jane eyre(简·爱)-第11节

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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