chapter05
CHAPTERV
FIVEo\'clockhadhardlystruckonthemorningofthe19thofJanuary，whenBessiebroughtacandleintomyclosetandfoundmealreadyupandnearlydressed。Ihadrisenhalfanhourbeforeherentrance，andhadwashedmyface，andputonmyclothesbythelightofahalf—moonjustsetting，whoseraysstreamedthroughthenarrowwindownearmycrib。IwastoleaveGatesheadthatdaybyacoachwhichpassedthelodgegatesatsixA。M。Bessiewastheonlypersonyetrisen;shehadlitafireinthenursery，whereshenowproceededtomakemybreakfast。Fewchildrencaneatwhenexcitedwiththethoughtsofajourney;norcouldI。Bessie，havingpressedmeinvaintotakeafewspoonfulsoftheboiledmilkandbreadshehadpreparedforme，wrappedupsomebiscuitsinapaperandputthemintomybag;thenshehelpedmeonwithmypelisseandbonnet，andwrappingherselfinashawl，sheandIleftthenursery。AswepassedMrs。
Reed\'sbedroom，shesaid，\'WillyougoinandbidMissisgood—bye？\'
\'No，Bessie:shecametomycriblastnightwhenyouweregonedowntosupper，andsaidIneednotdisturbherinthemorning，ormycousinseither;andshetoldmetorememberthatshehadalwaysbeenmybestfriend，andtospeakofherandbegratefultoheraccordingly。\'
\'Whatdidyousay，Miss？\'
\'Nothing:Icoveredmyfacewiththebedclothes，andturnedfromhertothewall。\'
\'Thatwaswrong，MissJane。\'
\'Itwasquiteright，Bessie。YourMissishasnotbeenmyfriend:
shehasbeenmyfoe。\'
\'OMissJane！don\'tsayso！\'
\'Good—byetoGateshead！\'criedI，aswepassedthroughthehallandwentoutatthefrontdoor。
Themoonwasset，anditwasverydark;Bessiecarriedalantern，whoselightglancedonwetstepsandgravelroadsoddenbyarecentthaw。Rawandchillwasthewintermorning:myteethchatteredasI
hasteneddownthedrive。Therewasalightintheporter\'slodge:whenwereachedit，wefoundtheporter\'swifejustkindlingherfire:mytrunk，whichhadbeencarrieddowntheeveningbefore，stoodcordedatthedoor。Itwantedbutafewminutesofsix，andshortlyafterthathourhadstruck，thedistantrollofwheelsannouncedthecomingcoach;Iwenttothedoorandwatcheditslampsapproachrapidlythroughthegloom。
\'Isshegoingbyherself？\'askedtheporter\'swife。
\'Yes。\'
\'Andhowfarisit？\'
\'Fiftymiles。\'
\'Whatalongway！IwonderMrs。Reedisnotafraidtotrusthersofaralone。\'
Thecoachdrewup;thereitwasatthegateswithitsfourhorsesanditstopladenwithpassengers:theguardandcoachmanloudlyurgedhaste;mytrunkwashoistedup;IwastakenfromBessie\'sneck，towhichIclungwithkisses。
\'Besureandtakegoodcareofher，\'criedshetotheguard，asheliftedmeintotheinside。
\'Ay，ay！\'wastheanswer:thedoorwasslappedto，avoiceexclaimed\'Allright，\'andonwedrove。ThuswasIseveredfromBessieandGateshead;thuswhirledawaytounknown，and，asIthendeemed，remoteandmysteriousregions。
Irememberbutlittleofthejourney;Ionlyknowthatthedayseemedtomeofapreternaturallength，andthatweappearedtotraveloverhundredsofmilesofroad。Wepassedthroughseveraltowns，andinone，averylargeone，thecoachstopped;thehorsesweretakenout，andthepassengersalightedtodine。Iwascarriedintoaninn，wheretheguardwantedmetohavesomedinner;but，asIhadnoappetite，heleftmeinanimmenseroomwithafireplaceateachend，achandelierpendentfromtheceiling，andalittleredgalleryhighupagainstthewallfilledwithmusicalinstruments。HereI
