子浪小说

第13部分（第1页）

ast　fortnight。　How　is　this？　I　looked　over　the　regulations；　and　I　find　no　such　meal　as　lunch　mentioned。　Who　introduced　this　innovation？　and　by　what　authority？”

“I　must　be　responsible　for　the　circumstance；　sir；”　replied　Miss　Temple：　“the　breakfast　was　so　ill　prepared　that　the　pupils　could　not　possibly　eat　it；　and　I　dared　not　allow　them　to　remain　fasting　till　dinner…time。”

“Madam；　allow　me　an　instant。　You　are　aware　that　my　plan　in　bringing　up　these　girls　is；　not　to　accustom　them　to　habits　of　luxury　and　indulgence；　but　to　render　them　hardy；　patient；　self…denying。　Should　any　little　accidental　disappointment　of　the　appetite　occur；　such　as　the　spoiling　of　a　meal；　the　under　or　the　over　dressing　of　a　dish；　the　incident　ought　not　to　be　neutralised　by　replacing　with　something　more　delicate　the　fort　lost；　thus　pampering　the　body　and　obviating　the　aim　of　this　institution；　it　ought　to　be　improved　to　the　spiritual　edification　of　the　pupils；　by　encouraging　them　to　evince　fortitude　under　temporary　privation。　A　brief　address　on　those　occasions　would　not　be　mistimed；　wherein　a　judicious　instructor　would　take　the　opportunity　of　referring　to　the　sufferings　of　the　primitive　Christians；　to　the　torments　of　martyrs；　to　the　exhortations　of　our　blessed　Lord　Himself；　calling　upon　His　disciples　to　take　up　their　cross　and　follow　Him；　to　His　warnings　that　man　shall　not　live　by　bread　alone；　but　by　every　word　that　proceedeth　out　of　the　mouth　of　God；　to　His　divine　consolations；　“If　ye　suffer　hunger　or　thirst　for　My　sake；　happy　are　ye。”　Oh；　madam；　when　you　put　bread　and　cheese；　instead　of　burnt　porridge；　into　these　children’s　mouths；　you　may　indeed　feed　their　vile　bodies；　but　you　little　think　how　you　starve　their　immortal　souls！”

Mr。　Brocklehurst　again　paused—perhaps　overe　by　his　feelings。　Miss　Temple　had　looked　down　when　he　first　began　to　speak　to　her；　but　she　now　gazed　straight　before　her；　and　her　face；　naturally　pale　as　marble；　appeared　to　be　assuming　also　the　coldness　and　fixity　of　that　material；　especially　her　mouth；　closed　as　if　it　would　have　required　a　sculptor’s　chisel　to　open　it；　and　her　brow　settled　gradually　into　petrified　severity。

Meantime；　Mr。　Brocklehurst；　standing　on　the　hearth　with　his　hands　behind　his　back；　majestically　surveyed　the　whole　school。　Suddenly　his　eye　gave　a　blink；　as　if　it　had　met　something　that　either　dazzled　or　shocked　its　pupil；　turning；　he　said　in　more　rapid　accents　than　he　had　hitherto　used—

“Miss　Temple；　Miss　Temple；　what—what　is　that　girl　with　curled　hair？　Red　hair；　ma’am；　curled—curled　all　over？”　And　extending　his　cane　he　pointed　to　the　awful　object；　his　hand　shaking　as　he　did　so。

“It　is　Julia　Severn；”　replied　Miss　Temple；　very　quietly。

“Julia　Severn；　ma’am！　And　why　has　she；　or　any　other；　curled　hair？　Why；　in　defiance　of　every　precept　and　principle　of　this　house；　does　she　conform　to　the　world　so　openly—here　in　an　evangelical；　charitable　establishment—as　to　wear　her　hair　one　mass　of　curls？”

“Julia’s　hair　curls　naturally；”　returned　Miss　Temple；　still　more　quietly。

“Naturally！　Yes；　but　we　are　not　to　conform　to　nature；　I　wish　these　girls　to　be　the　children　of　Grace：　and　why　that　abundance？　I　have　again　and　again　intimated　that　I　desire　the　hair　to　be　arranged　closely；　modestly；　plainly。　Miss　Temple；　that　girl’s　hair　must　be　cut　off　entirely；　I　will　send　a　barber　to…morrow：　and　I　see　others　who　have　far　too　much　of　the　excrescence—that　tall　girl；　tell　her　to　turn　round。　Tell　all　the　first　form　to　rise　up　and　direct　their　faces　to　the　wall。”

Miss　Temple　passed　her　handkerchief　over　her　lips；　as　if　to　smooth　away　the　involuntary　smile　that　curled　them；　she　gave　the　order；　however；　and　when　the　first　class　could　take　in　；　they　obeyed。　Leaning　a　little　back　on　my　bench；　I　could　see　the　looks　and　grimaces　with　which　they　mented　on　this　man？uvre：　it　was　a　pity　Mr。　Brocklehurst　could　not　see　them　too；　he　would　perhaps　have　felt　that；　whatever　he　might　do　with　the　outside　of　the　cup　and　platter；　the　inside　was　further　beyond　his　interference　than　he　imagined。

He　scrutinised　the　reverse　of　these　living　medals　some　five　minutes；　then　pronounced　sentence。　These　words　fell　like　the　knell　of　doom—

“All　those　top…knots　must　be　cut　off。”

Miss　Temple　seemed　to　remonstrate。

“Madam；”　he　pursued；　“I　have　a　Master　to　serve　whose　kingdom　is　not　of　this　world：　my　mission　is　to　mortify　in　these　girls　the　lusts　of　the　flesh；　to　teach　them　to　clothe　themselves　with　shame…facedness　and　sobriety；　not　with　braided　hair　and　costly　apparel；　and　each　of　the　young　persons　before　us　has　a　string　of　hair　twisted　in　plaits　which　vanity　itself　might　have　woven；　these；　I　repeat；　must　be　cut　off；　think　of　the　time　wasted；　of—”

Mr。　Brocklehurst　was　here　interrupted：　three　other　visitors；　ladies；　now　entered　the　room。　They　ought　to　have　e　a　little　sooner　to　have　heard　his　lecture　on　dress；　for　they　were　splendidly　attired　in　velvet；　silk；　and　furs。　The　two　younger　of　the　trio　（fine　girls　of　sixteen　and　seventeen）　had　grey　beaver　hats；　then　in　fashion；　shaded　with　ostrich　plumes；　and　from　under　the　brim　of　this　graceful　head…dress　fell　a　profusion　of　light　tresses；　elaborately　curled；　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　e　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　enchanted　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　e　forward！”

Of　my　own　accord　I　could　not　have　stirred；　I　was　paralysed：　but　the　two　great　girls　who　sit　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　bees　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　pany；　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

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