第7部分(第3/7 页)

ch　is　the　order　of　the　day　in　the　house　and　its　inhabitants。”

“Quite　right；　sir。　I　may　then　depend　upon　this　child　being　received　as　a　pupil　at　Lowood；　and　there　being　trained　in　conformity　to　her　position　and　prospects？”

“Madam；　you　may：　she　shall　be　placed　in　that　nursery　of　chosen　plants；　and　I　trust　she　will　show　herself　grateful　for　the　inestimable　privilege　of　her　election。”

“I　will　send　her；　then；　as　soon　as　possible；　Mr。　Brocklehurst；　for；　I　assure　you；　I　feel　anxious　to　be　relieved　of　a　responsibility　that　was　being　too　irksome。”

“No　doubt；　no　doubt；　madam；　and　now　I　wish　you　good　morning。　I　shall　return　to　Brocklehurst　Hall　in　the　course　of　a　week　or　two：　my　good　friend；　the　Archdeacon；　will　not　permit　me　to　leave　him　sooner。　I　shall　send　Miss　Temple　notice　that　she　is　to　expect　a　new　girl；　so　that　there　will　he　no　difficulty　about　receiving　her。　Good…bye。”

“Good…bye；　Mr。　Brocklehurst；　remember　me　to　Mrs。　and　Miss　Brocklehurst；　and　to　Augusta　and　Theodore；　and　Master　Broughton　Brocklehurst。”

“I　will；　madam。　Little　girl；　here　is　a　book　entitled　the　Child’s　Guide；　read　it　with　prayer；　especially　that　part　containing　‘An　account　of　the　awfully　sudden　death　of　Martha　G　—；　a　naughty　child　addicted　to　falsehood　and　deceit。’”

With　these　words　Mr。　Brocklehurst　put　into　my　hand　a　thin　pamphlet　sewn　in　a　cover；　and　having　rung　for　his　carriage；　he　departed。

Mrs。　Reed　and　I　were　left　alone：　some　minutes　passed　in　silence；　she　was　sewing；　I　was　watching　her。　Mrs。　Reed　might　be　at　that　time　some　six　or　seven　and　thirty；　she　was　a　woman　of　robust　frame；　square…shouldered　and　strong…limbed；　not　tall；　and；　though　stout；　not　obese：　she　had　a　somewhat　large　face；　the　under　jaw　being　much　developed　and　very　solid；　her　brow