Ext. A midsummer dawn. Thornfield the grounds

ST JOHN (CONT'D)

Mrs Reed kept the orphan ten years

and at the end of that time she was

sent to Lowood school.

(MORE)

Jane Eyre adapted by Moira Buffini March 2008 103.

ST JOHN (CONT'D)

It seems her career there was very

honourable. She became a teacher

like yourself, and left it, like

yourself, to be a governess. She

undertook the education of the ward

of a certain Mr Rochester -

JANE

Mr Rivers! -

ST JOHN

I can guess your feelings but hear

me to the end. Of Mr Rochester's

character I know nothing but he

professed to offer honourable

marriage to this young girl and at

the very altar she discovered that

he had a wife yet alive. His

subsequent conduct is a matter of

pure conjecture but when the

governess was enquired after it was

discovered that she had fled

Thornfield Hall and no trace of her

has since been found. Now isn't

that an odd tale?

JANE

Since you know so much, perhaps

you can tell me how he is.