Istoodandwarmedmynumbedfingersovertheblaze，thenIlookedround;therewasnocandle，buttheuncertainlightfromthehearthshowed，byintervals，paperedwalls，carpet，curtains，shiningmahoganyfurniture:itwasaparlour，notsospaciousorsplendidasthedrawing—roomatGateshead，butcomfortableenough。Iwaspuzzlingtomakeoutthesubjectofapictureonthewall，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，whetherIcouldread，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，Idrank，forIwasthirsty，butdidnottouchthefood，excitementandfatiguerenderingmeincapableofeating:Inowsaw，however，thatitwasathinoatencakesharedintofragments。
Themealover，prayerswerereadbyMissMiller，andtheclassesfiledoff，twoandtwo，upstairs。Overpoweredbythistimewithweariness，Iscarcelynoticedwhatsortofaplacethebedroomwas，exceptthat，liketheschoolroom，Isawitwasverylong。To—nightIwastobeMissMiller’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，Isawthemalldrawnupinfoursemicircles，beforefourchairs，placedatthefourtables;allheldbooksintheirhands，andagreatbook，likeaBible，layoneachtable，beforethevacantseat。Apauseofsomesecondssucceeded，filledupbythelow，vaguehumofnumbers;MissMillerwalkedfromclasstoclass，hushingthisindefinitesound。
Adistantbelltinkled:immediatelythreeladiesenteredtheroom，eachwalkedtoatableandtookherseat。MissMillerassumedthefourthvacantchair，whichwasthatnearestthedoor，andaroundwhichthesmallestofthechildrenwereassembled:tothisinferiorclassIwascalled，andplacedatthebottomofit。
Businessnowbegan，theday’sCollectwasrepeated，thencertaintextsofScriptureweresaid，andtothesesucceededaprotractedreadingofchaptersintheBible，whichlastedanhour。Bythetimethatexercisewasterminated，dayhadfullydawned。Theindefatigablebellnowsoundedforthefourthtime:theclassesweremarshalledandmarchedintoanotherroomtobreakfast:howgladIwastobeholdaprospectofgettingsomethingtoeat！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;butshemadenogreatefforttocheekthegeneralwrath;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。MissMillerapproaching，seemedtoaskheraquestion，andhavingreceivedheranswer，wentbacktoherplace，andsaidaloud—
“Monitorofthefirstclass，fetchtheglobes！”
Whilethedirectionwasbeingexecuted，theladyconsultedmovedslowlyuptheroom。IsupposeIhaveaconsiderableorganofveneration，forIretainyetthesenseofadmiringawewithwhichmyeyestracedhersteps。Seennow，inbroaddaylight，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，&c。，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。
Thegardenwasawideinclosure，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:IhardlyyetknewwhereIwas;Gatesheadandmypastlifeseemedfloatedawaytoanimmeasurabledistance;thepresentwasvagueandstrange，andofthefutureIcouldformnoconjecture。Ilookedroundtheconvent—likegarden，andthenupatthehouse—alargebuilding，halfofwhichseemedgreyandold，theotherhalfquitenew。Thenewpart，containingtheschoolroomanddormitory，waslitbymullionedandlatticedwindows，whichgaveitachurch—likeaspect;astonetabletoverthedoorborethisinscription:—
“LowoodInstitution。—ThisportionwasrebuiltA。D。—，byNaomiBrocklehurst，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。IhardlyknowwhereIfoundthehardihoodthustoopenaconversationwithastranger;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—？—Icannotpronouncehernameasyoudo。”
“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，andhalf—a—sliceofbrownbread。Idevouredmybreadanddrankmycoffeewithrelish;butIshouldhavebeengladofasmuchmore—Iwasstillhungry。Half—an—hour’srecreationsucceeded，thenstudy;thentheglassofwaterandthepieceofoat—cake，prayers，andbed。SuchwasmyfirstdayatLowood。
Chapter6
Thenextdaycommencedasbefore，gettingupanddressingbyrushlight;butthismorningwewereobligedtodispensewiththeceremonyofwashing;thewaterinthepitcherswasfrozen。Achangehadtakenplaceintheweathertheprecedingevening，andakeennorth—eastwind，whistlingthroughthecrevicesofourbedroomwindowsallnightlong，hadmadeusshiverinourbeds，andturnedthecontentsoftheewerstoice。
BeforethelonghourandahalfofprayersandBible—readingwasover，Ifeltreadytoperishwithcold。Breakfast—timecameatlast，andthismorningtheporridgewasnotburnt;thequalitywaseatable，thequantitysmall。Howsmallmyportionseemed！Iwishedithadbeendoubled。
InthecourseofthedayIwasenrolledamemberofthefourthclass，andregulartasksandoccupationswereassignedme:hitherto，IhadonlybeenaspectatoroftheproceedingsatLowood;Iwasnowtobecomeanactortherein。Atfirst，beinglittleaccustomedtolearnbyheart，thelessonsappearedtomebothlonganddifficult;thefrequentchangefromtasktotask，too，bewilderedme;andIwasgladwhen，aboutthreeo’clockintheafternoon，MissSmithputintomyhandsaborderofmuslintwoyardslong，togetherwithneedle，thimble，&c。，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，”&c。&c。
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，&c。;tillshedismissedme，IcouldnotpursuemyobservationsonMissScatcherd’smovements。WhenIreturnedtomyseat，thatladywasjustdeliveringanorderofwhichIdidnotcatchtheimport;butBurnsimmediatelylefttheclass，andgoingintothesmallinnerroomwherethebookswerekept，returnedinhalfaminute，carryinginherhandabundleoftwigstiedtogetheratoneend。ThisominoustoolshepresentedtoMissScatcherdwitharespectfulcurtesy;thenshequietly，andwithoutbeingtold，unloosedherpinafore，andtheteacherinstantlyandsharplyinflictedonherneckadozenstrokeswiththebunchoftwigs。NotatearrosetoBurns’eye;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:whenIpassedthewindows，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。