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the elder lady was enveloped in a costly velvet shawl; trimmed with 
ermine; and she wore a false front of French curls。 
   These ladies were deferentially received by Miss Temple; as Mrs。 
and the Misses Brocklehurst; and conducted to seats of honour at the 
top of the room。 It seems they had come in the carriage with their 
reverend relative; and had been conducting a rummaging scrutiny of the 
room upstairs; while he transacted business with the housekeeper; 
questioned the laundress; and lectured the superintendent。 They now 
proceeded to address divers remarks and reproofs to Miss Smith; who 
was charged with the care of the linen and the inspection of the 
dormitories: but I had no time to listen to what they said; other 
matters called off and enchained my attention。 
   Hitherto; while gathering up the discourse of Mr。 Brocklehurst 
and Miss Temple; I had not; at the same time; neglected precautions to 
secure my personal safety; which I thought would be effected; if I 
could only elude observation。 To this end; I had sat well back on 
the form; and while seeming to be busy with my sum; had held my 
slate in such a manner as to conceal my face: I might have escaped 
notice; had not my treacherous slate somehow happened to slip from 
my hand; and falling with an obtrusive crash; directly drawn every eye 
upon me; I knew it was all over now; and; as I stooped to pick up 
the two fragments of slate; I rallied my forces for the worst。 It 
came。 
   'A careless girl!' said Mr。 Brocklehurst; and immediately after… 
'It is the new pupil; I perceive。' And before I could draw breath; 
'I must not forget I have a word to say respecting her。' Then aloud: 
how loud it seemed to me! 'Let the child who broke her slate come 
forward!' 
   Of my own accord I could not have stirred; I was paralysed: but the 
two great girls who sat on each side of me; set me on my legs and 
pushed me towards the dread judge; and then Miss Temple gently 
assisted me to his very feet; and I caught her whispered counsel… 
   'Don't be afraid; Jane; I saw it was an accident; you shall not 
be punished。' 
   The kind whisper went to my heart like a dagger。 
   'Another minute; and she will despise me for a hypocrite;' 
thought I; and an impulse of fury against Reed; Brocklehurst; and 
Co。 bounded in my pulses at the conviction。 I was no Helen Burns。 
   'Fetch that stool;' said Mr。 Brocklehurst; pointing to a very 
high one from which a monitor had just risen: it was brought。 
   'Place the child upon it。' 
   And I was placed there; by whom I don't know: I was in no condition 
to note particulars; I was only aware that they had hoisted me up to 
the height of Mr。 Brocklehurst's nose; that he was within a yard of 
me; and that a spread of shot orange and purple silk pelisses and a 
cloud of silvery plumage extended and waved below me。 
   Mr。 Brocklehurst hemmed。 
   'Ladies;' said he; turning to his family; 'Miss Temple; teachers; 
and children; you all see this girl?' 
   Of course they did; for I felt their eyes directed like 
burning…glasses against my scorched skin。 
   'You see she is yet young; you observe she possesses the ordinary 
form of childhood; God has graciously given her the shape that He 
has given to all of us; no signal deformity points her out as a marked 
character。 Who would think that the Evil One had already found a 
servant and agent in her? Yet such; I grieve to say; is the case。' 
   A pause… in which I began to steady the palsy of my nerves; and 
to feel that the Rubicon was passed; and that the trial; no longer 
to be shirked; must be firmly sustained。 
   'My dear children;' pursued the black marble clergyman; with 
pathos; 'this is a sad; a melancholy occasion; for it becomes my 
duty to warn you; that this girl; who might be one of God's own lambs; 
is a little castaway: not a member of the true flock; but evidently an 
interloper and an alien。 You must be on your guard against her; you 
must shun her example; if necessary; avoid her company; exclude her 
from your sports; and shut her out from your converse。 Teachers; you 
must watch her: keep your eyes on her movements; weigh well her words; 
scrutinise her actions; punish her body to save her soul: if; 
indeed; such salvation be possible; for (my tongue falters while I 
tell it) this girl; this child; the native of a Christian land; 
worse than many a little heathen who says its prayers to Brahma and 
kneels before Juggernaut… this girl is… a liar!' 
   Now came a pause of ten minutes; during which I; by this time in 
perfect possession of my wits; observed all the female Brocklehursts 
produce their pocket…handkerchiefs and apply them to their optics; 
while the elderly lady swayed herself to and fro; and the two 
younger ones whispered; 'How shocking!' 
   Mr。 Brocklehurst resumed。 
   'This I learned from her benefactress; from the pious and 
charitable lady who adopted her in her orphan state; reared her as her 
own daughter; and whose kindness; whose generosity the unhappy girl 
repaid by an ingratitude so bad; so dreadful; that at last her 
excellent patroness was obliged to separate her from her own young 
ones; fearful lest her vicious example should contaminate their 
purity: she has sent her here to be healed; even as the Jews of old 
sent their diseased to the troubled pool of Bethesda; and; teachers; 
superintendent; I beg of you not to allow the waters to stagnate round 
her。' 
   With this sublime conclusion; Mr。 Brocklehurst adjusted the top 
button of his surtout; muttered something to his family; who rose; 
bowed to Miss Temple; and then all the great people sailed in state 
from the room。 Turning at the door; my judge said… 
   'Let her stand half an hour longer on that stool; and let no one 
speak to her during the remainder of the day。' 
   There was I; then; mounted aloft; I; who had said I could not 
bear the shame of standing on my natural feet in the middle of the 
room; was now exposed to general view on a pedestal of infamy。 What my 
sensations were; no language can describe; but just as they all 
rose; stifling my breath and constricting my throat; a girl came up 
and passed me: in passing; she lifted her eyes。 What a strange light 
inspired them! What an extraordinary sensation that ray sent through 
me! How the new feeling bore me up! It was as if a martyr; a hero; had 
passed a slave or victim; and imparted strength in the transit。 I 
mastered the rising hysteria; lifted up my head; and took a firm stand 
on the stool。 Helen Burns asked some slight questions about her work 
of Miss Smith; was chidden for the triviality of the inquiry; returned 
to her place; and smiled at me as she again went by。 What a smile! I 
remember it now; and I know that it was the effluence of fine 
intellect; of true courage; it lit up her marked lineaments; her 
thin face; her sunken grey eye; like a reflection from the aspect of 
an angel。 Yet at that moment Helen Burns wore on her arm 'the untidy 
badge;' scarcely an hour ago I had heard her condemned by Miss 
Scatcherd to a dinner of bread and water on the morrow because she had 
blotted an exercise in copying it out。 Such is the imperfect nature of 
man! such spots are there on the disc of the clearest planet; and eyes 
like Miss Scatcherd's can only see those minute defects; and are blind 
to the full brightness of the orb。 


