Saturday 4 April 2009

Swirling

I saw Mr. Lloyd smile and frown at the same time.  "Ghost!  What, you are a baby after all!  You are afraid of ghosts?"  "Of Mr. Reed's ghost I am: he died in that room, and was laid out there. Neither Bessie nor any one else will go into it at night, if they can help it; and it was cruel to shut me up alone without a candle,--so cruel that I think I shall never forget it."  "Nonsense!  And is it that makes you so miserable?  Are you afraid now in daylight?"  "No: but night will come again before long: and besides,--I am unhappy,--very unhappy, for other things."  "What other things?  Can you tell me some of them?"  How much I wished to reply fully to this question!  How difficult it was to frame any answer!  Children can feel, but they cannot analyse their feelings; and if the analysis is partially effected in thought, they know not how to express the result of the process in words.  Fearful, however, of losing this first and only opportunity of relieving my grief by imparting it, I, after a disturbed pause, contrived to frame a meagre, though, as far as it went, true response.  "For one thing, I have no father or mother, brothers or sisters."  "You have a kind aunt and cousins."  Again I paused; then bunglingly enounced--  "But John Reed knocked me down, and my aunt shut me up in the red-room."  Mr. Lloyd a second time produced his snuff-box.  "Don't you think Gateshead Hall a very beautiful house?" asked he.  "Are you not very thankful to have such a fine place to live at?"  "It is not my house, sir; and Abbot says I have less right to be here than a servant."  "Pooh! you can't be silly enough to wish to leave such a splendid place?"  "If I had anywhere else to go, I should be glad to leave it; but I can never get away from Gateshead till I am a woman."  "Perhaps you may--who knows?  Have you any relations besides Mrs. Reed?"  "I think not, sir."

3 comments:

  1. I am sorry that you feel like this, like depression is becoming an integral part of your life and that you no longer expect to fee happiness. Remember taht everyone has the capacitry for change. Just because you havnt found the right drug or therapy yet doesnt mean that things will feel like this for ever. Hugs, Hannah X

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  2. Hi Hannah, sorry to hear how difficult things are at the moment. It's really tough when that numbness sets in and it's hard to connect to anyone or even reality. But Hannah is right, it doesn't mean that's how it'll be for ever and I hope that soon things move on for you, even if it is only a temporary respite. Take care

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  3. Hi Hannah - I guess you're right, I suppose I just have to keep telling myself that even though I feel this way now, it can change (and probably will change eventually). Thanks, for reminding me of that x

    lifeofchuckles - It always helps to know that other people get it, that other people understand. Thanks, even a temporary respite would be good right about now!

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