按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Miller occupied the foot of the table where I sat； and a strange；
foreign…looking； elderly lady； the French teacher； as I afterwards
found； took the corresponding seat at the other board。 A long grace
was said and a hymn sung； then a servant brought in some tea for the
teachers； and the meal began。
Ravenous； and now very faint； I devoured a spoonful or two of my
portion without thinking of its taste； but the first edge of hunger
blunted； I perceived I had got in hand a nauseous mess； burnt porridge
is almost as bad as rotten potatoes； famine itself soon sickens over
it。 The spoons were moved slowly： I saw each girl taste her food and
try to swallow it； but in most cases the effort was soon relinquished。
Breakfast was over； and none had breakfasted。 Thanks being returned
for what we had not got； and a second hymn chanted； the refectory
was evacuated for the schoolroom。 I was one of the last to go out； and
in passing the tables； I saw one teacher take a basin of the
porridge and taste it； she looked at the others； all their
countenances expressed displeasure； and one of them； the stout one；
whispered…
'Abominable stuff！ How shameful！'
A quarter of an hour passed before lessons again began； during
which the schoolroom was in a glorious tumult； for that space of
time it seemed to be permitted to talk loud and more freely； and
they used their privilege。 The whole conversation ran on the
breakfast； which one and all abused roundly。 Poor things！ it was the
sole consolation they had。 Miss Miller was now the only teacher in the
room： a group of great girls standing about her spoke with serious and
sullen gestures。 I heard the name of Mr。 Brocklehurst pronounced by
some lips； at which Miss Miller shook her head disapprovingly； but she
made no great effort to check the general wrath； doubtless she
shared in it。
A clock in the schoolroom struck nine； Miss Miller left her circle；
and standing in the middle of the room； cried…
'Silence！ To your seats！'
Discipline prevailed： in five minutes the confused throng was
resolved into order； and comparative silence quelled the Babel clamour
of tongues。 The upper teachers now punctually resumed their posts： but
still； all seemed to wait。 Ranged on benches down the sides of the
room； the eighty girls sat motionless and erect； a quaint assemblage
they appeared； all with plain locks combed from their faces； not a
curl visible； in brown dresses； made high and surrounded by a narrow
tucker about the throat； with little pockets of holland （shaped
something like a Highlander's purse） tied in front of their frocks；
and destined to serve the purpose of a work…bag： all； too； wearing
woollen stockings and country…made shoes； fastened with brass buckles。
Above twenty of those clad in this costume were full…grown girls； or
rather young women； it suited them ill； and gave an air of oddity even
to the prettiest。
I was still looking at them； and also at intervals examining the
teachers… none of whom precisely pleased me； for the stout one was a
little coarse； the dark one not a little fierce； the foreigner harsh
and grotesque； and Miss Miller； poor thing！ looked purple；
weather…beaten； and over…worked… when； as my eye wandered from face to
face； the whole school rose simultaneously； as if moved by a common
spring。
What was the matter？ I had heard no order given： I was puzzled。 Ere
I had gathered my wits； the classes were again seated： but as all eyes
were now turned to one point； mine followed the general direction； and
encountered the personage who had received me last night。 She stood at
the bottom of the long room； on the hearth； for there was a fire at
each end； she surveyed the two rows of girls silently and gravely。
Miss Miller； approaching； seemed to ask her a question； and having
received her answer； went back to her place； and said aloud…
'Monitor of the first class； fetch the globes！'
While the direction was being executed； the lady consulted moved
slowly up the room。 I suppose I have a considerable organ of
veneration； for I retain yet the sense of admiring awe with which my
eyes traced her steps。 Seen now； in broad day…light； she looked
tall； fair； and shapely； brown eyes with a benignant light in their
irids； and a fine pencilling of long lashes round； relieved the
whiteness of her large front； on each of her temples her hair； of a
very dark brown； was clustered in round curls； according to the
fashion of those times； when neither smooth bands nor long ringlets
