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Jane Eyre-第16章

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ose 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 mon 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 daylight; 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 mon then as now) shone at her girdle。 let the reader add; to plete the picture; refined features; a plexion; 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 menced giving a lesson on geography; the lower classes were called by the teachers: repetitions in history; grammar; &c。; 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 inclosure; 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:—

“lowood institution。—this portion was rebuilt a。d。—; by naomi 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 connec
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