第13部分(第3/7 页)

　handkerchief　over　her　lips；　as　if　to　smooth　away　the　involuntary　smile　that　curled　them；　she　gave　the　order；　however；　and　when　the　first　class　could　take　in　；　they　obeyed。　Leaning　a　little　back　on　my　bench；　I　could　see　the　looks　and　grimaces　with　which　they　mented　on　this　man？uvre：　it　was　a　pity　Mr。　Brocklehurst　could　not　see　them　too；　he　would　perhaps　have　felt　that；　whatever　he　might　do　with　the　outside　of　the　cup　and　platter；　the　inside　was　further　beyond　his　interference　than　he　imagined。

He　scrutinised　the　reverse　of　these　living　medals　some　five　minutes；　then　pronounced　sentence。　These　words　fell　like　the　knell　of　doom—

“All　those　top…knots　must　be　cut　off。”

Miss　Temple　seemed　to　remonstrate。

“Madam；”　he　pursued；　“I　have　a　Master　to　serve　whose　kingdom　is　not　of　this　world：　my　mission　is　to　mortify　in　these　girls　the　lusts　of　the　flesh；　to　teach　them　to　clothe　themselves　with　shame…facedness　and　sobriety；　not　with　braided　hair　and　costly　apparel；　and　each　of　the　young　persons　before　us　has　a　string　of　hair　twisted　in　plaits　which　vanity　itself　might　have　woven；　these；　I　repeat；　must　be　cut　off；　think　of　the　time　wasted；　of—”

Mr。　Brocklehurst　was　here　interrupted：　three　other　visitors；　ladies；　now　entered　the　room。　They　ought　to　have　e　a　little　sooner　to　have　heard　his　lecture　on　dress；　for　they　were　splendidly　attired　in　velvet；　silk；　and　furs。　The　two　younger　of　the　trio　（fine　girls　of　sixteen　and　seventeen）　had　grey　beaver　hats；　then　in　fashion；　shaded　with　ostrich　plumes；　and　from　under　the　brim　of　this　graceful　head…dress　fell　a　profusion　of　light　tresses；　elaborately　curled；　the　elder　lady　was　enveloped　in　a　costly　velvet　shawl；　trimmed　with　ermine；　and　she　wore　a　false　front　of　French　curls。

These　ladies　were　defere