walkedaboutforalongtime，feelingverystrange，andmortallyapprehensiveofsomeonecominginandkidnappingme;forIbelievedinkidnappers，theirexploitshavingfrequentlyfiguredinBessie\'sfiresidechronicles。Atlasttheguardreturned;oncemoreIwasstowedawayinthecoach，myprotectormountedhisownseat，soundedTheafternooncameonwetandsomewhatmisty:asitwanedintodusk，IbegantofeelthatweweregettingveryfarindeedfromGateshead:weceasedtopassthroughtowns;thecountrychanged;greatgreyhillsheaveduproundthehorizon:astwilightdeepened，wedescendedavalley，darkwithwood，andlongafternighthadovercloudedtheprospect，Iheardawildwindrushingamongsttrees。
Lulledbythesound，Iatlastdroppedasleep;Ihadnotlongslumberedwhenthesuddencessationofmotionawokeme;thecoach—doorwasopen，andapersonlikeaservantwasstandingatit:Isawherfaceanddressbythelightofthelamps。
\'IstherealittlegirlcalledJaneEyrehere？\'sheasked。
I
answered\'Yes\'，andwasthenliftedout;mytrunkwashandeddown，andthecoachinstantlydroveaway。
Iwasstiffwithlongsitting，andbewilderedwiththenoiseandmotionofthecoach:gatheringmyfaculties，Ilookedaboutme。
Rain，wind，anddarknessfilledtheair;nevertheless，Idimlydiscernedawallbeforemeandadooropeninit;throughthisdoorIpassedwithmynewguide:sheshutandlockeditbehindher。Therewasnowvisibleahouseorhouses—forthebuildingspreadfar—withmanywindows，andlightsburninginsome;wewentupabroadpebblypath，splashingwet，andwereadmittedatadoor;thentheservantledmethroughapassageintoaroomwithafire，wheresheleftmealone。
Istoodandwarmedmynumbedfingersovertheblaze，thenI
lookedround;therewasnocandle，buttheuncertainlightfromthehearthshowed，byintervals，paperedwalls，carpet，curtains，shiningmahoganyfurniture:itwasaparlour，notsospaciousorsplendidasthedrawing—roomatGateshead，butcomfortableenough。I
waspuzzlingtomakeoutthesubjectofapictureonthewall，whenthedooropened，andanindividualcarryingalightentered;anotherfollowedclosebehind。
Thefirstwasatallladywithdarkhair，darkeyes，andapaleandlargeforehead;herfigurewaspartlyenvelopedinashawl，hercountenancewasgrave，herbearingerect。
\'Thechildisveryyoungtobesentalone，\'saidshe，puttinghercandledownonthetable。Sheconsideredmeattentivelyforaminuteortwo，thenfurtheradded—
\'Shehadbetterbeputtobedsoon;shelookstired:areyoutired？\'sheasked，placingherhandonmyshoulder。
\'Alittle，ma\'am。\'
\'Andhungrytoo，nodoubt:letherhavesomesupperbeforeshegoestobed，MissMiller。Isthisthefirsttimeyouhaveleftyourparentstocometoschool，mylittlegirl？\'
IexplainedtoherthatIhadnoparents。Sheinquiredhowlongtheyhadbeendead:thenhowoldIwas，whatwasmyname，whetherI
couldread，write，andsewalittle:thenshetouchedmycheekgentlywithherforefinger，andsaying，\'ShehopedIshouldbeagoodchild，\'dismissedmealongwithMissMiller。
TheladyIhadleftmightbeabouttwenty—nine;theonewhowentwithmeappearedsomeyearsyounger:thefirstimpressedmebyhervoice，look，andair。MissMillerwasmoreordinary;ruddyincomplexion，thoughofacareworncountenance;hurriedingaitandaction，likeonewhohadalwaysamultiplicityoftasksonhand:shelooked，indeed，whatIafterwardsfoundshereallywas，anunder—teacher。Ledbyher，Ipassedfromcompartmenttocompartment，frompassagetopassage，ofalargeandirregularbuilding;till，emergingfromthetotalandsomewhatdrearysilencepervadingthatportionofthehousewehadtraversed，wecameuponthehumofmanyvoices，andpresentlyenteredawide，longroom，withgreatdealtables，twoateachend，oneachofwhichburntapairofcandles，andseatedallroundonbenches，acongregationofgirlsofeveryage，fromnineortentotwenty。Seenbythedimlightofthedips，theirnumbertomeappearedcountless，thoughnotinrealityexceedingeighty;theywereuniformlydressedinbrownstufffrocksofquaintfashion，andlonghollandpinafores。Itwasthehourofstudy;theywereengagedinconningovertheirto—morrow\'stask，andthehumIhadheardwasthecombinedresultoftheirwhisperedrepetitions。
