chapter06CHAPTERVI
THEnextdaycommencedasbefore，gettingupanddressingbyrushlight;butthismorningwewereobligedtodispensewiththeceremonyofwashing;thewaterinthepitcherswasfrozen。Achangehadtakenplaceintheweathertheprecedingevening，andakeennorth—eastwind，whistlingthroughthecrevicesofourbedroomwindowsallnightlong，hadmadeusshiverinourbeds，andturnedthecontentsoftheewerstoice。
BeforethelonghourandahalfofprayersandBible—readingwasover，Ifeltreadytoperishwithcold。Breakfast—timecameatlast，andthismorningtheporridgewasnotburnt;thequalitywaseatable，thequantitysmall。Howsmallmyportionseemed！Iwishedithadbeendoubled。
InthecourseofthedayIwasenrolledamemberofthefourthclass，andregulartasksandoccupationswereassignedme:hitherto，I
hadonlybeenaspectatoroftheproceedingsatLowood;Iwasnowtobecomeanactortherein。Atfirst，beinglittleaccustomedtolearnbyheart，thelessonsappearedtomebothlonganddifficult;thefrequentchangefromtasktotask，too，bewilderedme;andIwasgladwhen，aboutthreeo\'clockintheafternoon，MissSmithputintomyhandsaborderofmuslintwoyardslong，togetherwithneedle，thimble，etc。，andsentmetositinaquietcorneroftheschoolroom，withdirectionstohemthesame。Atthathourmostoftheothersweresewinglikewise;butoneclassstillstoodroundMissScatcherd\'schairreading，andasallwasquiet，thesubjectoftheirlessonscouldbeheard，togetherwiththemannerinwhicheachgirlacquittedherself，andtheanimadversionsorcommendationsofMissScatcherdontheperformance。ItwasEnglishhistory:amongthereadersIobservedmyacquaintanceoftheverandah:atthecommencementofthelesson，herplacehadbeenatthetopoftheclass，butforsomeerrorofpronunciation，orsomeinattentiontostops，shewassuddenlysenttotheverybottom。Eveninthatobscureposition，MissScatcherdcontinuedtomakeheranobjectofconstantnotice;shewascontinuallyaddressingtohersuchphrasesasthefollowing:—
\'Burns\'（suchitseemswashername:thegirlsherewereallcalledbytheirsurnames，asboysareelsewhere），\'Burns，youarestandingonthesideofyourshoe;turnyourtoesoutimmediately。\'\'Burns，youpokeyourchinmostunpleasantly;drawitin。\'\'Burns，Iinsistonyourholdingyourheadup;Iwillnothaveyoubeforemeinthatattitude，\'etc。etc。
Achapterhavingbeenreadthroughtwice，thebookswereclosedandthegirlsexamined。ThelessonhadcomprisedpartofthereignofCharlesI，andthereweresundryquestionsabouttonnageandpoundageandship—money，whichmostofthemappearedunabletoanswer;
still，everylittledifficultywassolvedinstantlywhenitreachedBurns:hermemoryseemedtohaveretainedthesubstanceofthewholelesson，andshewasreadywithanswersoneverypoint。IkeptexpectingthatMissScatcherdwouldpraiseherattention;but，insteadofthat，shesuddenlycriedout—
\'Youdirty，disagreeablegirl！youhavenevercleanedyournailsthismorning！\'
Burnsmadenoanswer:Iwonderedathersilence。
\'Why，\'thoughtI，\'doesshenotexplainthatshecouldneithercleanhernailsnorwashherface，asthewaterwasfrozen？\'
MyattentionwasnowcalledoffbyMissSmithdesiringmetoholdaskeinofthread:whileshewaswindingit，shetalkedtomefromtimetotime，askingwhetherIhadeverbeenatschoolbefore，whetherIcouldmark，stitch，knit，etc。;tillshedismissedme，IcouldnotpursuemyobservationsonMissScatcherd\'smovements。WhenI
