There still remained an inch of candle: I now took out my letter; the seal was an initial F.; I broke it; the contents were brief.
"If J.E., who advertised in the _---shire Herald_ of last Thursday, possesses the acquirements mentioned, and if she is in a position to give satisfactory references as to character and competency, a situation can be offered her where there is but one pupil, a little girl, under ten years of age; and where the salary is thirty pounds per annum.

J.E.

is requested to send references, name, address, and all particulars to the direction:-- "Mrs.Fairfax, Thornfield, near Millcote, -- -shire." I examined the document long: the writing was old-fashioned and rather uncertain, like that of an elderly lady.

This circumstance was satisfactory: a private fear had haunted me, that in thus acting for myself, and by my own guidance, I ran the risk of getting into some scrape; and, above all things, I wished the result of my endeavours to be respectable, proper, _en regle_.

I now felt that an elderly lady was no bad ingredient in the business I had on hand.