MissMillersignedtometositonabenchnearthedoor，thenwalkinguptothetopofthelongroomshecriedout—
\'Monitors，collectthelesson—booksandputthemaway！\'
Fourtallgirlsarosefromdifferenttables，andgoinground，gatheredthebooksandremovedthem。MissMilleragaingavethewordofcommand—
\'Monitors，fetchthesupper—trays！\'
Thetallgirlswentoutandreturnedpresently，eachbearingatray，withportionsofsomething，Iknewnotwhat，arrangedthereon，andapitcherofwaterandmuginthemiddleofeachtray。Theportionswerehandedround;thosewholikedtookadraughtofthewater，themugbeingcommontoall。Whenitcametomyturn，I
drank，forIwasthirsty，butdidnottouchthefood，excitementandfatiguerenderingmeincapableofeating;Inowsaw，however，thatitwasathinoatencakesharedintofragments。
Themealover，prayerswerereadbyMissMiller，andtheclassesfiledoff，twoandtwo，upstairs。Overpoweredbythistimewithweariness，Iscarcelynoticedwhatsortofaplacethebedroomwas，exceptthat，liketheschoolroom，Isawitwasverylong。To—nightI
wastobeMissMiller\'sbed—fellow;shehelpedmetoundress:whenlaiddownIglancedatthelongrowsofbeds，eachofwhichwasquicklyfilledwithtwooccupants;intenminutesthesinglelightwasextinguished，andamidstsilenceandcompletedarknessIfellasleep。
Thenightpassedrapidly:Iwastootiredeventodream;
Ionlyonceawoketohearthewindraveinfuriousgusts，andtherainfallintorrents，andtobesensiblethatMissMillerhadtakenherplacebymyside。WhenIagainunclosedmyeyes，aloudbellwasringing;
thegirlswereupanddressing;dayhadnotyetbeguntodawn，andarushlightortwoburnedintheroom。Itoorosereluctantly;itwasbittercold，andIdressedaswellasIcouldforshivering，andwashedwhentherewasabasinatliberty，whichdidnotoccursoon，astherewasbutonebasintosixgirls，onthestandsdownthemiddleoftheroom。Againthebellrang;allformedinfile，twoandtwo，andinthatorderdescendedthestairsandenteredthecoldanddimlylitschoolroom:hereprayerswerereadbyMissMiller;afterwardsshecalledout—
\'Formclasses！\'
Agreattumultsucceededforsomeminutes，duringwhichMissMillerrepeatedlyexclaimed，\'Silence！\'and\'Order！\'Whenitsubsided，I
sawthemalldrawnupinfoursemicircles，beforefourchairs，placedatthefourtables;allheldbooksintheirhands，andagreatbook，likeaBible，layoneachtable，beforethevacantseat。
A
pauseofsomesecondssucceeded，filledupbythelow，vaguehumofnumbers;MissMillerwalkedfromclasstoclass，hushingthisindefinitesound。
Adistantbelltinkled:immediatelythreeladiesenteredtheroom，eachwalkedtoatableandtookherseat;MissMillerassumedthefourthvacantchair，whichwasthatnearestthedoor，andaroundwhichthesmallestofthechildrenwereassembled:tothisinferiorclassIwascalled，andplacedatthebottomofit。
Businessnowbegan:theday\'sCollectwasrepeated，thencertaintextsofScriptureweresaid，andtothesesucceededaprotractedreadingofchaptersintheBible，whichlastedanhour。Bythetimethatexercisewasterminated，dayhadfullydawned。Theindefatigablebellnowsoundedforthefourthtime:theclassesweremarshalledandmarchedintoanotherroomtobreakfast:howgladI
wastobeholdaprospectofgettingsomethingtoeat！Iwasnownearlysickfrominanition，havingtakensolittlethedaybefore。
Therefectorywasagreat，low—ceiled，gloomyroom;ontwolongtablessmokedbasinsofsomethinghot，which，however，tomydismay，sentforthanodourfarfrominviting。Isawauniversalmanifestationofdiscontentwhenthefumesoftherepastmetthenostrilsofthosedestinedtoswallowit;fromthevanoftheprocession，thetallgirlsofthefirstclass，rosethewhisperedwords—