returnedtomyseat，thatladywasjustdeliveringanorderofwhichI
didnotcatchtheimport;butBurnsimmediatelylefttheclass，andgoingintothesmallinnerroomwherethebookswerekept，returnedinhalfaminute，carryinginherhandabundleoftwigstiedtogetheratoneend。ThisominoustoolshepresentedtoMissScatcherdwitharespectfulcurtsey;thenshequietly，andwithoutbeingtold，unloosedherpinafore，andtheteacherinstantlyandsharplyinflictedonherneckadozenstrokeswiththebunchoftwigs。NotatearrosetoBurns\'seye;and，whileIpausedfrommysewing，becausemyfingersquiveredatthisspectaclewithasentimentofunavailingandimpotentanger，notafeatureofherpensivefacealtereditsordinaryexpression。
\'Hardenedgirl！\'exclaimedMissScatcherd;\'nothingcancorrectyouofyourslatternlyhabits:carrytherodaway。\'
Burnsobeyed:Ilookedathernarrowlyassheemergedfromthebook—closet;shewasjustputtingbackherhandkerchiefintoherpocket，andthetraceofatearglistenedonherthincheek。
Theplay—hourintheeveningIthoughtthepleasantestfractionofthedayatLowood:thebitofbread，thedraughtofcoffeeswallowedatfiveo\'clockhadrevivedvitality，ifithadnotsatisfiedhunger:thelongrestraintofthedaywasslackened;theschoolroomfeltwarmerthaninthemorning—itsfiresbeingallowedtoburnalittlemorebrightly，tosupply，insomemeasure，theplaceofcandles，notyetintroduced:theruddygloaming，thelicenseduproar，theconfusionofmanyvoicesgaveoneawelcomesenseofliberty。
OntheeveningofthedayonwhichIhadseenMissScatcherdflogherpupil，Burns，Iwanderedasusualamongtheformsandtablesandlaughinggroupswithoutacompanion，yetnotfeelinglonely:whenI
passedthewindows，Inowandthenliftedablind，andlookedout;
itsnowedfast，adriftwasalreadyformingagainstthelowerpanes;
puttingmyearclosetothewindow，Icoulddistinguishfromthegleefultumultwithin，thedisconsolatemoanofthewindoutside。
Probably，ifIhadlatelyleftagoodhomeandkindparents，thiswouldhavebeenthehourwhenIshouldmostkeenlyhaveregrettedtheseparation;thatwindwouldthenhavesaddenedmyheart，thisobscurechaoswouldhavedisturbedmypeace！asitwas，Iderivedfrombothastrangeexcitement，andrecklessandfeverish，Iwishedthewindtohowlmorewildly，thegloomtodeepentodarkness，andtheconfusiontorisetoclamour。
Jumpingoverforms，andcreepingundertables，Imademywaytooneofthefire—places;there，kneelingbythehighwirefender，IfoundBurns，absorbed，silent，abstractedfromallroundherbythecompanionshipofabook，whichshereadbythedimglareoftheembers。
\'IsitstillRasselas？\'Iasked，comingbehindher。
\'Yes，\'shesaid，\'andIhavejustfinishedit。\'
Andinfiveminutesmoresheshutitup。Iwasgladofthis。
\'Now，\'thoughtI，\'Icanperhapsgethertotalk。\'Isatdownbyheronthefloor。
\'WhatisyournamebesidesBurns？\'
\'Helen。\'
\'Doyoucomealongwayfromhere？\'
\'Icomefromaplacefarthernorth，quiteonthebordersofScotland。\'
\'Willyouevergoback？\'
\'Ihopeso;butnobodycanbesureofthefuture。\'
\'YoumustwishtoleaveLowood？\'
\'No！whyshouldI？IwassenttoLowoodtogetaneducation;
anditwouldbeofnousegoingawayuntilIhaveattainedthatobject。\'
\'Butthatteacher，MissScatcherd，issocrueltoyou？\'
\'Cruel？Notatall！Sheissevere:shedislikesmyfaults。\'
