The red room
We could not go for a walk that afternoon.There was such a freezing cold wind，and such heavy rain，that we all stayed indoors.I was glad of it.I never liked long walks，especially in winter.I used to hate coming home when it was almost dark，with icecold fingers and toes，feeling miserable because Bessie，the nursemaid，was always scolding me.All the time I knew I was different from my cousins，Eliza，John and Georgiana Reed.They were taller and stronger than me，and they were loved.
These three usually spent their time crying and quarrelling，but today they were sitting quietly around their mother in the sittingroom.I wanted to join the family circle，but Mrs Reed，my aunt，refused, Bessie had complained about me.
“No，I'm sorry，Jane.Until I hear from Bessie，or see for myself，that you are really trying to behave better，you cannot be treated as a good，happy child，like my children.”
“What does Bessie say I have done？” I asked.
“Jane，it is not polite to question me in that way.If you cannot speak pleasantly，be quiet.”
I crept out of the sittingroom and went into the small room next door，where I chose a book full of pictures from the bookcase.I climbed on to the windowseat and drew the curtains，so that I was completely hidden.I sat there for a while.Sometimes I looked out of the window at the grey November afternoon，and saw the rain pouring down on the leafless garden.But most of the time I studied the book and stared，fascinated，at the pictures.Lost in the world of imagination，I forgot my sad，lonely existence for a while，and was happy，I was only afraid that my secret hidingplace might be discovered.