\'Disgusting！Theporridgeisburntagain！\'
\'Silence！\'ejaculatedavoice;notthatofMissMiller，butoneoftheupperteachers，alittleanddarkpersonage，smartlydressed，butofsomewhatmoroseaspect，whoinstalledherselfatthetopofonetable，whileamorebuxomladypresidedattheother。IlookedinvainforherIhadfirstseenthenightbefore;shewasnotvisible:MissMilleroccupiedthefootofthetablewhereIsat，andastrange，foreign—looking，elderlylady，theFrenchteacher，asIafterwardsfound，tookthecorrespondingseatattheotherboard。Alonggracewassaidandahymnsung;thenaservantbroughtinsometeafortheteachers，andthemealbegan。
Ravenous，andnowveryfaint，Idevouredaspoonfulortwoofmyportionwithoutthinkingofitstaste;butthefirstedgeofhungerblunted，IperceivedIhadgotinhandanauseousmess;burntporridgeisalmostasbadasrottenpotatoes;famineitselfsoonsickensoverit。Thespoonsweremovedslowly:Isaweachgirltasteherfoodandtrytoswallowit;butinmostcasestheeffortwassoonrelinquished。
Breakfastwasover，andnonehadbreakfasted。Thanksbeingreturnedforwhatwehadnotgot，andasecondhymnchanted，therefectorywasevacuatedfortheschoolroom。Iwasoneofthelasttogoout，andinpassingthetables，Isawoneteachertakeabasinoftheporridgeandtasteit;shelookedattheothers;alltheircountenancesexpresseddispleasure，andoneofthem，thestoutone，whispered—
\'Abominablestuff！Howshameful！\'
Aquarterofanhourpassedbeforelessonsagainbegan，duringwhichtheschoolroomwasinaglorioustumult;forthatspaceoftimeitseemedtobepermittedtotalkloudandmorefreely，andtheyusedtheirprivilege。Thewholeconversationranonthebreakfast，whichoneandallabusedroundly。Poorthings！itwasthesoleconsolationtheyhad。MissMillerwasnowtheonlyteacherintheroom:agroupofgreatgirlsstandingaboutherspokewithseriousandsullengestures。IheardthenameofMr。Brocklehurstpronouncedbysomelips;atwhichMissMillershookherheaddisapprovingly;butshemadenogreatefforttocheckthegeneralwrath;doubtlessshesharedinit。
Aclockintheschoolroomstrucknine;MissMillerlefthercircle，andstandinginthemiddleoftheroom，cried—
\'Silence！Toyourseats！\'
Disciplineprevailed:infiveminutestheconfusedthrongwasresolvedintoorder，andcomparativesilencequelledtheBabelclamouroftongues。Theupperteachersnowpunctuallyresumedtheirposts:butstill，allseemedtowait。Rangedonbenchesdownthesidesoftheroom，theeightygirlssatmotionlessanderect;aquaintassemblagetheyappeared，allwithplainlockscombedfromtheirfaces，notacurlvisible;inbrowndresses，madehighandsurroundedbyanarrowtuckeraboutthethroat，withlittlepocketsofholland（shapedsomethinglikeaHighlander\'spurse）tiedinfrontoftheirfrocks，anddestinedtoservethepurposeofawork—bag:all，too，wearingwoollenstockingsandcountry—madeshoes，fastenedwithbrassbuckles。
Abovetwentyofthosecladinthiscostumewerefull—growngirls，orratheryoungwomen;itsuitedthemill，andgaveanairofoddityeventotheprettiest。
Iwasstilllookingatthem，andalsoatintervalsexaminingtheteachers—noneofwhompreciselypleasedme;forthestoutonewasalittlecoarse，thedarkonenotalittlefierce，theforeignerharshandgrotesque，andMissMiller，poorthing！lookedpurple，weather—beaten，andover—worked—when，asmyeyewanderedfromfacetoface，thewholeschoolrosesimultaneously，asifmovedbyacommonspring。