\'AndifIwereinyourplaceIshoulddislikeher;Ishouldresisther。Ifshestruckmewiththatrod，Ishouldgetitfromherhand;Ishouldbreakitunderhernose。\'
\'Probablyyouwoulddonothingofthesort:butifyoudid，Mr。
Brocklehurstwouldexpelyoufromtheschool;thatwouldbeagreatgrieftoyourrelations。Itisfarbettertoendurepatientlyasmartwhichnobodyfeelsbutyourself，thantocommitahastyactionwhoseevilconsequenceswillextendtoallconnectedwithyou;andbesides，theBiblebidsusreturngoodforevil。\'
\'Butthenitseemsdisgracefultobeflogged，andtobesenttostandinthemiddleofaroomfullofpeople;andyouaresuchagreatgirl:Iamfaryoungerthanyou，andIcouldnotbearit。\'
\'Yetitwouldbeyourdutytobearit，ifyoucouldnotavoidit:
itisweakandsillytosayyoucannotbearwhatitisyourfatetoberequiredtobear。\'
Iheardherwithwonder:Icouldnotcomprehendthisdoctrineofendurance;andstilllesscouldIunderstandorsympathisewiththeforbearancesheexpressedforherchastiser。StillIfeltthatHelenBurnsconsideredthingsbyalightinvisibletomyeyes。IsuspectedshemightberightandIwrong;butIwouldnotponderthematterdeeply;likeFelix，Iputitofftoamoreconvenientseason。
\'Yousayyouhavefaults，Helen:whatarethey？Tomeyouseemverygood。\'
\'Thenlearnfromme，nottojudgebyappearances:Iam，asMissScatcherdsaid，slatternly;Iseldomput，andneverkeep，thingsinorder;Iamcareless;Iforgetrules;IreadwhenIshouldlearnmylessons;Ihavenomethod;andsometimesIsay，likeyou，Icannotbeartobesubjectedtosystematicarrangements。ThisisallveryprovokingtoMissScatcherd，whoisnaturallyneat，punctual，andparticular。\'
\'Andcrossandcruel，\'Iadded;butHelenBurnswouldnotadmitmyaddition:shekeptsilence。
\'IsMissTempleasseveretoyouasMissScatcherd？\'
AttheutteranceofMissTemple\'sname，asoftsmileflittedoverhergraveface。
\'MissTempleisfullofgoodness;itpainshertobeseveretoanyone，eventheworstintheschool:sheseesmyerrors，andtellsmeofthemgently;andifIdoanythingworthyofpraise，shegivesmemymeedliberally。Onestrongproofofmywretchedlydefectivenatureis，thatevenherexpostulations，somild，sorational，havenoinfluencetocuremeofmyfaults;andevenherpraise，thoughIvalueitmosthighly，cannotstimulatemetocontinuedcareandforesight。\'
\'Thatiscurious，\'saidI，\'itissoeasytobecareful。\'
\'ForyouIhavenodoubtitis。Iobservedyouinyourclassthismorning，andsawyouwerecloselyattentive:yourthoughtsneverseemedtowanderwhileMissMillerexplainedthelessonandquestionedyou。Now，minecontinuallyroveaway;whenIshouldbelisteningtoMissScatcherd，andcollectingallshesayswithassiduity，oftenI
losetheverysoundofhervoice;Ifallintoasortofdream。
SometimesIthinkIaminNorthumberland，andthatthenoisesIhearroundmearethebubblingofalittlebrookwhichrunsthroughDeepden，nearourhouse;—then，whenitcomestomyturntoreply，I
havetobeawakened;andhavingheardnothingofwhatwasreadforlisteningtothevisionarybrook，Ihavenoanswerready。\'
\'Yethowwellyourepliedthisafternoon。\'
\'Itwasmerechance;thesubjectonwhichwehadbeenreadinghadinterestedme。Thisafternoon，insteadofdreamingofDeepden，IwaswonderinghowamanwhowishedtodorightcouldactsounjustlyandunwiselyasCharlestheFirstsometimesdid;andIthoughtwhatapityitwasthat，withhisintegrityandconscientiousness，hecouldseenofartherthantheprerogativesofthecrown。Ifhehadbutbeenabletolooktoadistance，andseehowwhattheycallthespiritoftheagewastending！Still，IlikeCharles—Irespecthim—Ipityhim，poormurderedking！Yes，hisenemiesweretheworst:theyshedbloodtheyhadnorighttoshed。Howdaredtheykillhim！\'
