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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

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