第12部分(第4/7 页)

　walk　two　miles　to　Brocklebridge　Church；　where　our　patron　officiated。　We　set　out　cold；　we　arrived　at　church　colder：　during　the　morning　service　we　became　almost　paralysed。　It　was　too　far　to　return　to　dinner；　and　an　allowance　of　cold　meat　and　bread；　in　the　same　penurious　proportion　observed　in　our　ordinary　meals；　was　served　round　between　the　services。

At　the　close　of　the　afternoon　service　we　returned　by　an　exposed　and　hilly　road；　where　the　bitter　winter　wind；　blowing　over　a　range　of　snowy　summits　to　the　north；　almost　flayed　the　skin　from　our　faces。

I　can　remember　Miss　Temple　walking　lightly　and　rapidly　along　our　drooping　line；　her　plaid　cloak；　which　the　frosty　wind　fluttered；　gathered　close　about　her；　and　encouraging　us；　by　precept　and　example；　to　keep　up　our　spirits；　and　march　forward；　as　she　said；　“like　stalwart　soldiers。”　The　other　teachers；　poor　things；　were　generally　themselves　too　much　dejected　to　attempt　the　task　of　cheering　others。

How　we　longed　for　the　light　and　heat　of　a　blazing　fire　when　we　got　back！　But；　to　the　little　ones　at　least；　this　was　denied：　each　hearth　in　the　schoolroom　was　immediately　surrounded　by　a　double　row　of　great　girls；　and　behind　them　the　younger　children　crouched　in　groups；　wrapping　their　starved　arms　in　their　pinafores。

A　little　solace　came　at　tea…time；　in　the　shape　of　a　double　ration　of　bread—a　whole；　instead　of　a　half；　slice—with　the　delicious　addition　of　a　thin　scrape　of　butter：　it　was　the　hebdomadal　treat　to　which　we　all　looked　forward　from　Sabbath　to　Sabbath。　I　generally　contrived　to　reserve　a　moiety　of　this　bounteous　repast　for　myself；　but　the　remainder　I　was　invariably　obliged　to　part　with。

The　Sunday　evening　was　spent　in　repeating；　by　heart；　the　Church　Catechism；　and　the　fifth；　sixth；　and　seventh　c