Helenwastalkingtoherselfnow:shehadforgottenIcouldnotverywellunderstandher—thatIwasignorant，ornearlyso，ofthesubjectshediscussed。Irecalledhertomylevel。
\'AndwhenMissTempleteachesyou，doyourthoughtswanderthen？\'
\'No，certainly，notoften:becauseMissTemplehasgenerallysomethingtosaywhichisnewerthanmyownreflections;herlanguageissingularlyagreeabletome，andtheinformationshecommunicatesisoftenjustwhatIwishedtogain。\'
\'Well，then，withMissTempleyouaregood？\'
\'Yes，inapassiveway:Imakenoeffort;Ifollowasinclinationguidesme。Thereisnomeritinsuchgoodness。\'
\'Agreatdeal:youaregoodtothosewhoaregoodtoyou。
ItisallIeverdesiretobe。Ifpeoplewerealwayskindandobedienttothosewhoarecruelandunjust，thewickedpeoplewouldhaveitalltheirownway:theywouldneverfeelafraid，andsotheywouldneveralter，butwouldgrowworseandworse。Whenwearestruckatwithoutareason，weshouldstrikebackagainveryhard;Iamsureweshould—
sohardastoteachthepersonwhostruckusnevertodoitagain。\'
\'Youwillchangeyourmind，Ihope，whenyougrowolder:
asyetyouarebutalittleuntaughtgirl。\'
\'ButIfeelthis，Helen;Imustdislikethosewho，whateverIdotopleasethem，persistindislikingme;Imustresistthosewhopunishmeunjustly。ItisasnaturalasthatIshouldlovethosewhoshowmeaffection，orsubmittopunishmentwhenIfeelitisdeserved。\'
\'Heathensandsavagetribesholdthatdoctrine，butChristiansandcivilisednationsdisownit。\'
\'How？Idon\'tunderstand。\'
\'Itisnotviolencethatbestovercomeshate—norvengeancethatmostcertainlyhealsinjury。\'
\'Whatthen？\'
\'ReadtheNewTestament，andobservewhatChristsays，andhowHeacts;makeHiswordyourrule，andHisconductyourexample。\'
\'WhatdoesHesay？\'
\'Loveyourenemies;blessthemthatcurseyou;dogoodtothemthathateyouanddespitefullyuseyou。\'
\'ThenIshouldloveMrs。Reed，whichIcannotdo;IshouldblesshersonJohn，whichisimpossible。\'
Inherturn，HelenBurnsaskedmetoexplain，andIproceededforthwithtopourout，inmyownway，thetaleofmysufferingsandresentments。Bitterandtruculentwhenexcited，IspokeasIfelt，withoutreserveorsoftening。
Helenheardmepatientlytotheend:Iexpectedshewouldthenmakearemark，butshesaidnothing。
\'Well，\'Iaskedimpatiently，\'isnotMrs。Reedahard—hearted，badwoman？\'
\'Shehasbeenunkindtoyou，nodoubt;becauseyousee，shedislikesyourcastofcharacter，asMissScatcherddoesmine;buthowminutelyyourememberallshehasdoneandsaidtoyou！Whatasingularlydeepimpressionherinjusticeseemstohavemadeonyourheart！Noill—usagesobrandsitsrecordonmyfeelings。Wouldyounotbehappierifyoutriedtoforgetherseverity，togetherwiththepassionateemotionsitexcited？Lifeappearstometooshorttobespentinnursinganimosityorregisteringwrongs。Weare，andmustbe，oneandall，burdenedwithfaultsinthisworld:butthetimewillsooncomewhen，Itrust，weshallputthemoffinputtingoffourcorruptiblebodies;whendebasementandsinwillfallfromuswiththiscumbrousframeofflesh，andonlythesparkofthespiritwillremain，—theimpalpableprincipleoflightandthought，pureaswhenitlefttheCreatortoinspirethecreature:whenceitcameitwillreturn;perhapsagaintobecommunicatedtosomebeinghigherthanman—perhapstopassthroughgradationsofglory，fromthepalehumansoultobrightentotheseraph！SurelyitWillnever，onthecontrary，besufferedtodegeneratefrommantofiend？No;Icannotbelievethat:Iholdanothercreed:whichnooneevertaughtme，andwhichIseldommention;butinwhichIdelight，andtowhichI
