[00:01.06] Chapter 21, Mrs. Reed.
[00:05.67] The next day, a messenger arrived for me.
[00:08.91] It was Bessie's husband, Robert, the coachman from Gateshead Hall.
[00:14.10] He was wearing black for morning, and I asked who it was for.
[00:20.77] "Your cousin John Reed is dead," he said.
[00:25.02] "He lived a wild life for years in and out of debt, in and out of prison.
[00:32.65] He ran through his own money and much of his mother's, and when she refused to give him anymore, he shot himself.
[00:42.25] The shock was so bad that she had a stroke, and she's now very ill.
[00:48.68] She's asking for you, Miss Jane."
[00:53.85] I found Mr. Rochester playing billiards with Blanche Ingram, who scoled when I asked to speak to him alone.
[01:02.76] He threw down his queue and followed me from the room.
[01:08.99] "My aunt is very ill," I explained.
[01:12.68] "I must go to her, sir."
[01:15.83] "You said you had no relations," he said.
[01:22.31] "None that wanted me," I said.
[01:25.67] "But she wants you now," he replied.
[01:29.64] So I explained the circumstances to him.
[01:34.49] "Well, you must go," he agreed reluctantly, "but only for a week."
[01:43.35] He gave me money for my expenses and went on making conversation and saying goodbye for so long that I thought I should never get on with my packing.
[01:55.24] At last, the dinner bell rang, and I was able to escape.
[02:02.53] At Gateshead, I was greeted warmly by Bessie, and coldly by Georgiana and Eliza.
[02:12.28] Bessie took me to my aunt's bedroom.
[02:17.57] She looked as stern as ever, but she lay helplessly on the pillows.
[02:25.44] Time had made me able to forgive, and I no longer hated her.
[02:32.53] I spoke gently to her, but when at last she began to talk, it was as if I was not there.
[02:44.41] "I hated Jane Air," she said.
[02:49.29] "I should never have been asked to take her.
[02:53.66] She was so troublesome.
[02:57.57] My husband thought more of her than he did of his own children.
[03:03.72] Where is John?"
[03:08.74] For several days, she lay confused.
[03:14.16] I kept myself busy with my drawings, while my cousins complained and quarreled.
[03:21.30] After two weeks, she sent for me again.
[03:26.41] "Are you Jane Air?" she said.
[03:31.22] "I am dying, and there are things I must tell you.
[03:36.46] In my dressing case, you will find a letter."
[03:42.90] I found it.
[03:45.01] It was dated three years earlier and said, "Madam, please send me the address of my niece, Jane Air.
[03:57.37] I would like her to join me here in Madira.
[04:03.58] Having become rich, and with no children of my own, I intend to adopt her as my heir."
[04:15.45] It was signed, John Air.
[04:21.52] Why did you not tell me?" I asked.
[04:28.49] "Because I hated you," she said.
[04:32.88] "I could not bear the way you spoke to me.
[04:36.84] I told him you had died of typhoid at Lowwood."
[04:45.04] It was too late to be angry.
[04:48.78] I forgave her fully and freely.
[04:54.49] But I think she could never forgive me.
[05:00.12] Her habit of hating me was too hard to break.
[05:06.54] She died at midnight.