第28章

第28章“youseesheisyetyoung;youobserveshepossessestheordinaryformofchildhood;godhasgraciouslygivenhertheshapethathehasgiventoallofus;nosignaldeformitypointsheroutasamarkedcharacter.whowouldthinkthattheevilonehadalreadyfoundaservantandagentinher?yetsuch,igrievetosay,isthecase.”

apause—inwhichibegantosteadythepalsyofmynerves,andtofeelthattherubiconwaspassed;andthatthetrial,nolongertobeshirked,mustbefirmlysustained.

“mydearchildren,”pursuedtheblackmarbleclergyman,withpathos,“thisisasad,amelancholyoccasion;foritbecomesmydutytowarnyou,thatthisgirl,whomightbeoneofgod’sownlambs,isalittlecastaway:notamemberofthetrueflock,butevidentlyaninterloperandanalien.youmustbeonyourguardagainsther;youmustshunherexample;ifnecessary,avoidhercompany,excludeherfromyoursports,andshutheroutfromyourconverse.teachers,youmustwatchher:keepyoureyesonhermovements,weighwellherwords,scrutiniseheractions,punishherbodytosavehersoul:if,indeed,suchsalvationbepossible,for(mytonguefalterswhileitellit)thisgirl,thischild,thenativeofachristianland,worsethanmanyalittleheathenwhosaysitsprayerstobrahmaandkneelsbeforeernaut—thisgirlis—aliar!”

nowcameapauseoftenminutes,duringwhichi,bythistimeinperfectpossessionofmywits,observedallthefemalebrocklehurstsproducetheirpocket-handkerchiefsandapplythemtotheiroptics,whiletheelderlyladyswayedherselftoandfro,andthetwoyoungeroneswhispered,“howshocking!”mr.brocklehurstresumed.

“thisilearnedfromherbenefactress;fromthepiousandcharitableladywhoadoptedherinherorphanstate,rearedherasherowndaughter,andwhosekindness,whosegenerositytheunhappygirlrepaidbyaningratitudesobad,sodreadful,thatatlastherexcellentpatronesswasobligedtoseparateherfromherownyoungones,fearfullestherviciousexampleshouldcontaminatetheirpurity:shehassentherheretobehealed,evenasthejewsofoldsenttheirdiseasedtothetroubledpoolofbethesda;and,teachers,superintendent,ibegofyounottoallowthewaterstostagnateroundher.”

withthissublimeconclusion,mr.brocklehurstadjustedthetopbuttonofhissurtout,mutteredsomethingtohisfamily,whorose,bowedtomisstemple,andthenallthegreatpeoplesailedinstatefromtheroom.turningatthedoor,myjudgesaid—

“letherstandhalf-an-hourlongeronthatstool,andletnoonespeaktoherduringtheremainderoftheday.”

therewasi,then,mountedaloft;i,whohadsaidicouldnotbeartheshameofstandingonmynaturalfeetinthemiddleoftheroom,wasnowexposedtogeneralviewonapedestalofinfamy.whatmysensationswerenolanguagecandescribe;butjustastheyallrose,stiflingmybreathandconstrictingmythroat,agirlcameupandpassedme:inpassing,sheliftedhereyes.whatastrangelightinspiredthem!whatanextraordinarysensationthatraysentthroughme!howthenewfeelingboremeup!itwasasifamartyr,ahero,hadpassedaslaveorvictim,andimpartedstrengthinthetransit.imasteredtherisinghysteria,liftedupmyhead,andtookafirmstandonthestool.helenburnsaskedsomeslightquestionaboutherworkofmisssmith,waschiddenforthetrivialityoftheinquiry,returnedtoherplace,andsmiledatmeassheagainwentby.whatasmile!irememberitnow,andiknowthatitwastheeffluenceoffineintellect,oftruecourage;itlituphermarkedlineaments,herthinface,hersunkengreyeye,likeareflectionfromtheaspectofanangel.yetatthatmomenthelenburnsworeonherarm“theuntidybadge;”scarcelyanhouragoihadheardhercondemnedbymissscatcherdtoadinnerofbreadandwateronthemorrowbecauseshehadblottedanexerciseincopyingitout.suchistheimperfectnatureofman!suchspotsarethereonthediscoftheclearestplanet;andeyeslikemissscatcherd’scanonlyseethoseminutedefects,andareblindtothefullbrightnessoftheorb.