cling:foritextendshopetoall:itmakesEternityarest—amightyhome，notaterrorandanabyss。Besides，withthiscreed，I
cansoclearlydistinguishbetweenthecriminalandhiscrime;IcansosincerelyforgivethefirstwhileIabhorthelast:withthiscreedrevengeneverworriesmyheart，degradationnevertoodeeplydisgustsme，injusticenevercrushesmetoolow:Iliveincalm，lookingtotheend。\'
Helen\'shead，alwaysdrooping，sankalittlelowerasshefinishedthissentence。Isawbyherlookshewishednolongertotalktome，butrathertoconversewithherownthoughts。Shewasnotallowedmuchtimeformeditation:amonitor，agreatroughgirl，presentlycameup，exclaiminginastrongCumberlandaccent—
\'HelenBurns，ifyoudon\'tgoandputyourdrawerinorder，andfoldupyourworkthisminute，I\'lltellMissScatcherdtocomeandlookatit！\'
Helensighedasherreveriefled，andgettingup，obeyedthemonitorwithoutreplyaswithoutdelay。
chapter07CHAPTERVII
MYfirstquarteratLowoodseemedanage;andnotthegoldenageeither;itcomprisedanirksomestrugglewithdifficultiesinhabituatingmyselftonewrulesandunwontedtasks。Thefearoffailureinthesepointsharassedmeworsethanthephysicalhardshipsofmylot;thoughthesewerenotrifles。
DuringJanuary，February，andpartofMarch，thedeepsnows，and，aftertheirmelting，thealmostimpassableroads，preventedourstirringbeyondthegardenwalls，excepttogotochurch;butwithintheselimitswehadtopassanhoureverydayintheopenair。Ourclothingwasinsufficienttoprotectusfromtheseverecold:wehadnoboots，thesnowgotintoourshoesandmeltedthere:ourunglovedhandsbecamenumbedandcoveredwithchilblains，aswereourfeet:I
rememberwellthedistractingirritationIenduredfromthiscauseeveryevening，whenmyfeetinflamed;andthetortureofthrustingtheswelled，raw，andstifftoesintomyshoesinthemorning。Thenthescantysupplyoffoodwasdistressing:withthekeenappetitesofgrowingchildren，wehadscarcelysufficienttokeepaliveadelicateinvalid。Fromthisdeficiencyofnourishmentresultedanabuse，whichpressedhardlyontheyoungerpupils:wheneverthefamishedgreatgirlshadanopportunity，theywouldcoaxormenacethelittleonesoutoftheirportion。ManyatimeIhavesharedbetweentwoclaimantsthepreciousmorselofbrownbreaddistributedatteatime;andafterrelinquishingtoathirdhalfthecontentsofmymugofcoffee，Ihaveswallowedtheremainderwithanaccompanimentofsecrettears，forcedfrommebytheexigencyofhunger。
Sundaysweredrearydaysinthatwintryseason。WehadtowalktwomilestoBrocklebridgeChurch，whereourpatronofficiated。Wesetoutcold，wearrivedatchurchcolder:duringthemorningservicewebecamealmostparalysed。Itwastoofartoreturntodinner，andanallowanceofcoldmeatandbread，inthesamepenuriousproportionobservedinourordinarymeals，wasservedroundbetweentheservices。
Atthecloseoftheafternoonservicewereturnedbyanexposedandhillyroad，wherethebitterwinterwind，blowingoverarangeofsnowysummitstothenorth，almostflayedtheskinfromourfaces。
