ses of the verb etre； and sketched my first cottage （whose walls； by…the…bye； outrivalled in slope those of the leaning tower of Pisa）； on the same day。 That night； on going to bed； I forgot to prepare in imagination the Barmecide supper of hot roast potatoes； or white bread and new milk； with which I was wont to amuse my inward cravings： I feasted instead on the spectacle of ideal drawings； which I saw in the dark； all the work of my own hands： freely pencilled houses and trees； picturesque rocks and ruins； Cuyp…like groups of cattle； sweet paintings of butterflies hovering over unblown roses； of birds picking at ripe cherries； of wren’s nests enclosing pearl…like eggs； wreathed about with young ivy sprays。 I examined； too； in thought； the possibility of my ever being able to translate currently a certain little French story which Madame Pierrot had that day shown me； nor was that problem solved to my satisfaction ere I fell sweetly asleep。
Well has Solomon said—“Better is a dinner of herbs where love is； than a stalled ox and hatred therewith。”
I would not now have exchanged Lowood with all its privations for Gateshead and its daily luxuries。
Chapter 9
But the privations； or rather the hardships； of Lowood lessened。 Spring drew on： she was indeed already e； the frosts of winter had ceased； its snows were melted； its cutting winds ameliorated。 My wretched feet； flayed and swollen to lameness by the sharp air of January； began to heal and subside under the gentler breathings of April； the nights and mornings no longer by their Canadian temperature froze the very blood in our veins； we could now endure the play…hour passed in the garden： sometimes on a sunny day it began even to be pleasant and genial； and a greenness grew over those brown bed