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high up against the wall filled with musical instruments。 Here I
walked about for a long time； feeling very strange； and mortally
apprehensive of some one coming in and kidnapping me； for I believed
in kidnappers； their exploits having frequently figured in Bessie's
fireside chronicles。 At last the guard returned； once more I was
stowed away in the coach； my protector mounted his own seat； sounded
The afternoon came on wet and somewhat misty： as it waned into
dusk； I began to feel that we were getting very far indeed from
Gateshead： we ceased to pass through towns； the country changed； great
grey hills heaved up round the horizon： as twilight deepened； we
descended a valley； dark with wood； and long after night had
overclouded the prospect； I heard a wild wind rushing amongst trees。
Lulled by the sound； I at last dropped asleep； I had not long
slumbered when the sudden cessation of motion awoke me； the coach…door
was open； and a person like a servant was standing at it： I saw her
face and dress by the light of the lamps。
'Is there a little girl called Jane Eyre here？' she asked。 I
answered 'Yes'； and was then lifted out； my trunk was handed down； and
the coach instantly drove away。
I was stiff with long sitting； and bewildered with the noise and
motion of the coach： gathering my faculties； I looked about me。
Rain； wind； and darkness filled the air； nevertheless； I dimly
discerned a wall before me and a door open in it； through this door
I passed with my new guide： she shut and locked it behind her。 There
was now visible a house or houses… for the building spread far… with
many windows； and lights burning in some； we went up a broad pebbly
path； splashing wet； and were admitted at a door； then the servant led
me through a passage into a room with a fire； where she left me alone。
I stood and warmed my numbed fingers over the blaze； then I
looked round； there was no candle； but the uncertain light from the
hearth showed； by intervals； papered walls； carpet； curtains；
shining mahogany furniture： it was a parlour； not so spacious or
splendid as the drawing…room at Gateshead； but comfortable enough。 I
was puzzling to make out the subject of a picture on the wall； when
the door opened； and an individual carrying a light entered； another
followed close behind。
The first was a tall lady with dark hair； dark eyes； and a pale and
large forehead； her figure was partly enveloped in a shawl； her
countenance was grave； her bearing erect。
'The child is very young to be sent alone；' said she； putting her
candle down on the table。 She considered me attentively for a minute
or two； then further added…
'She had better be put to bed soon； she looks tired： are you
tired？' she asked； placing her hand on my shoulder。
'A little； ma'am。'
'And hungry too； no doubt： let her have some supper before she goes
to bed； Miss Miller。 Is this the first time you have left your parents
to come to school； my little girl？'
I explained to her that I had no parents。 She inquired how long
they had been dead： then how old I was； what was my name； whether I
could read； write； and sew a little： then she touched my cheek
gently with her forefinger； and saying； 'She hoped I should be a
good child；' dismissed me along with Miss Miller。
The lady I had left might be about twenty…nine； the one who went
with me appeared some years younger： the first impressed me by her
voice； look； and air。 Miss Miller was more ordinary； ruddy in
complexion； though of a careworn countenance； hurried in gait and
action； like one who had always a multiplicity of tasks on hand： she
looked； indeed； what I afterwards found she really was； an
under…teacher。 Led by her； I passed from compartment to compartment；
from passage to passage； of a large and irregular building； till；
emerging from the total and somewhat dreary silence pervading that
portion of the house we had traversed； we came upon the hum of many
voices； and presently entered a wide； long room； with great deal
tables； two at each end； on each of which burnt a pair of candles； and
seated all round on benches； a congregation of girls of every age；
from nine or ten to twenty。 Seen by the dim light of the dips； their
number to me appeared countless； though not in reality exceeding
eighty； they were uniformly dressed in brown stuff frocks of quaint
fashion； and long holland pinafores。 It was the hour of study； they
were engaged in conning over their to…morrow's task； and the hum I had