Whatwasthematter？Ihadheardnoordergiven:Iwaspuzzled。EreIhadgatheredmywits，theclasseswereagainseated:butasalleyeswerenowturnedtoonepoint，minefollowedthegeneraldirection，andencounteredthepersonagewhohadreceivedmelastnight。Shestoodatthebottomofthelongroom，onthehearth;fortherewasafireateachend;shesurveyedthetworowsofgirlssilentlyandgravely。
MissMiller，approaching，seemedtoaskheraquestion，andhavingreceivedheranswer，wentbacktoherplace，andsaidaloud—
\'Monitorofthefirstclass，fetchtheglobes！\'
Whilethedirectionwasbeingexecuted，theladyconsultedmovedslowlyuptheroom。IsupposeIhaveaconsiderableorganofveneration，forIretainyetthesenseofadmiringawewithwhichmyeyestracedhersteps。Seennow，inbroadday—light，shelookedtall，fair，andshapely;browneyeswithabenignantlightintheiririds，andafinepencillingoflonglashesround，relievedthewhitenessofherlargefront;oneachofhertemplesherhair，ofaverydarkbrown，wasclusteredinroundcurls，accordingtothefashionofthosetimes，whenneithersmoothbandsnorlongringletswereinvogue;herdress，alsointhemodeoftheday，wasofpurplecloth，relievedbyasortofSpanishtrimmingofblackvelvet;agoldwatch（watcheswerenotsocommonthenasnow）shoneathergirdle。Letthereaderadd，tocompletethepicture，refinedfeatures;
acomplexion，ifpale，clear;andastatelyairandcarriage，andhewillhave，atleast，asclearlyaswordscangiveit，acorrectideaoftheexteriorofMissTemple—MariaTemple，asIafterwardssawthenamewritteninaprayer—bookintrustedtometocarrytochurch。
ThesuperintendentofLowood（forsuchwasthislady）havingtakenherseatbeforeapairofglobesplacedononeofthetables，summonedthefirstclassroundher，andcommencedgivingalessonongeography;thelowerclasseswerecalledbytheteachers:
repetitionsinhistory，grammar，etc。，wentonforanhour;writingandarithmeticsucceeded，andmusiclessonsweregivenbyMissTempletosomeoftheeldergirls。Thedurationofeachlessonwasmeasuredbytheclock，whichatlaststrucktwelve。Thesuperintendentrose—
\'Ihaveawordtoaddresstothepupils，\'saidshe。
Thetumultofcessationfromlessonswasalreadybreakingforth，butitsankathervoice。Shewenton—
\'Youhadthismorningabreakfastwhichyoucouldnoteat;
youmustbehungry:—Ihaveorderedthatalunchofbreadandcheeseshallbeservedtoall。\'
Theteacherslookedatherwithasortofsurprise。
\'Itistobedoneonmyresponsibility，\'sheadded，inanexplanatorytonetothem，andimmediatelyafterwardslefttheroom。
Thebreadandcheesewaspresentlybroughtinanddistributed，tothehighdelightandrefreshmentofthewholeschool。Theorderwasnowgiven\'Tothegarden！\'Eachputonacoarsestrawbonnet，withstringsofcolouredcalico，andacloakofgreyfrieze，Iwassimilarlyequipped，and，followingthestream，Imademywayintotheopenair。
Thegardenwasawideenclosure，surroundedwithwallssohighastoexcludeeveryglimpseofprospect;acoveredverandahrandownoneside，andbroadwalksborderedamiddlespacedividedintoscoresoflittlebeds:thesebedswereassignedasgardensforthepupilstocultivate，andeachbedhadanowner。Whenfullofflowerstheywoulddoubtlesslookpretty;butnow，atthelatterendofJanuary，allwaswintryblightandbrowndecay。IshudderedasIstoodandlookedroundme:itwasaninclementdayforoutdoorexercise;notpositivelyrainy，butdarkenedbyadrizzlingyellowfog;allunderfootwasstillsoakingwetwiththefloodsofyesterday。Thestrongeramongthegirlsranaboutandengagedinactivegames，butsundrypaleandthinonesherdedtogetherforshelterandwarmthintheverandah;andamongstthese，asthedensemistpenetratedtotheirshiveringframes，Iheardfrequentlythesoundofahollowcough。
