第21章

第21章“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?”

无一错一首一发一内一容一在一6一9一书一吧一看！

“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’srecreationeeded,thenstudy;thentheglassofwaterandthepieceofoat-cake,prayers,andbed.suchwasmyfirstdayatlowood.