heard was the combined result of their whispered repetitions。
Miss Miller signed to me to sit on a bench near the door； then
walking up to the top of the long room she cried out…
'Monitors； collect the lesson…books and put them away！'
Four tall girls arose from different tables； and going round；
gathered the books and removed them。 Miss Miller again gave the word
of command…
'Monitors； fetch the supper…trays！'
The tall girls went out and returned presently； each bearing a
tray； with portions of something； I knew not what； arranged thereon；
and a pitcher of water and mug in the middle of each tray。 The
portions were handed round； those who liked took a draught of the
water； the mug being common to all。 When it came to my turn； I
drank； for I was thirsty； but did not touch the food； excitement and
fatigue rendering me incapable of eating； I now saw； however； that
it was a thin oaten cake shared into fragments。
The meal over； prayers were read by Miss Miller； and the classes
filed off； two and two； upstairs。 Overpowered by this time with
weariness； I scarcely noticed what sort of a place the bedroom was；
except that； like the schoolroom； I saw it was very long。 To…night I
was to be Miss Miller's bed…fellow； she helped me to undress： when
laid down I glanced at the long rows of beds； each of which was
quickly filled with two occupants； in ten minutes the single light was
extinguished； and amidst silence and complete darkness I fell asleep。
The night passed rapidly： I was too tired even to dream； I only
once awoke to hear the wind rave in furious gusts； and the rain fall
in torrents； and to be sensible that Miss Miller had taken her place
by my side。 When I again unclosed my eyes； a loud bell was ringing；
the girls were up and dressing； day had not yet begun to dawn； and a
rushlight or two burned in the room。 I too rose reluctantly； it was
bitter cold； and I dressed as well as I could for shivering； and
washed when there was a basin at liberty； which did not occur soon； as
there was but one basin to six girls； on the stands down the middle of
the room。 Again the bell rang； all formed in file； two and two； and in
that order descended the stairs and entered the cold and dimly lit
schoolroom： here prayers were read by Miss Miller； afterwards she
called out…
'Form classes！'
A great tumult succeeded for some minutes； during which Miss Miller
repeatedly exclaimed； 'Silence！' and 'Order！' When it subsided； I
saw them all drawn up in four semicircles； before four chairs；
placed at the four tables； all held books in their hands； and a
great book； like a Bible； lay on each table； before the vacant seat。 A
pause of some seconds succeeded； filled up by the low； vague hum of
numbers； Miss Miller walked from class to class； hushing this
indefinite sound。
A distant bell tinkled： immediately three ladies entered the
room； each walked to a table and took her seat； Miss Miller assumed
the fourth vacant chair； which was that nearest the door； and around
which the smallest of the children were assembled： to this inferior
class I was called； and placed at the bottom of it。
Business now began： the day's Collect was repeated； then certain
texts of Scripture were said； and to these succeeded a protracted
reading of chapters in the Bible； which lasted an hour。 By the time
that exercise was terminated； day had fully dawned。 The
indefatigable bell now sounded for the fourth time： the classes were
marshalled and marched into another room to breakfast： how glad I
was to behold a prospect of getting something to eat！ I was now nearly
sick from inanition； having taken so little the day before。
The refectory was a great； low…ceiled； gloomy room； on two long
tables smoked basins of something hot； which； however； to my dismay；
sent forth an odour far from inviting。 I saw a universal manifestation
of discontent when the fumes of the repast met the nostrils of those
destined to swallow it； from the van of the procession； the tall girls
of the first class； rose the whispered words…
'Disgusting！ The porridge is burnt again！'
'Silence！' ejaculated a voice； not that of Miss Miller； but one
of the upper teachers； a little and dark personage； smartly dressed；
but of somewhat morose aspect； who installed herself at the top of one
table； while a more buxom lady presided at the other。 I looked in vain
for her I had first seen the night before； she was not visible： Miss
Miller occupied the foot of the table where I sat； and a strange；
foreign…looking； elderly lady； the