第32章
第32章buttheprivations,orratherthehardships,oflowoodlessened.springdrewon:shewasindeedalreadycome;thefrostsofwinterhadceased;itssnowsweremelted,itscuttingwindsameliorated.mywretchedfeet,flayedandswollentolamenessbythesharpairofjanuary,begantohealandsubsideunderthegentlerbreathingsofapril;thenightsandmorningsnolongerbytheircanadiantemperaturefrozetheverybloodinourveins;wecouldnowenduretheplay-hourpassedinthegarden:sometimesonasunnydayitbeganeventobepleasantandgenial,andagreennessgrewoverthosebrownbeds,which,fresheningdaily,estedthethoughtthathopetraversedthematnight,andlefteachmorningbrightertracesofhersteps.flowerspeepedoutamongsttheleaves;snow-drops,crocuses,purpleauriculas,andgolden-eyedpansies.onthursdayafternoons(half-holidays)wenowtookwalks,andfoundstillsweeterflowersopeningbythewayside,underthehedges.
idiscovered,too,thatagreatpleasure,anenjoymentwhichthehorizononlybounded,layalloutsidethehighandspike-guardedwallsofourgarden:thispleasureconsistedinprospectofnoblesummitsgirdlingagreathill-hollow,richinverdureandshadow;inabrightbeck,fullofdarkstonesandsparklingeddies.howdifferenthadthisscenelookedwhenivieweditlaidoutbeneaththeironskyofwinter,stiffenedinfrost,shroudedwithsnow!—whenmistsaschillasdeathwanderedtotheimpulseofeastwindsalongthosepurplepeaks,androlleddown“ing”andholmtilltheyblendedwiththefrozenfogofthebeck!thatbeckitselfwasthenatorrent,turbidandcurbless:ittoreasunderthewood,andsentaravingsoundthroughtheair,oftenthickenedwithwildrainorwhirlingsleet;andfortheforestonitsbanks,thatshowedonlyranksofskeletons.
apriladvancedtomay:abrightserenemayitwas;daysofbluesky,placidsunshine,andsoftwesternorsoutherngalesfilledupitsduration.andnowvegetationmaturedwithvigour;lowoodshooklooseitstresses;itbecameallgreen,allflowery;itsgreatelm,ash,andoakskeletonswererestoredtomajesticlife;woodlandplantssprangupprofuselyinitsrecesses;unnumberedvarietiesofmossfilleditshollows,anditmadeastrangeground-sunshineoutofthewealthofitswildprimroseplants:ihaveseentheirpalegoldgleaminovershadowedspotslikescatteringsofthesweetestlustre.allthisienjoyedoftenandfully,free,unwatched,andalmostalone:forthisunwontedlibertyandpleasuretherewasacause,towhichitnowbecomesmytasktoadvert.
haveinotdescribedapleasantsiteforadwelling,whenispeakofitasbosomedinhillandwood,andrisingfromthevergeofastream?assuredly,pleasantenough:butwhetherhealthyornotisanotherquestion.
thatforest-dell,wherelowoodlay,wasthecradleoffogandfog-bredpestilence;which,quickeningwiththequickeningspring,creptintotheorphanasylum,breathedtyphusthroughitscrowdedschoolroomanddormitory,and,eremayarrived,transformedtheseminaryintoanhospital.
semi-starvationandneglectedcoldshadpredisposedmostofthepupilstoreceiveinfection:forty-fiveoutoftheeightygirlslayillatonetime.classeswerebrokenup,rulesrelaxed.thefewwhocontinuedwellwereallowedalmostunlimitedlicense;becausethemedicalattendantinsistedonthenecessityoffrequentexercisetokeeptheminhealth:andhaditbeenotherwise,noonehadleisuretowatchorrestrainthem.misstemple’swholeattentionwasabsorbedbythepatients:shelivedinthesick-room,neverquittingitexcepttosnatchafewhours’restatnight.theteacherswerefullyoccupiedwithpackingupandmakingothernecessarypreparationsforthedepartureofthosegirlswhowerefortunateenoughtohavefriendsandrelationsableandwillingtoremovethemfromtheseatofcontagion.many,alreadysmitten,wenthomeonlytodie:somediedattheschool,andwereburiedquietlyandquickly,thenatureofthemaladyforbiddingdelay.
whilediseasehadthusbecomeaninhabitantoflowood,anddeathitsfrequentvisitor;whiletherewasgloomandfearwithinitswalls;whileitsroomsandpassagessteamedwithhospitalsmells,thedrugandthepastillestrivingvainlytoovercometheeffluviaofmortality,thatbrightmayshoneuncloudedovertheboldhillsandbeautifulwoodlandoutofdoors.itsgarden,too,glowedwithflowers:hollyhockshadsprunguptallastrees,lilieshadopened,tulipsandroseswereinbloom;thebordersofthelittlebedsweregaywithpinkthriftandcrimsondoubledaisies;thesweetbriarsgaveout,morningandevening,theirscentofspiceandapples;andthesefragranttreasureswerealluselessformostoftheinmatesoflowood,excepttofurnishnowandthenahandfulofherbsandblossomstoputinacoffin.
buti,andtherestwhocontinuedwell,enjoyedfullythebeautiesofthesceneandseason;theyletusrambleinthewood,likegipsies,frommorningtillnight;wedidwhatweliked,wentwhereweliked:welivedbettertoo.mr.brocklehurstandhisfamilynevercamenearlowoodnow:householdmatterswerenotscrutinisedinto;thecrosshousekeeperwasgone,drivenawaybythefearofinfection;heressor,whohadbeenmatronatthelowtondispensary,unusedtothewaysofhernewabode,providedwithcomparativeliberality.besides,therewerefewertofeed;thesickcouldeatlittle;ourbreakfast-basinswerebetterfilled;whentherewasnotimetopreparearegulardinner,whichoftenhappened,shewouldgiveusalargepieceofcoldpie,orathicksliceofbreadandcheese,andthiswecarriedawaywithustothewood,whereweeachchosethespotwelikedbest,anddinedsumptuously.