简.爱 英文版 Jane Eyre
夏洛蒂.勃朗特 Charlotte Bronte
CHAPTER V Page 2
As yet I had spoken to no one, nor did anybody seem to take noticeof me; I stood lonely enough: but to that feeling of isolationI was accustomed; it did not oppress me much. I leant against apillar of the verandah, drew my grey mantle close about me, and,trying to forget the cold which nipped me without, and the unsatisfiedhunger which gnawed me within, delivered myself up to the employmentof watching and thinking. My reflections were too undefinedand fragmentary to merit record: I hardly yet knew where I was;Gateshead and my past life seemed floated away to an immeasurabledistance; the present was vague and strange, and of the future Icould form no conjecture. I looked round the convent-like garden,and then up at the house -- a large building, half of which seemedgrey and old, the other half quite new. The new part, containingthe schoolroom and dormitory, was lit by mullioned and latticedwindows, which gave it a church-like aspect; a stone tablet overthe door bore this inscription:-
"Lowood Institution. -- This portion was rebuilt A. D. -- , by NaomiBrocklehurst, of Brocklehurst Hall, in this county. "
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your goodworks, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. " -- St. Matt.v. 16.
I read these words over and over again: I felt that an explanationbelonged to them, and was unable fully to penetrate their import.I was still pondering the signification of "Institution, " andendeavouring to make out a connection between the first words andthe verse of Scripture, when the sound of a cough close behind memade 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;" aname that struck me as strange, and consequently attractive. Inturning a leaf she happened to look up, and I said to her directly -
us for nothing?"an orphan?"writing on that stone.
"Is your book interesting?" I had already formed the intention ofasking her to lend it to me some day.
"I like it, " she answered, after a pause of a second or two, duringwhich she examined me.
"What is it about?" I continued. I hardly know where I found thehardihood thus to open a conversation with a stranger; the stepwas contrary to my nature and habits: but I think her occupationtouched a chord of sympathy somewhere; for I too liked reading,though of a frivolous and childish kind; I could not digest orcomprehend 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 wereless taking than the title: "Rasselas" looked dull to my triflingtaste; I saw nothing about fairies, nothing about genii; no brightvariety seemed spread over the closely-printed pages. I returnedit to her; she received it quietly, and without saying anythingshe was about to relapse into her former studious mood: againI 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 come to live. "
"And why do they call it Institution? Is it in any way differentfrom other schools?"
"It is partly a charity-school: you and I, and all the rest ofus, are charity-children. I suppose you are an orphan: are noteither your father or your mother dead?"
"Both died before I can remember. "
"Well, all the girls here have lost either one or both parents,and this is called an institution for educating orphans. "
"Do we pay no money? Do they keep us for nothing?"
"We pay, or our friends pay, fifteen pounds a year for each. "
"Then why do they call us charity-children?"
"Because fifteen pounds is not enough for board and teaching, andthe deficiency is supplied by subscription. "
"Who subscribes?"
"Different benevolent-minded ladies and gentlemen in this neighbourhoodand in London. "
"Who was Naomi Brocklehurst?"
"The lady who built the new part of this house as that tabletrecords, and whose son overlooks and directs everything here. "
"Why?"
"Because he is treasurer and manager of the establishment. "
"Then this house does not belong to that tall lady who wears awatch, and who said we were to have some bread and cheese?"
"To Miss Temple? Oh, no! I wish it did: she has to answer toMr. Brocklehurst for all she does. Mr. Brocklehurst buys all ourfood and all our clothes. "
"Does he live here?"
"No -- two miles off, at a large hall. "
"Is he a good man?"
"He is a clergyman, and is said to do a great deal of good. "
"Did you say that tall lady was called Miss Temple?"
"Yes. "
"And what are the other teachers called?"
"The one with red cheeks is called Miss Smith; she attends to thework, and cuts out -- for we make our own clothes, our frocks, andpelisses, and everything; the little one with black hair is MissScatcherd; she teaches history and grammar, and hears the secondclass repetitions; and the one who wears a shawl, and has apocket-handkerchief tied to her side with a yellow ribband, is MadamePierrot: she comes from Lisle, in France, and teaches French. "
"Do you like the teachers?"
"Well enough. "
"Do you like the little black one, and the Madame -? -- I cannotpronounce her name as you do. "
"Miss Scatcherd is hasty -- you must take care not to offend her;Madame Pierrot is not a bad sort of person. "
"But Miss Temple is the best -- isn't she?"
"Miss Temple is very good and very clever; she is above the rest,because she knows far more than they do. "
"Have you been long here?"
"Two years. "
"Are you an orphan?"
good man?"good man?" replied the.
"My mother is dead. "
"Are you happy here?"
"You ask rather too many questions. I have given you answers enoughfor the present: now I want to read. "
But at that moment the summons sounded for dinner; all re-enteredthe house. The odour which now filled the refectory was scarcelymore appetising than that which had regaled our nostrils at breakfast:the dinner was served in two huge tin-plated vessels, whence rosea strong steam redolent of rancid fat. I found the mess to consistof indifferent potatoes and strange shreds of rusty meat, mixed andcooked together. Of this preparation a tolerably abundant platefulwas apportioned to each pupil. I ate what I could, and wonderedwithin myself whether every day's fare would be like this.
After dinner, we immediately adjourned to the schoolroom: lessonsrecommenced, and were continued till five o'clock.
The only marked event of the afternoon was, that I saw the girlwith whom I had conversed in the verandah dismissed in disgraceby Miss Scatcherd from a history class, and sent to stand in themiddle of the large schoolroom. The punishment seemed to me ina high degree ignominious, especially for so great a girl -- shelooked thirteen or upwards. I expected she would show signs ofgreat distress and shame; but to my surprise she neither wept norblushed: composed, though grave, she stood, the central mark ofall eyes. "How can she bear it so quietly -- so firmly?" I askedof myself. "Were I in her place, it seems to me I should wish theearth to open and swallow me up. She looks as if she were thinkingof something beyond her punishment -- beyond her situation: ofsomething not round her nor before her. I have heard of day-dreams-- is she in a day-dream now? Her eyes are fixed on the floor,but I am sure they do not see it -- her sight seems turned in, gonedown into her heart: she is looking at what she can remember, Ibelieve; not at what is really present. I wonder what sort of agirl she is -- whether good or naughty. "
Soon after five p. m. we had another meal, consisting of a smallmug of coffee, and half-a-slice of brown bread. I devoured mybread and drank my coffee with relish; but I should have been gladof as much more -- I was still hungry. Half-an-hour's recreationsucceeded, then study; then the glass of water and the piece ofoat-cake, prayers, and bed. Such was my first day at Lowood.