AsyetIhadspokentonoone，nordidanybodyseemtotakenoticeofme;Istoodlonelyenough:buttothatfeelingofisolationIwasaccustomed;itdidnotoppressmemuch。Ileantagainstapillaroftheverandah，drewmygreymantlecloseaboutme，and，tryingtoforgetthecoldwhichnippedmewithout，andtheunsatisfiedhungerwhichgnawedmewithin，deliveredmyselfuptotheemploymentofwatchingandthinking。Myreflectionsweretooundefinedandfragmentarytomeritrecord:IhardlyyetknewwhereI
was;Gatesheadandmypastlifeseemedfloatedawaytoanimmeasurabledistance;thepresentwasvagueandstrange，andofthefutureIcouldformnoconjecture。Ilookedroundtheconvent—likegarden，andthenupatthehouse—alargebuilding，halfofwhichseemedgreyandold，theotherhalfquitenew。Thenewpart，containingtheschoolroomanddormitory，waslitbymullionedandlatticedwindows，whichgaveitachurch—likeaspect;astonetabletoverthedoorborethisinscription—
Brocklehurst，ofBrocklehurstHall，inthiscounty。\'\'Letyourlightsoshinebeforemen，thattheymayseeyourgoodworks，andglorifyyourFatherwhichisinheaven。\'—St。Matt。v。16。
Ireadthesewordsoverandoveragain:Ifeltthatanexplanationbelongedtothem，andwasunablefullytopenetratetheirimport。Iwasstillponderingthesignificationof\'Institution\'，andendeavouringtomakeoutaconnectionbetweenthefirstwordsandtheverseofScripture，whenthesoundofacoughclosebehindmemademeturnmyhead。Isawagirlsittingonastonebenchnear;shewasbentoverabook，ontheperusalofwhichsheseemedintent:fromwhereIstoodIcouldseethetitle—itwasRasselas;anamethatstruckmeasstrange，andconsequentlyattractive。Inturningaleafshehappenedtolookup，andIsaidtoherdirectly—
\'Isyourbookinteresting？\'Ihadalreadyformedtheintentionofaskinghertolendittomesomeday。
\'Ilikeit，\'sheanswered，afterapauseofasecondortwo，duringwhichsheexaminedme。
\'Whatisitabout？\'Icontinued。IhardlyknowwhereI
foundthehardihoodthustoopenaconversationwithastranger;thestepwascontrarytomynatureandhabits:butIthinkheroccupationtouchedachordofsympathysomewhere;forItoolikedreading，thoughofafrivolousandchildishkind;Icouldnotdigestorcomprehendtheseriousorsubstantial。
\'Youmaylookatit，\'repliedthegirl，offeringmethebook。
Ididso;abriefexaminationconvincedmethatthecontentswerelesstakingthanthetitle:Rasselaslookeddulltomytriflingtaste;
Isawnothingaboutfairies，nothingaboutgenii;nobrightvarietyseemedspreadovertheclosely—printedpages。Ireturnedittoher;
shereceiveditquietly，andwithoutsayinganythingshewasabouttorelapseintoherformerstudiousmood:againIventuredtodisturbher—
\'Canyoutellmewhatthewritingonthatstoneoverthedoormeans？WhatisLowoodInstitution？\'
\'Thishousewhereyouarecometolive。\'
\'AndwhydotheycallitInstitution？Isitinanywaydifferentfromotherschools？\'
\'Itispartlyacharity—school:youandI，andalltherestofus，arecharity—children。Isupposeyouareanorphan:arenoteitheryourfatheroryourmotherdead？\'
\'BothdiedbeforeIcanremember。\'
\'Well，allthegirlsherehavelosteitheroneorbothparents，andthisiscalledaninstitutionforeducatingorphans。\'
\'Dowepaynomoney？Dotheykeepusfornothing？\'
\'Wepay，orourfriendspay，fifteenpoundsayearforeach。\'
\'Thenwhydotheycalluscharity—children？\'
\'Becausefifteenpoundsisnotenoughforboardandteaching，andthedeficiencyissuppliedbysubscription。\'
\'Whosubscribes？\'
\'Differentbenevolent—mindedladiesandgentlemeninthisneighbourhoodandinLondon。\'
\'WhowasNaomiBrocklehurst？\'
\'Theladywhobuiltthenewpartofthishouseasthattabletrecords，andwhosesonoverlooksanddirectseverythinghere。\'
