ButI，andtherestwhocontinuedwell，enjoyedfullythebeautiesofthesceneandseason;theyletusrambleinthewood，likegipsies，frommorningtillnight;wedidwhatweliked，wentwhereweliked:welivedbettertoo。Mr。BrocklehurstandhisfamilynevercamenearLowoodnow:householdmatterswerenotscrutinisedinto;thecrosshousekeeperwasgone，drivenawaybythefearofinfection;
hersuccessor，whohadbeenmatronattheLowtonDispensary，unusedtothewaysofhernewabode，providedwithcomparativeliberality。
Besides，therewerefewertofeed;thesickcouldeatlittle;ourbreakfast—basinswerebetterfilled;whentherewasnotimetopreparearegulardinner，whichoftenhappened，shewouldgiveusalargepieceofcoldpie，orathicksliceofbreadandcheese，andthiswecarriedawaywithustothewood，whereweeachchosethespotwelikedbest，anddinedsumptuously。
Myfavouriteseatwasasmoothandbroadstone，risingwhiteanddryfromtheverymiddleofthebeck，andonlytobegotatbywadingthroughthewater;afeatIaccomplishedbarefoot。Thestonewasjustbroadenoughtoaccommodate，comfortably，anothergirlandme，atthattimemychosencomrade—oneMaryAnnWilson;ashrewd，observantpersonage，whosesocietyItookpleasurein，partlybecauseshewaswittyandoriginal，andpartlybecauseshehadamannerwhichsetmeatmyease。SomeyearsolderthanI，sheknewmoreoftheworld，andcouldtellmemanythingsIlikedtohear:withhermycuriosityfoundgratification:tomyfaultsalsoshegaveampleindulgence，neverimposingcurborreinonanythingIsaid。Shehadaturnfornarrative，Iforanalysis;shelikedtoinform，Itoquestion;sowegotonswimminglytogether，derivingmuchentertainment，ifnotmuchimprovement，fromourmutualintercourse。
Andwhere，meantime，wasHelenBurns？WhydidInotspendthesesweetdaysoflibertywithher？HadIforgottenher？orwasIsoworthlessastohavegrowntiredofherpuresociety？SurelytheMaryAnnWilsonIhavementionedwasinferiortomyfirstacquaintance:shecouldonlytellmeamusingstories，andreciprocateanyracyandpungentgossipIchosetoindulgein;