![]() Reed when you were at Gateshead, eight or nine years since, and I live there still.” “I daresay you hardly remember me, Miss,” he said, rising as I entered “but my name is Leaven: I lived coachman with Mrs. “I am sorry I can’t give you better news of them, Miss: they are very badly at present-in great trouble.” “And are the family well at the house, Robert?” “Yes, Miss: my wife is very hearty, thank you she brought me another little one about two months since-we have three now-and both mother and child are thriving.” And how is Bessie? You are married to Bessie?” “Oh, Robert! how do you do? I remember you very well: you used to give me a ride sometimes on Miss Georgiana’s bay pony. “I hope no one is dead,” I said, glancing at his black dress. “I heard from Bessie he was not doing well.” “Why, you see, Miss Eyre, it is not a common mishap: his life has been very wild: these last three years he gave himself up to strange ways, and his death was shocking.” John died yesterday was a week, at his chambers in London.” He too looked down at the crape round his hat and replied. “Doing well! He could not do worse: he ruined his health and his estate amongst the worst men and the worst women. He got into debt and into jail: his mother helped him out twice, but as soon as he was free he returned to his old companions and habits. His head was not strong: the knaves he lived amongst fooled him beyond anything I ever heard. He came down to Gateshead about three weeks ago and wanted missis to give up all to him. How he died, God knows!-they say he killed himself.” Missis refused: her means have long been much reduced by his extravagance so he went back again, and the next news was that he was dead. “Missis had been out of health herself for some time: she had got very stout, but was not strong with it and the loss of money and fear of poverty were quite breaking her down. John’s death and the manner of it came too suddenly: it brought on a stroke.
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