were in vogue； her dress； also in the mode of the day； was of purple
cloth； relieved by a sort of Spanish trimming of black velvet； a
gold watch （watches were not so common then as now） shone at her
girdle。 Let the reader add； to complete the picture； refined features；
a complexion； if pale； clear； and a stately air and carriage； and he
will have； at least； as clearly as words can give it； a correct idea
of the exterior of Miss Temple… Maria Temple； as I afterwards saw
the name written in a prayer…book intrusted to me to carry to church。
The superintendent of Lowood （for such was this lady） having
taken her seat before a pair of globes placed on one of the tables；
summoned the first class round her； and commenced giving a lesson on
geography； the lower classes were called by the teachers：
repetitions in history； grammar； etc。； went on for an hour； writing
and arithmetic succeeded； and music lessons were given by Miss
Temple to some of the elder girls。 The duration of each lesson was
measured by the clock； which at last struck twelve。 The superintendent
rose…
'I have a word to address to the pupils；' said she。
The tumult of cessation from lessons was already breaking forth；
but it sank at her voice。 She went on…
'You had this morning a breakfast which you could not eat； you must
be hungry：… I have ordered that a lunch of bread and cheese shall be
served to all。'
The teachers looked at her with a sort of surprise。
'It is to be done on my responsibility；' she added； in an
explanatory tone to them； and immediately afterwards left the room。
The bread and cheese was presently brought in and distributed； to
the high delight and refreshment of the whole school。 The order was
now given 'To the garden！' Each put on a coarse straw bonnet； with
strings of coloured calico； and a cloak of grey frieze； I was
similarly equipped； and； following the stream； I made my way into
the open air。
The garden was a wide enclosure； surrounded with walls so high as
to exclude every glimpse of prospect； a covered verandah ran down
one side； and broad walks bordered a middle space divided into
scores of little beds： these beds were assigned as gardens for the
pupils to cultivate； and each bed had an owner。 When full of flowers
they would doubtless look pretty； but now； at the latter end of
January； all was wintry blight and brown decay。 I shuddered as I stood
and looked round me： it was an inclement day for outdoor exercise； not
positively rainy； but darkened by a drizzling yellow fog； all under
foot was still soaking wet with the floods of yesterday。 The
stronger among the girls ran about and engaged in active games； but
sundry pale and thin ones herded together for shelter and warmth in
the verandah； and amongst these； as the dense mist penetrated to their
shivering frames； I heard frequently the sound of a hollow cough。
As yet I had spoken to no one； nor did anybody seem to take
notice of me； I stood lonely enough： but to that feeling of
isolation I was accustomed； it did not oppress me much。 I leant
against a pillar of the verandah； drew my grey mantle close about
me； and； trying to forget the cold which nipped me without； and the
unsatisfied hunger which gnawed me within； delivered myself up to
the employment of watching and thinking。 My reflections were too
undefined and fragmentary to merit record： I hardly yet knew where I
was； Gateshead and my past life seemed floated away to an immeasurable
distance； the present was vague and strange； and of the future I could
form no conjecture。 I looked round the convent…like garden； and then
up at the house… a large building； half of which seemed grey and
old； the other half quite new。 The new part； containing the schoolroom
and dormitory； was lit by mullioned and latticed windows； which gave
it a church…like aspect； a stone tablet over the door bore this
inscription…
Brocklehurst； of Brocklehurst Hall； in this county。' 'Let your light
so shine before men； that they may see your good works； and glorify
your Father which is in heaven。'… St。 Matt。 v。 16。
I read these words over and over again： I felt that an
explanation belonged to them； and was unable fully to penetrate
their import。 I was still pondering the signification of
'Institution'； and endeavouring to make out a connection between the
first words and the verse of Scripture； when the sound of a cough
close behind me made me turn my head。 I saw a girl sitting on a
stone bench near； she was bent over a book； on the perusal of which
she seemed in