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简爱(英文版)-第13部分

小说: 简爱(英文版) 字数: 每页4000字

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 sides of the room; the eighty girls sat motionless and erect; a quaint assemblage they appeared; all with plain locks bed from their faces; not a curl visible; in brown dresses; made high and surrounded by a narrow tucker about the throat; with little pockets of holland (shaped something like a Highlander’s purse) tied in front of their frocks; and destined to serve the purpose of a work… bag: all; too; wearing woollen stockings and country…made shoes; fastened with brass buckles。 Above twenty of those clad in this costume were full…grown girls; or rather young women; it suited them ill; and gave an air of oddity even to the prettiest。
I was still looking at them; and also at intervals examining the teachers—none of whom precisely pleased me; for the stout one was a little coarse; the dark one not a little fierce; the foreigner harsh and grotesque; and Miss Miller; poor thing! looked purple; weather… beaten; and over…worked—when; as my eye wandered from face to face; the whole school rose simultaneously; as if moved by a mon spring。
What was the matter? I had heard no order given: I was puzzled。 Ere I had gathered my wits; the classes were again seated: but as all eyes were now turned to one point; mine followed the general direction; and encountered the personage who had received me last night。 She stood at the bottom of the long room; on the hearth; for there was a fire at each end; she surveyed the two rows of girls silently and gravely。 Miss Miller approaching; seemed to ask her a question; and having received her answer; went back to her place; and said aloud—
“Monitor of the first class; fetch the globes!”
While the direction was being executed; the lady consulted moved slowly up the room。 I suppose I have a considerable organ of veneration; for I retain yet the sense of admiring awe with which my eyes traced her steps。 Seen now; in broad daylight; she looked tall; fair; and shapely; brown eyes with a benignant light in their irids; and a fine pencilling of long lashes round; relieved the whiteness of her large front; on each of her temples her hair; of a very dark brown; was clustered in round curls; according to the fashion of those times; when neither smooth bands nor long ringlets were in vogue; her dress; also in the mode of the day; was of purple cloth; relieved by a sort of Spanish trimming of black velvet; a gold watch (watches were not so mon then as now) shone at her girdle。 Let the reader add; to plete the picture; refined features; a plexion; if pale; clear; and a stately air and carriage; and he will have; at least; as clearly as words can give it; a correct idea of the exterior of Miss Temple—Maria Temple; as I afterwards saw the name written in a prayer…book intrusted to me to carry to church。
The superintendent of Lowood (for such was this lady) having taken her seat before a pair of globes placed on one of the tables; summoned the first class round her; and menced giving a lesson on geography; the lower classes were called by the teachers: repetitions in history; grammar; &c。; went on for an hour; writing and arithmetic succeeded; and music lessons were given by Miss Temple to some of the elder girls。 The duration of each lesson was measured by the clock; which at last struck twelve。 The superintendent rose—
“I have a word to address to the pupils;” said she。
The tumult of cessation from lessons was already breaking forth; but it sank at her voice。 She went on—
“You had this morning a breakfast which you could not eat; you must be hungry:—I have ordered that a lunch of bread and cheese shall be served to all。”
The teachers looked at her with a sort of surprise。
“It is to be done on my responsibility;” she added; in an explanatory tone to them; and immediately afterwards left the room。
The bread and cheese was presently brought in and distributed; to the high delight and refreshment of the whole school。 The order was now given “To the garden!” Each put on a coarse straw bon; with strings of coloured calico; and a cloak of grey frieze。 I was similarly equipped; and; following the stream; I made my way into the open air。
The garden was a wide inclosure; surrounded with walls so high as to exclude every glimpse of prospect; a covered verandah ran down one side; and broad walks bordered a middle space divided into scores of little beds: these beds were assigned as gardens for the pupils to cultivate; and each bed had an owner。 When full of flowers they would doubtless look pretty; but now; at the latter end of January; all was wintry blight and brown decay。 I shuddered as I stood and looked round me: it was an inclement day for outdoor exercise; not positively rainy; but darkened by a drizzling yellow fog; all under foot was still soaking wet with the floods of yesterday。 The stronger among the girls ran about and engaged in active games; but sundry pale and thin ones herded together for shelter and warmth in the verandah; and amongst these; as the dense mist perated to their shivering frames; I heard frequently the sound of a hollow cough。
As yet I had spoken to no one; nor did anybody seem to take notice of me; I stood lonely enough: but to that feeling of isolation I was accustomed; it did not oppress me much。 I leant against a pillar of the verandah; drew my grey mantle close about me; and; trying to forget the cold which nipped me without; and the unsatisfied hunger which gnawed me within; delivered myself up to the employment of watching and thinking。 My reflections were too undefined and fragmentary to merit record: I hardly yet knew where I was; Gateshead and my past life seemed floated away to an immeasurable distance; the present was vague and strange; and of the future I could form no conjecture。 I looked round the convent…like garden; and then up at the house—a large building; half of which seemed grey and old; the other half quite new。 The new part; containing the schoolroom and dormitory; was lit by mullioned and latticed windows; which gave it a church…like aspect; a stone tablet over the door bore this inscription:—
“Lowood Institution。—This portion was rebuilt A。D。—; by Naomi Brocklehurst; of Brocklehurst Hall; in this county。” “Let your light so shine before men; that they may see your good works; and glorify your Father which is in heaven。”— St。 Matt。 v。 16。
I read these words over and over again: I felt that an explanation belonged to them; and was unable fully to perate their import。 I was still pondering the signification of “Institution;” and endeavouring to make out a connection between the first words and the verse of Scripture; when the sound of a cough close behind me made me turn my head。 I saw a girl sitting on a stone bench near; she was bent over a book; on the perusal of which she seemed intent: from where I stood I could see the title—it was Rasselas; a name that struck me as strange; and consequently attractive。 In turning a leaf she happened to look up; and I said to her directly—
“Is your book interesting?” I had already formed the intention of asking her to lend it to me some day。
“I like it;” she answered; after a pause of a second or two; during which she examined me。
“What is it about?” I continued。 I hardly know where I found the hardihood thus to open a conversation with a stranger; the step was contrary to my nature and habits: but I think her occupation touched a chord of sympathy somewhere; for I too liked reading; though of a frivolous and childish kind; I could not digest or prehend the serious or substantial。
“You may look at it;” replied the girl; offering me the book。
I did so; a brief examination convinced me that the contents were less taking than the title: Rasselas looked dull to my trifling taste; I saw nothing about fairies; nothing about genii; no bright variety seemed spread over the closely…printed pages。 I returned it to her; she received it quietly; and without saying anything she was about to relapse into her former studious mood: again I ventured to disturb her—
“Can you tell me what the writing on that stone over the door means? What is Lowood Institution?”
“This house where you are e to live。”
“And why do they call it Institution? Is it in any way different from other schools?”
“It 

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