IcanrememberMissTemplewalkinglightlyandrapidlyalongourdroopingline，herplaidcloak，whichthefrostywindfluttered，gatheredcloseabouther，andencouragingus，bypreceptandexample，tokeepupourspirits，andmarchforward，asshesaid，\'likestalwartsoldiers。\'Theotherteachers，poorthings，weregenerallythemselvestoomuchdejectedtoattemptthetaskofcheeringothers。
Howwelongedforthelightandheatofablazingfirewhenwegotback！But，tothelittleonesatleast，thiswasdenied:eachhearthintheschoolroomwasimmediatelysurroundedbyadoublerowofgreatgirls，andbehindthemtheyoungerchildrencrouchedingroups，wrappingtheirstarvedarmsintheirpinafores。
Alittlesolacecameattea—time，intheshapeofadoublerationofbread—awhole，insteadofahalf，slice—withthedeliciousadditionofathinscrapeofbutter:itwasthehebdomadaltreattowhichwealllookedforwardfromSabbathtoSabbath。Igenerallycontrivedtoreserveamoietyofthisbounteousrepastformyself;buttheremainderIwasinvariablyobligedtopartwith。
TheSundayeveningwasspentinrepeating，byheart，theChurchCatechism，andthefifth，sixth，andseventhchaptersofSt。
Matthew;andinlisteningtoalongsermon，readbyMissMiller，whoseirrepressibleyawnsattestedherweariness。AfrequentinterludeoftheseperformanceswastheenactmentofthepartofEutychusbysomehalf—dozenoflittlegirls，who，overpoweredwithsleep，wouldfalldown，ifnotoutofthethirdloft，yetoffthefourthform，andbetakenuphalfdead。Theremedywas，tothrustthemforwardintothecentreoftheschoolroom，andobligethemtostandtheretillthesermonwasfinished。Sometimestheirfeetfailedthem，andtheysanktogetherinaheap;theywerethenproppedupwiththemonitors\'
highstools。
IhavenotyetalludedtothevisitsofMr。Brocklehurst;
andindeedthatgentlemanwasfromhomeduringthegreaterpartofthefirstmonthaftermyarrival;perhapsprolonginghisstaywithhisfriendthearchdeacon:hisabsencewasarelieftome。IneednotsaythatIhadmyownreasonsfordreadinghiscoming:butcomehedidatlast。
Oneafternoon（IhadthenbeenthreeweeksatLowood），asIwassittingwithaslateinmyhand，puzzlingoverasuminlongdivision，myeyes，raisedinabstractiontothewindow，caughtsightofafigurejustpassing:Irecognisedalmostinstinctivelythatgauntoutline;
andwhen，twominutesafter，alltheschool，teachersincluded，roseenmasse，itwasnotnecessaryformetolookupinordertoascertainwhoseentrancetheythusgreeted。Alongstridemeasuredtheschoolroom，andpresentlybesideMissTemple，whoherselfhadrisen，stoodthesameblackcolumnwhichhadfrownedonmesoominouslyfromthehearthrugofGateshead。Inowglancedsidewaysatthispieceofarchitecture。Yes，Iwasright:itwasMr。Brocklehurst，buttonedupinasurtout，andlookinglonger，narrower，andmorerigidthanever。
Ihadmyownreasonsforbeingdismayedatthisapparition;
toowellIrememberedtheperfidioushintsgivenbyMrs。Reedaboutmydisposition，etc。;thepromisepledgedbyMr。BrocklehursttoappriseMissTempleandtheteachersofmyviciousnature。AllalongI
hadbeendreadingthefulfilmentofthispromise，—Ihadbeenlookingoutdailyforthe\'ComingMan，\'whoseinformationrespectingmypastlifeandconversationwastobrandmeasabadchildforever:
nowtherehewas。
HestoodatMissTemple\'sside;hewasspeakinglowinherear:I
