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Shesleptalongtime,andwhensheawakenedMrs.Medlockhadboughtalunchbasketatoneofthestationsandtheyhadsomechickenandcoldbeefandbreadandbutterandsomehottea.
Therainseemedtobestreamingdownmoreheavilythaneverandeverybodyinthestationworewetandglisteningwaterproofs.
Theguardlightedthelampsinthecarriage,andMrs.Medlockcheeredupverymuchoverherteaandchickenandbeef.
Sheateagreatdealandafterwardfellasleepherself,andMarysatandstaredatherandwatchedherfinebonnetslipononesideuntilsheherselffellasleeponcemoreinthecornerofthecarriage,lulledbythesplashingoftherainagainstthewindows.
Itwasquitedarkwhensheawakenedagain.
ThetrainhadstoppedatastationandMrs.Medlockwasshakingher.
“Youhavehadasleep!”shesaid.“It’stimetoopenyoureyes!We’reatThwaiteStationandwe’vegotalongdrivebeforeus.”
MarystoodupandtriedtokeephereyesopenwhileMrs.Medlockcollectedherparcels.
Thelittlegirldidnotoffertohelpher,becauseinIndianativeservantsalwayspickeduporcarriedthingsanditseemedquiteproperthatotherpeopleshouldwaitonone.
Thestationwasasmalloneandnobodybutthemselvesseemedtobegettingoutofthetrain.
Thestation-masterspoketoMrs.Medlockinarough,good-naturedway,pronouncinghiswordsinaqueerbroadfashionwhichMaryfoundoutafterwardwasYorkshire.
“Iseetha’sgotback,”hesaid.“An’tha’sbrowtth’young‘unwiththee.”
“Aye,that’sher,”answeredMrs.Medlock,speakingwithaYorkshireaccentherselfandjerkingherheadoverhershouldertowardMary.“How’sthyMissus?”
“Wellenow.Th’carriageiswaitin’outsideforthee.”
Abroughamstoodontheroadbeforethelittleoutsideplatform.
Marysawthatitwasasmartcarriageandthatitwasasmartfootmanwhohelpedherin.
Hislongwaterproofcoatandthewaterproofcoveringofhishatwereshininganddrippingwithrainaseverythingwas,theburlystation-masterincluded.
Whenheshutthedoor,mountedtheboxwiththecoachman,andtheydroveoff,thelittlegirlfoundherselfseatedinacomfortablycushionedcorner,butshewasnotinclinedtogotosleepagain.
Shesatandlookedoutofthewindow,curioustoseesomethingoftheroadoverwhichshewasbeingdriventothequeerplaceMrs.Medlockhadspokenof.
Shewasnotatallatimidchildandshewasnotexactlyfrightened,butshefeltthattherewasnoknowingwhatmighthappeninahousewithahundredroomsnearlyallshutup—ahousestandingontheedgeofamoor.
“Whatisamoor?”shesaidsuddenlytoMrs.Medlock.
“Lookoutofthewindowinabouttenminutesandyou’llsee,”thewomananswered.
“We’vegottodrivefivemilesacrossMisselMoorbeforewegettotheManor.
Youwon’tseemuchbecauseit’sadarknight,butyoucanseesomething.”
Maryaskednomorequestionsbutwaitedinthedarknessofhercorner,keepinghereyesonthewindow.
Thecarriagelampscastraysoflightalittledistanceaheadofthemandshecaughtglimpsesofthethingstheypassed.
Aftertheyhadleftthestationtheyhaddriventhroughatinyvillageandshehadseenwhitewashedcottagesandthelightsofapublichouse.
Thentheyhadpassedachurchandavicarageandalittleshop-windoworsoinacottagewithtoysandsweetsandoddthingssetourforsale.
Thentheywereonthehighroadandshesawhedgesandtrees.
Afterthatthereseemednothingdifferentforalongtime—oratleastitseemedalongtimetoher.
Atlastthehorsesbegantogomoreslowly,asiftheywereclimbingup-hill,andpresentlythereseemedtobenomorehedgesandnomoretrees.
Shecouldseenothing,infact,butadensedarknessoneitherside.
Sheleanedforwardandpressedherfaceagainstthewindowjustasthecarriagegaveabigjolt.
