noon
Most of the books were locked up behind glass doors ; but there was one bookcase left open containing everything that could be needed in the way of elementary works , and several volumes of light literature , poetry , biography , travels , a few romances , & c. I suppose he had considered that these were all the governess would require for her private perusal ; and , indeed , they contented me amply for the present ; compared with the scanty pickings I had now and then been able to glean at Lowood , they seemed to offer an abundant harvest of entertainment and information . In this room , too , there was a cabinet piano , quite new and of superior tone ; also an easel for painting and a pair of globes . I found my pupil sufficiently docile , though disinclined to apply : she had not been used to regular occupation of any kind . I felt it would be injudicious to confine her too much at first ; so , when I had talked to her a great deal , and got her to learn a little , and when the morning had advanced to noon , I allowed her to return to her nurse . I then proposed to occupy myself till dinner-time in drawing some little sketches for her use . As I was going upstairs to fetch my portfolio and pencils , Mrs. Fairfax called to me : `` Your morning school-hours are over now , I suppose , '' said she . She was in a room the folding-doors of which stood open : I went in when she addressed me .