                         CHAPTER VIII 


   ERE the half…hour ended; five o'clock struck; school was dismissed; 
and all were gone into the refectory to tea。 I now ventured to 
descend: it was deep dusk; I retired into a corner and sat down on the 
floor。 The spell by which I had been so far supported began to 
dissolve; reaction took place; and soon; so overwhelming was the grief 
that seized me; I sank prostrate with my face to the ground。 Now I 
wept: Helen Burns was not here; nothing sustained me; left to myself I 
abandoned myself; and my tears watered the boards。 I had meant to be 
so good; and to do so much at Lowood: to make so many friends; to earn 
respect and win affection。 Already I had made visible progress; that 
very morning I had reached the head of my class; Miss Miller had 
praised me warmly; Miss Temple had smiled approbation; she had 
promised to teach me drawing; and to let me learn French; if I 
continued to make similar improvement two months longer: and then I 
was well received by my fellow…pupils; treated as an equal by those of 
my own age; and not molested by any; now; here I lay again crushed and 
trodden on; and could I ever rise more? 
   'Never;' I thought; and ardently I wished to die。 While sobbing out 
this wish in broken accents; some one approached: I started up… 
again Helen Burns was near me; the fading fires just showed her coming 
up the long; vacant room; she brought my coffee and bread。 
   'Come; eat something;' she said; but I put both away from me; 
feeling as if a drop or a crumb would have choked me in my present 
condition。 Helen regarded me; probably with surprise: I could not 
now abate my agitation; though I tried hard; I continued to weep 
aloud。 She sat down on the ground near me; embraced her knees w

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