him. I stalled for time, remarking, "You have quite the powers of observation, Mr. Crane- I mean, Nathaniel."
"Thank you, Jane," he answered with a smile, and sat expectantly, awaiting my response. What was I going to tell him?