“Eh!We’reonthemoornowsureenough,”saidMrs.Medlock.
Thecarriagelampsshedayellowlightonarough-lookingroadwhichseemedtobecutthroughbushesandlow-growingthingswhichendedinthegreatexpanseofdarkapparentlyspreadoutbeforeandaroundthem.
Awindwasrisingandmakingasingular,wild,low,rushingsound.
“It’s—it’snotthesea,isit?”saidMary,lookingroundathercompanion.
“No,notit,”answeredMrs.Medlock.“Noritisn’tfieldsnormountains,it’sjustmilesandmilesandmilesofwildlandthatnothinggrowsonbutheatherandgorseandbroom,andnothinglivesonbutwildponiesandsheep.”
“Ifeelasifitmightbethesea,iftherewerewateronit,”saidMary.“Itsoundsliketheseajustnow.”
“That’sthewindblowingthroughthebushes,”Mrs.Medlocksaid.“It’sawild,drearyenoughplacetomymind,thoughthere’splentythatlikesit—particularlywhentheheather’sinbloom.”
Onandontheydrovethroughthedarkness,andthoughtherainstopped,thewindrushedbyandwhistledandmadestrangesounds.
Theroadwentupanddown,andseveraltimesthecarriagepassedoveralittlebridgebeneathwhichwaterrushedveryfastwithagreatdealofnoise.
Maryfeltasifthedrivewouldnevercometoanendandthatthewide,bleakmoorwasawideexpanseofblackoceanthroughwhichshewaspassingonastripofdryland.
“Idon’tlikeit,”shesaidtoherself.“Idon’tlikeit,”andshepinchedherthinlipsmoretightlytogether.
Thehorseswereclimbingupahillypieceofroadwhenshefirstcaughtsightofalight.Mrs.Medlocksawitassoonasshedidanddrewalongsighofrelief.
“Eh,Iamgladtoseethatbito’lighttwinkling,”sheexclaimed.“It’sthelightinthelodgewindow.Weshallgetagoodcupofteaafterabit,atallevents.”
Itwas“afterabit,”asshesaid,forwhenthecarriagepassedthroughtheparkgatestherewasstilltwomilesofavenuetodrivethroughandthetrees(whichnearlymetoverhead)madeitseemasiftheyweredrivingthroughalongdarkvault.
Theydroveoutofthevaultintoaclearspaceandstoppedbeforeanimmenselylongbutlow-builthousewhichseemedtorambleroundastonecourt.
AtfirstMarythoughtthattherewerenolightsatallinthewindows,butasshegotoutofthecarriageshesawthatoneroominacornerupstairsshowedadullglow.
Theentrancedoorwasahugeonemadeofmassive,curiouslyshapedpanelsofoakstuddedwithbigironnailsandboundwithgreatironbars.
Itopenedintoanenormoushall,whichwassodimlylightedthatthefacesintheportraitsonthewallsandthefiguresinthesuitsofarmormadeMaryfeelthatshedidnotwanttolookatthem.
Asshestoodonthestonefloorshelookedaverysmall,oddlittleblackfigure,andshefeltassmallandlostandoddasshelooked.
Aneat,thinoldmanstoodnearthemanservantwhoopenedthedoorforthem.
“Youaretotakehertoherroom,”hesaidinahuskyvoice.“Hedoesn’twanttoseeher.He’sgoingtoLondoninthemorning.”
“Verywell,Mr.Pitcher,”Mrs.Medlockanswered.“SolongasIknowwhat’sexpectedofme,Icanmanage.”
“What’sexpectedofyou,Mrs.Medlock,”Mr.Pitchersaid,“isthatyoumakesurethathe’snotdisturbedandthathedoesn’tseewhathedoesn’twanttosee.”
AndthenMaryLennoxwasledupabroadstaircaseanddownalongcorridorandupashortflightofstepsandthroughanothercorridorandanother,untiladooropenedinawallandshefoundherselfinaroomwithafireinitandasupperonatable.
Mrs.Medlocksaidunceremoniously:
“Well,hereyouare!Thisroomandthenextarewhereyou’lllive—andyoumustkeeptothem.Don’tyouforgetthat!”
ItwasinthiswayMistressMaryarrivedatMisselthwaiteManorandshehadperhapsneverfeltquitesocontraryinallherlife.
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