didnotdoubthewasmakingdisclosuresofmyvillainy;andI
watchedhereyewithpainfulanxiety，expectingeverymomenttoseeitsdarkorbturnonmeaglanceofrepugnanceandcontempt。I
listenedtoo;andasIhappenedtobeseatedquiteatthetopoftheroom，Icaughtmostofwhathesaid:itsimportrelievedmefromimmediateapprehension。
\'Isuppose，MissTemple，thethreadIboughtatLowtonwilldo;
itstruckmethatitwouldbejustofthequalityforthecalicochemises，andIsortedtheneedlestomatch。YoumaytellMissSmiththatIforgottomakeamemorandumofthedarningneedles，butsheshallhavesomepaperssentinnextweek;andsheisnot，onanyaccount，togiveoutmorethanoneatatimetoeachpupil:iftheyhavemore，theyareapttobecarelessandlosethem。And，Oma\'am！
Iwishthewoollenstockingswerebetterlookedto！—whenIwasherelast，Iwentintothekitchen—gardenandexaminedtheclothesdryingontheline;therewasaquantityofblackhoseinaverybadstateofrepair:fromthesizeoftheholesinthemIwassuretheyhadnotbeenwellmendedfromtimetotime。\'
Hepaused。
\'Yourdirectionsshallbeattendedto，sir，\'saidMissTemple。
\'And，ma\'am，\'hecontinued，\'thelaundresstellsmesomeofthegirlshavetwocleantuckersintheweek:itistoomuch;theruleslimitthemtoone。\'
\'IthinkIcanexplainthatcircumstance，sir。AgnesandCatherineJohnstonewereinvitedtotaketeawithsomefriendsatLowtonlastThursday，andIgavethemleavetoputoncleantuckersfortheoccasion。\'
Mr。Brocklehurstnodded。
\'Well，foronceitmaypass;butpleasenottoletthecircumstanceoccurtoooften。Andthereisanotherthingwhichsurprisedme;I
find，insettlingaccountswiththehousekeeper，thatalunch，consistingofbreadandcheese，hastwicebeenservedouttothegirlsduringthepastfortnight。Howisthis？Ilookedovertheregulations，andIfindnosuchmealaslunchmentioned。Whointroducedthisinnovation？andbywhatauthority？\'
\'Imustberesponsibleforthecircumstance，sir，\'repliedMissTemple:\'thebreakfastwassoillpreparedthatthepupilscouldnotpossiblyeatit;andIdarednotallowthemtoremainfastingtilldinner—time。\'
\'Madam，allowmeaninstant。Youareawarethatmyplaninbringingupthesegirlsis，nottoaccustomthemtohabitsofluxuryandindulgence，buttorenderthemhardy，patient，self—denying。Shouldanylittleaccidentaldisappointmentoftheappetiteoccur，suchasthespoilingofameal，theunderortheoverdressingofadish，theincidentoughtnottobeneutralisedbyreplacingwithsomethingmoredelicatethecomfortlost，thuspamperingthebodyandobviatingtheaimofthisinstitution;itoughttobeimprovedtothespiritualedificationofthepupils，byencouragingthemtoevincefortitudeunderthetemporaryprivation。Abriefaddressonthoseoccasionswouldnotbemistimed，whereinajudiciousinstructorwouldtaketheopportunityofreferringtothesufferingsoftheprimitiveChristians;tothetormentsofmartyrs;totheexhortationsofourblessedLordHimself，callinguponHisdisciplestotakeuptheircrossandfollowHim;toHiswarningsthatmanshallnotlivebybreadalone，butbyeverywordthatproceedethoutofthemouthofGod;toHisdivineconsolations，\"IfyesufferhungerorthirstforMysake，happyareye。\"Oh，madam，whenyouputbreadandcheese，insteadofburntporridge，intothesechildren\'smouths，youmayindeedfeedtheirvilebodies，butyoulittlethinkhowyoustarvetheirimmortalsouls！\'