\'Why？\'
\'Becauseheistreasurerandmanageroftheestablishment。\'
\'Thenthishousedoesnotbelongtothattallladywhowearsawatch，andwhosaidweweretohavesomebreadandcheese？\'
\'ToMissTemple？Oh，no！Iwishitdid:shehastoanswertoMr。
Brocklehurstforallshedoes。Mr。Brocklehurstbuysallourfoodandallourclothes。\'
\'Doeshelivehere？\'
\'No—twomilesoff，atalargehall。\'
\'Isheagoodman？\'
\'Heisaclergyman，andissaidtodoagreatdealofgood。\'
\'DidyousaythattallladywascalledMissTemple？\'
\'Yes。\'
\'Andwhataretheotherteacherscalled？\'
\'TheonewithredcheeksiscalledMissSmith;sheattendstothework，andcutsout—forwemakeourownclothes，ourfrocks，andpelisses，andeverything;thelittleonewithblackhairisMissScatcherd;sheteacheshistoryandgrammar，andhearsthesecondclassrepetitions;andtheonewhowearsashawl，andhasapocket—handkerchieftiedtohersidewithayellowribband，isMadamePierrot:shecomesfromLisle，inFrance，andteachesFrench。\'
\'Doyouliketheteachers？\'
\'Wellenough。\'
\'Doyoulikethelittleblackone，andtheMadame—？—I
cannotpronouncehernameasyoudo。\'
\'MissScatcherdishasty—youmusttakecarenottooffendher;
MadamePierrotisnotabadsortofperson。\'
\'ButMissTempleisthebest—isn\'tshe？\'
\'MissTempleisverygoodandveryclever;sheisabovetherest，becausesheknowsfarmorethantheydo。\'
\'Haveyoubeenlonghere？\'
\'Twoyears。\'
\'Areyouanorphan？\'
\'Mymotherisdead。\'
\'Areyouhappyhere？\'
\'Youaskrathertoomanyquestions。Ihavegivenyouanswersenoughforthepresent:nowIwanttoread。\'
Butatthatmomentthesummonssoundedfordinner;allre—enteredthehouse。Theodourwhichnowfilledtherefectorywasscarcelymoreappetisingthanthatwhichhadregaledournostrilsatbreakfast:
thedinnerwasservedintwohugetin—platedvessels，whenceroseastrongsteamredolentofrancidfat。Ifoundthemesstoconsistofindifferentpotatoesandstrangeshredsofrustymeat，mixedandcookedtogether。Ofthispreparationatolerablyabundantplatefulwasapportionedtoeachpupil。IatewhatIcould，andwonderedwithinmyselfwhethereveryday\'sfarewouldbelikethis。
Afterdinner，weimmediatelyadjournedtotheschoolroom:
lessonsrecommenced，andwerecontinuedtillfiveo\'clock。
Theonlymarkedeventoftheafternoonwas，thatIsawthegirlwithwhomIhadconversedintheverandahdismissedindisgracebyMissScatcherdfromahistoryclass，andsenttostandinthemiddleofthelargeschoolroom。Thepunishmentseemedtomeinahighdegreeignominious，especiallyforsogreatagirl—shelookedthirteenorupwards。Iexpectedshewouldshowsignsofgreatdistressandshame;buttomysurprisesheneitherweptnorblushed:
composed，thoughgrave，shestood，thecentralmarkofalleyes。
\'Howcanshebearitsoquietly—sofirmly？\'Iaskedofmyself。
\'WereIinherplace，itseemstomeIshouldwishtheearthtoopenandswallowmeup。Shelooksasifshewerethinkingofsomethingbeyondherpunishment—beyondhersituation:ofsomethingnotroundhernorbeforeher。Ihaveheardofday—dreams—issheinaday—dreamnow？Hereyesarefixedonthefloor，butIamsuretheydonotseeit—hersightseemsturnedin，gonedownintoherheart:
sheislookingatwhatshecanremember，Ibelieve;notatwhatisreallypresent。Iwonderwhatsortofagirlsheis—whethergoodornaughty。\'
SoonafterfiveP。M。wehadanothermeal，consistingofasmallmugofcoffee，andhalfasliceofbrownbread。Idevouredmybreadanddrankmycoffeewithrelish;butIshouldhavebeengladofasmuchmore—Iwasstillhungry。Halfanhour\'srecreationsucceeded，thenstudy;thentheglassofwaterandthepieceofoat—cake，prayers，andbed。SuchwasmyfirstdayatLowood。