floral oil painting

aloud. She sat down on the ground near me, embraced her knees with her
arms, and rested her head upon them; in that attitude she remained
silent as an Indian. I was the first who spoke-
'Helen, why do you stay with a girl whom everybody believes to be a
liar?'
'Everybody, Jane? Why, there are only eighty people who have
heard you called so, and the world contains hundreds of millions.'
'But what have I to do with millions? The eighty, I know, despise
me.'
'Jane, you are mistaken: probably not one in the school either
despises or dislikes you: many, I am sure, pity you much.'
'How can they pity me after what Mr. Brocklehurst has said?'
'Mr. Brocklehurst is not a god: nor is he even a great and
admired man; he is little liked here; he never took steps to make
himself liked. Had he treated you as an especial favourite, you
would have found enemies, declared or covert, all around you; as it
is, the greater number would offer you sympathy if they dared.
Teachers and pupils may look coldly on you for a day or two, but
friendly feelings are concealed in their hearts; and if you
persevere in doing well, these feelings will ere long appear so much