Mr。Brocklehurstagainpaused—perhapsovercomebyhisfeelings。
MissTemplehadlookeddownwhenhefirstbegantospeaktoher;butshenowgazedstraightbeforeher，andherface，naturallypaleasmarble，appearedtobeassumingalsothecoldnessandfixityofthatmaterial;especiallyhermouth，closedasifitwouldhaverequiredasculptor\'schiseltoopenit，andherbrowsettledgraduallyintopetrifiedseverity。
Meantime，Mr。Brocklehurst，standingonthehearthwithhishandsbehindhisback，majesticallysurveyedthewholeschool。Suddenlyhiseyegaveablink，asifithadmetsomethingthateitherdazzledorshockeditspupil;turning，hesaidinmorerapidaccentsthanhehadhithertoused—
\'MissTemple，MissTemple，what—whatisthatgirlwithcurledhair？Redhair，ma\'am，curled—curledallover？\'Andextendinghiscanehepointedtotheawfulobject，hishandshakingashedidso。
\'ItisJuliaSevern，\'repliedMissTemple，veryquietly。
\'JuliaSevern，ma\'am！Andwhyhasshe，oranyother，curledhair？
Why，indefianceofeverypreceptandprincipleofthishouse，doessheconformtotheworldsoopenly—hereinanevangelical，charitableestablishment—astowearherhaironemassofcurls？\'
\'Julia\'shaircurlsnaturally，\'returnedMissTemple，stillmorequietly。
\'Naturally！Yes，butwearenottoconformtonature;I
wishthesegirlstobethechildrenofGrace:andwhythatabundance？I
haveagainandagainintimatedthatIdesirethehairtobearrangedclosely，modestly，plainly。MissTemple，thatgirl\'shairmustbecutoffentirely;Iwillsendabarbertomorrow:andIseeotherswhohavefartoomuchoftheexcrescence—thattallgirl，tellhertoturnround。Tellallthefirstformtoriseupanddirecttheirfacestothewall。\'
MissTemplepassedherhandkerchiefoverherlips，asiftosmoothawaytheinvoluntarysmilethatcurledthem;shegavetheorder，however，andwhenthefirstclasscouldtakeinwhatwasrequiredofthem，theyobeyed。Leaningalittlebackonmybench，I
couldseethelooksandgrimaceswithwhichtheycommentedonthismanoeuvre:itwasapityMr。Brocklehurstcouldnotseethemtoo;hewouldperhapshavefeltthat，whateverhemightdowiththeoutsideofthecupandplatter，theinsidewasfurtherbeyondhisinterferencethanheimagined。
Hescrutinisedthereverseoftheselivingmedalssomefiveminutes，thenpronouncedsentence。Thesewordsfellliketheknellofdoom—
\'Allthosetop—knotsmustbecutoff。\'
MissTempleseemedtoremonstrate。
\'Madam，\'hepursued，\'IhaveaMastertoservewhosekingdomisnotofthisworld:mymissionistomortifyinthesegirlsthelustsoftheflesh;toteachthemtoclothethemselveswithshame—facednessandsobriety，notwithbraidedhairandcostlyapparel;andeachoftheyoungpersonsbeforeushasastringofhairtwistedinplaitswhichvanityitselfmighthavewoven;these，Irepeat，mustbecutoff;
thinkofthetimewasted，of—\'
Mr。Brocklehurstwashereinterrupted:threeothervisitors，ladies，nowenteredtheroom。Theyoughttohavecomealittlesoonertohaveheardhislectureondress，fortheyweresplendidlyattiredinvelvet，silk，andfurs。Thetwoyoungerofthetrio（finegirlsofsixteenandseventeen）hadgreybeaverhats，theninfashion，shadedwithostrichplumes，andfromunderthebrimofthisgracefulhead—dressfellaprofusionoflighttresses，elaboratelycurled;
theelderladywasenvelopedinacostlyvelvetshawl，trimmedwithermine，andsheworeafalsefrontofFrenchcurls。
TheseladiesweredeferentiallyreceivedbyMissTemple，asMrs。